Thou art So Beautiful

AR Rahman is back. The kind of variety that his albums have provided this year has been very diverse to say the least. This is Rahman’s fourth album of the year, after Vinnaithandi Varuvaaya, Raavan, and the recent Endhiran. Probably Jhootha Hi Sahin’s album release was somewhat blighted by Endhiran’s release and the tremendous hype surrounding India’s most expensive film in recent times. So I took my music reviewer cap for this one and wore it for a short bit to asses this new album from ARR.

First of all, this is ARR’s second film with young director Abbas Tyrewala, with whom he combined to great effect for the 2008 romantic comedy Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na under Aamir Khan’s production. This time, Abbas has teamed up with John Abraham, and will also debut his own wife Pakhi Tyrewala in the film’s lead role. So you know what to expect. The trailer already hit the theatres last week and was commonly featured prior to Endhiran’s shows. It’s yet another breezy romantic comedy written by Abbas, and this would be the first simple, light, romantic album that ARR would produce this year after diversely heavy films such as Raavan and Endhiran. VTV falls in the romantic category as well, but the film pretty much is a little heavier than Jhootha Hi Sahin is. And the director himself has written the lyrics for this one.

The album begins with a song called Cry Cry. It pretty much hears more like ‘Kai Kai’, but that’s where it catches you. Cry Cry is Abbas and ARR doing the Kabhi Kabhi Aditi thing all over again. It has a similar type of music, and a song that has a similar theme- why do we have to be sad. All the more in familiar territory is Rashid Ali, who sung Kabhi Kabhi Aditi as well, and he sings this with consummate ease. He doesn’t seem to find any trouble and fits into the song seamlessly. Shreya Ghosal enters towards the end to provide that extra bit of support, and I’d say, whenever she sings, there is an extra bit of ‘spark’ as well. The song is laced with a couple of dialogues as it seems to be more situational, but overall the beats, the mood, and the singing are just simple, and connects well with the listener (unless you are deaf for music). It pretty much sets the tone for the rest of the album.

Then there comes Maiya Yasodha. How long has it been since we have such a song from ARR? It seems like it has been quite some time. Maiya Yasodha is one of those fun, festival-like song with heavy desi flavor, but with a special ARR twist to it to make it sound quite a standout from the rest of the album. His choice of singers is impeccable  here, given that such songs require a good selection of singers to make them tick. Sitars and other Indian instruments are heavily used, showing once again ARR’s love for our native Indian beats in his songs. And do I have to talk about Chinmayi? What a singer she has become under ARR. There was the funky crooning of Kilimanjaro in Endhiran that caught all our attention, and once again she joins hands with Javed Ali, and sings almost flawlessly in a song that has a variety of pace in it. Maiya Yasodha is fresh and delights.

Hello Hello is presumably the film’s theme song. Since the film’s given plot centers around a random a phone call, this song talks mainly about such a phone call, and how it can change one’s life. ARR simply hands the baton to Karthik here, and the able singer that Karthik is, he takes care of the rest. Karthik gives the song the right amount of breezy feel, and it keep in tune with the tempo of the album, light, simple, straight to the point, with some melodious touches in the middle. This one will grow on you the more you listen to it.

Do Nishaniyaan. No elaboration. No words. There are times when ARR leaves you speechless. You can’t write, just listen and allow yourself to be taken away by his music. People are already raving about how this is one of the best songs ever, and easily the best combination between ARR and Sonu Nigam. I’m not sure whether I will adhere to such superlatives, but this definitely is one heck of a passionate, melodious song, that absolutely gives you the loving it feel. Sonu Nigam fits this song brilliantly and steals all the glory with his fantastic crooning. Welcome to the Rahmania effect.

After such a melody, then you are given Pam Pa Ra. This two songs are enough to demonstrate ARR’s diversity. Even Sonu Nigam steals the show there, here my favorite female Shreya Ghosal takes over and proves that she doesn’t only fit melody, but she is equally able to sing fast-paced song. This number mainly comprises of jazz beats, and Shreya shines from the word go, and she seems to have stupendously enjoyed singing this to the tilt. The pace doesn’t deter for a bit. One word- brilliant and fresh.

I’ve been waiting is one of those rare ballroom dance songs that you will see in Bollywood. And Vijay Yesudas is one off-beat choice for a song that is so essentially American in its tune, but ARR adds a strong Indian flavor to it, and Vijay shows his capacities of singing different songs with this number.

Then there is a slow version of Do Nishaniyaan. This is a sad version of the above romantic number, though the tempo is pretty much the same, the lyrics protrude a different mood altogether.

What a way to end the album with Call Me Dill. Rashid Ali croons a sure-fire breezy, cool, leg-tapping hit. The lyrics by Abbas is absolutely top-notch, why this song easily the most romantic, connecting number that has come out for a long time. The heavy use of guitars and simple instruments adds to the light-hearted feel this gives you.

Pick of the album : Do Nishaniyaan, Call Me Dill, Param Pa Ra, Maiya Yasodha

Album rating: 8/10

Call me Dill, Call me Baby, Call me jo naam Tu me vahi.