Bappi Lahiri: Pataal Bhairavi (1985)

Bappi Lahiri would throughout the 1980s make soundtracks that verged from tackily second-rate to the near sublime. 'Pataal Bhairavi' contains a little of both. Starter 'Mehmaan Majar Ki Ban Ja' is one I'm happy to skip; thankfully things pick up a bit after it. 'Tannana Tannana' is imbued with a touch mysticism (and contains a few delicate breaks), while 'Jhoom Jhoom Ke' is a typically loud disco stomper; not his best by a long shot but neither without at least some merit.

Salma Agha's 'Chumma Chumma' is the album's real standout, a wonderfully catchy track that avoids simply using the trappings of Western dance music, creating instead something approaching a uniquely Indian disco sound. It's impossible to sit still to, it's sexy, and it really is fantastic. And doesn't Dimple Kapadia look stunning?

Silk Smitha does the honours in the picturization of the frenetically percussive 'Ek Dubatti Do Do Mawaali'; of a similar mode and not half bad, but unfortunately lacking the magic of the above. 'Ek Bechara Phas Gaya' is a pleasant ballad, and 'Kalike Kapalike' has an odd folky quality.

Track listing:
1. Lata Mangeshkar & Kishore Kumar: Mehmaan Majar Ki Ban Ja
2. Asha Bhosle, Kishore Kumar & Chorus: Tannana Tannana
3. Asha Bhosle, Kishore Kumar & Chorus: Jhoom Jhomm Ke
4. Salma Agha: Chumma Chumma
5. S. Janaki: Ek Dubatta Do Do Mawaali
6. Yesudas & Chorus: Ek Bechara Phas Gaya
7. Anup Ghosal: Kalike Kapalike