*Movie* Slumdog Millionaire *Director* Danny Boyle *Music* AR Rahman *Cast* Dev Patel, Anil Kapoor, Saurabh Shukla, Freida Pinto, Irrfan Khan *Sonia Chopra * To review an album that has just earned its creator the prestigious Golden Globe seems rather peculiar. AR Rahman, after winning, the Globe for Best Original Soundtrack for *Slumdog Millionaire*, is now being referred to as `India's Mozart'. So naturally, the album-hearing is saddled with inevitable and mounting expectations.
Movie review: *Slumdog Millionaire* is a joy <http://sify.com/movies/hollywood/review.php?id=14833913&ctid=5&cid=2426>| Videos, preview and all about *Slumdog Millionaire*<http://sify.com/movies/specials/slumdog_millionaire/> Most of the songs are thematic pieces with just music and sparing lyrics. If you like your songs lyric-laden, you might miss the words. As always, Rahman's work is head-and-shoulders above the ordinary. And one can imagine what (brilliant compositions with a dash of exotic India) may have impressed the Globe jury enough to award it. Followers of Rahman's work will feel exhilarated as always, but will also wonder if he has given even more complex and soulful music in the past. * Ringa Ringa:* What's that? What's this risqué song about a khatiya and khatmal doing first thing in this celebrated album. This too shall pass, you console yourself. The song, a take-off on *Choli ke peeche kya hai*, combines Alka Yagnik's syrupy voice with Ila Arun's earthy vocals. Lyrics by Raquib Alam get raunchier by the minute, retaining the folk flavor. *Jai Ho * The song abounds with a delightful, restless energy and reeks of signature Rahman. Lyrics by Gulzar are fun and Sukhwinder Singh is in his element. The song intersperses Hindi lyrics with Spanish ones, written and sung by Tanvi Shah. Mahalaxmi's voice complements Sukhwinder's vocals perfectly, but this is Sukhwinder Singh's show all the way. The song ends with an unexpected serene piece towards the end that makes all the difference. *O…Saya* Drums give the song a dramatic start and we hear AR Rahman's voice – all-soul –taking the song away. Like most of the songs in the album, this one too doesn't focus on the lyrics. Rahman is joined by M.I.A (Grammy-nominated British artiste of Tamil decent) who sings the English lyrics. *Riots* The title is enough to get you uneasy. Reminiscent of the `Bombay Theme' in Mani Ratnam's Bombay (though not as serene), Riots is not a very soothing or pleasant hear, but a most interesting one. It's one of those songs that immediately get you curious about the film and where the song might appear. *Mausam & Escape * The fusion song starts tenderly, slowly building onto a high-energy mode. You can hear the jaltarang interspersed with the tabla, while the guitar and drums make an appearance. The string arrangements, like in the album throughout, are spectacular. The Indian classical instruments folded in with the western makes for a fun, interesting song. *Liquid Dance* Fluidity seems the best adjective to pin down the piece. Strings are married with drums. Madhumita sings Bharatnatyam dance bols (words) expertly. You go with the flow and enjoy the song and its energy. *Latika's theme* Bereft of any lyrics or any singing in the conventional sense, the song only has Suzzane (Aye Bachchu in Ghajini) hum. She does so expertly, filling in nuances. Her voice soothes the listener like a lullaby. *Millionaire * A pure-energy song – it's like sitting on a fun roller-coaster ride. Madhumati's haunting voice makes an appearance. The trance-like feel has one thinking back to Madonna's Ray of Light. The somberness is replaced by sudden brightness as the song takes a cheerful turn. Strings remain the focused instruments in this star song. *Gangster Blues* One enjoys their innovative titles as much as the songs themselves. Gangster Blues has a layer of fun and comedy, as Blaaze starts with the English lyrics. The song reminds one of several breezy, youthful songs in South Indian films that are high on energy. Tanvi Shah complements Blaaze as sings the lyrics, rap-style. The song incorporates a mélange of instruments, and you find yourself pleasantly surprised hearing the piano for a brief time in a rap song. * Dreams of Fire* Guitar introduces the song and Suzanne sings the English lyrics. She holds the song on her able shoulders and her voice is very effective; very hypnotic. The music slinks into the background, letting the vocals take center-stage, though one does notice the wonderful cameo by the flute. Movie review: *Slumdog Millionaire* is a joy <http://sify.com/movies/hollywood/review.php?id=14833913&ctid=5&cid=2426>| Videos, preview and all about *Slumdog Millionaire*<http://sify.com/movies/specials/slumdog_millionaire/> *Verdict: 3 stars * http://sify.com/movies/bollywood/review.php?id=14842400&ctid=5&cid=2425&?vsv=HP4 -- regards, Vithur
