Now this is what is called a review. Not cuz he praises the ost. But look at the kind of research and depth there is in this review.
On Fri, Oct 17, 2008 at 7:53 AM, Thulasi Ram <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > *Salman Khan - "When Rahman and Subhashji come together, they give you > the best music. The music of Yuvvraaj is outstanding. Its very soulful, > peaceful and carries a sweetness of its own with powerful lyrical value."* > > IT'S OFFICIAL! By some astonishing miracle, 2008 WILL be a memorable year > for music. Yes indeed! But that miracle has come solely by way of *Allah > Rakha Rahman* (ARR). Because without the outstanding music of *Jodhaa > Akbar, Ada…A Way of Life* and *Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na*, the year is arguably > one of the worst in recent times littered with mediocrity and devoid of what > we all know and love to be the 'essence' of music, it's soul and passion. > This is largely due to the complacency of other music directors who have > lost their focus but let's not dwell on them. Because this is the era of > Rahman and this is the year of a maestro who has truly been a 'godsend' (no > pun intended) for all music lovers. > > And thankfully there has been little delay with his latest, Subhash Ghai's > much anticipated *Yuvvraaj *, a musical about family bonds, love and the > arrogance and overconfidence of contemporary youth (sold under the banner > "everyone want's to be a rock star!"), in particular three siblings (Salman > Khan, Anil Kapoor and Zayed Khan) and a lead cellist (Katrina Kaif). So just > as with *Taal*, Rahman's music is expected to feature in a big way, says > the director: > > *Subhash Ghai- "Like Taal, Yuvvraaj is based on music. I've told Rahman, > Yuvvraaj belongs to two people, Rahman and Subhash Ghai, in that order. All > the main characters are musicians in Yuvvraaj."* > Any comparisons to *Taal* are consequently inevitable but unfortunate as > that is a true classic and a perfect score in so many ways but if anyone can > do it, it's the legend himself! So having set the scene dear listener, it is > time to head towards the soundtrack and as long as you are prepared to stick > by it, another journey into musical heaven beckons…. > > A journey starting with Symphony No.5 (Beethoven) is setting some > precedence for the OST. The first track *Main Hoon Yuvvraaj*** does > exactly that (performed by Chennai String Orchestra) and provides a short > introduction to the movie with vocals by none other than Salman Khan > himself. In this he reveals a number of interesting cues but one thing is > for sure….he is a 'bad guy' and *he* is Yuvvraaj out to prove he can be a > superstar with his singing! > > And his first attempt at stardom comes immediately with the next track, the > quite wonderfully composed *Tu Meri Dost Hain*. The music, starting on a > simple note, is eerily soft yet ever so alluring eventually developing into > a blissful tune that will undoubtedly mesmerize you upon repeated listening. > But why are you surprised? These are the hallmarks of classic Rahman! In > particular the melodious cello play just takes the track to another level > and the accompanying symphony effects are fabulous as are the dovetailing > beats…everything links together so harmoniously, I am simply at a lost for > words to describe the beauty of this composition. Special mention also to > Gulzar saab for his gifted lyrics that add so much meaning to the song. > Furthermore it appears that Rahman's singing dynasty has added another > sensation in the form of Benny Dayal (who also sang in *Jaane Tu..*) who > sings in stunning fashin alongside the maestro himself. But it's Shreya > Ghoshal's entry midway through that is a masterstroke and just the icing on > the cake. Honestly, if it wasn't for Rahman's earlier release this year from > Jodhaa Akbar i.e. the amazing *Khwaja Mere Khwaja*, this would be my pick > for the most outstanding track of 2008. Genius! > > *A.R.Rahman- "Subhash Ghai is very different from other directors. He has > really worked hard on the visuals. They look really colorful and really > romantic. It's almost treated in a musical way where it's more realistic > than just background music."* > > Ok it's now time for some party as the spotlight moves onto Zayed Khan and > so beckons the next track *Shano Shano***. Let's be honest from the > outset, this is the weakest track of Yuvvraaj by some distance. However it's > not a total disaster when you take it in the context of the movie. Yes the > music sounds like something out of a 1980s disco floor but if Zayed wants to > groove to some chaotic music, as a composer, that is what you have to > deliver! At the very least Rahman provides variety with some interesting > musical instruments (it's not all synth) and the use of multiple singers > including Sonu Nigaam, Srinivas, Karthik, Timmy, Sunaida, Vivienne Pocha, > Tina. Lyrics are about as good as they get for such a track. This is > passable but the soundtrack offers so much more so let's move on. > Incidentally *Shano Shano Remix*** by Krishna Chetan contains more vocals > by Ember that are reminiscent of a 'bad boy' Yuvvraaj and hence the song is > quite fitting for the movie. Nice alternative but nothing more. > > After that minor blip, the soundtrack diverts itself onto the SOUL of > Yuvvraaj with the utterly spellbinding *Tu Muskura*. The cello marks a > sensational return and solo cellist V.R. Sekar and Elidh Martin (K M M C > Faculty) do Rahman proud with some fine performances. Their cello play is > underpinned by a percussion that hypnotises you soothingly from the start > and keeps you firmly in a trance until the very end. As if that wasn't > enough, the allure of a previous melody (belonging to *Tu Meri Dost Hain*) > sweeps past you briefly as Rahman magically weaves it into the song via the > deft strings of Seenu's Mandolin play. > > And yet, we have not even discussed the true catalyst of the song. So many > have written her off but Rahman as we know, is loyal to his singing dynasty. > And so marks the return of an old favourite: Alka Yagnik. Well in my opinion > (based on her singing here) it will be a travesty if she is