Music Review : GURU (A. R. Rahman 2006)

A.R.Rahman, Gulzar & Mani Ratnam Fails To Recreate The Magic

If you are expecting a Rahman of Saathiya, Taal or Dil Se, hold on. This one is not for you. The top notch music director, the best lyricist in Hindi cinemas and a sensible director come together to offer you a music album that you'll not exactly love. Some songs are not even passable, and instead have a "Avoid It" tag attached to it.

Let us explore the album little critically. The first song is "Barso Re" sung by Shreya Ghoshal, her first tryst with Rahman. Remember Lagaan song "Ghanan Ghanan", the rain song. This one is a rain song too but half as good as the Lagaan one.Nothing comparable here, not in terms of music.The song is reminiscent of "Yaaro Sunlo Zara" from Rangeela. The arrangement is almost like a lift-off from that number (the music of Rangeela was also by Rahman). The use of computer is so bluntly apparent in the lines "Meetha Hai..." that it doesn't actually pleases the ear. This song is a 5 on 10.

"Tere Bina" has a background "Dum Dara Dum Dara Mast Mast" to start with, which is very appealing to senses.This song has a peppermint freshness about it. An absolute pleasure.Gulzar lyrics is at its best."Tere bina" is a signature Rahman track, which subtly tells the story about a man who's away from his lover because of his job."Beswadi ratiya" is an expression, that I believe, most of us haven't heard before.Rahman voice impressed the nation in Vande Mataram(Maa tujhe salaam), Swadesh(Yeh jo desh hai tera), the voice and the scale at which the song is sung, creates the same magic,if not more than that.Good track.9 on 10.

Baba Sehgal crooned "Rukmani Rukmani", turn for Bappida to render some kind of "Rukmani" with a worse lyrics and worse arrangement.Bappi Lahiri has this unique voice, which made a bland song a hit in Taxi No. 9211.He does a fair job here in "Ek Lo Ek Muft" too.But if you want a glimpse of the lyrics, here's this for you,"Babu bhai salaam,Raju Bhai Pranam,Kanta behen Ram Ram".So no comments on this one.

"Mayya" starts a computer distorted voice of Chinmayee. The arrangemet is rustic. The song has a pastoral feel. A Rahman song that had comparable feel was "Dol Dol" from Yuva.Music heavy, not a catchy tune though .It has a female voice in a narration in between which reminded me of some old Rahman song, that has slipped out of my mind.A passable track.4 on 10?

"Hamesha Ishq Mein Hi Jeena" (the same track as "Tere bina") in the background, the mellifluous Hariharan, tabla as an accompany, this song "Ay Hairathe" has a great feel.& Alka Yagnik sounds great too.This one is the best track of the album.Too good to be described.Think about "Tu Hi Re"(Bombay), "Nahin Samne" (Taal) or "Apni Zulfein Mere"(Taj Mahal),"Dheemi Dheemi" (1947 Earth) just to get a feel of the song.10 on 10.

When you were just getting the hang of the album and was about to contradict the title of this blog, here comes the shock."Bazi Laaaga" is a track strictly to be avoided.Much-heard & long-unheard Udit Narayan is in the thick of the business.Mudhushree is badly wasted.The music-effects used are typically-overused-Rahman(example: "Fana" in Yuva).The music sounds like one of Anu Malik's at his worst.Damn bad.Hard to listen through the whole 5 mins.No marking for this one.

The last one in the list is "Jaage Hain", sung by Chitra & Rahman himself.Rahman starts the song jarringly and once he starts taking the high notes, the song gets elevated.A soothing track that will not find many buyers and will work only within the scope of the film,but lends a decent hear. "So Gaye Hain" (Zubeida) was a similar track but slightly better.6 on 10.

So many singers are used in this album, but that is not the only reason of this spoilt broth.Best of the lot is definitely Hariharan,Rahman,Alka Yagnik & Shreya Ghoshal,only because they got to sing better songs this time.But everyone of the singer has one's own texture which is very different.But I personally missed Mohit Chauhan and Naresh Iyer who enthralled the mass in Rang De Basanti.

A 4.5 on 10 album overall.Sorry Rahman.We look forward to a better album in your next venture.