Musically Yours

Well...this was one topic that was in the making for a long time...so long that u can say about 17 years to be precise. Wondering what am blabbering since blogs never existed that time. Well think again since even internet didnt exist at that time and as far as a computer was concerned, it was a big box that had a suitcase of a hard disk and had the now extinct floppy disk. Flummoxed at what i am trying to say, worry not. All i want to say is that over the past few days i have been overcome with an urge for music. Now u people must be thinking where did few days come in when i mentioned 17 years previously. Actually the 17 years meant right from the time a genious burst into the limelight...into the world of music. Yes...i am talking about Allah Rakha Rahman. Still wondering where did rahman come into the picture, well this blog is about music and for me listening to music started with those magical and now almost immortal words "Chinna chinna asai". I started listening to music around that time and when this magician burst out into the scene, i was so addicted to him that i started to like good music.

But you people may ask why now when this should have been my first post!!! Well this post has come at this point of time when am so addicted to music. With some amazing movie songs that have come out recently, i was so transfixed to listening to songs that i started to see every movie in a musical angle. This new change started when i attended the mastero's concert at chennai. It was an absolutely awesome experience and around the same time i upgraded my net connection to BSNL Unlimited...thanx to my banking mom ofcourse.. I started downloading lots of movies that i wanted to see again though i may have seen them multiple times on TV. It all started off with my all time favourite Indra ....and that absolutely awesome song Nila kaigiradhu...the song in which Harini burst into the limelight and which had me totally glued on to it...though the movie in itself is a gem of a story the songs were totally outta this world. The BGM's well they are by rahman and so no questioning the mastero's creations.

Then i saw one movie which is infact not a bad movie (considering the recent movies like kuruvi, vetaikaran, asal, aegan..). The movie am takling about is En Swasakatre...man what songs this had...absolutely fabulous. Even though the movie was a monotonous run of the mill one, the BGM's were such that they complemented every scene and made it watchable. especially the theme BGM...i just loved it...

Next in line was one of my all time favourite movies and one among the first movies that made me cry - Kannathil Muthamittal. Even now when i see the climax when Keerthana asks nandita das if she can call her Amma, my eyes become moist. The emotions are brought out so well by the actors and with a haunting BGM running behind, Rahman once again proves how well he can compliment a scene and bring out the raw emotions to the viewer. My discussion of kannathil Muthamital cannot be complete without my pick of the Album - Oru deivam Thanda Poove. And i maybe odd in my taste, but i like the Male version more than the female. People may argue that the female version - Nenjil Jil Jil - won the State award for best singer and i agree 200% the soulful rendition by Chinmayi deserved it, but somehow i like the male version more than the female one. Another song without which Kannathil Muthamital is not complete is Vellai pookal. Rahman always has this amazing ability to render soulful songs sound as if its straight from the heart (Even though this one was straight from many people's heart).

Then came a language change and i saw a gem of a movie that was a big dud at the box office. Even now when i think of this movie i fell like catching hold of the movie goers collar and bashing them up for making such a movie a flop. The movie in discussion is Delhi 6. I was already in awe of the talent the powerhouse director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra possessed in terms of having a musical taste as well as making a socially relevant movie vis-a-vis Rang de basanti. That was one movie that just made me inside out. It was like lightning and thunder from a clear sky and it hit me hard and that movie will have an impact on me forever. Now back to the movie am talking about. This movie was a revelation both pictorially and musically. What a story. How many people would have thought of making a story on such a theme and putting it across to the audience convincingly. That is one movie even the totally down and out person must see for inspiration. Too bad as i mentioned it didnt do well at the box office. Even now am fuming at the taste of those people who saw the movie and called it crap. And regarding the BGM's, this was one movie where i believe i saw a new Rahman for the first time. It had started with Swades and RDB and this was his metamorphosis into a pure magician who played with sounds and made them mesmerize the listeners ears. Even before the movie released Masakali was a huge rage and am not sure if people loved Sonam kapoor in that song but i just loved the beauty of Masakali (the pegion's name). There were few other songs that dint quite appeal to the general public. But these 2 were pure gems from Rahman. One of them definitely was Rehna Tu and another was Arziyaan. Even Dil Gira Dafatan appealed to me a lot. These 3 were so soothing to listen. Even a troubled mind will be calmed on listening to this. The BGM's were outta this world. Perfect foil to the happenings in the movie and supporting the songs. It was like Rahman Reloaded. He kept getting better with each album that he made both with the songs and BGM's. The whole world was head over heels on listening to Slumdog Millionaire. Even though the songs werent like his other compositions, this was definitely not bad. One song that came also as a BGM was Mausam Escape theme. This song had wonderful orchestration and the combo between the electric guitar and santoor as perfect. The song alternated between the melody and rock genre and was a treat to listen to.

The recent songs that i heard from Rahmans works reflect a definite shift the class of music he gives. There are lots of different sounds and voices that we see nowadays...a big change from lagaan days where Udit Narayanan and Alka yagnik almost sang all the songs. He is now using variety of singers from different nationalities and genres for the songs and also using never heard before instruments. The recent Vinaithandi Varuvaya was a gem. Both the movie and its music were soft and peppy. Right from the Soulful ballad Uyire to the magical Manipaya to the peppy Anbil Avan, the songs had definite variety and also the story being truly beautiful, the BGM's also complimented it a lot. Next has come Ravan/Ravana and the Hindi one once agtain proves once again that Rahman always gives his mentor Mani the best compositions. Ranjha Ranjha and Kili Re Kili stand out and Reena Bharadwaj once again proves that she's not a one song wonder. (The same singer who gave us Ye Rishta Kya Kehlata from Meenaxi - A tale of 3 cities...awesome songs and BGM's to support a truly boring movie). Even Rekha bharadwaj's Ranjha Ranjha is a gift to our ears and Rekha Bharadwaj, Rahman's find through Genda Phool from Dilli 6 and Director/Music director Vishal Bharadwaj's wife, has done good justification to it. Now waiting with baited breath for the movie and its BGM's. Hope Rahman will do justification to our expectations....

