Shot as a mega-concert in a huge football stadium, the video of the leadtrack is a winner all the way. From her dramatic entry in a helicopter tothe wild frenzy of the crowd, the special effects are complimented by fancychoreography.

The second video on the melodious single, Ikki chikki chikita is shot on thesilvery beaches of the Maldives where Raageshwari searches for her dream man.Says she, ``In my songs I follow my own philosophy-never stop enjoying thesimple things in life. Never be in a rush. And that's exactly what I amtrying to project in my music videos. I have a gut feeling this one is goingto click.''

Indeed, this gut feeling has taken her places. From skipping college toentering the world of films to being a VJ first on Channel V and then on MTVand to becoming an Indipop singer, Raageshwari has seen it all.

Flashback to 1991, when at 16, this peppy teenager decided to give college ago by and go straight into the realm of cinematic glamour. Though acting wasalways a passion and success in Bollywood a bygone conclusion, her careerdidn't quite take off as she had expected.

She suffered the proverbial gambler's luck when her first movie Aankhenopposite Chunky Pandey became a runaway hit. Ironically, she didn't get anyworthwhile offers after that and, bored of waiting for the right kind ofrole, she crash-landed in the Channel V studios as hostess of the popularBPL Oye.

A year later she switched over to MTV because of problems at Channel V.However, when everything was going hunky dory at MTV, Raageshwari decided toventure into yet another unexplored territory -- music. Though it wasn'tsomething that she'd really planned to do.

So, what made her go in to it? Raageshwari says that though she had had noformal training in music and didn't do riyaz every day because of herlaziness, she had always enjoyed singing.

Music has been an important part of Raageshwari's life. She still cherishesher grandfather's harmonium dating back to 1916. Her father Trilok Loomba isa classical singer, composer and a musician who has helped her considerablyin her music career.

The hummable music and simple yet catchy lyrics penned by her father and aslick video directed by her brother Rishabh will both contribute to thesuccess of Y2K-Saal Do Hazaar, she says.

Raageshwari struck gold when her 1997 album Duniya went platinum in just amonth after its release. It meant more than just the fortune she made fromsales. She signed a megabuck deal with Coke to do a series of concertsaround the country.

Raageshwari says that the sudden success didn't spin her head around.Instead it has made her more mature and humble. When it was releasedcritics, spared no barbs. Her singing was torn to shreds, so were the lyricsand the music. But the critics were silenced once it started racing up thecharts.

Says Raageshwari, ``The initial days after the release were very tense. Forsome strange reason everyone out there seemed ready to back me to pieces. Itmade me extremely nervous.''

But her next album Pyar Ke Rang sank without a trace. It was perhaps thefailure which propped her to do Y2K-Saal Do Hazaar, her third one.She has a three-record deal with the music company. ``The people at HMVinsisted that I and my father work as a team because we did so well togetherin Duniya.''

As in her debut album, brother Rishabh Loomba has done a spectacular job onthe video. ``Rishabh, has worked with Shekhar Kapoor for five years and hewas the natural choice,'' says Raageshwari.

The imagery of her visuals in both the albums is so strong that it'sdifficult to say whether it is the video or the music that has madeRaageshwari a pop star. However, she discounts that with a wave of her handand says that a video might give you an image but it can't sell a song.``There are many albums with brilliant music videos which never do well. Thevideo just adds to the song, it doesn't sell the cassettes,'' she says witha smile citing the example of Mariah Carey's Honey.

That brilliant smile is something which comes easy to her. That's becauseshe feels that smiling is the easiest thing one can ever do. It costsnothing and can make you come into contact with people and make others morecomfortable. But besides being of pleasant disposition Raageshwari carries avery intuitive and intelligent head on her shoulders.

Today Raageshwari is a busy girl. She's living out of suitcases as she hasto constantly travel for her television shoots and live shows. Does such ahectic schedule not get tiring at the end of the day? ``Earlier it used tobut not any more. Now I've got used to it. And each trip is so exciting thatone doesn't get time to get bored or tired.''

Besides singing Raageshwari has other interests, too. Like cooking. Thesedays she is into Italian cuisine and is constantly trying out different waysto make pasta. Generally not a party buff, Raageshwari can happily spend afree day in the kitchen.

A person like Raageshwari staying home and spending time in the kitchen?Sounds incredible. Some people, however, say that her not going out toparties has a lot to do with her break-up with long-time boyfriend andMumbai socialite Sanjay Narang.

``Of course not,'' she says. ``I prefer staying at home than going out ingeneral.'' She is also candid enough to admit that she is looking for theright man for herself and is sure that she'll soon meet up with him.But as of now it's music and films which are her top priority. She isawaiting the release of her two new films, Dil Kitna Naadan Hai and Tum JiyoHazaron Saal. Life surely is a song for Raageshwari.

-- Newsmen Features