After so much of controversy about the delay of the audio of "Baba" and the blame being put on ARR and much more, the audio finally arrives with normal hoopla and excitement. Rajini fans grabbing the tapes like hot cakes and retail outlets flashing boards of 'sold out', the audio was genuinely awaited with all ARR and Rajini fans busy speculating about how the music would turn out and ARR fans worried that it should not be like 'Padiyappa' which would dither ARR's position in the industry. After all its a Rajini album!The response has surely been overwhelming with Rajini fans also being satisfied with the music. ARR's most awaited album 'Bombay Dreams' got a mixed response in India and everybody just praying that this album proves the fact "Rahman losing popularity" wrong. But its been harder for ARR fans last year and this year too with PP and Kannathil getting a below-normal response. (Alli Arjuna is out of question!). TLOBS was a masterpiece but did not get that much attention as it was meant for classes. "Baba", according to me, should be liked by both the masses and classes as it has got those ingredients to satisfy each one's tastes. Baba's music is good and is different from the typical Rajini-style of music. It is youngish, yet fresh and appealing. It is pacy yet melodious. ARR proves himself again that he can churn out good tunes inspite of being under pressure. Actually the slogan "known is a drop...unknown is an ocean" stands absolutely true for ARR. All the songs have some speciality. Lets look at them in detail:
Baba theme- Ekamevadwiyam (Srinivas): The first time I heard this piece, I almost felt I'm in a temple or a divine place. The prelude has cellos and violins playing a haunted tune. And then Srini enters with a base-voice, sounding a bit like Hari. The entire piece looks like pundits chanting a mantra for a holy ritual in a temple. The background work is amazing playing Raag Bhairav; an early morning raag (Sa Re~ Ga Ma Pa Dha~ Ni Sa; ~ means komal swara). After Srini ends, there is a female voice sounding like an opera and temple bells ringing. That bell sound really gives u a holy feeling and it vibrates ur soul. Its a beautiful way to start an album. The only complaint is that its too short. Rating: 8.5/ 10.
Dippu dippu (Shankar Mahadevan): Seems that ARR is seriously inspired by Bhangra beats..."Lagaan" was the beginning, "Pagdi sambhaal" continued the trend, "Wedding qawwali" proved the fact and now this one. It starts with normal vocals in the upper pitch by Shankar singing "Babaaa..." and then it shifts to a symphony kind of music with marching beats and suddenly unexpectedly u hear Bhangra beats with chorus shouting "Aaho!". The song is amazing with regular ARR percussions. After the cross line, its amazing to listen to the downwards progression of the notes by the chorus. The 1st interlude resembles a lot like those Indi-pop Punjabi songs (Jassi's "Dil le gayi kudi...") played on the organ. The antara is good with able support from the strings department. With the strings, it sounds more melodious. The 2nd interlude has rhythmic patterns on drums and its ARR speciality. The 3rd interlude is more soulful with strings just mesmerising u. After the 3rd charanam, the song changes its scale like in most of ARR's fast songs. This song has its origin from "Daud"s Bhangra by Usha Utthup. Overall the song is a pleasant surprise for all ARR and Rajini fans. Rajini must have never got such type of an entry song. A sure-shot winner! Rating: 8/ 10.
