Rahman And I ...

The first of the "And I ..." series features one of my all time favourite musicians, some one who deserves all the awards and adulation for his sincerity, passion and humility and not just for being the absolute musical genius he is - AR Rahman. Well I was a kid when this guy broke into the music scene in 1992 with Roja and his music, which was quite unlike the traditional bollywood type, was something that had tremendous influence on me during my growing days. He tried everything in his music - carnatic music, classical western, classical hindi, fusion, trance, techno and what not. Somebody needs to understand and love music to cross the language and musical style barriers and be able to produce gems that you can never forget even if it requires using glass of water in Taal or a continuum fingerboard in Delhi 6. Seems like the legend breathes music. Well if I go speaking about Rahman, I will run out of words pretty soon. So it's better to chalk out my favourite Rahman albums. Mind you, my brother and I have all of Rahman's audio cassettes till Taal inclusive of movies like Chor Chor and Tu Hi Mera Dil which were actually dubbings of his Tamil movies. Well after Taal, the MP3 boom hit us and well cassettes became extinct. Anyways the following listings are his hindi movie albums that I have heard (which means all of it till Raavan and doesn't include his non-hindi compositions or Vande Mataram or Connections etc) and these are in chronological order.

1. Roja ,1992

Why it's on this list?
Because this introduced us to a young prodigy or maybe since some like TIME may actually call it his best. And you can forgive them because the album has some of his best compositions. Minmini's Dil Hai Chota Sa is angelic while SPB and Chitra combined to produce Yeh Haseen Wadiyan which gets a perfect 10 in my book for composition, vocals and picturisation. There were two great versions of Roja Jaaneman sung by SPB and Hariharan although I liked the former better. And that's not all, Rahman managed to squeeze in a patriotic song in the form of Bharat Humko (I sang this one in school during independence day celebrations :) ) and a dance number Rukmani featuring Pop sensations of that time Baba Sehgal and Shweta Shetty.

What it can do without?
Nothing. No messing with this one although I would have preferred someone else singing Rukmani yet it still rocks thanks to the music and chorus though.

My Pick
Dil Hai Chota Sa (somebody might be smiling at this choice) and Yeh Haseen Wadiyan (a perfect ode to Kashmir that once was)

2. Rangeela, 1995

Why it's on this list?
Because RGV decided the movie would be perfect for Rahman's hindi debut and boy, did he deliver !!! Rahman is credited for Asha Bhonsle's comeback and when a legend and a legend to be combine, the result is something as magical as Rangeela Re. And if I am not wrong, this was the first time we heard a boy named Aditya Narayan. Rahman combined with Udit Narayan, the boy's father, for two songs - the playful Yaaron Sunlo Zaraa and the soulful Kya Karen. The album also featured a love ballad Pyaar Yeh  featuring Suresh Wadekar and Kavitha Krishnamurty, a stylish fast paced number Mangta Hai Kya introducing as to the voice of Rahman along with Shweta Shetty, a highly sensous number Hai Rama sung masterfully by Hariharan and Swarnalatha and a foot tapping dance piece Spirit of Rangeela. But who would have thought that a song sung by the 62 year old Ashaji picturised on a minimally clad Urmila (three times younger than her) running on a beach towards a lustful Jackie Shroff would become the toast of the town? Tanha Tanha  can easily feature in a bests list for Rahman as well as Asha Bhonsle.

What it can do without?
No fiddling with this classic.

My Pick
Tanha Tanha (Brilliant) , Hai Rama (Swarnalatha' voice gives the song the required sexiness) and Kya Karen (Udit Narayan and Aamir Khan make this song unbelievable)

3. Sapnay, 1996

Why it's on this list?
Actually the original movie Minsara Kanavu (Tamil) is much more famous for being the only non Hindi movie starring Kajol. Minsara Kanavu earned Rahman a national award for best music as well as fetching SPB and Chitra best singer awards. Since I have only heard the hindi version's music, I can't compare with the original but there is no denying this is indeed one of Rahman's bests. Awara Bhanwre  launched the career of Hema Sardesai and still remains her best song ever. The album also features two rookies during that time who later went on to become stalwarts of the music industry - Shankar Mahadevan teams up with Srinivas and Chitra to set the dance floor for Prabhu Deva in Ooh La La while KK gets to croon the really mischevious Strawberry Ankhen along with Kavita Paudwal. Its routine job for Rahman's favourite SPB who gets to sing Door Na Ja Mujhse which has a nice feel to it. Rahman shows his versatality with the divine hymn sort of Roshan Hui Raat in the mesmerising voice of Anuradha Sriram. But the pick of the lot is the romantic duet Chanda Re sung by Hariharan and Sadhana Sargam which has been picturised beautifully by ace cinematographer and director Rajiv Menon.

What it can do without?
Prabhu Deva's introductory song Teri Meri Baat sung by Abhijeet definitely sounds below the high standards set by the album.

