While 2003 saw a spate of small budget multiplex movies that catered to a select few, the first half of 2004 had comparatively few releases of such kind. ' Where Is The Party Yaar ', ' Raghu Romeo ', ' Hyderabad Blues II ' were a select few that hit the marquee but none of them made any mark at the box office. Latter half of 2004 promises to bring in fresh new multiplex movies that may find flavor amongst the audience. Debutant writer-director Sanjay Bhatia's ' 99.9 FM ' is one of them that is a 2 Gram Films presentation. Starring Shahwar Ali ( Hawas ), Dipannita Sharma (16 December, Jajantaram Mamantaram) and Raima Sen (Choker Bali), 99.9 FM boasts of an amusingly innovative title and a tagline that reads 'Nothing is 100%'. An album that has 17 tracks (whoa!), just two have been specially composed for this movie while for the rest, the rights have been taken from other popular non-film albums.

The album is aimed mainly at the class that becomes eminent when the opening track is Ustad Sultan Khan's superbly sung, worded and composed ' Kate Nahi Raat ' from the album ' Bhoomi '. A melodious track with a classical base, it is a must for those who love quite and soothing numbers in their own private world. The following track ' Nirvana ' by Biddu from the album ' Eastern Journey ' could easily give ' Enigma ' from West some run for its money. An instrumental that has a distinct Indian flavor, it is haunting yet soothing at places. An apt follow-up to the preceding track ' Kate Nahi Raat '. Next arrives ' Kesariya ', a traditional track by Zila Khan, which is again classical, would be liked by those who have deep understanding and liking of such music but would be ignored by those looking for populist numbers. All said and done this one is a rich piece of work!

There is a pleasant piece of surprise for Shubha Mudgal's fans who will get to hear her in this album that has abundance of high quality music. Written by Prasoon Joshi (who recently gained a lot of acclaim for his work in worldwide blockbuster ' Hum Tum '), ' Intezar ' from the album ' Mann Ke Manjeere ' is a composition by Shantanu Moitra that has Indian soul in a western garb. Ditto with ' Chori Chori ', composed by Satish Sharma, from her album ' Nachoon Sari Saari Raat ' which is even more western in the arrangements. The last track in the album where Shubha Mudgal makes an appearance is ' Is Pal ' from ' Ab Ke Sawan '. Out of the three tracks sung by her, this is the one that has her in full elements and she is herself as recognized by her fans. A racy track, she is at her full-throated best and makes for an indeed 'mast mahaul', as is the intent of the number.

Shaan's ' Tanha Dil ' and ' Gumsum Ho Kyon ' hardly need any introduction. The number that capitulated him to the top position in the non-film as well as playback singing, they are superb pieces of work by the music composer Ram Sampath, who has surprisingly been forgotten after his debut as a movie composer in Raj Kumar Santoshi's ' Khakee '. This guy deserves some recognition! 99.9 FM also gains a lot with the inclusion of these two numbers that have already been popular with all age groups.

Another track that doesn't require any introduction is Late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan saab's ‘ Sanoo Ek Pal Chain Naa Aawe '. The traditional touch sounds good and fresh whenever it is heard and whatever time of the season. And when you have the traditional touch of Nusrat saab's vocals, you just can't stop listening to the number and admire the genius. Another genius who makes an appearance is Bhimsen Joshi with his Bhajan ' Jo Bhaje Hari Ko Sada ' from the album ' Swar Shikhar '.

First original track composed for the movie makes a belated appearance as ' Sau Feesadi ' (100 % percent), written by Amitabh Varma and composed by Piyush Kanojia. Usha Uthup sings this background track that carries the message that there is nothing, which is 100% in life. A pop track with a remix feel it is philosophical and doesn't offer much to those who by now may be looking for a 'boy meets girl' kind of a song. But all credit to the makers of 99.9 FM who have stuck to the theme of the movie and have refrained from going off track even at one instance. Another original composition is the theme music by Piyush Kanojia that is contemporary, fast paced, foot tapping and enlivens the surroundings.

Next arrives an instrumental ' Rain Dance ' from the album ' Sum..Cultures Of Rhythm ', which doesn't have the soothing effect as witnessed in ' Nirvana ', but is indeed haunting. A fusion track, it is well composed by the quartet of Ravindra Rajbhatt, Taufiq Quereshi, Sridhar Parthasarthy and Rajesh Rajbhatt. ' Movement ' is another instrumental from the same album where again they have made use of a select few musical instruments in a clever way and delivered something unconventional yet classy! There are sounds of bells, chimes, tabla and various other Indian instruments that have a mesmerizing effect.

For those who love pop tracks from the Pakistani shores, there is plenty to cheer about. Zoheb Hassan's ' Muskuraaye Jaa ' from the album ' Pop Hits ' is a soft pop track about not bowing to the hardships in life and keeping your chin high by being spirited. If publicized well here in India, it could be a favorite amongst the campus crowds as was the case with Hyder Ali's ' Puraani Jeans '. Zia Mohyeddin's ' Tum Na Aaye To Har Cheez ' and ' Yeh Mujhe Azeez Bhi Aur Napasand ' from the album ' Faiz Sahib Ki Mohabbat Mein ' are narrations of Urdu poetry that may appeal only to a very select few who appreciate such genre.

Don't go with any expectations that ' 99.9 FM ' is your route to yet another Bollywood music score or even conventional pop tracks. 99.9 FM defines the true meaning of being different in all the ways - be it the placement of tracks, overall packaging of the album, the selection of unique tracks from various sources and above all, the daring approach of the makers who have moved away diagonally opposite from the tried and tested route. This is an album for you if you want to be completely clueless about what the next track is going to sound like and what more is in the offering! If you want to listen to an album without bothering if it is a film or a non-film album and are just looking for high quality rich music, then 99.9 FM is the one for you!!

ALBUM RATINGS

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