Lagaan : Music at it’s best, it had to be cause it had the backing of a perfectionist like Aamir Khan and musical score of a master like A.R Rahman.
It’s Aamir Khan’s first home-production and the actor-turned producer has left no stone unturned to see that his film excels in all departments. The perfectionist that Aamir is, he has opted for the best in every field. So it’s no surprise that he chose whizkid A.R. Rahman to compose music for his offbeat period film cause he knew no other composer would have done justice to such a subject. Living up to the expectations, A.R.Rahman delivers a mind-blowing score, which is in keeping with the rustic theme of the film, but at the same time it he also blends it with some western stuff for today’s generation. Now that’s a difficult job – to strike the right balance between the past and the present – yet Rahman does it with such ease that the songs click with you though not in the first hearing, but you begin to love the music as you give it a patient 2nd 3rd 4th hearing.Simply a master at such kinda work
The composer’s blending of the Indian classical and folk music with present-day orchestration is effortless, and since the film is about British Raj, Rahman gets ample scope to show his knowledge of Western classical music. Little wonder then that he is simply brilliant here. His music should also silence his critics who have often dismissed him as a techno-wonder.
All the eight numbers make for an excellent listening and it’s difficult to rate the songs as first-best or second best. Ghanana ghanan is already a rage, with Udit Narayan, Alka Yagnik and Sukhwindara standing out among an array of singers. Mitwa is endearing and it’s again Udit Narayan’s singing which makes it special. Radha kaise na jale is also cool and mischievious stuff, simply because Asha Bhosle renders it in her cheeky style with a punch. The theme music of Lagaan is evocative.
Side B begins with the teasing O rey chhori in which Vasundhra Das sings the English lines stylishly and Udit supports her to the core with folkish words, according to me this is simply the best song of the album. Rahman himself sings the inspiring Chale chalo alongwith Srinivas, which reminds you of his Vande Mataram a bit. Waltz for a romance is a soothing western symphony piece for the waltz dance, and the concluding song O paalan hare, is a bhajan sung by Lata Mangeshkar which is orchestrated beautifully. Javed Akhtar’s lyrics are just mindblowing stuff which you don’t hear quite often, such lyrics are rare, seems like to much research has been done in this section also. Great lyrics, Beautifully sung, just listen to way Udit has used the words in all his songs, you will love it.
Great music, heard after a long time, which elevates your senses. That Rahman is among the best is proven here and to top it all the album has been in the top spot for past two weeks, that says it all, right said naa......GO FOR IT