Post Tashan's no-show, the Yash Raj flagship is keeping it relatively frugal. So no expenses are incurred on creating a fancy booklet to accompany the CD of their latest, Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic.
Instead, the no-frills packaging is straight to the point in laying out its musical creations -- nothing more, nothing less.
A story of four playful moppets, a stern guy-in-suit and an effervescent angel, TPTM -- co-produced and directed by Kunal Kohli -- features Saif Ali Khan, Rani Mukerji, Amisha Patel and Rishi Kapoor in key roles.
After trying out Rahul Sharma in Mujhse Dosti Karoge and Jatin-Lalit in Hum Tum and Fanaa, the director gets the terrific troika of Shankar Mahadevan, Ehsaan Noorani and Loy Mendonsa on board. While the compositions aren't as poignant as their previous Taare Zameen Par, it definitely scores in a couple of ditties.
A breezily strumming guitar and enchanted, high-pitched chorus conjures images of a big blue sky and pretty daisies as Shankar takes charge waxing poetically (lyrics by Prasoon Joshi) on the science of love in Pyaar ke liye. Fabulously feel-good and sunny enough to light up the senses, Pyaar ke liye shows promise of a great soundtrack ahead.
Buoyancy becomes Shankar as he pounds to the lovestruck beats of qawaali-flavoured Nihaal ho gayi. Besides the dynamic singer's effective alaap, one ought to commend Joshi on his imaginative albeit lucid penmanship. Here's a sparkling sampler: Jisko mein bheed samajhta tha, woh log ho gaye. Jisko sadak samajh tha, woh rah ho gayi. Chamakte aasmaan mein gol cheez chand ho gayi. A racy remixed avatar of the same (by deejay Aqueel) is just as, if not more, rocking to the hilt.
It's Bulbula time! Sunidhi Chauhan and Shankar rock and roll to Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy's frolicsome notes and Joshi's whimsical words. Bubbly, yes. Then again bubbles don't last too long. And so this one, likely to work better on screen, is fun while it lasts and forgotten when over.
Oomph personified Anusha Mani lets her husky chords do all the seduction in the electronic-friendly arrangement of Lazy lamhen. Sweet? Sure. Sweeping? Nah! Perhaps Amisha Patel in her new, slim mode might infuse silver screen sizzle to this one. On second thoughts, you are likely to be lured by deejay Aqueel's stylish, sexy makeover of Lazy lamhen.
A preaching session of a song, Beetey kal se has a melodious Shreya Ghosal enthusiastically cooing over 'India Shining' with Bollywood brand of optimism, which to tell you the truth, is not exactly 'add to playlist' material.
The score starts of magically enough. But two-three compositions later, it runs out on its supply of pixie dust. And so it's 2 and a half stars for 'thoda mast, thoda tragic.'
Rediff Rating: 
