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'Khoya Khoya Chand' brings the lively charms of Bollywood's 50's golden era with some inspiring performances and appealing music. After the tremendous critical acclaim of 'Haazaron Khwaishein Aisi' (film based on 1977 emergency period), director Sudhir Mishra unravels 50's vintage era depicting the love story between a starlet and a filmmaker. Soha Ali Khan makes her second major solo presence after disastrous 'Ahista Ahista' opposite Abhay Deol, by enacting the role of "Nikhat", a top most Bollywood star of 50's golden era. Shiney Ahuja plays her love interest in the film in the role of "Zaffar", an aspiring filmmaker who falls in love with her. Pakistani actress Sonya Jehan, who played significant role in Akbar Khan's 'Taj Mahal' plays pivotal role in this engrossing love saga while Rajat Kapoor, Sushmita Mukherjee and Vinay Pathak are the supporting star cast. Composer Shantanu Moitra along with lyricist Swanand Kirkire are back to recreate 50's vintage era as they did splendidly in films like 'Parineeta'. It's their second major musical release after the average success of Yash Raj's 'Laaga Chunari Mein Daag'. 'Khoya Khoya Chand' has seven original soundtracks that can be heard on Big music cassettes and CD's.

Khoya Khoya Chand : The vintage musical era of 50's era gets rejuvenated with conventional style of arrangements with the vocal yore of new singing talent Ajay Jhingran in the title track "Khoya Khoya Chand". This number is conceived in customary "qawwali" singing style where the love chemistry emotes in the traditional "qawaali" phrases. Lyricist Swanand Kirkire shows poetic edges as he recites romantic "shayari" in the interludes with the support of traditional Indian musical instrumental flows. Like "Aaankhon Ki Gustakhiyan" ('Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam'), this song magnifies the intensity or development of love chemistry and is assumed to be working better as background score in the film.

Yeh Nigahein : "Yeh Nigahein" brings the famous Gurudutt and Waheeda Rehman's romantic era with strong influence of classical westernized instrumental and inspiring singing. Sonu Nigam along with Shreya Ghoshal show the romantic flair of yesteryears in their lovable track "Piyu Bole" ('Parineeta') but "Yeh Nigahein" has unconventional Antara Choudhary accompanying him. It fails to be as striking as "Piyu Bole" and works more as slow moving ballroom dancing number. Sonu Nigan shows his finesse as he modulates to perfection but Antara's proves to be a wrong choice for this old fashioned romantic track. Shantanu Moitra has brilliantly conceptualized 50's era by incorporating impressive piano, violin and trumpet notes with the tempo of the song. It's likely to be more appealing in its cinematic depiction but will have fewer takers among average listeners.

Chale Aao Saiyaan : Shatanu Moitra puts classical soundtrack "Chalo Aao Saiyaan", a customary "thumri" number on the shoulders of immaculately talented Shreya Ghoshal with strong inputs of traditional classical instrumental works. It's purely situational track and will be having more following from listeners who patronize classical Indian music. After rendering impressive "thumri" "Ehi Thaiyaa Motiya" ('Laga Chunari Mein Daag'), Moitra pitches another effective solo classical number that shows his flair for classical music. Shreya Ghoshal shows his supreme talent once again in reciting this classical number and this track will be more as an attribute of refined singing than an accolade in her esteemed career.

Khushboo Sa : Hamsika Iyer, the inspiring talent who made striking news with mellifluous "Chanda Re" ('Eklavya-the royal guard') , makes her second major presence in a flashy club dance number "Khushboo Sa". The track has the sensual madness of Moitra's earlier work "Kaisi Yeh Paheli" ('Parineeta') but it comes with a sluggish tempo with invigorating westernized instrumental flows in the interludes of the song. Hamsika's free flowing singing flair is an ode to Geeta Bali's style of singing while music correlates effectively to the bygone era. Like "Yeh Nigaahen" is a feminine track that will be an eye candy for scintillating lighting, sensual singing and flashy costumes styling. Hamsika Iyer makes promising appearance once again and is likely to attract composers for her indifferent singing.

O Re Paakhi : After soulfully enchanting "Soona Man Ka Aangan", Moitra clubs again with Sonu Nigam with another thematically inclined sentimental soundtrack "O Re Paakhi". This soft and supple emotional number has Sonu Nigam singing in almost "unplugged" version with music that is reminiscent to the Ravi and Shanker Jaikishen style of music. This emotionally appealing number is expected to be working as an expression of soulful outcry of distressed lover after facing periods of separation or disenchantment. Sonu Nigam deliver a commendable performance in emoting out an excruciatingly romantic number that will add more shades in the characters of the film.

Sakhi Piya : "Sakhi Piya", a mellowed enchanting track craving for beloved is one of the finest soft romantic tracks that has ever visited musical scenario this year. It brings memories of Shreya Ghoshal's last rendered "Sawar Gayi" ('Saawariya') for its soft shimmering vocal rendition with supple instrumentations. Shreya Ghoshal excels to perfection in this classically conceived emotional track with her brilliant command over modulations and variations that collage brilliantly with the supple arrangements of the track. Classically enriched vocals of Pranav Biswas too add traditional elements with its immaculately pristine classical vociferous flows. It's a big inspiration for all those aspiring singers who crave for better future as singer and surely it's going to be another great listening treat for class listeners. Simply brilliant!!!

Thirak Thirak : After romantically mellowed and instrumentally supple tracks, "Thirak Thirak" brings in moods of musical madness in energized singing and dancing flows. Moitra maintains the musical aesthetics of the 50's era by incorporating the traditional musical works with effective vocals. Sonu Nigam makes a perfect singing pair with Shreya Ghoshal for this lovable romantic track that has strong emblematic feel of "Khoya Khoya Chand" with strong inputs of old fashioned instrumental works. This jovial and cheerful number will probably bring loads of light moments in this sentimental love story and will be a promising feature in the narration of the film. This may not be as successful as "Piyu Bole" or "Kasto Maaza" ('Parineeta') but will be accounted as one of finest duets by Moitra.

The team work of Shantanu Moitra and Swanand Kirkire succeeds in recreating the 50's vintage era through their musical work but this is no match for their finest works in 'Parineeta'. The music has classical appeal but there is nothing chartbusting in the album for Gen X listeners. So, its future heavily rests upon the box office success of the film. It will be a humble treat for class listeners and senior citizens who crave to hear something nostalgic about their yesteryears that is known as Bollywood's 50's golden era.