FORBIDDEN KISS, 1996 – Last minute Productions 

Also released on Fang records this co-produced album between Najma and an American musician, Chris Rael, of the band Church of Betty, focuses on the concept of Indian Film Songs. Recorded in the USA, this album was by no means a remix but by staying true to the original and incorporating subtle small changes it has its own sound. Rael's band had previously experimented with Indian and western music. After meeting Najma at the Contemporary Indian Music Festival in Vienna, Najma and Rael began work on this tribute album to the renowned, prolific and pioneering composer of popular Hindi film music, SD. Burman. His influence spanned between the 1950s and the 1970s and India’s most famous playback singers usually sang his songs. Many of his songs became household classics and his son, R.D. Burman, continued his father's legacy and became an equally successful composer. Forbidden Kiss was co-arranged with New York composer Brian Woodbury while Najma provided the vocal accompaniments. The songs featured on the album are from popular Indian films such as, Guide, Jewel Thief, Aradhana, and Prem Nagar many of which were also suggested by Najma’s mother, Mrs Shafiqua Akhtar due her knowledge, experience and connection with the Indian film industry through the past family printing business.

"Forbidden Kiss is entertaining, a brilliant tuneful set."
Boston Herald
 
"Forbidden Kiss is a musical and cultural fusion of the first order."
Boston Tribune. - K.R.C.
 
“Although unlike anything else in either of their catalogs, Forbidden Kiss was arguably the strongest music both Akhtar and Rael had made up to this point in their musical lives”.
Stanton Swihart, All Music Guide (5 star)