"Raanjhanaa" is enchanting

Hello Reader,

I usually do not write reviews but I couldn't stop myself from writing this one. Actually, rather than a review, calling it a praise would be more precise. Yes, Dr. A R Rahman’s next music album “Raanjhana” is finally out and my ears are very happy about it. 

His last successful Hindi album was “Rockstar” after which his albums “Ekk deewana tha” and “Jab tak hai jaan” couldn’t do that well. Though, his last two Tamil albums “Kadal” and “Maryan” were exceptionally good. But, sadly regional music doesn’t get too much focus on a national level. 

“Raanjhanaa” brings back to us the brilliant, magical music we know Sir Rahman for. The album, as expected from the Mozart of Madras, is very versatile. Every song has a different flavour like his previous works in Rockstar, Rang de Basanti and Delhi 6. This album has 9 tracks consisting of both western and Hindustani music. Lyrics for all the songs are written by the very talented Irshad Kamil. 

Track 1: Raanjhana 

This is the title song sung by Shiraz Uppal and Jaswinder Singh. Song starts with a slow vocal solo on high notes and light synth chords and before you know, it progresses into a rustic foot tapping music with Desi Dhols that will make you wish to dance on the street and sing along the beautifully penned lyrics. Noteworthy pieces in this song are the violin chorus before the first interlude and the sitar & tabla, before the second interlude, giving the song a bit of classical touch. You’ll fall in love with this song on the first listen.

Track 2: Banarasiya

As the name suggests, this classical-folk song boasts about the colors of Banaras with the lyrics telling us the story of the city’s specialities like Paan, Bhaang, Ghats of Ganga and their culture. Sung by none other than the very talented Shreya Ghoshal, she titillates the listener with her little ‘harkats’ in this song. The sounds of Bansuri will take you directly to Banaras.  

Track 3: Piya Milenge

And the duo (Sukhwinder and Rahman) is back, which gave us songs like Chaiya Chaiya and Jai Ho! 

‘Piya Milenge’ is a sufi-qawwali song with western percussion beats which works brilliantly with the powerful voice of Sukhwinder. 

Song is also credited to the K M Music Conservatory student’s Sufi Ensemble for their amazing choir and back vocals. 

Track 4: Ay sakhi

A pure Hindustani classical song sung by two very sweet voices; Chinmayee and Madhushree. At times, their voices are so well synchronized that it’s hard to differ the singers. Also, apart from singing the lyrics and sargam, their voices have been used like a musical instrument which sounds like a shehnai. The song is very well accompanied with Indian percussion instruments; Tabla and Mridanga. Songs like these will always keep the Indian classical music alive. 

Track 5: Nazar Layee

A duet sung by Rashid Ali (Kabhi-Kabhi Aditi fame) and Neeti Mohan (Jiya  Re fame). This song is a usual soft-romantic number which is peaceful, with guitar and light beats supporting the vocals. Not much to say about this song.

Track 6: Tu Mun Shudi 

A contemporary song that balances between western and Indian music with its western beats and Shehnai leads. This is the second collaboration of A R Rahman with Rabbi Shergill after ‘Challa’. It is a very good fusion with mostly Punjabi lyrics. 

Track 7: Aise Na Dekho

‘Aise Na dekho’ is a Jazz number, a very soft and romantic song sung by A R Rahman and backed by Karthik. If you liked “Tu bole Main Bolun” (Jaane tu ya Jaane Na) then you’ll love this one too. Only that, instead of the saxophone, accordion is used along with the vocals. 

Track 8: Land of Shiva

An intense instrumental song with heavy Indian percussions used. This one sounds spiritual with some Aarti chants, temple bells and Shankh in the background. 

Track 9: Tum Tak

By now, most of you might have heard this song on the TV promos. Tum Tak is certainly the heart of the album and most refreshing song. The song begins with soft spiritual Aarti chimes and progresses into a romantic composition with Javed Ali’s ear-pleasing voice and the lyrics telling us that what we love is the zenith. The words of “Tum Tak” have been used to sound like the ‘bol’ of Tabla as in Indian classical music. The noteworthy parts of the song are the Shehnai chorus beautifully used and Keerthi Sagathia’s cameo in-between with his powerful high notes. This song is also the debut of another sweet voice; Pooja Vaidyanath. So, swing your head with the music and clap your hands along with the taal of “tum tak...tum tak...”

So, overall this album is a creation as good as Maestro’s previous works like Lagaan, Guru or Jodhaa Akbar. 

Rating?

Take 9/9 

Remarkable Tracks: Tum Tak, Raanjhnaa, Tu Mun Shudi and Ay Sakhi.

Its Folk-ing awesome! 

Buy Original. Do Not Download. It’s worth it.
Available on iTunes

Ashish

Parvaaz: Takes you on a high

Two years ago, they performed at our college's fest 'Anaadyanta' as one of the participants in the event called 'battle of bands'. They won and it was not a surprise as all the rest of the bands sounded similar. But, Parvaaz stood out ‘coz of their unique compositions and genre. The psychedelic Sufi Rock Band performed once again at our college fest two years later when they were full-fledged artists. And today, they are launching their first Album ‘Behosh’.

It really feels good to witness and follow such artists from their very beginning. And as the lead-singer, Khalid Ahmed said at our college gig, “we started our journey from this college, on this stage.”

In their first performance at our college, two years back, they had performed two of their songs ‘Azaadi’ and ‘Balma’. The songs had a viral effect on the audience. Later, after the event the song somehow got circulated via phone to phone. God bless the person who recorded it. People were humming the songs as if they have been hearing those songs from ages.