If Anyone wants BGM' as below check the two links given

Link 1

Link 2

Credit goes to A R Rajib Dey from my Facebook Friends list and fellow Rahmaniac

Musings about a Memorable Musical Night

I know this post is very very late, but better late than never since i cant stop thinking about the amazing time i had.

I was in a state of exitement right from the time the concert was announced. I was jumping up and down when he got the two oscars and proudly said "All through my life i had the choice between love and hate and i chose love and am here!" and "எல்லா புகழும் இறைவனுக்கே" and when the chance came to see him live on stage i was expecting for an out of this world experience

I had bought the tickets well in advance and spent the last few days planning how we reach there. it was decided that we hire a Sumo and go. We were about 5 people and it was a long journey along the scenic ECR. All along the way we were discussing about Rahman only and the possible songs that he may perform and our favourites from among his tracks. We reached the venue an hour in advance and found a wonderful location to sit. Little did we know that almost the entire concert we would be on our feets!! The concert started about an hour late and those were the longest and most restless moments of my life since we couldnt wait for more. "Bring on our Idol" seemed to be the common words used at the venue. The restlesness was further fuelled by the organisers advertising their various ventures.

Finally the concert had truly started and the way he started with Jaage Hain from Guru and followed it up with Khalbali and attained peak with Athiradi karan, it was absolutely awesome. Then came Hariharan with the magical Kadhal Rojave. Even though it did not match up to the original, my namesake did do a great job in his usual style. Then came the tekno theme of Dilli 6 followed by Jiya Se Jiya. Jiya se jiya was a revelation since Rahman literally connected with the audience when he went atop a crane above the audience. After this song entered the inimitable Blazee with his Style followed by the Liquid Dance from Slumdog Millionaire. This was followed with my most favourite number Konjam Nilavu. This fast number was followed by Ringa Ringa and Fiqurana. This was enough and the audience was already on its feet and it reached a cresendo when the mastero himself sang Dil Se Re. This was followed deliberately by the mesmerising number Jashn Ee Bahara and we were virtually hypnotised when Snegidane and Slumdog Theme followed. We slowly calmed down and were slowly swaying to Kahin to and Thamizha Thamizha that followed along with Uyire. What a moment it was when Hariharan performed Thamizha Thamizha...everyone in the audience sported the Indian Flags and i could feel a patriotic fervour inside me.

Then came the peppy kabhie Kabhie Aditi and Rahman himself singing Rehna Tu. As they always say there's always a calm before the storm, the soothing effect that Rehna Tu had was followed those amazing crowd pleasers Chaiya Chaiya, Taxi Taxi, Mayya Mayya This was also when Shivamani went on stage and we had Azeem O Shahenshah, Rukumani and Veerapandi. The crowd went berserk and my friend and I who were hardcore Rahman fans were standing on the chairs. Both of us dint know when we went up and only realised when Rahman brought us down with the hevenly Khwaja Mere Khwaja and Arziyaan.

Then came the surprise element of the concert...we had Chitra make a rare public appearence and sing "Kannalane". We just kept wondering about how at this age after so many years in the industry she has the same innocent and angelic voice that she started out with. She further pleased us with the rendering of Jiya Jale. After that Hariharan and Rahman came on stage and played with us. Hariharan split the audince into two and gave each side few lines to sing that he sang and we repeated aftr him. He did this for some time and then sang a wonderful aalap which even on our best day am sure we cant sing. He finished his aalap in such a way that it paved the way for Ay Hairathe. Woww!!! one of my favourite songs from one of my favourite movies. Then came Suzanne with Aye bachu and again the audience tempo was raised and same as last time rahman himself went on stage for that legendary college song Mustafa Mustafa. This song was also a delight to watch when the crowd brought out their cellphones and started waving it similarly as it comes in the movie. Again th cresendo peaked with Blazee taking the stage and rapping Humma Humma and we couldnt ask anything better.

Then came the dull part of the concert when the Marg people took to stage for the next half hour and were pseudo advertising their ventures. The only good part of this was a sizeable donation to Shakti Foundation and Rahman again spreading the word of love.

This was followed by Rahman rendering his Oscar number Jai Ho and the crowd went crazy for a moment. he started Jai Ho and wonderfully ended it with his All time Patriotic number Vande Mataram. I could feel ripples along my sleeve and the pride and respect i had for my nation increased ten fold.

Sadly this was the last song of the concert since Rahman customarily signs off with Vande Mataram. With heavy hearts since we left the venue. But nontheless it was the best few hours of my life when i truly let my hair down and enjoyed my idol perform live in front of me. This was my second rahman concert...but this was special since i was in the company of my fellow rahmaniac friends and this was his first concert in India after garnering International Glory.

Check out below for some pics

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/cities/Chennai/article32596.ece - Courtesy The Hindu