In the era of musicals which are made only for the masses, comes ’’The Rising’’ which is not only different but also soulful. I know many would disagree with me and probably would think I am a Rehman fan and Iam just writing to praise him. It is not something to do with fan club. As a music freak, I really liked this album. It is extraordinary unlike ’’Lagaan’’ or ’’Rangeela’’ because it is a mid 18th century period film and Rehman has worked really hard on this assignment and succeeds in transporting us to that era.
’’The Rising’’ has different compilations of songs. It has different classy orchestration and Rehman’s style. Rehman has used Kailash Kher for the title song and apart from him who dons the album, there are Kavitha, Madhushree, Richa, Sukhwinder Singh, Srinivas, Chinmayee, Udit Narayan, Reena Bharadwaj, ARR and Aamir Khan. The songs grows on you after repeated hearings and definitely leaves an impact. Javed Akhtar has done a remarkable job with lyrics which are really captivating.
Mai Vari Vari
Kavitha, the underrated singer is back in Rehman’s album and also in bollywood after a long gap. She has a very diferent voice. If her ’’Maar Daala’’ in Devdas was good then you will give full marks for her rendition in ’’Mai Vari Vari’’. Many of them feel that she has a bad vocal which spoils the mood of the song. But I would say that she oozes feelings perfectly in the song and the song is very special. Some lyrics
chalate ho jo nainon ke baan thike
nishaan tumsa kahan se ooh seeke
Ki dil mein kasak ho magar pyari pyari
The song has excellent lyrics and probably it is Rani Mukherji singing to Aamir Khan telling him what she felt and her state of mind after meeting him. The song goes to its peak at this point when Kavita sings these lines,
Na bechen din thi na betab raten .. na tumse mili thi main thab hi bali thi
badi mehengi mujhko padi tumse yaari
Just hear these lines with your headphones on and you will definitely find a difference. Excellent orchestration and Reena bharadwaj has hummed perfectly in the ’’Main vari vari’’ sequence. She has a sweet voice and is great in the chorus. It is Rani, a prostitute who after setting eyes on Aamir tells him what he has done to her. She tells that she is simply fascinated and she vows that she has become crazy and had staked her life by meeting him and unknowingly fallen for him. Interesting!
9.5 on 10 for this Mujhra song which will definitely be stunning with the visuals.
Rasiya
Richa Sharma and Bonnie chakroborty join for this soulful and husky song. The song looks different and hummings and the music add extra sheen to the song. The way she renders WOh chaliya WOh Rasiya Zulmi Man Basiya... shows the depth of pain of love.
Nainan se milayi thi Nainva... Loote nindhiya hai chein ho
is another line and the song has much more. The chorus sounds something like this:
Bigdi Banak Banak ban gayi
Goriya manak manak man gayi
abni chalak chalak chal gayi
Chunri Dalak Dalak dal gayi
Great beats and the music is soulful. This Could be an number in which possibly Rani would be imagining (just like Pardesi Pardesi song) herself singing...being neglected by Aamir because of his struggle for Independence. She says that he has stolen her heart and is deep in her heart. This is a painful song and when you get the actual visuals, we might interpret some more. Don’t ask me why it can’t be Amisha. As per the details, Amisha is a widow and is saved by a Englishmen from ’’Sati’’ (a custom wherein the wife has to die after husband’s death). So chaliya basiya can’t be an Englishmen (this is what I believe).
8.5 on 10 for this painful song.
Mangal Mangal
There are three versions of this song and all the three are different. But the catchy one is Mangal Mangal - Agni which is full of energy and life. It tells all the people and the villagers are awake and even the trees and its shades are awake and we have got a NEW ENERGY up our sleeves and we are ready to take revenge. Probably all the soldiers do the ’’SEPOY MUTINY’’ at this point and the song definitely adds that wrath in the proceedings.
Jo Aakash par lali si cha gayi kabhi pehle hamne dekhi na thi
Jo Hai Jwala Seenon me Dehki Hui Kabhi pehle hamne dekhi na thi
Jo zanziron par aayi hai tarkari kabhi pehle hamne dekhi na thi
The lyrics by Javed Akhtar is mind-blowing. What a zestful song man. Great work Javed saab. The Mangal Mangal- normal track is telling the people to awake as if giving them a premonition that there could be something wrong and so be cool. Victory is ours and we can definitely make it against the odds. The Mangal Mangal - Aatma (soul) is the final phase wherein the death is awaiting the soldiers and they have to give it to death. A tearful ending to all their struggles. But they are still proud. This song belongs to Kailash Kher no doubt. Remember this guy who sung ’’Yunhi Chala’’ along with Udit. Good work and has done full justice to the song. Sukhwinder joins him in the Aatma phase. The drums beat is really catchy and the local slang in will definitely appeal to masses.
8.5 on 10 for this awakening number.
Holi Re
This song is an altogether different track. It is the festival of Holi and everybody is enthusiastic and entire star cast from Aamir to Rani will be present in this song. All the photos that has been released shows Aamir, Rani and Amisha filled with holi colors (Justification...). The starting beats did remind me of ’’Chand Aaya Hai’’ song composition in ’’Dil Hi Dil Mein’’ by ARR but except for those initial beats, the rest is original composition. The lyrics is full of joy and all are happy.
Dekho Aayi Holi Rang Layi Holi chale pichkari uda hai gulaal
Dhun ki hai ghata Mann Jhoom Uta rang chalke hai nile har lal
Rangreli mein Rang khelongee Rang javoongi Rang Geheren hai ab ke saal
Udit Narayan is excellent as usual and Aamir also joins him for one line which he repeats two times (not bad). Another underrated singer in Tamil, Sreenivas does an excellent job and keeps pace with Udit and others. Madhushree, full marks for humming! Her voice is great in Hindi though she messes up some tamil songs. Chinmayee, again ARR’s find is remarkable.
8 on 10 for this track.
Al Maddath Maula
Whenever Rehman sings, he sings with life. His ’’Yeh Jo Des Hai Mera’’ is my all time favorite. For tamil people, hear to ’’Vellai Pookal’’ from Kannathil Mutham Ittal. He is extraordinary in singing also. His enchanting interludes in many of his earlier flicks like ’’Fanaa’’ (the swaras that he uses at the end of the song) has been mind-blowing. In this track when he sings ’’Maula’’, it really is from his heart. A devotional track wherein the soldiers pray to the Lord Almighty to protect them.
A very good number with fantastic lyrics and 8 on 10 for this devotional song.
Takey Takey
Looks like a situational track. The only track which didn’t appeal much to me. But still it is good. It could possibly come in parts and could even be an introduction song showing us the world where Mangal Pandey belonged to. Wild guess...
6.5 on 10 for this situational song.
Overall, ’’Mangal Pandey-The Rising’’ is a completely different album. A brilliant effort which will definitely be LAUDED by everyone who trashed it, after seeing the movie with the visuals. No offense meant.
An overall 8.2 on 10 for this epic album.
Don’t forget to rate and comment