I had been thniking for a long time to think aloud on the singing of this wonderful musician. He entered the scenario with an extended bang with the Breathless. I am not sure whether it was really sung without a break, though I am not going to discuss that in this review.
I am of the opinion that the trio of Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy Mendonsa has been consistently churning out good, foot tapping and soulful music. My only complain is that Shankar Mahadevan tends to sing most of the good songs himself and I personally feel that there are better singers around. I will take some of his songs which I wished were sung by some other singer. I will also try to create and check out a scenario of some SEL songs originally sung by other singers being sung by Shankar.
1. Kajara re
This song enacted by Amitabh and Abhishek deserved a throaty singer like Vinod Rathod. The voice quality of the other singer Javed Ali makes up for the lack of bass in higher notes in Shankar’s voice. But had this song been sung by Amitabh Bachchan, even if in parts, it would have become a bigger cult, like Mere Angane Mein. The raw folk appeal of Amitabh’s singing would have taken the male portion of this song many notches higher, matching fully the silken and naughty Alisha.
2.The kashmere Song in Mission Kashmir:
I am really sorry folks as I really cannot make out the exact wordings, therefore the title. Now in this songs, just recall the hight notes, ".ka phool laya.utarne ko." and see how thin the voice of singer spreads. The Nose gone with the thinness mixed makes for a bad listening. I wish this song were sung by the abrasive Sukhvinder.
3. Koi Kahe Kahta Rahe
Now, this song should have been sung by KK alone and if it were to be a duet, it would have been Abhijeet. This would have a been a first of sorts as I do not think these two have ever sung together. The silken troatiness of Abhijeet would have complemented the powerful KK.
4. Pretty Woman:
This song is heavily orchestrated and therefore it is diffcult to catch the nose in the catch line. However in the stanzas, one wishes it were Sonu. Sonu suits Shahrukh to a T. Only paralleled by Abhijeet.
5. Jhoom Barabar Jhoom:
Well, this song has been already mired in controversy, but that is not the reason behind my dsiliking to it. I feel anyone whose voices’nasates’ and shrinks in high notes, should not sing for Amitabh. For this song I choose Udit Narayan. This is a sinmple straightforward song and he would have done full justice to the requirements.
There is no doubt that Shankar is really capable singer, but choices are quirky. I am not sure how many share my view, but my goat was really got when he started singing a string of Rafi songs on stage during a show. I can really enjoy a Bala doing that as he has a peculiar style of Murqis which he said he owed to Rafi. Bala is so pleasant to hear over the entire range and the attitude he lends to a song, is simply awesome. His songs are always so youthful. I can not see why SEL are not taking his services. Another singer missing the eyes of composer would be Hariharan. I mean he can sing classical with greater ease and appeal than Shankar can. Anyone remebers Mere sath hai tooo from Yadein?
Now just imagine Shankar singing:
*Don title song, (Shan):
*Now can you replace the’bending’ of notes at ye nigahen kya Batayen.in Shankar’s Unclish voi ce. It was a wise decision on SEL’s part to hire the services of Shaan.
Soniye(KK): Now, the range that KK displays in this’rockish’ song is unmatchable. KK’s beauty lies in that his voice never lets nose take over even at the higher echelons.
Roobaroo.(ARR, Naresh Iyer): What a soulful at the same time freewheeling rendition by the new kid on the block!.
The Suresh Wadekar Sad Song in Omkara: I do not know why such singers do not sing any more. People would say that Suresh is also nasal. but to the discerning the difference is loud and clear.’The master of Mishrit swars’ Suresh is all vintage in this number.
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List of current hits not sung by Shankar is too large to be reproduced here.
I would like to raise my suggestion here that SEL should concentrate solely on the composition and let the singers like KK, Vishal, Adnan, Sonu, Shaan, Abhijeet, Hariharan, Bala, etc do their job ie singing. Let everyone have his rightful Roti.