The music magic of Bhatt films

There's something about Mahesh Bhatt!

The veteran filmmaker and his company Vishesh Films have a certain vibe about their movies. And if you go to work on the films with a scalpel, you will notice that more often than not, the magic of Bhatt films is in the music. Here's a look at just how songs from Bhatt camp films have worked. Jism (2003) Think Bipasha Basu and you automatically think Jism. The film catapulted the sultry actress into the league of A-level actresses. And the song Jaadoo hai nasha hai, composed by M M Kreem, scorched the charts. Bipasha played a housewife who entwines John Abraham in her web of entrapment and destroys his life. Interestingly, while Bipasha became an overnight sensation with Jism, there were hardly any takers for her real-life boyfriend John until Dhoom happened to him in 2004. Jism also redefined sexuality in Hindi films.

Paap (2003)

Many viewers wondered what sin they had committed to be subjected to Pooja Bhatt's weird directorial debut.

The story was vague and did not appeal to the masses. In fact, Paap would have been forgotten by moviegoers had it not been for the songs Mann ki lagan and Intezar.

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan -- nephew of the late great Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan -- rocked in Mann ki lagan. Intezar, sung by Anuradha Paudwal, too struck a chord with the audiences.

Murder (2004)

Amir Jamal, a singer by hobby and chartered accountant by profession, had no claim to fame until Mahesh Bhatt stumbled upon a song -- Kaho na kaho -- sung by Jamal on the Internet.

Bhatt heard Jamal's voice and called up the Pakistani singer to include the song in the film Murder.

The song became an instant hit after music director Anu Malik added his touch to it.

And then there was Bheegey hont tere, which gave a then little-known singer called Kunal Ganjawalah the ticket to the big time.

Incidentally, Murder's soundtrack had its share of controversies. Jana jane jana, sung by Jamal again, was a complete copy of a song by a Bangladeshi rock band called Miles. The original Bengali song was called Firiye dao.

Zeher (2005)

Debutant director Mohit Suri hit the jackpot with this one.

The song Woh lamhe by Atif Aslam was last year's biggest hit, until Kajra Re (Bunty Aur Babli) happened.

Mahesh Bhatt felt Woh lamhe was central to Zeher's story.

"Audiences waited for this song in theatres and it gelled very well with the story of the film. The combination of the song, direction and the story of the film made Zeher a hit," Bhatt told rediff.com

But the song sparked a controversy, as Pakistani rock band Jal -- Aslam was part of them earlier -- claimed Aslam had sold the song to Bhatt without keeping them informed.

But the listening audience was blissfully unaware.

Rog (2005)

It was the picture that made all the difference.

Ilene Hannan posed for French magazine L'Official, and the next thing she knew, she was on the phone, talking to Pooja Bhatt.

'She asked me whether I would like to do a Bollywood film,' Ilene said. 'I was taken aback by her offer. I didn't know how to react.'

But she did take up the offer. And controversies followed.

She was detained first by the Mumbai police for staying on with the wrong visa. Then the self-appointed custodians of morality felt the movie's posters were an assault on Indian sensibilities.

But that could not stop from men gawking at Ilene's beauty. And neither could it stop audiences from lapping up the songs Maine dil se kahan dhoond laana khushi and Khoobsarat hai itna raha nahi jaata.

The film, however, flopped.

Kalyug (2005)

This was Zeher director Mohit Suri's second film.

And if Zeher had Woh lamhe, Kalyug also had to have a smash hit number.

The answer came in the form of Rahat Fateh Ali Khan's magic voice in Jiya dhadak.

Though the song was not as big a hit as the other Batt camp anthems, it did create an impact on music lovers.

Another song from the film, Adat -- by the Pakistani band Jal -- made its mark on the music charts.

The film, which was about the murky world of the po*nography business, also made money at the box office.

Holiday (due this Friday)

Just when we were wondering why ace drummer Ranjit Barot is dabbling in background music and not composing songs for films came the news that he has composed the music for Pooja Bhatt's Holiday.

The film is loosely based on the hit Hollywood film Dirty Dancing (1987).

Dino Morea, who had a hit with Bhatt in Raaz (2002), will try his luck once again with newcomer Onjolee Nair. The film is set in picturesque Goa.

Already, the song Khwaishon se is climbing its way up the charts.

Let's see if the film follows suit.