The season of situational soundtracks continues with Paa. Starring the two Bachchans in never before roles, Paa promises big things. Veteran composer Ilaiyaraaja who had scored some melodious tunes for the same team's last effort Cheeni Kum, is back in Paa.

Many Hindi film music fans might not be aware that AR Rahman had spent some of his early years with Ilaiyaraaja. That old connection is very evident in the sound of Paa. There is a dominant Rahmansque tone to the first track Udhi Udhi. The use of violin, piano and percussion bring back old memories of Roja. Brilliantly sung by the Khuda Jaane girl Shilpa Rao, Udhi Udhi is easy on the ears and simple on the lips.

The same track appears in another version with minor changes in lyrics. Udhi Udhi becomes Mudhi Mudhi, but the sound is equally melodious.

Sunidhi Chauhan's Hichki Hichki is heavy on bass and drums. In terms of arrangement and singing the feel is similar to San Sana Nan from Asoka. Lively and seductive, Hichki Hichki works more for its singing than the tune.

Gali Mudhi Itefaq is a male version of Mudhi Mudhi. Sung by Shaan it's got an unplugged feel with very little instruments. But Shaan's dramatic voice loses out to Shilpa's energy in the female version. This one sounds like a weak after thought to a great song.

Gumm Summ has a childlike innocence to it. Quite evidently picturised on a bunch of children, Gumm Summ has an effective chorus backed up by R Bavatharini's simple voice. The violin is once again the predominant instrument. A song about living in the moment, Gumm Summ is a genuine melody for children and not a sham like regular Bollywood kiddie numbers.

Halke Se Bhole is a chorus number sung by a bunch of kids. Arranged on the lines of a morning assembly school prayer, Halke Se Bhole doesn't have the impact of Gumm Summ.

Amitabh Bachchan's Mere Paa is a dramatic listen. Minus his trademark baritone, it's hard to recognise Big B's vocals. A situational number, it gives you an idea of level of performance one can expect from Bachchan in the film.

The Paa Theme that's being playing in the promos is an instantly catchy tune. A music piece involving a violin, it has a fairy tale-like feel to it.

Verdict: Paa is an honest effort unlike anything else in the market. Simple, sweet melodies that strike a chord are hard to come by these days. Paa is one of the few albums that stays away from any gimmickry. This one is straight form the heart.

- Buzz18.in.com