Music Directors: Khayyam, Goutam Ghose
Music Label: Times Music
Rating: **1/2

Veteran music composer Khayyam, whose dulcet melodies in films like "Kabhi Kabhi", "Razia Sultan", "Bazaar", "Noorie" and "Umrao Jaan" have won him hordes of fans, is back after a long gap in "Yatra".

Assisted by the film's director Gautam Ghose in the score, the Khayyam touch is evident in this latest album.

The effort, tilted towards the classical, is quite remarkable. And one cannot help wonder why J.P. Dutta preferred Anu Malik for his "Umrao Jaan".

"Jaam-e-mohabbat", a lovely mujra by Asha Bhosle, sets the tone for the album. The combination of Khayyam, Bhosle and lyricist Ahmed Wasi work wonders in this number that has a brief prelude by Rekha.

Then comes "Aap to mere hi khwabon mein", a love song by Udit Narayan and Alka Yagnik. This number gives one a feel of yesteryears, particularly Khayyam's beautiful track "Ye mulaqat ek bahana hai" from "Khandan". Certainly one of the high points of the album.

Ghazal exponent Talat Aziz returns to Bollywood with "Saaz-e-dil nagma-e-jaan". Aziz's voice fits perfectly into this well-crafted song with lyrics by Naqsh Lyalpuri. At times, he even sounds like the great Ghulam Ali.

"Madhur madhur" by Bhonsle has a folk element attached to it with heavy doses of flute. A very listenable song.

Now what comes next has a surprise element - a remixed version of the O.P. Nayyar classic "Kabhi aar kabhi paar". Sung by Jojo, the remix is done by Goutam Ghose.

The second side of the album is devoted to pure classical music - seven dadras, thumris and taranas, all composed by Ghose.

Shuvra Guha sings the dadra "Tadpe bin baalam", the bhairon thumri "Dareja dareja", pilu thumri "More ankhiyan bhool gayi" and the mishra khamaj "Jaoji karo na" (with Aditi Bhattacharya).

Ustad Rashid Khan croons two songs - "Garaje ghata" and the tarana "Biya biya".

There is another classical number,"Panchhi pinjre se" by Keya Acharya.

One thing is sure - classical buffs will really cherish this album. The songs by Khayyam relive the magic of yesteryears and are quite appealing. "Yatra" proves Khayyam is for all generations.