Music: Himesh Reshammiya

Label: T-Series

Rating: 3/5

Lyrics: Sameer

First things first. This album isn't meant for the generation that grew up on Laxmikant Pyarelal's music and Anand Bakshi's lyrics.

The title of the film may be the same (well, almost, if you cut away the fuzz of the zzz's), but Himesh Reshammiya is not Rishi Kapoor and Shweta Kumar is not Tina Munim. Of course, these ain't the 80s, and its obvious that Tandoori Nights will catch more eardrums than Paisa Ye Paisa. If the continuous play on FM stations and music channels is any indication, the surmise has been right.

Himesh makes a comeback as a composer actor package after Aap Ka Suroor, a film whose music caught on well with loyal Himesh fans and also a large part of Gen Y. This time, he returns with a whopping 19 tracks, 12 of which are remixes that are sure to set dance floors burning after the DJ runs out of standard fare.

To be fair, Himesh gives what's expected of Himesh. If you loved his trademark sound earlier, here he gives you that and more. In Dhoom Tere Ishq Ki, he has experimented with simple arrangements, for variety. And with 19 tracks, there's lot HR has experimented with.

Neither Sameer nor Himesh, in both the lyrics and music department, have deviated far from the concept of 'popular'. Both have had half their work cut out, with the original score for inspiration. Himesh is not a patch on Kishore Kumar when it comes to Ek Hasina Thi, for the powerful vocals of Kishore still resonate in your ears when Himesh has a go at the song. The lyrics are the same. Incidentally, a simple search on the internet leads us to the discovery that the 'original' too was a direct copy of the George Benson piece "We As Love".

The song Om Shanti Om from the first edition of Karz was originally released by Trinidadian Calypso/Soca artist Lord Shorty in 1974, according to Wikipedia. As for Hari Om, which is Himesh's version of the original Om Shanti Om, it could be a tad hard on the ears of the older generation used to more melody in Hindi films. But if the rickshaws are playing it at every signal, it's obviously struck a chord somewhere. And, to get perspective back into the picture, again thanks to Wikipedia, the song Om Shanti Om from Karz was originally released by Trinidadian Calypso/Soca artist Lord Shorty in 1974.

Tandoori Nights may at first sound vaguely like a Brit TV show that aired on Channel 4 way back in 1985, but again that's the perspective of those over the hill. Here's another one for the college crowd in the country's vast interiors to groove to, and feel hip. And to hell with the lyrics! – It's only HR who can play with funny words and still compel you to groove. One suggested listening is 'Dhoom Tere Ishq Ki, a simple soulful song for easy listening. This one will surely urge you to put it on repeat. It's surprisingly good and unexpectedly new.

Coming back, despite the rumblings of plagiarism back then, Laxmikant Pyarelal managed to pick up the Filmfare for best music director, and Anand Bakshi (who apparently only translated the original Om Shanti Om) picked up a nomination for best lyrics the same year.

Commercially, the album has all the ingredients to be a musical block buster, (and no Pandit or Sangeet Visharad can deny this) among the HR fans Hari Om is already the new mantra of devotion. HR's Karzzzz has all the elements which makes it a great musical extravaganza and his steady fans will relate to him instantly, no matter what.

Being a man who has set trends rather than follow it - he's the face of Bollywoods 'Peppy-Beat-Era'. Unlike his contemporaries, who accuse him for his nasal inclinations, HR's huge fan following proves otherwise; it also shows that his unique sound has stood the test of time (the music sales prove it).

Love him or hate him, he's not just Himesh Reshammiya – He's Himesh 'Rocks-Remix' Reshammiya. For all you know, Himesh might just repay the Karzzz with a few trophies of his own this year. Watch this space!

For those who would like a different take on the music of Karzzz however, click on the link below.