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The age of experimentation in Bollywood has brought unexpected adventures, unexplored genres and burning subjects to the commercial mainstream with a big bang. This time it's Yashraj Films venturing into ruthless and distressed terrain of the Taliban rule in Afghanistan in their forthcoming film 'Kabul Express'. Documentary filmmaker Kabir Khan brings out tryst of five different peoples from different countries but linked with threads of hate and fear with motives in devastated ruins of Afghanistan. John Abraham and Arshad Warsi live this tiresome and intimidating experience along with foreign actors like Hanif Hum Ghum, Salman Shahid and Linda Arsenio in lead roles. The film has been set in post 9/11, where American armed forces have devastated the Taliban regime in Afghanistan and the country is reduced to heaps of ruins. John and Arshad play Indian television journalists in this film where they enter Kabul to report the happenings under the Taliban regime and about its natives and the aftermath of attack on Afghanistan. Their journey is full of unwanted bumpy rides where they are accompanied by Taliban guides, American photojournalists and Pakistani soldiers. 'Kabul Express' is expected to release towards the end of December. A newcomer in Raghav Sachar has composed the music that is a mixed bag of vocal and instrumental work. 'Kabul Express' has the pleasure of entertaining listeners with nine original soundtracks that can be heard on Yashraj Music.

KABUL FIZA: The mixed reaction of living dangerously in the city of "Kabul" and enjoying every moment of it is amplified vocally by composer and singer Raghav Sachar in the opening soundtrack "Kabul Fiza". The song has groovy western feel and has been sung with eclectic vocal thrust to amuse the young generation. The soundtrack comprises Arabian music flavors mixed with loads of percussions and stringed instruments. Raghav makes an impressive start with the introductory number that can be used for the promotion of the film. "Kabul Fiza (theme)" is an instrumental musical work where "sarangi" and "santoor" stringed work is camouflaged with saxophone notes to give it a striking feel.

"Kabul Fiza (remix) is a fun loving club remix number that sounds ordinary with its routine feel. It will have big takers from amongst DJ's and will work better on dance floors. Raghav has shown promise in all three versions and builds the tempo of the album.

BANJAR: "Banjar" means "barren" and comes with folksy vocal flavors of Shubha Mudgal depicting the miseries of a barren land. The song talks about the hope of life even in ruins where life becomes hell. This thematically conceived number comes in fast paced rendition where the miseries of "Kabul" are depicted. Sivamani's histrionics with drums and Niladri Kumar's electric sitar team up well. The song brings Shubha Mudgal to the centrestage after a long time and her voice is finely synchronized with the sentiments of the situation in the film.

"Banjar (revisited)" is the male version of "Banjar" with the same intimidating and rocking feel in the original soundtrack. This time KK holds the mike and sings like a rock singer with full vocal thrust and gives it a hard rock feel. It will definitely have big takers from the pop genre for its trendy musical feel.

"Banjar (lounge mix)" makes a daunting impact as the echoing impact of lounge music can be felt in this remix soundtrack. Sunidhi Chauhan croons this number with an intimidating feel portraying the "barrenness" of tormented land of "Kabul". It has ruthless feel rather than hip-hop touch generally felt through club and lounge mixes. Raghav comes out with another set of engrossing versions of "Banjar" and it would definitely help him in getting acclaim.

KEH RAHA MERA DIL: Raghav Sachar comes back in full form after "Kabul Fiza" in this titillating lovable soundtrack "Keh Raha Mera Dil". This comes with oodles of idealism where the singer sings about his love struck heart with soft pitched guitar strums. It sounds like Indi-pop number rendered with westernized feel of mushy love song. The fine flute work forms an impressive prelude to this number and Raghav's vocals work magic again but with soft and smoothening touch.

KABUL EXPRESS (THEME): This instrumental musical theme work is based on the lounge music impact where sensuous feminine voice moves in tandem with the music. This has been used in teasers of the film and has been composed by foreign composer -- Julius Packiam. It works as a background score where five immigrants move in the sandy locations of Kabul. The soundtrack starts off with dark and daunting music rendered through fine flute works and loud drumming with strong feel of Arabian music in the background. The album works effectively with fine usage of lounge music and this is another piece of impressive musical work.

YEH MAIN AAYA KAHAN: Raghav's impressive voice and music makes concluding tribute to this finely conceived album with the soundtrack "Yeh Main Aaya Kahan". Like "Keh Raha Mera Dil", it has Indi-Pop groovy feel of lovable mushy song where the singer narrates his heart felt emotions through vocal ebullience. It has "yuppie" feel to attract young listeners and sounds melodious with its soft sentimental touch. Raghav Sachar has been effective in all of his vocally rendered numbers and this number gives the album a grand finale.

The music album of 'Kabul Express' comes especially for listeners who crave for different genre, style and composition of music. Raghav Sachar impresses to a large extent and can be termed as one of the new "find" of this year. The album has some promising numbers like "Kabul Fiza", "Banjar" and "Yeh Main Aaya Kahan" with fine usage of instrumental and lounge music. This album should come as welcome relief for Yashraj Films whose last album 'Dhoom 2' was lambasted for being sub-standard. 'Kabul Express' should find good takers among urban listeners for its racy and trendy feel and stands bright chances of promising sales in coming days.

GOOD BUT DIFFERENT!!!