excellent review.. On Jan 19, 2008 10:26 AM, Vithur <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> http://www.planetbollywood.com/displayReview.php?id=m011908100122 > > At long last! After months of delays and countless rumours, the music for > *Ashutosh Gowariker's* monumental Jodhaa Abkar (JA) has finally been > released. As you will no doubt be aware, the epic portrayal concerns the > life and times of the 16 th Century Mughal emperor Zalaluddin Akbar and in > particular his romance with a Rajput Princess, Jodhaa. Never mind the movie, > there has been just as much anticipation for the soundtrack but why all the > hype you may ask? Well it's all to do with the magical partnership of the > Director / Music Director and their previous successes. > > Based on the critically acclaimed Lagaan and Swades, no one can doubt that > he (Ashutosh) has been inspirational in pushing the bar as far as Indian > cinema is concerned. No stone was left unturned in these projects. So when > it comes to producing the music, it's no surprise that he turns to his > favourite composer, the undeniable genius that is *AR Rahman* (ARR). > Globally recognised as an inspirational musician, his work (including that > of Lagaan and Swades) has often stirred widespread debate and criticism but > to his credit, it's mainly been subject to widespread praise and popularity. > > > To his fans of which there are many including this writer, ARR is the > epitome of the absolute finest that Hindi music has to offer and has been > for almost two decades now. Apart from 'how does he do it', the biggest > question on everyone's lips is 'can he produce *another* blockbuster > soundtrack befitting the undoubted quality and grandeur expected of the > movie?' Well listeners, I am delighted to say that with JA the answer is a > resounding YES and the partnership of Gowariker / Rahman has delivered > another inspirational score to resonate in your ears for years to come. Here > is why… > > As if to make up for lost time for his fans and music lovers alike (let's > face it his last soundtrack Guru was disappointing), ARR makes an immediate > and quite mind-blowing impact with the opening track *Azeem-O-Shaan > Shahenshah **. *Bellowing horns and thundering drums commence proceedings > for the introduction of our emperor Akbar and what follows is a remarkable > background piece that portrays his stature, aura and power in 16th Century > India. Whilst the horns and drums remain intact for the majority of the > track, they fade intermittently with the introduction of several unique but > incredibly crisp arrangements composing of instruments used in battles e.g. > sword thrusts etc which, when combined into one harmonious tune, have the > potential impact of taking your breath away! And then you suddenly realise > the stirring vocals by *Mohammad Aslam, Bony Chakravarty and Chorus *but > such is the impact of the music you barely notice their presence. *Javed > Akhtar's* lyrics are very suiting of the occasion. Suffice to say this is > ARR at his very best and proves yet again why he is the master of periodic / > thematic compositions, quite simply awe-inspiring work here! > > As if one gem wasn't enough the maestro then offers another in the form of > the absolutely dazzling *Jashn-e-Bahaaraa*. This extremely addictive and > heart-warming romantic number blooms with the sound of a sublime string > based instrument (guitar variant). If the soft harmonic resonance created by > this instrument was not bewitching enough ARR goes one step further and > brings in multiple string instruments to add further colour and texture to > the orchestration…at one point they all collide together creating a most > joyous effect on the ear! The slow but richly soothing melody is underpinned > by a delightful percussion which flows through your soul as if to relieve > your inertia, leaving you to hit the repeat button time after time. > > As for the singing, well it sounds very much like Sonu Nigam but if you > listen closely you will surely hear what turns out to be *Javed Ali's*finest > performance to date (one that Sonu would have been proud of himself), > his soft and subdued vocals a testament to his underrated talents. And how > can one forget Javed Akhtar's poetry? It will make you cringe in sheer > amazement! This track is another winner all the way and a love song that is > befitting of life, love and emotions of any century, any time, any place. > That's the true quality of this composition. It's a timeless classic. > > As is the case for many of his soundtracks, ARR always enjoys a bit of > singing and has proved to be extremely effective behind the mic (Yeh Jo Des > Hai from Swades, and Roobaroo from Rang De