I've been listening to a compilation CD I made for myself of all my favorite ARR tunes since 2008...the past 2 years. Mindblowing experience to say the last...Jodha Akbar, Slumdog, Yuvvraaj, Ada, Jaane Tu, Ghajini, Delhi 6, Blue, Couple's Retreat, VTV, Sakkrakatti.
I also like to tune into other MD's works in India...Vishal B, SEL, VS, somtimes Amit Trivedi, sometimes Monty Sharma (his Saawariya is still one of my favorites), sometimes Pritam, rarely Himesh, Anu Malik. ARR's music is leaps and bounds ahead of the competition...there simply is no comparison and it's pretty obvious and goes without saying. Actually, apart from a few albums and songs, like Ishqiya from Vishal B, and other non film albums from Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Shafqat Amanat Ali, Kailash Kher, I have not at all been too impressed with film music output of late besides ARR's work. It's quite disappointing. As an avid and passionate AR fan, I can truly say I love his music the most, and of course, that's a biased perspective. But, even as an objective music lover, AR's music towers high above everyone else in so many categories...sound, arrangements, depth, variety, instrumentation, novelty, originality, emotional impact, rhythm, etc. etc. AR has really silenced his critics and only a few mumblings are heard here and there from a few scattered jealous naysayers about how Jai Ho isn't really that great, blah blah blah....... No more chants of how AR has lost the magic from the 90s, is repetitive, etc. etc. Can't wait to see what AR serves up in Raavan!!!! AR Rahman's musical body of work is an institution in and of itself!!!
