Bollywood Musicals Return!

If 2014 saw a dearth of musicals, 2015 will make up for that drought. At least 5 major filmmakers are making grand musicals where the characters won't just sing and dance in the traditional Bollywood mould, they will also break the current rule of endorsing only four-five songs in a film. Here's looking at the five musical spectacles of 2015:

1. Bajirao Mastani: Has nine songs in all, many semi-classical numbers, and all inspired by Sanjay Leela Bhansali's idol Lata Mangeshkar. SLB who directs as well as composes this historical, scored the music for this film 10 years ago when he first decided to make it. He notes, "It was a big challenge to compose music for a historical. The songs had to convey the mood and texture of the era and yet I needed the sound to connect with today's generation. Not an easy task." As always SLB will introduce new singing and writing talent through the songs.

2. Mirziya: 400 hours of recorded music for this one! Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's tale of mythical love will feature wall-to-wall songs. Yes, you heard it right. Shankar-Ehsaan Loy's music will be used to convey the emotions between the lovers. Says Mehra, "We've recorded 400 hours of music.We've been recording since before the release of Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. My association with Gulzar Saab who has written the lyrics and Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy is almost telepathic. It's like I have a dream. And these other artistes come and become part of that dream and give new interpretations and dimensions to my dream." The last time legendary lovers conversed in song and poetry was when poet Kaifi Azmi and music composer Madan Mohan got together for Chetan Anand's Heer Ranjha.

3. Jagga Jasoos: Anurag Basu's homage to the old-world cinema of conversational soundtracks. Remember songs like 'Mannu, tera kya hoga' in Chalti Ka Naam Gadi and 'Achcha Toh Hum Chalte Hain' in Aan Milo Sajna? Basu wanted his lead pair Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif to celebrate their love affair by singing about everyday affairs. The musical pieces composed by Pritam are designed like a Broadway musical. Yup, there is a song for every occasion here.

4. Prem Ratan Dhan Payo: When Sooraj Barjatya wrote the script, he also wrote the songs in them. When he narrated the screenplay to Salman Khan, he also described the song situations. The film harks back to the traditional values of Barjatya's Hum Saath Saath Hain and Vivaah. The filmmaker wanted Ram Laxman to score the music. Salman recommended his favourite Himesh Reshammiya, who has composed nine songs for this ode to the spirit of family values.

5. Bajrangi Bhaijaan: A R Rahman is scoring the music of this musical for Salman Khan. And while it won't be the first time the maestro has done the music for a Salman Khan film (Yuvvraaj), it does promise to make for a memorable combination given that this will also be the only other time he has worked with YRF (Jab Tak Hai Jaan being the other exception. Director Kabir Khan, whose Phantom also releases this year, shares that Phantom has no lip-sync songs. "YOu won't see Saif and Katrina singing in Phantom. But you will see Salman and Kareena doing a lot of singing in Bajrangi Bhaijaan."