http://www.loknews.com/2009/01/14/0771/music-review-slumdog-millionaire/ Music Review - SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE By Parampreet Singh Sandhu<http://www.loknews.com/author/parampreet/>• Jan 14th, 2009 • Category: Entertainment <http://www.loknews.com/category/entertainment/>
Allah Rakka Rahman has surpassed any and all expectations with his recent Golden Globe win for best soundtrack. When most, including yours truly, thought his peak had already come and gone, the 43 year old composer has not only mounted his own stock but has given recognition to an entire nation housing over one billion people. Appropriately enough this seems to be the proper time to plug Rahman's epic venture, SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE. Unlike a run of the mill Bollywood album, foreign soundtracks often require the composer to enhance emotions and meaning behind the progression of a film; as opposed to creating a bunch of Udit Narayan-Alka Yagnik duets or remixes. Setting the tone early Rahman collaborates with the hip-hop/electronica/pop/dance queen herself, M.I.A. in *'O…Saya'*. Packing enthusiasm and intensity Rahman doesn't allow the listener to catch a single breath of air for the entirety of the track. M.I.A. offers her two cents with chilling execution. Used as more of a filler, *'Riots'* sobers the mood set by the opener. Don't expect much, though it is an effective background number. True passion and genius come alive in arguably the best instrumental the Mozart of Madras has composed. *'Mausam & Escape'* incorporates two entirely different scenarios, one of affection and to fleeing from fear. In less than forty-five seconds the composition strays from sweet chords strummed on the guitar by Rashid Ali and Sanjay Joseph to a high octane Indo-Western fusion number. Asad's inhuman talent on the sitar is the true winner as Rahman finds a way to perfectly blend the classic with modern. Not far behind is *'Liquid Dance' *offering a journey similar as *'Mausam & Escape'*. Unfortunately the piece remains slightly under the three minute mark, yet the orchestral backdrop haunts your memory well after the initial listen. *'Millionaire*' offers the same impact as *'Riots'*, good background but nowhere near as impactful as *'Mausam & Escape' *or* 'Liquid Dance'*. Diverting away from the instrumentals, the remainder of Rahman's voyage pulls you in every which way. As a homage to the scintillating Laxmikant-Pyarelal classic *'Choli Ke Peeche'*, the maestro throws his own stamp with *'Ringa Ringa'*. Ila Arun accompanies Alka Yagnik just as she did in the original, with Alka sounding youthful as ever. *'Dreams On Fire'* with Suzanne at the helm offers a contemporary romantic ballad infused with hints of Indian variations throughout and a trademark flute solo at the end. A slower version is also featured, *'Latika's Theme'*. Both tracks offer deeper insight into an essential character, while being easy on the ears. No progressive venture from Rahman can seem to survive without some traces of Blaaze. Fortunately Blaaze, in *'Gangsta Blues'*, does little to annoy. Instead his laid back style flatters the notion from the arrangements. Another character who can't seem to stay away from this ragtag team is the man singing *'Chal Chaiyya Chaiyya'* at the top of his lungs, Sukhwinder Singh. *'Jai Ho'* ends the album on an optimistic note, in what may be classified as a typical Bollywood number from our music director. Besides the peppy happy enriched singing, what really makes this song special are the lyrics from Sampooran Singh Kalra (some may know him by a lesser known alias, Gulzar!). If the original music pieces weren't enough, the producers felt a need to place Grammy nominated *'Paper Planes'* by M.I.A. into the mix (if you haven't already, go purchase M.I.A.'s albums ARULAR and KALA!). The *'Paper Planes DFA Remix'* is also featured. Shanker-Ehsaan-Loy somehow find themselves sharing some room with *'Aaj Ki Raat'* sung by Sonu Nigam, Alisha Chinai and Mahalaxmi Iyer from the film DON. A. R. Rahman manages to invoke the best and worst of emotions, there is absolutely no exception or excuse for any lover of music to be without SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE. Key Tracks: The entire soundtrack! Rating: *****
