[arr] Blogger review 8
http://music-movies-and-mayhem.blogspot.com/2006/11/music-review-of-guru\ .html http://music-movies-and-mayhem.blogspot.com/2006/11/music-review-of-gur\ u.html Music review of GURU Mani Ratnam's winter release GURU, with Abishek Bachchan at the helm, is this year's most awaited film. The last Mani Ratnam movie to come out was Ayutha Ezhuthu two years back. He made India sit up and take notice of the junior Bachchan as an artist of note. Now he is back with a straight Hindi film, which is widely reported to be based on the life of the late Dhirubhai Ambani. Mani Ratnam and A R Rahman have always been a winning combo, since their Roja days. Together, they have created absolute magic and it is no wonder that expectations are sky-high with the upcoming release. Mani Ratnam has pulled off a casting coup of sorts, with Aishwarya Rai, Madhavan, Vidya Balan and Mithun Chakraborthy sharing stage with Abhishek. Though the cast is of no importance whatsoever when the director is Mani, the media's interest has been more than piqued, imagining these artists together, in one movie. The audio for GURU was released in Mumbai earlier amidst much fanfare. There are seven songs on the album and one can see more than the odd interesting name amongst the singers. For instance, Bappi Lahiri is singing a Rahman song for the first time ever. The song, Ek Lo Ek Muft is quite unlike anything Bappi has sung till now. It is a typical Rahman number, which in turns means that Bappi is trying to do something completely different to what he has done before. For that reason, I wonder how much acceptance this song would get amongst the singer's fans. Ey Hairathe first grabbed my heart when I downloaded the ringtune from the movie's website. It had an odd melancholy to it that reminded me of Bombay. Hariharan's voice, as he sings the ghazal-like verses is mesmerising. The song, Tere Bina is already proving to be a rage among the fans every website carrying the music review has raved about this number. After listening to it a couple of times, I can understand why. It is ARR at his best and for me, one of the best songs of the year. Chinmayee's voice blends really well with Rahman's and the result is a melodious, classical number that will keep resonating in your ears long after the CD has finished playing. Barso Re, sung by Shreya Ghoshal, is a rain song. I haven't heard a good rain song in years and now this one has come to end the drought. Like a typical rain song, this is full of pep and energy. Like Tanvi in Sillunu Oru Kaadal, ARR has made the singer change her voice modulation to suit the mood of the song and I have to say, this time, it was worked perfectly. For Shreya herself, this song is sure to bring numerous accolades. Jaage Hain, with Chitra getting together with Rahman, is another decent track. Most of the numbers on this album are of the slow variety and this one is no exception. But it is great, nonetheless, with the Madras Chorale Group joining the two main singers to do the backing vocals. The mood of the song is that of a big stage, orchestra production and the singers do full justice to it. The vocals are amazing and Chitra sounds absolutely fantastic. A class number, this one. To me, the best song in the collection is Mayya Mayya. Sung by Canadian singer Mayyam Toller and Chinmayee, this is a sultry number, with the singers' voice blending together beautifully. The song is sure to raise the pressure of any red blooded-male (or female, why be sexist?!) up a couple of notches. Another number with Middle East overtones, this one is a sure winner. This song is the one that is rumoured to have been picturised on Mallika Sherawat. Baazi Laga, by Udit Narayan, Bhargavee, Madhushree and Swetha is one number I did not like. It does not sound like a Rahman composition to me, and the whole arrangement did not jive. Gambling songs are popular in the Indian movie scenario, one of my most memorable ones being Aadi paaru mangaathaa from the movie May Maadham. I cannot be the only one who feels disappointed with this one. The album, on the whole, has mixed offerings some might strike a chord in your heart instantly while some you might dislike so much you want to skip to the next track. But in my opinion, this is pure ARR most of his songs take a bit of getting used to before they grow on you. Give it a couple of listens and then judge the songs you just might love them!
