Acknowledgements
Lyrics booklet in Rockstar
https://arrahman.com/discography/films-hindi-rockstar.html
Introduction
Rockstar, the latest musical offering from AR Rahman, lyricist Irshad Kamil and director Imtiaz Ali, is a musical treat. A song-by-song listing is beyond the confines of this review, as all 14 pieces of music merit a separate review!
Music
It is one thing to compose a diverse pot-pouri of songs that sound different. It is another thing altogether to make each song stand out and touch the listener. There are two kinds of songs, those songs that you listen to and say’Oh that’s a nice song’ and then forget instantly, and those songs that you are involved and engaged with and never leave your mind, such that you repeat them over and over again. Rockstar’s songs fall into the second category. Rahman has successfully managed to take the listener on the protagonist’s musical journey and keep him/her interested throughout. More importantly, the songs have been composed in such a way that you feel different emotions, almost identical to what Jordan may be going through during that particular song. If’Aur Ho’ left me shocked, ’Sheher Mein’ brought a smile to my face.’Haawa Haawa’ is incredibly rythmic and’Phir Se Udh Chala’ made me imagine faraway places. While the diverse musical instruments used within songs makes the journey even more interesting, it is the soundscape and atmosphere that drew me into each song.
There are many preludes, interludes and’endings’ that stand out in Rockstar, thanks to an amazing team of instrumentalists. Sivamani on the drums makes the prelude of Naadan Parindey a major highlight. Keba Jeremiah does amazing guitar work throughout the album in different musical situations, especially during’Kaatiya Kaaron’. Ann Marie Calhoun’s violin play is beautifully expressive in Haawa Haawa, Balesh’s shenai leaves a musically soulful impact on’The Dichtomy of Fame’. The combination of’tabla’ and’sarangi’ by Dilshad Khan and Sai Shravanam respectively in Tum Ko brought back a lot of nostalgia. And who can forget Orianthi whose guitar work, especially towards the end, gives me goosebumps each time I listen to Sadda Haq! These are just some of the many examples through which Rahman’s international team have conveyed musical excellence.
The best aspect of Rockstar’s music is the way the composer builds up the music to a thrilling finale for each of the songs. Sadda Haq really peaks about 4-5 minutes into the song, but Rahman still ensures that your attention is kept for each nanosecond throughout, particularly through use of a choir and excellent use of drums by Oscar Seaton, and Orianthi’s guitar is used sparingly yet effectively throughout. Aur Ho’s use of guitars is especially effective in conveying rapidly changing emotions. Phir Se Udh Chala ends with you wanting more. Kateeya Karoon starts off a dance number but then changes into something more pleasant and soothing in the end stanzas. Sheher Mein also has a beautiful musical interlude towards the latter parts of the song.
Ultimately, what I like most about Rockstar’s music is its rhythmic beats. Songs like Tango for Taj, Kun Faaya Kun, Hawaa Hawaa and Sadda Haq may be different in their musical feel yet each of these musical pieces have a rather addictive way of pulling you in and clapping along or dancing with the music. Yet most of these songs, especially Kun Faaya Kun, also connected with me emotionally and soulfully.
Lyrics
Irshad Kamil has shown amazing lyrical variation throughout this album. If’Sadda Haq, Aithe Rakh’ is a cry for justice and freedom, ’Kun Faaya Kun’ is enriching spiritually. If’Kateeya Karoon’ is playful and fun, ’Tum Ho’ and’Tum Ko’ is romantic bliss, coupled with’Aur Ho’ which illustrates the pain of love. In today’s world where lyrically, many songs has been painfully lacking with an emphasis on Hinglish words and repetitive phrases, Irshad Kamil’s soul-stirring and memorable lyrics is to be praised. Some of my favourite lyrics throughout the album are;
Sadda Haq
’Hey.In Kataron Mein, Ya Uddhaaron Mein, Tum Mere Jeene Ki Aadat Ka Kyon Ghoht Rahe Dum?’
Kun Faaya Kun
’Sajra sawera mere tan barse.Kajra andhera teri jalti lau.Katra mila jo tere dar par Se.o maula.maula.
Aur Ho
’Pata bhi na chale.Kahan pe kya jale.Hain dar se.Tan mari ki.Sihran se.Hasrat ki.Sulgan se
Naadan Paarindey
’Kyoon desh videsh Phire maara.Yoon hall behaal Thaka haara.Kyon des videsh Phire maara.Tu raat beraat ka Banjaara.
Vocals
Another vital ingredient on this musical journey is Mohit Chauhan, providing the voice of Ranbir Kapoor(Jordan). At first glance one might think that 9 songs might be overkill for one singer, but Chauhan manages to sound different on each of them. Of course, we are talking about a composer who specialises in making singers sound different in multiple songs(ask singer Chinmayi!) in his songs. Nevertheless, the vocal range Chauhan displays is astonishing. Phir Se Udh Chala and Jo Bhi Main has been sung with real passion. The singer has a ball in’Hawaa Hawaa’, where he does everything to capture your attention, even’meowing, powing’. This however masks the difficulty that Chauhan must have gone through in singing it! In’Aur Ho’, Chauhan captures the anguish and roller-coaster emotions of Jordan and scales musical heights in potentially the toughest song of his career. He sounds cool in’Sheher Mein’ and his vocals convey innocence in’Kun Faaya Kun’. But it is’Sadda Haq’ where the singer truly sounds different and makes the transformation into a rock singer. Comparatively, ’Tum Ho’ and’Naadan Paarindey’ are two songs where he struggles a bit.
The presence of Mohit Chauhan does not mean that other vocalists are sidelined. Rahman sings Kun Faaya Kun with great sincerity and earnestness, accompanied by the ever capable Javed Ali. Rahman must have identified a lot with the song situation of Naadan Paarindey, given his travels around the world. Needless to say, his rendition in the song is effortless. Karthik does a great job in Sheher Mein too. Of the female vocalists, Suzanne D’Mello melts your heart with some lovely humming in’Tum Ho’. Kavita Subramaniam(formerly Krishnamurthy) sounds ethereal in’Tum Ko’, though at times her voice does sound stretched. Alma Ferovic opens’Aur Ho’ with a really haunting voice that lingers in your mind. And there’s the duo of Harshdeep Kaur and Sapna Awasthi in’Kateeya Karoon’ who sound refreshingly different and authentic.
Even the backing vocalists stand out. Clinton Corejo’s choir transforms’Sadda Haq’ into something otherworldly in its initial stages, as does the’crowd’ vocals in Jo Bhi Main towards the end. ‘Hawaa Hawaa’s charm and energy is also partially thanks to a great set of backing vocals that complement Chauhan effectively. The chorus at the beginning and end of’Phir Se Udh Chala’ really evoke magic in their renditions.
Overall.
While much of Rockstar may be familiar territory for AR Rahman, it’s the way which he has presented each song that makes it such a brilliant soundtrack. This is what happens when a team of musicians, especially a music director who continues to weave magic with his music(Rahman), a director with an ear for great music(Imtiaz Ali) and poetic lyricist(Irshad Kamil) come together to create a memorable musical experience, that for me will be difficult to surpass for some time.
Enjoy listening!