Superstar Shah Rukh Khan says he is tone deaf when it comes to music, but even he loved the songs of "Veer Zaara" - a film that is already on its way to becoming a hit.

"Whatever song is given to me, I work on that. But after hearing this music, I was really impressed," Shah Rukh told IANS about the songs, which were composed by the late Madan Mohan.

"See, our film is based in the 1980s, it actually creates an impact in the time it is set," he adds.

"Veer Zaara" is director Yash Chopra's first film in seven years.

Shah Rukh plays Veer who is desperately in love with a Pakistani woman, Zaara, played by Preity Zinta. Rani Mukherjee plays a lawyer who attempts to remove the obstacles in the path of the lovers.

"'Veer Zaara' is the romantic tale of an Indian man. It is an epic film, romantic, at the same time highly emotional saga. Veer Pratap Singh (Shah Rukh Khan) and a Pakistani woman, Zaara Hayaat Khan (Preity Zinta) - a story of a love so great that it knows no boundaries. For them, love is the only religion."

"It is a kind of genre that Yash Chopra makes. It is a love story across the border though the movie has nothing to do with the problems between the two nations."

How does he feel about the competition from "Mughal-e-Azam" this Diwali?

"I think it is a silly comparison as both the movies are of different genre altogether. It will be foolish to compare a film like 'Mughal-e-Azam' to my current film and if we do, then that is lack of education on our part.

"It is media illiteracy to compare such a brilliant classic with any other Indian film. In fact we must not even take these two names together!"

He also has "Swades" coming up this year. "'Swades' is of a neo patriotic sensibility film. The message in the film is that the middle class has to work towards the betterment of the country," says Shah Rukh.

"They have to think a bit about the nation and do their bit. It is not an in your face message in this film but it is about the educated middle class that will take India to the next best level on the global map."