Baba kichchu taa (Reena Bhardwaj/ S.P.B): A new talent, again! From where do these singers find their way to ARR, I really wonder. I want to find out how these unknown figures become a subject of attraction once they sing for ARR. But I must confess that ARR knows how to exploit new talents. They suit the song so well that people forget that he/ she is a new singer. Nyways, the song is a sweet melody based on Raag Aabheri (Bhimpalasi). Reena's voice is a mixture of Sadhana+Kavita Paudwal+Sujata Trivedi+Chitra Sivaraman. She's got that innocence in her voice yet an appealing one. She's equally good in lower as well as upper octaves. The song has got a catchy rhythm.S.P.B is at his usual best. S.P.B gets few songs from ARR nowadays, but considering Rajini, he must have givn it to S.P Sir. The first interlude has sweet pan flute-kinda sound joined by Trumpets.The melody is beautiful. Both the charanams belong to Reena and S.P joins only in the cross lines.The charanam has a Cranatic flavour. What a break for Reena! Is she a Tamilian? The 2nd interlude is again rhythm-based with digital sounds and Saxophone joining in later. The song has got good electric guitar support from Rashid Ali and Bass from Keith Peters. Its similar to songs like "Telephone manipol", etc. Rating: 7/10
Maya maya (Karthik/ Sujatha): The song starts with Karthik's vocals and rhythms. Then the main lines enter "Maya maya ellam maya, chaya chaya ellam chaya" with such a force and the rhythm joins in. It is in the 6/8 meter. The pallavi is very attractive and is sure to catch up. Its got that international touch and accent. In the 1st interlude there is beautiful flute glides and one can hear soft tablas. Charanams are soft and melodious. Karthik has done a commendable job. The 2nd interlude is beautiful with flutes. Naveen has played the flute extremely well. The entire melody changes. Sujatha enters...delivers her best and leaves her mark. She is so comfortable with all types of songs. The 2nd charanam is very well-rendered. Its sure to become a hit. The percussions are catchy and very peppy. Rating: 8/ 10.
Rajiyama (Jayachandran): Not a regular ARR-type.You feel u r listening to some other composer like IR. If u've heard Deen Isai Maalai, u'll immediately identify with this song. This is a typical darga-type sugi song which has got traces of a sufi qawwali. The song has essential percussions like duffs, dholak and ektara. What is special of this song is the wind-instrument 'duduk' played by Naveen. This is what I like about ARR...he has always something new to his audience and one learns a lot from his music. Duduk givs u a totally deserted feel to it as if the singer is singing on the hot sand dunes in a desert. The basic melody is based on Bhairavi. It has devotional shades specially in the charanams.The charanam tune is very similar to tunes of Marathi abhangs. Jayachandran has done a good job though he sounds stretched in the upper notes. He sounds exactly like Yesudas. The song reminds me of "Vidai kodu" from Kannathil. It will surely grow after a few listenings. Its surely not typically ARR style but we must encourage him to adopt to different styles of composing. Afterall, he is a versatile composer. Rating: 7.5/ 10.
Sakthi kodu (Karthik): I love this song. Its among the best compositions of ARR off-late. It starts with heavy percussions and then Karthik and chorus vigourously singing "Sakthi kodu". The second time he sings "sakthi kodu", pay attention to the chorus. The melody and chords are different. The entire song is based on Raag Yaman kalyan (Kalyani). The highlight of the song is that it has that vigour and passion in it but is soft and pleading too. Listen to the lines "taayum neeye...uyirum neeye", they are so beautiful.Its a prayer to Goddess Kaali who has shades of anger and hatred for devils but mercy and love for her devotees. This is brought out very well in the song. It is hard-hitting yet soft-spoken. The 1st interlude has guitars and percussions joined by fast string progressions. The chords are wonderful. (Vijay, Rano will definitely like it). After the charanam, the rhythm changes to 5 beats in fast pace with mridangam and cymbals in the background. Its a true devotional song where someone is pleading and asking for something to God and to destroy evil powers. When the rhythm returns to normal and Karthik sings the sign line, there is a beautiful strum of the guitar. This is what amuses me...the song is a devotional song yet there is a use of guitars and strings with modern percussions. Any other composer would have used Indian instruments like tabla, pakhawaj, sitar, veena, but ARR tries to give it a global appeal. The song is excellent though it has got shades of "Nee than en desiya geetam " from PP. Good attempt. Though I dont understand the lyrics, I can figure it out that both Vaalee and Vairamuthu have done a great job. Rating: 9/ 10.
So, lets hope "Baba" creates new waves for Rajini as well as ARR. Its a humble attempt and ARR should be appreciated and congratulated. I saw on indiafm that Saathiya will be releasing in December. Whats this? This movie is getting delayed like hell. Where's Kadhal Virus? Hope it comes out in August. ARR's music is like any narcitic drug...the more u listen...the more u crave and get addicted. He needs to give us a constant doze of his music. What say guys?
Swapnil
posted at: 13:11 | permanent link to this entry