[arr] Blogger Review 8
http://callmekarthik.blogspot.com/2006/11/r-rahman-mani-ratnam-abhishek.html A R RAHMAN, MANI RATNAM, ABHISHEK, AISHWARYA ... you dont get to see all of them together in a single movie very frequently !! dont you ??? Well Right from the day this movie was announced, I have been eagerly awaiting for the music and was pretty lucky to grab a copy the day it released!!! A.R.Rahman is all set to weave his magic again with Guru. The little maestro has come up with awe inspiring music in his latest album and continues the legacy of his pairing with Maniratnam. A.R.Rahman has worked for 11 months for this album and based on what I have heard, its worth all the hard work and the wait.Guru is yet another reason, why you should have a good music system at home. Before we get into the review, the audio CD is bit different from the other CD's. For the first time, there is Mani Ratnam's image inside the CD cover. And a dedication from AR Rahman The song Tere Bina is dedicated to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Saab - fondly remembering his association with me through this decade - AR Rahman Barso Re: Shreya Ghosal, Uday Mazumdar Shreya Goshal is a regular visitor inside the ARR music circuit these days and after stunning us with Munbe Vaa in SOK shez back with another sweet and lovely number Barso Re. The songs starts with a humming Na re Na re by Shreya Goshal and within few seconds Naveen joins her with his flute. Both of them kinda tease you for the first 30 seconds to gather your attention, and just when you start paying close attention the drum beat starts. A foot tapping song, but not very fast too. 3 things make this song very good. Shreya's voice, flute and the drum beats. Actually, the drum beats are very prominent but no where they intrude in the song. Its in the background and soothing when shreya is singing, and when she isnt singing the beats are in the foreground. And when Shreya sings Bhailon ki ghanti baji, Aur taal lage barne you can hear the claps. As if someone is clapping at a distance. And the song reaches a feverish pitch at the fague end. Rahman showcases his talent in folk music with this danceable number. Maniratnam's skills in picturising such sequences are beyond question and hence this song promises to be an absolute treat. This song is First in the Album an Instant Winner for every audience. Tere Bina - AR Rahman, Chinmayee Additional voices - Murtaza, Qadir, Dialect Coach - Raqeeb Alam The song starts with Murtaza Qadir humming Dum dara dum dara mast mast .. and when Rahman joins the song, a Rahmaniac like me cant stop humming along. Irrespective of the number of songs of Rahman that were a hit, the songs sung by Rahman will hold a special place in the heart of any Rahman fan. Am really glad that, Rahman is singing a song in every movie of his nowadays. A very pleasant feeling, when these guys go Dum dara dum dara. And when Rahman starts off with Tere Bina I must admit I was out of this world !!! Truly takes you off by surprise when ARR interleaves a alapana inbetween a small intrumental clip like how the chennai slang goes i got just one word to describe this Super! and as for the female voice... the girl who mesmerized with the song Nenjil jil jil ..yea am talking about Chinmayee, she has done complete justice for the female voice and its really difficult to find faults here !! I sincerely feel this is a concert song, that will feature in his future concerts. Imagine the whole crowd going `Dum dara dum dara' and Rahman singing the song. Oh Rahman. Bin tere music kya jeena? Ek lo Muft - Bappi Lahiri, Chitra Additional voices - Tanvi, Saloni, Boney, Jaidev I bet Bappi Da ! certainly got high when singing this song ... has this bevada touch to it.Picture on the CD shows Abhishek clad in traditional attire on a high, dancing with a glass on his head. This is very much folky and I believe Mani would do the needful to this song onscreen. Mayya - Maryem Toller, Chinmayee, Keerthi Dialect Coach - Devika To all those who watched the audio release function of GURU on tv news channels... Remeber ARR describing the album... gujrati turkish mix this was the song he was talking about. An item number with a fusion touch.Maryem Toller's voice sounds very prominent, where as Chinmayees voice is like a whisper. And dont miss the flute bit, after the first few lines. Best way to appreciate this song is to listen on headphones, or on speakers that are spread wide apart. Its like music traverses from left to right and back to left. Especially when Maryem goes mayya mayya and eheh eheh. And listen to Maryam giggle in the end, when the chorus goes `Mayya Mayya'. Item number, to be picturised on Mallika Sherawat. Now guyzzz dnt drool just reading tht name... we r talking about the music here... so kindly control!! ;) Ay Hairathe - Hariharan, Alka Yagnik Additional Voices -AR Rahman, Aslam Mohammed Begins with the similar tune of Tere Bina where MAST MAST is replaced by CHASM CHASM