I was lucky to meet them this year at our college gig and I was also given the job to take them to the lunch before their highly-awaited performance and to have such people in my facebook friend list.

And the same night, finally, we once again, witnessed their gig. As soon as they finished their sound check, nobody could stop themselves from running towards the stage and banging their heads as we went high on their celestial music. Apart from the accoustic guitar (Khalid Ahmed), electric guitar (Kashif Iqbal), Bass guitar (Fidel D’souza) and Drums (Sachin Banandur), they also used some very rarely used instruments whose name even I don’t know.

But, all I know is that those instruments were very classy and gave a very extraordinary feel to their music and also reflected the unique touch which is required. The lyrics were as penetrating as the music. It grows on you slowly and even before you notice, you would be singing along with the band. That’s the magic they create.

So, this is the one band which you should certainly not miss. I am very much looking forward for ‘Behosh’ and I am sure this band, in next two years, more or less, will be one of the leading Indian Rock bands. Just like Swarathma, Indian Ocean, Parikrama, this band has its own uniqueness which will take their flight into the cloud number nine and beyond.  

Poem: Back into Harmony

She was always around me,

but anonymous was she,

under the hood,

a locked treasure.

I wish, I snatched her then

and left no regrets remain.

If only, I had found the right key,

had I written the right note on the staff,

up had been my life’s graph.

Love was always in my kit,

but masquerading was it,

behind the veil,

bag full of gold.

I wish, I played together, black and white,

Had I made all pieces fall in the place right.

Those were omens, the singing birds

and the old Radio, my friend.

If only, I listened.

Music was always there,

lost somewhere in the air.

All I had to do is knit the harmony,

to turn monotony into euphony.

The strings are now attached

and my heart now skips a beat

in melodious rhythm and retreat.

It sounds like percussion,

a bell rings

and pushes me on my way, to conquer my Passion.

Ashish

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Revolution in Indian Music

Hello Readers.

I talked a lot about revolution and bringing the change. Today,I dedicate this post to my favorite music composer of all time. Dr. A R Rahman.

He is not just A music composer but a revolutionary. He brought in India such genres and instruments which one would have hardly thought of tasting. From his first album 'Roja', all his work is pure magic.

And his latest album 'Rockstar' has compelled me to write this post. He is the master of all genres of music. Every album of his is a surprise pack. You listen to a very soulful sufi song and the very next song would be a rock, a romantic number, a jazz..u never know! It's like eating a Jalebi after a Pizza :)

He is one of the first to use Electronic Keyboard in India, Bringing the 'digital music' or 'computer music' as many called, First to bring the rap to India. And some instruments you cant even name...'Continuum' being one of them.

He went beyond the rules. He broke the rules. He worked as a Music arranger for many music composers from tamil music industry like Sir Illayaraja in his early stages. Then Jingles for ads and Finally he got such breakthrough and he never looked back after the success of 'Roja'. He did exactly what he wanted to do. Not following any rules or tradition that was popular then. He gave freedom to the musicians and singers working for him. Not following the same old musical arrangements like the trend and made his own new trends. Instead of making a playback singer sing for a particular actor, he imported singers from all over India. Otherwise who would have heard singers like Udit Narayan or Adnan Sami sing a tamil song?

But, as they say Music has no language. Music is always true. It's above all the words. Because Words may lie, music will never.

Though many of the veteran singers hated that. But the Mozart of Chennai didn't care. He did what he wanted and now there is hardly anybody who hates his work. People kept talking and he flew and reached the sky. But the sky is limitless and so is his talent. Limitless.

Rangeela, his first hindi album made him more popular in Hindi film industry. Gave a new definition to patriotism through his song 'Maa tujhe salaam'... And then came a row of music albums. which not only made him popular in India but then the world knew him. He won Grammys and Oscars for his work in his album Slumdog Millionaire. And today he is one musician in the world who has touched nearly all the genres from across the world.

And a special mention to his beautiful creation 'dil se'. This album was a benchmark.

Maestro's priority had always been sound over lyrics. this is one reason that while composing the music some of his self improvised words/ hummings are often used and become catch lines of his compositions. Humma Humma!

Khwaja mere khwaja a song that connects you to a divine power. It's like angels sing together with it. Takes you to a all new world. One song that made my eyes wet.

And then he researched over all the world genres and offered the Indian Audience/ Music freaks something beyond their imagination. here are a few examples to prove that...
Western classical in Yuvvraaj... Indian Classical in most of his albums like Water, Kannathil Muthamittal...actually you find Indian classical mixed with other genres at lots of places...which brings us to fusion...Sufi and qawwalis...the soulful tracks like khwaja, piya haji ali, kun faaya, arziyan are unbeatable. They for sure take you to the parallel world :) Bombay, Lagaan, swades, 1947 earth, jodhaa akbar gave us the sound of indian instruments ..Youth frenzy soundtracks in jaane tu..., rang de basanti. And there were some albums which were Multi cuisine Delhi 6, Taal, Yuvraaj and the latest ROCKSTAR offer us variety. Each song telling us a new story. Each song having different elements which make you go GaGa.

And I hope this Journey goes on...

I really feel proud to be born in his era and lucky enough to have been gifted with a pair of ears through which i m able to listen to his divine Music...

Thanks for reading.
Em off to my headphones. Rockstar is waiting.
See ya!