Although my search for music from the film, "Kannathil Muthammittal" ("A Peck on the Cheek") was fruitless, I discovered this CD which has a similar appeal for its exotic Indian musical flavors ... spiced with curry and saffron and accompanied to a great tabla rhythm. I am somewhat embarrassed to admit I saw none of the films for which the music was composed. However, the whole CD is a feast for the senses, just as tasty as a sumptous meal at "Khyber's of India" (famous Indian restaurant in Chicago). I find the song lyrics written by Indivar, Nareej, and Anand Bakshi are among the best. The vocals by Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar are sensational. At times, a single vocalist male or female who begins a song, then there is a chorus added to enhance the message and music. Sadly, there is only one composition on this CD by A. R. Rahman with whose music I am most familiar and have come to love. At times, the music sounds like Central European and Balkan gypsies at their wildest moments ... other times, the female vocalists create unusual evocative appeals that captivate the listener and have you swaying to the melodies. The tempo and rhythm are quick-paced, the melodies have a far-away distant familiarity. Occasionally there are fast changes with interesting transitional phrasing. The instruments are both traditional and modern, one definitely sounds like a santur, similar to a cimbalom (Hungarian hammered dulcimer), occasionally there is a violin accompaniment but with a more earthy tone. Unfortunately, the liner notes give no informaiton about the instruments. While the lyrics were originally written to convey more meaning to a specific scene in a specific film and they were composed to enhance the already charged up emotions of the moment, this CD proves the music stands alone as a uniquely appealing genre, original, creative, cultural and exotic. The music from the best films of Bollywood (Calcutta and Bombay, India) have a huge following within their native country and beyond ... this listener is enormously pleased to have discovered it. Erika Borsos (bakonyvilla)