After 1993´s unforgettable Rudaali, Bhupen Hazarika reteams with director Kalpana Lajmi for her new flick. And while not quite in the brilliance league of the team´s previous effort, it is infinitely better than Hazarika´s uninspired and disappointing tracks for M.F. Hussain´s Gaja Gamini.

If the entire album were as perfect as Jaspinder Narula´s commanding performance for "Chali Bhagwati", this score would likely have been the best of the year. It is such a pleasure to hear Jaspinder balance her regular rendering of racy Punjabi tunes with more classic-based tunes such as "Na Leke Jao" (Fiza) and the thought-provoking "Chali Bhagwati".

Alka Yagnik croons "Sun Sun Goriya, Kya Bole Tera Kangana" and our hearts skip a beat to the sweet and simple melody. The piece de resistance of this little ditty though is the gorgeous "Hey Ram Ram..." refrains.

Temporarily extinguishing the torch of her regular pop renditions, it is next Hema Sardesai´s turn. I´ve always liked this lady´s voice and it is great to hear her try something calmingly different with "Sar Sar Hawa Hai, Kis Ne Badan Chhua Hai". Ironically pleasing, the lyrics are naughty, while Hema´s vocals are innocent and subdued.

Poor Kavita Krishnamurthy is fast being relegated to largely singing the serious-themed songs in every recent movie. Sure, her voice can rise to the challenge as "Gum Sum Gum Megha Barse" aptly proves, but Kavita needs to be careful to avoid becoming typecast. (Actually, Dr. Hazarika´s coarse vocals better underline the morbidity needed in the song and I preferred his version of "Gum Sum Gum Sum".) You will remember how Mohammad Aziz vanquished from the film playback scene after being pigeon-holed in a similar manner back in the early-nineties.

Dominique and Shaan pleasantly offer the "Bahar Hi Bahar Hai" rock atmosphere next, but one could not care less. Not a bad song by any measure, one is just confounded why a meaningless, or perhaps situational, tune such as this is included in a movie meant to broach the serious topic of marital rape? Perhaps it is meant to be filmed on the younger sister, but then again, why the sixties´ style saxophone and guitar music?

Lastly, "Hu Hu Hu Pagal Pawan" sing Kavita Krishnamurthy and Ishaan. The piano, guitar, drum beat, lyrics and chorus each add to the soft effectiveness of the romantic mood, but the track is missing the soul necessary to stand above the crowd.

What strikes me as most impressive about the soundtrack for Kalpana Lajmi´s Daman is not the successful re-teaming of the director and Hazarika - yes, we are all very happy at their collaborative output - but rather the lyricist´s well-conveyed words in every tune. It is great to discover that Maya Govind, once known for writing every smut-laden, double meaning verse for the songs in the 1990s, can give poets like Gulzar and Javed Akhtar a run for their money. Well done, Ms Govind.