After a wait for more than a fortnight, the album of ' Parineeta ' arrives on the music stands. Expectations from the music album are obviously high due to three main reasons:

1) A classic is being recreated – this time it is Sarat Chandra Chattopadhayaya's highly acclaimed ' Parineeta '
2) After ' 1942 - A Love Story ', producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra again makes a period drama come alive on celluloid
3) ' Parineeta ' brings together Sanjay Dutt and Saif Ali Khan in an unconventional setup that also marks the debut of Vidya Balan (the girl who featured in Euphoria's ' Kabhi Aana Tu Meri Gali ')

Also starring Raima Sen, ' Parineeta ' is a Pradeep Sarkar film that has Vir Chopra and Rajkumar Hirani (director of Munnabhai M.B.B.S. ) as the creative producers, Swanand Kirkire as the lyricist and Shantanu Moitra as the music director. With a unit like this, one is assured that this is not going to be your regular ' dil-dhadkan-pyaar-ikraar ' kind of musical score. With high hopes of a classy music, that may not necessarily appeal to 
all-India market but would still cater to those who prefer high quality earthy music, one plays on ' Parineeta '.

Saif being Saif, the number ' Piyu Bole ' begins with him rendering a few words in English before the character played by Vidya Balan gets him on track with her sweet rendition of ' Piyu Bole '. Shreya Ghoshal is nearly flawless in her singing while Sonu Nigam as Saif Ali Khan's voice does a perfect act. Both lyrics and music are so simple and laidback that they sound more like a nursery rhyme than a romantic duet. Play on this one to your toddler! It is guaranteed to put the child to a peaceful sleep while you share sweet nothings with your near and dear one.

With the rhythm of the song, the song ' Kasto Mazaa ' clearly appears to have been shot with Saif Ali Khan abroad a train. Yet another plain and simple song, the lyrics remind of Javed Akhtar style of writing. A track about a man looking for his sweetheart, it's initial line (that begins with ' Kasto Mazaa ') is a language different from Hindi. The number begins with Sonu Nigam but towards the later stages Shreya Ghoshal too joins in and is delightful once again. She seems to be at the peak of form at the moment and anything from here should just be an addition. Steam engine's whistles in the end ensures that the song was indeed designed as a train song.

Power of silence wins hands down in ' Raat Hamari Woh '. So subtle and yet so impacting is the number that you just nod your head in admiration for this soft track sung by Chitra and Swanand. A song composed for a situation in the darkness of night, it has a lasting impact on you due to its sheer simplicity. With Swanand rendering just a couple of lines in the beginning, it is prominently a Chitra number. One wonders why this talented lady, who struck gold with the track ' Saathiya Tune Kya ' (from 'Love') around 15 years back still hasn't got her due, inspite of singing for almost the entire album of ' Main Prem Ki Deewani Hoon '!

Mood gets jazzy with Sunidhi Chauhan getting into the groove for ' Kaisi Paheli Zindagani '. Did anyone say Geeta Bali? Because this is what one instantly remembers as soon as the song begins. One of the best homage paid to the music of yesteryears, it is indeed a great job done by Shantanu Moitra. It is so simple to visualize a night club/party scene while the number is on. With due regards to Anu Malik, while his attempt at 
recreating the B&W era in ' Dil Ko Hazaar Baar Roka ' in Murder was good, ' Kaisi Paheli ' manages to surpass even that and sets higher standards. Description about the song won't be complete without presenting a bouquet to Sunidhi Chauhan who is just exceptional here. The girl-woman continues to enthrall with at least one superb track every month!

After a subtle effort in ' Piyu Bole ', Sonu Nigam goes high pitch in romantic ' Soona Mann Ka Aangan ' while Shreya Ghoshal is at her sober best. The best part so far about the album is that though the tunes are different from each other, the overall effect of the album on the listener remains consistent throughout.

A song about a ' mausi ' narrating a traditional song about the escapades of a newly wed couple during a marriage celebration comes up as ' Dhinak Dhinak Dha '. Never once does the song even inch towards the line of vulgarity and what one gets to hear is a fun number by Rita Ganguly and chorus. This situational song should look good on screen as it also carries with it a nice rhythm.

Sonu Nigam and Shreya Ghoshal come together in ' Hui Main Parineeta ' for their fourth duet. With the base music as that of ' Piyu Bole ', thankfully it doesn't comes up as a second version/sad version/remix version of the original but maintains its identity on its own. It is just a much slower and smoother version that ignites the feeling of love - yet again!

' Parineeta ' deserves to be heard by one and all. As anticipated earlier, it is a classy score and hence would be highly appreciated by the urban audience. But even the masses in the interiors shouldn't miss out on this album as it conveys a message loud and clear that quality music hasn't died down. Even with an absence of a so-called item number (which is a rarity in Hindi albums today), ' Parineeta ' holds on its own and mesmerizes
the listener.

' Parineeta ' is an album worth more than the money spent!

ALBUM RATINGS

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