Mohabbat hai ik khwab ya ik junoon hai. When I started listening to this song I was wondering why Rahman was singing and why he was singing it like he was. In fact at a point of time, I was wondering why this was not a simple song sung by Mohd Rafi. But then simplicity is not really Rahman's style and somehow he brings in his complexity even in simplicity, and that's what is the USP of this song. Kya hai Mohabbat is not just a song, but a signature of Rahman on Ekk Deewana Tha. On something that is NOT Vinnaithaandi Varuvaya, the Tamil movie from which the whole soundtrack is copied as is. Supposedly. But Rahman leaves a mark here. Do listen to the song for that one genius called A R Rahman. Simple lyrics, on a simple tune, with the genius composing and singing, a little confusing in the beginning maybe, but lovely once it settles.

Dost hain hum to, ye bahana kyun. Pyaar hai humko, ye chhupana kyun. I like Javed Akhtar's words. Simple, but deep. And I love Naresh Iyer's voice here, which should totally suit Prateik. Rap is not my favorite part, and unfortunately for me, the song is full of it. Also, the harp (?) in the background seems heard before from Rahman. However, Sachin-Jigar's additional arrangements were visible to me, even if it's just a feeling. I'd have loved to have some more Hindi words.

Aaromale's guitars give me a Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy feel, from Taare Zameen Par, and sadly, Alphons Joseph's diction is a negative even with his lovely voice, which does sound a little like of Raghu Dixit in the beginning. However, with all the effects added to his voice and Rahman's simple, attractive, familiar music, the song is bound to do okay at least. Still, I hate Shubbha-Shubbha (shubh-shubh).

Hosanna. That's something which goes beyond the boundaries of language. Here Leon D'Souza is nice, and his voice instead of Vijay Prakash, probably used for freshness, serves the purpose well. But the real star of the song is India's best female background voice, Suzanne D'Mello. Suzi once again shows her magic, and perfectly renders Hosanna, making it a treat overall, despite very basic lyrics and some slight diction problems from the male singer.

Clinton Cerejo after some long time gets a full song with Phoolon Jaisi, as a singer. Though the music of the song is fine, the lyrics are kinda broken, and one can tell that it's translated material. So much that the song reminds me of jeans half of the time.

Madhushree. I love this singer of Rahman camp. Somehow in her voice you can feel a complete surrender that I don't remember hearing so clearly in any other voice. Of course, the feeling is reflected as it's there in the words of the song. And while Madhushree sings some lovely words in Sharminda hoon, Rahman's vocals this time include a lot of words, though his magic was much better without words. Oh, if you're wondering what I am talking about, it's Kabhi neem neem kabhi shahad shahad that's running in background for me. Anyway, the point is that the song is lovely. Actually more like Tu Bin Bataye I guess. Never mind, just listen to it.

After a superbly lovely song by Madhushree n Rahman, next is an average sounding sunlo zara, that will probably strike instantly, but won't run the long race.

The next comes a slooow Zohrajabeen from Javed Ali. The man who has been Rahman's choice for some of his best numbers, bags yet another great and just flows with it. A song with some soothing music and purely romantic lyrics, zohrajabeen will take its time to settle down in the mind but you know it's going to be worth it right from the start.

Broken Promises by Shreya comes next, which is a sad, and rather musical, classical kind of rendition from the little champion of musical notes. Frankly, reviewing this one is beyond me and I'd better leave this one to you.

Moments in Kerala is a gem of a piece. Well I wrote that one because I heard it for the whole two minutes and started doing something else and didn't even know that something was playing in my ears. It just played on and on and I realized only when it stopped playing. My guess is that that is how a real instrumental should be. Engaging when you listen in, and background like when you don't. On that one, it fits well, and besides that, there is not much to tell I guess as I heard it again, and just liked it, that being all.

Jessie's Land. Well I was expecting some local instruments or maybe some greenery n water sounding here, but it's a plain but nice hmm-mmm rendition of more or less the tune of dil-hote-jo-mere-seene-mein-do, with some easy on ears electronic music. OK. Still wondering why I hear Tumhi Dekho na in the background sometimes. Actually good control over the minute things by the Megha girl. Don't think even Rahman can make it sound good with just sound mechanics.

The last tune, Jessie's been driving me crazy, starts with an espionage piece, and goes all rocky and Sanjeev Thomas and Timmy give me one of the most simple, raw, almost roadside rock, with English lyrics merged with Hindi, and of course it works, because roadside deals are almost always good, value for money, interesting. The only thing I am wondering here is how Rahman is involved here. And if he's at all, because Sanjeev n Timmy can do this on their own for sure.

Anyway, the point here is that the song is good and so is the album. I mean, we have an awesome start, an almost perfect Hosanna, a lovely Sharminda Hoon, a romantically touching zohra-jabeen, and a lot many average to above average to even good other tracks. I guess that good enough for now. Isn't it?

PS: After taking a look at some more reviews, I think it would be better to mention that I have not heard Vinnaithaandi Varuvaya and hence the review is from the perspective of a person who has NOT heard the original album, and listening to all the tunes for the first time.