The film industry may mourn its bad luck. But the music industry seems to have found a solution to the current crisis. Composers have become enterprising and music companies, though reeling from the impact of recession, are willing to take risks.

T-Series's latest music soundtracks -- Shankar-Loy-Ehsaan's Ek Aur Ek Gyarah and Nayee Padosan -- are racing up the charts. And for the first time in India we have an entire album, of Ram Gopal Varma's Bhoot, featuring songs that do not figure in the film.

Varma explains the strategy behind the musical manoeuvre. "In Hollywood, it is routine to put out a soundtrack based on the film rather than music actually contained in the film. Here, we are not used to that concept. I decided to let some young musicians, including Amar Mohile [son of celebrated music arranger Anil Mohile], Anand Raj Anand and Salim-Suleiman [of Kaante fame] come up with compositions that define the concept of ghosts in their imagination. Then I directed two music videos with Usha Uthup and Sunidhi Chauhan. So while the soundtrack of Bhoot has a life of its own, it is also closely linked to the film."

This new concept may rid the song-infested Hindi film of a major humbug. Explains Varma, "If the Bhoot musical experiment works, then filmmakers will not be tempted to push songs into their films just to make money on the soundtrack. Instead of wasting Rs 20-30 million in picturising songs, they can put out a music album separate from the film, which can act as a teaser."

While Bhoot opens a new concept of music soundtracks in Hindi cinema, conventional experiments are also paying dividends. Last month, producer Suneel Darshan launched his own music company, Shree Krishna Audio, thereby ending the monopoly of music companies in Mumbai.

The inaugural motion picture soundtrack, from his forthcoming film Andaaz, has exceeded all expectations. The sales, specially in north India and the eastern region, are very encouraging.

Says Darshan, "I must admit I am happy and relieved. When I decided to start my own music company, it was a gamble taken out of desperation. The music companies left me with no choice. They were willing to offer no money."

London-based Nadeem Saifi, who composed the music for Andaaz, is happy with Darshan's audio marketing. "For someone starting a new venture, Suneel Darshan has given hope to producers reeling under the recession in the film industry. Three weeks after the audio release, Andaaz has sold close to a million copies. I am happy because as a composer I know that now I have a market-friendly outlet for my music."