On numerous occasions, there are films that come without a whimper due to a non-existent starcast or unknown banner - a recent example being ' Yehi Hai Zindagi '. But it is very rare to see a movie with a big starcast suddenly arriving on the scene and making one repeat the question - "Now where does this movie come from?" This time the movie in question is 'Blackmail'! Starring Ajay Devgan, Sunil Shetty, Priyanka Chopra and Dia Mirza, it was a big surprise to watch the promos on the small screen as people were hardly aware about the movie while it was being shot. In the days of intense publicity when a movie is always in news from the time of finalizing the starcast till the day it's last print is out of the theatres, a film like 'Blackmail' being ready for release does come up as a surprise. Directed by Anil Devgan (who last came up with ' Raju Chacha '), 'Blackmail' is a Shyam Bajaj-Narendra Bajaj production that has music by Himesh Reshammiya and lyrics by Sameer.

From a movie like ' Blackmail ' that belongs to a thriller genre and has two action heroes, there is nothing great that can be expected in terms of music. But Himesh Reshammiya's name on the credits does promise at least a couple of hummable tunes. The faith affirms when one hears the first song of the album ' Jaana Nahi Tha ' ,it does sound good. Sung by Sonu Nigam and Alka Yagnik, it is a melodious romantic track that does entertain for a while. It belongs to the typical 'Himesh school of music' - if we may call it so - and follows a typical path that works. T-Series follows a 'typical path' as well and presents an ' Instrumental ' of the same. This makes one ask the oft-repeated question again - "Who is really interested inlistening to instrumentals or different versions of the same song named part I and part II, slight changes dont change the song"

The opening music of ' Tune Ki Bekarari ' is similar to Reshammiya's ' Bhool Na Jaana ' from ' Humraaz '. And from thereon, there are slight traces of ' Har Kisiko Nahi Milta ' from ' Jaanbaaz '. Overall this second love song in a succession is quite ordinary towards its end in spite of some good rendering by Shaan and Alka Yagnik with Jayesh, (as usual), providing the background vocals at places. With this number, things go achingly overboard as there is not one, not two but THREE more versions of the same song. And these three additional versions as ' Part I, II and III ' are sung multiple times by Shaan and Jayesh! phew!

' Akhiyan Lada Jaa ' is a sweet-n-innocent number by Alka Yagnik and Udit Narayan and one feels sad that such song has been wasted in an action flick when it could easily have been a strong point for a romantic musical.The various little sweet nothings in the number sound interesting as the song flows. This is the best song of the album and for a change, one doesn't really mind the repetition of the number where it comes in the 'Rhythm' version.

So far it was all melody and nothing else. So where is the place for a hot-n-sizzling item number? Well the wait is over and this time it is, hold your breath, an ' Imli ' that is there to do the trick! While Jayesh starts the number with his background vocal and a bunch of girls providing the sensual overtones, Hema Sardesai starts off with her details about the ' khaati and meethi imli '. Thank goodness for technology because you can actually click on 'NEXT' and move on.Consequent to the best track - ' Akhiyan Lada Jaa ', comes up the saddest part of the album.

Traditional Laxmikant Pyarelal brand of music comes in the form of ' Kaun Kehta Hai ' in the end of the album. Udit Narayan and Shreya Ghoshal go through the motions primarily while Sameer's lyrics are a just a repetition. A song that could have been designed for Anuradha Paudwal instead, it may not even be found in the actual run of the movie.

' Blackmail ' has a couple of decent tunes that do entertain while the rest of tracks are not bad either (with the exception of the horrendous ' Imli ' that is simply unacceptable). Just like the music of ' Elaan ' that was released a few days back, ' Blackmail ' too has some passable music for an actioner and is in fact even a little better when it comes to melody. A number like ' Akhiyan Ladae Jaa ' or ' Jaana Nahi Tha ' could have fit in even in a feel good romantic movie and hence work for 'Blackmail' to give it chance of some average musical sales.

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