Launched way back in 2002, ' Shabnam Mausi ' is the real life story of a eunuch by the same name who went on to become a Member of the Legislative Assembly in Madhya Pradesh. During the movie's launch, there was a lot of fanfare with Ashutosh Rana playing the title role. Produced by Sudesh Bhosle and J Manoj under the banner of Bollywood Films and directed by Yogesh Bharadwaj, the movie's shooting too began at a brisk pace but then met a deadlock somewhere. Now, somewhere around mid-2005, the movie is again in news with the beginning of television publicity. Vijay Raaz, Vishwajeet Pradhan, Mukesh Tiwari, Vivek Shauq and Avtar Gill play supporting roles while the music is composed by Dilip Harikishan, Mani Shankar, Sujeet Chaubey and Kanakraaj.

Well, what does one expect from this movie that is miles apart from a regular Bollywood potboiler. To add to it, it doesn't boast of a romantic couple dancing around the trees or a patriotic theme or even an offbeat theme that could result in some situational tunes. The same problem would have been faced by the makers of the movie as well who had to resort to a small town/village nautanki ' Nathaniya Ne Loot Liya Saara Mohalla ' being placed at the album's start. We are not even going it more details about this 'interior centric' number that tries to cater to all the audience from UP, Bihar, Delhi, Jhumri Tallaiya, Agra, Jaipur and the rest of the North India's cow belt. It doesn't stand an iota of a chance to be heard by an urban audience. To make matters worst, the track's duration is full 8 minutes that may be a record for such genre. Nope, a music lover deserves much better than this!

If this wasn't enough, second number ' Tere Ghar Aaya Baal Gopaal ' is composed for a situation where a group of eunuchs are giving their 'duas' to a new born child. We would like to know about a single living soul who would pay to hear this number blasting out of their home stereo systems.

Some sensibility in the proceedings come with ' Aaja Ri Nindiya Raani Tu Aaja ', a lullaby by Kumar Sanu. Before you start considering this number to be a record shattering 'all time hit' lori, we want to hold you back by making it clear that this is just a welcome relief from the earlier two tracks and nothing else. With all credits to the composer and the singer, it can be at least listened to in entirety unlike the previous two that cannot be survived for more than a minute each.

' Main Bana Jogiya ' is a sufi track belonging to 'dard-e-judaai' genre. In any other romantic movie, it could have made some impression when placed at a right situation. But one wonders how valuable the number may prove to be in the movie ' Shabnam Mausi '. An irritating factor is the usage of synthesizers at places where violins would have been more apt. One moves on with zero hopes towards the remaining part of album and the only positive outcome of the entire album is when one realizes that there are only two more tracks to go.

Surprise surprise - there is also a romantic duet ' Thoda Thaher ' by Udit Narayan and Anuradha Paudwal. Relying on melody this time around, it turns out to be a decent track that can be given an ear. OK, so the arrangements still aren't very classy and the tune does sound oft repeated. But when all hopes had died from the album, ' Thoda Thaher ' brings on some respite at least.

Vinod Rathod comes up in his full-throated avtaar while crooning ' Vote Usse Tum Dena '. A situational track about a door to door campaigning and spreading the buzz around having a eunuch run an administration rather than tried and tested men and women who have failed to deliver. Again not one of those numbers for which you would spend money to hear again and again.

This album can just be given a convenient miss. Period!