Pratiksha Arora

What happens when you have a combination of Gulzar, Anu Malik, Ranjit Barot and Asha Bhosle?

You expect magic like the composers created in Aks, but Filhaal fails to rise above the weighty names its label boasts of.

The title track -- Yeh lamha filhaal jeene de -- washes over with its soothing tones as the ever dependable Asha Bhosle lends it her own subtle touch. With its sensitive lyrics and a beautifully arranged score, this track makes you hit the rewind button, over and over again.

The instrumental version, unfortunately, is screechy as the keyboards and the beats drown what could have been an resonant instrumental piece.

Ranjit Barot's touch is clearly evident, as the music arranger lets his keyboard do all the talking at the expense of the melody. Sigh.

Le chalen doliyon mein, is an unlikely wedding song. Anu Malik turns what could have been a loud shaadi number into an-easy-on the-ears number.

Despite Roop Kumar Rathod and Chitra’s rendering this sensitively penned song to perfection, there is that vital something missing.

You might begin to like it after a few hearings, but nonetheless touching lyrics like Ungliye per pehen lo ye rishta, aur humse wada karo seem wasted in a melody which doesn’t make an impact.

Waqt ka saaya is strictly for Jaspinder Narula and Sonu Nigam fans.

With loud dramatic tones, this one finds a mention here only for the interesting arrangement by Ranjit Barot and some interesting use of drums and the flute.

Jaspinder Narula and Palash Sen sing Solah shringar karke. A godh bharai song, this is something you are likely to hear at many more such functions.

The naughty, playful lyrics has Jaspinder Narula singing at her best, without being her screechy self.

Kyun baar baar is a gem rendered by Chitra. Sounding like a take off from a melody used in Har Dil Jo Pyaar Karega, Anu Malik manages to make this night-song evocative. Managing to capture the depth of the dark and the restlessness of the night, this one is the highlight of the second side.

Trying to experiment with different voices for each song, Anu Malik has K. K and Chitra infusing the requisite freshness in Naya naya. Salavaging this exploratory song, despite its jarring high-pitched notes, K.K. and Chitra with their vocals manage to weave in a beautiful picture of a new morning brightened by the rays of sunshine.

The background music of the droplets of water adds a sensual beat to this song.

Palash Sen makes his presence felt with Dil ke sannate. Manging to convey the angst and reverberate his loneliness in his voice, this one is worth a listen.

The album fails, because barring the title song, nothing lingers in your memory much after its done. Ranjit Barot, who excelled himself in Aks, fails to reach his mark with his arrangements which jar with the overall mood of the lyrics.

Likewise, Anu Malik's melodies stand out like a sore thumb when juxtaposed with Gulzar's lyrics.

If this one is a pick, then it is simply for Gulzar's sheer wizardry with words. Simple, playful and yet sensitive, they touch the right chords.

Dragging listeners from the heights of joy into the deep depths of despair, his lyrics are a master piece by themselves.