not nominated > for the best female playback singer (award) for a performance that is as > mesmerizing as the musical backdrop that she sings against. She is simply a > transformed singer here, sometimes unrecognizable and from recollection, her > last performance of such magnitude was *Rang Hai* (Meenaxi: A Tale of > Three Cities) which confirms the mastery of ARR over his singers. Javed Ali > did a great job in *Jashn-e-Bahaara* but plays second fiddle here to the > bewitching vocals of Alka. Gulzar's lyrics grab your inner soul and churn > out what is left of your emotions… WOW! This is definitely one step closer > to musical heaven….you could quite literally waste away hours, even days > listening to this soul stirring masterpiece! > > *Gulzar- "When I saw the songs of Yuvvraaj on screen, I sent a message to > Rahman saying that they were magnificent, and this is a very honest opinion > of his songs and picturisation. Great showman puts up a great show! I think > the performances of Subhash's Yuvvraaj will go a long way in carrying this > film ahead. It touches your heart."* > > After such an emotionally draining roller coaster that was *Tu Muskura* one > feels the need for a break and a diversion. Rahman duly obliges with *Mastam > Mastam*, a delightfully uplifting track that also ranks as the most > innovative of the soundtrack and also one of the best of 2008. The music is > simple yet oozes witchcraft (the *dhol* and cello in tandem, play mind > games on you like you have never heard before!), playful but at times > melancholy, witty but with an underlying message. The interaction between > the singers, Sonu Nigaam (outstanding as ever), Alka Yagnik, Naresh & Benny, > is another highlight as are the incredibly unique and diverse lyrics, hats > off to you Gulzar saab! Where *Mastam Mastam* lacks in instant attraction > or a catchy melody, it more than makes up for after repeated listening and > becomes an extremely enjoyable outing. Just be ready to click your fingers > to one of Rahman's most underrated song of 2008. > *Shridhar (Sound Engineer – Yuvvraaj) - "I think its gonna rock, well, its > gonna orchestrate… It's going to reach a lot of people… and touch their > minds and souls…"* > > The soulful journey of Yuvvraaj ends with *Zindagi*** in which the > composer continues to amaze in more ways than one. Depending on your > preferences and mood swings, you could potentially enjoy this more than *Tu > Muskura*. First up expect to be blown away by the Woodwinds play by P M K > Naveen Kumar. If you recover from that, there is the enticing piano and > strings of the Chennai String Orchestra. Rahman's fusion of these incredible > sounds is the best remedy for a stressful mind! The distinct vocals are > instantly recognizable but this is not Hariharan listeners, this is > Srinivas, another long time favourite of Rahman who also sang in the > brilliant *Yeh Jo Zindagi Hai *(Earth 1947). In fact with such awesome > vocals, one wonders why we have not heard more from him. Gulzar outdoes > himself once again and for his complete collection in Yuvvraaj, runs away > with the best lyrics of the year award. *Zindagi* is another must listen. > > The penultimate track *Dil Ka Rishta* is a diversion of a completely > different kind that takes you by complete surprise! Initially you don't > realize as a beautiful piano introduction is cut short by a cello play but > your senses are instantly awestruck by the powerful nature of the drums and > the full-blown orchestration that follows immediately after that. Welcome to > the PASSION of Yuvvraaj and another unique twist to the soundtrack! This one > has it all; a catchy tune, peppy beats, symphony orchestra, English verses > (by Blazze) and some killer vocals by Sonu Nigaam, Roopkumar Rathod and ARR > himself. Rahman puts this potpourri of ingredients to amazing use and > delivers another winner even thought strictly speaking, the song is clearly > situational and is attached to the relationship of the three brothers in the > movie. Fascinating yet irresistibly Rahman! > > *Manmohini Morey* ends the OST with a short classical piece that Rahman > enhances with the use of synth to suit the taste of modern listeners. Vijay > Prakash provides the vocals against Gulzar's verses. Undoubtedly a > commendable effort with addictive nuances, the track is too short to make > any lasting impression. However do listen out for the chilling return of the > cello from*Tu Muskura* around the 1:50 mark…clearly the maestro couldn't > resist one last rendezvous! > > So where does Yuvvraaj OST sit in the hallmarks of all time great Rahman > soundtracks? It will probably be years before we can answer that, will it > stand the test of time? Without question. However what is clear is that it > is not flawless in its execution like say a *Taal* OST which was perfect > from A-Z. However we cannot underestimate the impact the soundtrack will > have on the movie, the potential is colossal whatever the fate of the movie > at the box office. > > Comparisons with his other releases in 2008 are also unnecessary and > futile. Each one stood it's own tests respectively and more than satisfied > audiences, fans and producers/directors alike. With the odd exception, > everything else (outside of Rahman's court) this year is so far behind for > quality it's embarrassing. So instead, let us simply rejoice this moment, > your moment, the minutes, the hours, the days and the year 2008 when our > finest music composer (at least of this era) gifted us an unprecedented > array of compositions that became for us, Musical Nirvana in several > guises…Yuvvraaj sits proudly towards the top for having outstanding music. > > And in case you are wondering, the magic continues shortly with the > soundtrack to Ghajini (Remake) …long live the legend. Long live A.R.Rahman. > > *Subhash Ghai (to Rahman): "Now that most of the popular Hindi film songs > are only about disco and Punjabi folk music, does it makes sense to make a > musical like Yuvvraaj?" Rahman's response:"Why not? If you get out of your > comfort zone…go for experiments and innovations….new music will happen!"* > > http://planetbollywood.com/displayReview.php?id=m101608064638 > >
