By the BBC's Pramod Morjaria and Sanjoy Majumder

Not content with leading the world's largest democracy, Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee is trying to top the music charts, with an album of his poems being released commercially.

But if the reviews of Samvedana (Sensitivity) are anything to go by, 76-year-old Mr Vajpayee's music career certainly will not be as meteoric as his political one and he should not think of giving up his day job just yet.

The album has a heavyweight cast.

Bollywood hearthrob Sharukh Khan stars with the PM in the video to one of the songs and vocals are provided by one of the country's leading romantic singers, Jagjit Singh.

An introduction by legendary movie star Amitabh Bachchan and the input of high-profile music lyricists, Gulzar and Javed Akhtar, makes up the package.

Hardly trendy

The poems reveal the innermost thoughts of the prime minister, but this mournful introspection does not really suit the hip and happening fast paced, trendy genre associated with the MTV music channel.

It has been showing the video Kya Khoya, Kya Paya (What I've lost, What I've gained) and the visuals are a bit flat to say the least.

Sharukh Khan - crying his eyes out

Mr Vajpayee is seen in staid framed poses, doing nothing at all except either writing at his desk or looking troubled.

Action hero Sharukh Khan looks out of a window, tears streaming down his face - far removed from his normal screen roles.

Music critic Saibal Chatterjee says the album had raised people's curiosity, spurring on some to go out and buy it.

"But it would only appeal to diehard Jagjit Singh fans," Mr Chatterjee told the BBC.

"It is interesting to the extent that it reveals a bit about the man leading the country," he adds.

But artistically, it falls far short.

Seeking the muse

The Indian premier is known to enjoy writing poetry and a translated book of his poems have even been published in Pakistan.

It is another matter that its publisher was forced out of the country after the military takeover, and is now living in exile in India.

Mr Vajpayee is not the first Indian leader to seek a creative channel for his thoughts - former Prime Minister VP Singh is a painter who has held frequent art exhibitions.

But under sharp political scrutiny in recent months, it appears that Mr Vajpayee is looking for an outlet for his personal angst.