Basanti being two examples). > > For JA, he sings with verve and energy for the next track, the fabulous > qawaali based *Khwaja Mere Khwaja**. *This lengthy track starts with the > sound of a harmonium and a short verse recited by ARR heralding the presence > of the emperor Akbar...suddenly the delicious and uplifting sound of an > organ interwoven with strings sweeps you off your feet and ushers your > thoughts onto a different planet altogether- can a qawaali based song really > sound this good (and more importantly perhaps sound this good to a > non-qawaali listener?). Well just remember if ARR has blessed the > composition anything is possible! > > The underlying arrangements are typical of any qawaali based song, strong > tabla and harmonium but what makes it distinct and enjoyable is the fusion > of melodious 'alaps' and hand clapping provided by the chorus that attracts > your attention until the very end. The lyricist (Javed saab) provides for > simple but attractive poetry. All in all, this is an extremely satisfying > qawaali track (arguably the best since *Allah-O-Ali* from Thathatsu) and > unquestionably another highlight of the soundtrack, ARR is clearly in top > form here! > > The opening of the penultimate track, *Inn Lamhon Ke Daaman Mein*, still > sounds like the blooming Jashn-e-Bahaaraa from a few tracks ago! The > soothing strings and percussion return for a second offering however do not > be dismayed because if you give it time and effort, you will hear how it > eventually blossoms into something potentially even better! Whilst > Jashn-e-Bahaaraa was slow paced throughout, this love duet provides much > more variety, energy and emotion, in particular listen out for the sudden > upsurge in orchestration and the contrasting whisper quiet lulls. *Sonu > Nigam* renders another emotional piece, proving why he is a favourite > playback singer of ARR. *Madhushree* provides supporting vocals later and > sounds talented. The lyrics by Javed saab are top rate as usual! Reviewing > this track is like dissecting multiple songs that have been intertwined with > a golden thread i.e. it sounds fabulous but you don't know how the maestro > has managed to keep its structure and melody intact. Nevertheless it sits > proudly as one of the best offerings of JA. > > The final track by the name of *Mann Mohanaa* is a situational song and > definitely the weakest effort of the entire album. That's not to say it's > bad, on the contrary; however it's a notch or two below the benchmark set by > the rest. Another slow and soothing number, this one relies on the catchy > combination of the percussion and the tabla to give it melody and to lay the > foundations for other instruments such as the flute to make an appearance. > *Bela Shende* (last heard in Paheli) sounds like an accomplished singer > but on this rare occasion the lyrics by Javed Akhtar are not up to par with > his other contributions here. Overall this track is average by ARR > standards. > > The immense soundtrack ends with two ingenious pieces, *Jashn-e-Bahaaraa* > *(Instrumental)*, which concentrates on the *flute* and *Khwaja Mere > Khwaja* *(Instrumental)* which highlights the *oboe*. These two tracks > come with the highest recommendation possible and should not be disregarded. > ARR's approach to focus on specific instruments confirms his inspirational > mind and attention to detail that is rarely matched by fellow composers. > Each instrumental provides a unique alternative to the original. A must > listen! > > With only five full tracks, there was a risk that Jodhaa Akbar's music > would fall short of expectations and alongside all the delays; music fans > were rightly getting frustrated. However the cliché 'the best things come to > those who wait' is very fitting as the Gowarikar / Rahman dream partnership > has pulled off another blockbuster score (after Lagaan and Swades). Let's > hope the movie can now pull it off as well! > > In conclusion however it must be said that ARR triumphs where other > composers have failed since his last major releases (Meenaxi and Swades); > his JA compositions are magical, spectacular, invigorating and above all a > wholesome experience you rarely get in soundtracks these days. When you > cannot pick a favorite you know the benchmark has been set consistently > high. Indian music has just added another soundtrack to its eternal > treasure. I am sure you will join me in congratulating AR Rahman on his > latest Magnus Opus which turns out to be an early but strong contender for > best soundtrack of 2008 - more awards clearly await this phenomenal talent > who simply never ceases to amaze! > > > -- > regards, > Vithur > > A.R.RAHMAN - MY BREATH & LIFE FORCE > > >
