*Music Review: Jodhaa Akbar http://www.indiatarget.com/cgi-bin/slide_shows.cgi?1003:7* *by Tanushree Saha*
Alas! The wait comes to an end. The music of the most awaited release of the year 'Jodhaa Akbar' directed by Ashutosh Gowarikar starring Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai is out with splendor and perfection. Director Ashutosh and music director A.R. Rahman have had excellent partnership and produced hit music earlier. Composed by music maestro A.R.Rahman, Jodhaa Akbar's music is magical, spectacular, bracing, pleasant and different from the tunes and beats of the contemporary style of music. The first track Azeem-O-Shaan Shahenshah starts off with roaring horns and booming drums as we are introduced to our emperor Akbar, his power and stature. With the incredible crisp arrangements of 12 different kinds of percussion instruments in the song, A.R has composed a masterpiece and the effect of the song is just wild. The singers Mohammad Aslam, Bony Chakravarty voice's are just perfect for this score. A.R. Rahman is quiet simply at his best with this song. The heart-warming romantic track Jashn-e-bahaara is enticing, making you hit the repeat button several times. The slow but richly soothing melodious tunes of string variants and tabla just flows smoothly into your ears as if to ease your soul. Javed Ali's tone of voice blends rightly with the tunes creating a most joyous effect on the ear! Pure unadulterated music - a winner! After two beautiful love songs, its time to go spiritual with the Sufi qawwali, 'Khwaja Mere Khwajaa'. Rendered by the maestro A.R. Rahman himself, its an authentic qawwali, the kind heard in the shrines and dargahs. As is well known that Akbar visited the shrine of the famous saint Salim Chisti (Fatehpur Sikri), wept, pleaded and prayed there to be granted a son who would inherit his empire. The qawwali also has an instrumental version, and the instrument predominantly used is the oboe, a woodwind instrument (modified version – bassoon) played to perfection by Leighann Woodard. >From praises for the emperor you are taken to the world of two lovers with In Lamhon Ke Daaman Mein. Once again with the soothing tunes of strings interwoven with the beating of drums, the song is dipped in passion and is just breathtaking. Sonu Nigam renders another emotional track with Madhushree providing supporting vocals. The tunes, the voice and the chorus vary in energy with the proceedings and the final outcome is a stunning melody by A.R. This is the best romantic track that proudly tops the charts of JA. The final track Man Mohana sung by Bela Shende is yet another soft track with tunes like that of a bhajan. It's is a situational track that might not be pleasing to all but even in this the blending of various instruments is just mind-blowing. In the context of the movie, the number will serve an important purpose in showing that Jodhaa was a woman of substance and she stuck to her own faith and religion and the emperor respected her faith. So those were our impressions of Jodhaa Akbar, the audio album which finally hit the stores after many postponements, but when it did, the wait was definitely worth it! Rahman has done it again and his fans are savoring his masterly compositions. But isn't that always the case, even when it is served on time? Definitely and surely a must buy, as it may not be a classic, but will surely become one in the days to come. -- regards, Vithur A.R.RAHMAN - MY BREATH & LIFE FORCE
