A Spark of Divinity - A.R.Rahman’s latest release is Meenaxi - A super album thats so filled with a lot of hardwork - tough to understand compostions - and of course, undoubtedly wonderful musical magic!
1. Bicycle Song:
Percussions: Shivamani
Strings: John Themis
This is a percussion freak song! Shivamani - is a man of abundant talent with a lot of arrogance. He surely has tried to prove his best. This is a medley of a lot of instruments and the tune gets you to tap ur feet unknowingly. Its a mixture - you are in constant surprise - what comes in next?
2. Chinnamma Chilakkamma
Lyrics: Sukhwinder singh
Lead singer: Sukhwinder singh
The song starts with a folk presentation. It is supposed to be imagined as the Music from Hydi - well, sounds like Goan Folklore to me! A super blend of folk and the hi-profile Sukhi. Of course, you can suddenly think that you are listening to some Bhajany tunes - then ARR is quick to remind you that ’’na na...its Chinnaamaa....taht you are listening to’’! I sometimes wonder, why ARR shud cling on to cliched voices like Sukhi - but then ARR has his own set of favorites. I read in some website about Sukhi wanting to change to a black vest before recording this song - to get into the mood! Well, as far as this song goes - I like it when Chin...Chil...goes - otherwise - Sukhi’ s voice reminds me only of the nasal Chaiyya Chaiyya. And for god’s sake - why cant singers just remain singers...why cant they let the lyricists do their work in peace, huh?
3. Dhuan Dhuan aag hey kahan kahan
Lyrics: Rahat Indori
Singer: Asha bhonsle
Yet another old voice in the industry. Asha - I wish cud retire as a respected singer. Anyway - this song has been rendered with a lot of efforts. You can feel the amount of effort that Asha has thrown into this song. And of course, the magic of the recording studios in London has done the remaining magic. When the mood of the song suddenly changes in between to a more ...painful tune...it gives a very wonderful feeling. A stylish composition.
4. Do kadam aur sahi
Lyrics: Rahat Indori
Singer: Sonu Nigam
Nahin Samne.........from Taaaal - oh god, we are talking about Do Kadam.....I forgot for a minute. This is just the revised version of Nahin Samne...In fact, you could try Karoke with Do Kadam, matching it with Nahim Samne! Sonu definitely rendered his best - Would ARR compromise for anything less than the best?
5. Noor-un-ala-noor
Lyrics: M.F.Hussain
Lead singers: Murtaza khan, Quadir khan
A fantastic Qawalli Composition with some bass instruments in the back ground giving that deep rythym like the sounds in Dil Chahta Hai....The singers are professionals who know just what to do, rather how to sing a Qawali...wonder where ARR hunts for such people? The beats are the highlights that keeps the entire song active (remember a similar composition in ARR’s Tamil Release...Sangamam) The beats die - only at the end of the song - U cant stop ur feet from dancing.......Noor - un - ala.........Blissful!
6. Potter’s Village
Percussions: Hassam Ramzy
Strings: John Themis
Yet another use of a Raag that sounds like the typical Islamic touch - so I guess this has something to do with the music of Hydi. This composition is close to the Bicycle’s run. For a minute when I heard this the first time, I thought I was listening to that, by mistake - Na naa...then I realised - what a colossal error! This is a very short composition - am sure has been made use of in the background - no dancing around for this one, ok?
7. Rang hai
Lyrics: Rahat Indori
Lead singer: Alka yagnik
What a super confused yet distilled clear compostion. Wonder how ARR can get to compose such a confusing composition. The music is like some Egyptian stuff - na na again, its from Jaisalmer, it seems. Some of the instruments use are totally off tune - off the pitch - going on and on somewhere in the back ground - Alka just goes on without paying heed to any of those. The additional voices are sure an addition to the confusion. You probably can play this composition in fundoo parties. Gives a high air to the atmosphere. Rang Hai - Variety Personified!
8. Yeh Rishtha
Lyrics: Rahat Inodri
Lead singer: Reena bharadwaj
The song that is used for small time - Big Advertising - Trailors on the Tv sets - sure a damn damn damn DAMN attractive number. Reena’s incomplete voice suits this song very well. Her casual way of rendering the number - seems a little odd - but you would get used to it - when she sings more certainly! The instruments in here are absurd. ARR - too much!
ARR is divine! I have never come accros, in my limited knowledge a Music Composer who can add so much of life, variety, attraction, knowledge, intelligence - all tuned in one song. This guy is surely, 100% DIVINE. Listen to Meenaxi - you’ll never stop......