Swades, set to music by A.R.Rehman, is one of the better albums to hit the market, in recent times. Once again after the highly successful Lagaan, we have the combination of Aashutosh Gowarikar, Javed Akthar and A.R. Rehman. Can they create magic, yet again? Only time will tell.
Though the album is not as good as Lagaan, its ?desi? flavour grows on you. Rehman has also used specialists in other departments, and hence the credits run long, comprising of Flute (Navin), Shehnai (Madhu), Bass guitar (Keith Peters), Sitar (Janardhan) Harp, Santoor and Mandolin (Srinivasulu), Drums and percussion (Sivamani) Guitar (Prassanna and Kabuli), Tabla and Dholak (Prasad and Neelakanthan), Taps and Bass Dholak (Lakshmi Narayana), Pakhwaj and Khol (Sathiya Narayana) and Percussion (Veda). With such an extensive ensemble of supporting musicians, it evident that Rehman has gone out and out to create purely Indian music.
The album contains 9 numbers, of which 2 are instrumental versions of songs that appear in the first half. Throughout, Rehman has stuck to contemporary Indian instruments and tunes, obviously because the film is all about returning home.
The soundtrack starts of with an Udit Narayan number called ?Yeh taara, woh taara? which is very much a song describing the stars, and sky in relations to human values. Udit has good vocal support from Master Vignesh, Baby Pooja and some children. Though it reminds you of ?En Panchiyoon? from Koi Mil Gaya, the song is quite different and peppy. Udit is very good in this song.
Ahistha Ahistha, by Udit and Sadhna Sargam, is a lullaby, and is an invitation for sleep, to gently enter one?s eyes. It?s a slow number and its soporific tune is likely to do its job?that of putting you to sleep, by the end of the song.
A.R.Rehman himself sings the title song ?Yeh jo Desh Hai tera, Swades hai tera?, doing a good job. The lyrics are wonderful, and extol the virtues of returning to one?s own homeland, where there are people waiting for you.
Intensely patriotic, and reminiscent of ?Chitti Aayi Hai? by Pankaj Udhas for the film Naam, the song has such beautiful lines like ?Mitti Ki Jo Hai Khushboo, Tu Kaise bhulayega, Tu Chahe Kahin Jaaye, Tu Laut Ke Aayega?. After hearing these lyrics, it wouldn?t be surprising to see quite a few NRIs making a beeline for India!!
?Pal Pal hai Bhaari?, by Madhushree, Vijay Prakash and Aashutosh Gowariker, is a Ram Leela number, set on the stage, in which the lady (Sita) implores Lord Ram to come to her rescue. The song is similar to Rehman?s ?Oh Paalanhare? from Lagaan, but is longer and describes the various attributes of the Lord, reaching a crescendo towards the end.
The pace is alternately relaxed and racy, with good use of the tabla and flute. Ram Leela and Dusshera are major festivals in North India, and this song is likely to appeal to the masses over there.
?Dekho Na?, by Udit and Alka, is a romantic song between the hero and heroine, and is an absolute mushy number. Two of the earlier songs, Yeh jo desh hai tera and Pal Pal hai Bhaari are replayed, but on the shehnai and flute respectively. The artistes have done a very good job on the instrumentals. The shehnai is employed in India on festive occasions like marriages, and this adds colour to the song.
Saanwaria Saanwaria, by Alka Yagnik, is the song of a woman in love, describing her madness, her pining for her beloved, and her romance. The best song of the album is the last number, called ?Yun Hi Chala Chal?. This song is picturised on Shah Rukh Khan and Makarand Deshpande, as they travel on the road. Vocals are by Udit, Kailash Kher and Hariharan. This song speaks of the love for travel, for nature and for one?s country.
A lot of fusion music is used in this number. The vocals are good, but it is Kailash Kher, who impresses the most. Blessed with excellent range and flexibility, his voice can easily move up and down the scales with consummate ease, and after ?Allah Ke Bande? from Waisa Bhi Hota Hai and ?Rang Deeni? from Dev, here is a singer who is headed for success. One hears that he has also been chosen to star and sing, for the next Aamir Khan film, The Rising.
Most of the songs in the album have the feel and texture of music that was heard in the 60s and 70s. There are no disco or item numbers, and though the language is modern Hindi, one can smell and feel the countryside and it?s beauty, in most of the songs. The lyrics are full of philosophy, about oneness, about the victory of good over evil, about returning to one?s roots, and about following one?s dreams. All in all a good album.