Saturday, January 17, 2009

Delhi 6---Music Review

Caution: Maestro at work!

It took me some time for me to get my hands on the songs of 'ADA- A Way of Life', so now I'm being overwhelmed into getting my hands on two different AR Rahman albums in three days (!). That is just enough to make those three days so exciting in your life. Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and AR Rahman last combined for the 2005 cult success 'Rang De Basanti' and the results were phenomenal. However, it has to be noticed that the songs for RDB were not that much of a success until the film hit the theaters and became such a huge success. Rahman's music grew as time passed by with the audiences, and some of the songs went on to rake the Indian National Award. So I wouldn't be surprised if the songs of 'Delhi 6' were very much off-beat and takes time to grow. But now I am surprised! Because 'Delhi 6' album delivers plenty and many more and is a real treat for the ears, heart, and soul.


Song: Aarti (Tumre Bhavan)
Singers: Rekha Bharadwaj, Kishori Gowariker

This is basically an 'Aarti', a Bhajan-like number with the minimal use of instruments, easily the kind os songs that you'd hear while attending 'bhajans' and so on. Its criminal to expect too much from this song, it is a simple, devotional number and its as good as it gets.

Song rating: 3.5/5


Song: Bhoor Bayan
Singers: Shreya Ghosal, Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan

This song, too, like the previous one, is a chating, devotional song, and has an extremely classical touch to it. There's nothing much to say about it in that sense, it is as good as it gets given the fact of its genre. But it is extremely interesting to listen to Shreya Ghosal who proves her prowess in singing classical songs which stretches her voice further than normal. She is certainly one of the best voices in India. Gifted.

Song rating: 3.5/5


Song: Noor
Singer: Amitabh Bachchan

This, by theory, is not a song. But Prasoon Joshi's poetry is highly apparent in this short, 50-sec piece which describes the city of Delhi beautifully. And you can always bank on Amitabh Bachchan to be a very good narrator to tell the story of a film. And he does that with panache.

Song rating: 4/5


Song: Arziyan (Maula Mere Maula)
Singers: Javed Ali, Kailash Kher

Phenomenal! Thats the first thing that crossed my mind after hearing to this piece. I can't stop humming it, and thats where ARR's magic lies hidden. Its one thing when you hum a melody love song and even a fast-beat song, but it takes real magic to make you hum a Muslim bhajan. This, in many ways, reminds me of the brilliant 'Khwaja Mere Khwaja' from 'Jodha Akbar', but I have to give it for this song because I think this is just that little notch better and its constantly intoxicating and makes you hum to its rhythm. Javed Ali is simply brilliant in this song, and his voice falls so sweetly in your ears, and Kailash Kher is someone you can always count to give any song a 'raw' and 'earthy' feel. Not once does the heavy use of 'Sufi' music make you lose interest in this song. Delightful.

Song rating: 5/5


Song: Delhi 6
Singers: Blaaze, Benny Dayal, Tanvi Shah


Give it for 'Delhi 6'! Wonderful lyrics from co-writer Prasoon Joshi. This is a fast-beat rap song that sings about Delhi as a city and its spirit. The lyrics are simply brilliant and resonates upon you, and you will never be dissapointed when Blaaze is there rapping and ARR providing the techno beats. Tanvi Shah' opening 'Ye Delhi He Mere Yaar, Bas Ishq Mohabbat Pyaar' sets the mood wonderfully for this song. ARR seems to have taken an affection to taking a French slang into his songs, and after 'Taxi Taxi' in Tamil, this song follows suit. 'Yeh Sheher Nahi, Mehfil He'. Yo!

Song rating: 5/5



Song: Dil Mera (Dil Gira Gafatan)
Singers: Ash King, Chinmayee


I have never heard of Ash King before, but what a singer he is that he proves here! His voice is soft yet intoxicating, the way Sonu Nigam's voice could affect you. This song is pretty much similar in terms of mood with 'Tu Bin Bataye' from 'RDB', but again, this song is unique in its own way, and is certainly brilliant. The song is very slow, but just listening to it, makes you grow closer towards the song. ARR uses wonderful interludes in between of vocals. As said, Ash King is brilliant and Chinmayee is at her regular best. 'Dil Mera Gaatahe'. :)

Song rating: 5/5



Song: Ghenda Phool
Singer: Rekha Bharadwaj

Wow! I didn't even predict that I would fall deeply in love with this song. The song starts pretty normal to be honest, and given the fact that it is a song that has a classical resonation to it, I didn't expect much from it. But, well, thats ARR  for you. One second of magic and your whole opinion of the song drastically changes. Rekha Bharadwaj does a splendid job in this song. Masterful!

Song rating: 5/5


Song: Hey Kaalabandar
Singers: Karthik, Naresh Iyer


The magic continues. 'Choose life ki path le'. Very much similar to the famous 'Paatshala' from 'RDB', this song to describes the youth of today with some brilliant lyrics by Prasoon. Don't miss Karthik and Naresh Iyer's singing middle of the song, a breathless, continous singing that will make you applaud them, and also some brilliant English lyrics in between. 


Song rating: 5/5



Song: Rehna Tu
Singer: AR Rahman, Benny Dayal, Tanvi Shah



Maestro Territory. Simply that. In almost every album that he composes, if AR Rahman decides to croon for only one song in his album, that song mostly will be the most romantic, wonderful, soothing number in the album (Meherbaan from ADA, New York Nagaram from Jillunu Oru Kadhal). This follows the suit. A wonderful love number, that will seamless brush you heart and soul. :)

Song rating: 5/5



Song: Masakali
Singers: Mohit Chauhan



I have left the best for the last! :) Masakali is just everything about Rahman- an offbeat fusion that completely works, and is absolutely fascinating to listen to. The song has different platforms of rhythm throughout, for a while its like a slow-paced romantic song, but in the middle the tunes will make you completely tap your feet without even you knowing. Mind-blowing! Bring that Masakali! (Masakali refers to a dove that features prominently in the film)

Song: 7/5...more than perfection



All in all, this is the maestro flexing muscles at his best and throwing some brilliant numbers around in this album. I won't say that it is a perfect album, nor will I say it is ARR's best. But I can say it is better than ARR's big albums of late- better than Yuvvraaj, Jaane Tu..., Guru, and even slightly better than the highly appreciated ADA- A Way of Life. All in all, this is pure ARR stuff.

ALBUM RATING: 10/10

VERDICT: Listen to it if you don't want to miss some wonderful music and programming experimentation that gives you an unique hearing experience.

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