Rajjo

Music: Uttam Singh
Critic's Rating: ***
These days, it’s refreshing to come across an album that’s so high on instrumentation. Rajjo, by that measure, doesn’t disappoint. Beginning with Julmi Re Julmi, sung by Bela Shende, it's a trip down the days when mujra songs were actually a genre. The situational Mere Dil Ki Train follows.
Shaan sings this happy-go-lucky track in his usual style.It’s the arrangement that impresses. Kaise Milu Mein Piya, features Bela’s sonorous vocals yet again along with Javed Ali (coming right at the very end), washing over you in waves, over the strains of the harmonium and the lightest of ghungroo chimes.
A song of pining, it works on the Radha-Krishna separation theme. It’s slow and sentimental, but really quite a rewarding listen. Dev Kohli’s lyrics on this track deserve a special mention. Next up is Kaleja Hai Haazir, sung by Bela again. Another mujra song, there’s poignant poetry at work here. Not everyone’s cup of tea, though, one might add. Bela and Javed reunite for Mere Ghoongru, an uptempo track that promises more drama than the rest of the numbers here.
Sameer Anjaan, the lyricist for this track, is in fine form here. After that, comes Ye Kotha Ye Ghoongru, the shortest track on the soundtrack (it only lasts a minute and a half) sung by Shubha Joshi. Barely three lines long, it attempts to draw an outline of the travails of a kothewali. Billi Ke Jabde Mein is a satirical song sung by Mumbai Voices in the sort of manner hijras would. It’s skipworthy. Finally, the album closes with Theme Of Rajjo — Instrumental featuring guest composer Gurmeet Singh along with Uttam. This is one album that’s worth a listen if you’re into melodies and sentimental tracks.