AUDIOSCAN
Music with mass appeal
High School Musical 2
(Times Music)

The premier in August, 2007, of High School Musical 2, the sequel to Disney Channel’s megahit movie, brought in a total of 17.2 million viewers in the US—almost 10 million more than it’s predecessor—making it, at the time, the highest rated basic cable broadcast in US history. It’s songs like What Time Is It?, Fabulous, Work This Out, You Are The Music In Me, Don’t Dance, You Are The Music In Me (Sharpay Version), Gotta Go My Own Way, Bet On It, Everyday and All for one were high grossers as well.

The songs from the sequel have now been released in India, each of them re-recorded in Hindi with Indian instruments. The desi flavour has been brought about by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, the trio behind some of the biggest Hindi film hits in recent times.

The songs sung by Naresh Kamath, Sunidhi Chauhan, Shweta Pandit, Neuman Pinto, Hrishikesh Karmekar and Satya Hinduja etc are in keeping with the theme of the film: believe in yourself, express yourself and stay true to yourself.

Among the better songs are Aaja Nachle (All for one), Ud Chale and Chhoti si (sung by Raja Hasan, Shilpa Rao, Shankar Mahadevan, Vishal Dadlani, Raman Mahadevan, Neuman Pinto and others).

The twin-CD pack has the verve which will appeal not only to the teens and kids but also grown-up adults.

The magic of Sufiana is spreading. The frenzied beat of this brand of singing is winning new converts. While that is a happy augury, there is a danger lurking too. There is a dilution of quality and much which is not really Sufi is also being branded like that. For instance, Tere bina kya jeena by A R Rahman in Guru does not really qualify to be called that. But even that has been included in this compilation of "14 of today’s biggest Sufi hits".

Nevertheless, all these are accomplished compositions sung by various masters. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan is there with Afreen afreen and Tere bin nahin lagda dil mera sohnya. Kailash Kher is represented by Saiyaan, Teri deewani and Allah ke bande hans de.

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan sings Jiya dhadak dhadak jaye and Mann ki lagan while Roopkumar Rathod contributes Maula mera Maula. Rabbi Shergill has become hot property after his Bulla ki jaana main kaun. Mitwa is from Shafaqat Ali Khan and Shankar Mahadevan.

Female singers are well represented. Rekha Bhardwaj is soulful in Tere ishq mein. So are Devika in Kehnde ne naina and Sona in Ishq nachaya.