My Pick
Awara Bhanwre (for the music) and Chanda Re (one of my all time favourite romantic songs)

4. Dil Se, 1998

Why it's on this list?
Two words - Chaiya Chaiya. If you remember, this song had become an anthem of sort and will remain SRK's best choreographed song. The song made Sukhwinder Singh an overnight sensation and started his successful collaboration with Rahman. Then we have Lata Mangeshkar singing for the bubbly Preity Zinta in Jiya Jale with MG Sreekumar giving the background vocals in what makes for a sensational hear. Sonu Nigam and Kavita Krishnamurty give voice to some awe inspiring lyrics from Gulzar in Satrangi Re. Rahman takes on the mic to perform the title song, a song that he is still asked to perform as the first song in his concerts. Mesmerising stuff. As if it was not enough, there is Udit Narayan to take you out of this world with E Ajnabee.

What it can do without?
The punjabi version Thaiya Thaiya just didn't appeal to me.

My Pick
Chaiya Chaiya (One word - awesome), E Ajnabee (Udit rocks)

5. Taal, 1999

Why it's on this list?
Because I consider it a masterpiece. Probably the best of his best, this one was an ambitious Subhash Ghai project who is said to have translated Anand Bakshi's lyrics to Rahman so that he could understand the essence of it. Ishq Bina was a soothing rendition with a really catchy tune pumped up by the voices of Sonu Nigam, Anuradha Sriram, Sujatha and Rahman himself singing the chorus lines. Udit Narayan, Sukhwinder and Alka Yagnik team up for the magnificent Taal Se Taal  which also had a pulsating western version. One of most soulful songs of Rahman comes up in this album in the form Nahin Samne by Hariharan and Sukhwinder Singh (although it sounds a lot like Jagjit Singh). Its one of those songs you get addicted to after repeated hearings. Asha Bhonsle comes up with a chartbuster in the form of Kahin Aag Lage and Sukhwinder pairs with Alka Yagnik for the intoxicating Ramta Jogi - Aishwarya Rai heating up the screen in both the numbers. Some more variety is added through the Sukhwinder Singh and Alka Yagnik's folkish Kariye Na based on the Raga Kaliyan. There is also a Kavita Krishnamurty's version of Ishq Bina which involves some high voltage orchestra. However the uniqueness of the album lies in the experimentation done by Rahman especially with the two instrumentals - Raga Dance and Beats of Passion , the latter done with long time associate percussionist Sivamani.

What it can do without?
The only song in the album I haven't had more than two hearings - Ni Main Samajh Gayi.

My Pick
All songs highly recommended.

6. Lagaan, 2001

Why it's on this list?
Because whatever fruits were reaped by Slumdog Millionaire should have happened to this album (there were others before but this one did make it to the Oscars). Rahman had never done such a huge scale period film and the expectations were humongous. So Rahman put his best foot forward and gave a score which ranks 44th in the Amazon's all time greatest world music listings. The music was of the highest quality be it a rain song Ghanan Ghanan in the voices of Sukhwinder, Udit Narayan, Alka Yagnik, Shankar Mahadevan, Shaan etc or classical based Radha Kaise sung delightfully by Udit Narayan and Asha Bhonsle. Udit Narayan has two other gem of songs - Mitwa where he combines with Sukhwinder, Srinivas and Alka Yagnik and O Re Chori with Alka Yagnik and Vasundhara Das crooning the english lines. Lata Mangeshkar is the high point of the prayer song O Palanhare ably supported by Udit Narayan and Sadhna Sargam. As usual Rahman keeps the most energetic song for himself and along with Srinivas renders inspiring Chale Chalo. The album also features two instruments - one a waltz piece and the other a theme music Once Upon a Time that along with the theme pieces of Bombay and Swades are his best instrumental compositions.

What it can do without?
None

My Pick
All songs highly recommended.

7. Saathiya, 2002

Why it's on this list?
Because of sheer romance in the music. The album has three heart warming romantic tracks that revel in the brilliance of Rahman and the singers. The best of the three is the title track sung by an enigmatic Sonu Nigam, easily one Sonu's best songs ever. This song still enjoys quite a popularity today as a ringtone. Aye Udi Udi showcases a playful Adnan Sami whose style is the high point of the song. Sadhana Sargam's beautiful voice suits the sweet Chupke Se which gets an instant kick when Murtaza and Qadir Khan humm the chorus part. Rahman then blends classical music with his stylish approach to give Chalka Re with Richa Sharma, Mahalaxmi Iyer and co. sounding really good. Rahman then goes on to give a thumri based number Naina Milaike. Sadhana Sargam and Madhusree do a good job with the song that sounds pretty unlike Rahman but still good. Mera Yaar Milade sung by Rahman himself is one of the songs he can sleep walk through, something we have listened often previously. The surprise pack is Humdum Suniyo Re where the gang of Kunal Ganjawala, KK, Shaan turn a prose kind of desi lyrics into a rap style funky song with some nice techno manipulations by Rahman. Don't know who tried to surprise whom , Gulzar with his lyrics or Rahman with the score but no doubt the result is mindblowing. The song also has a relatively slow version Mangalyam with Srinivas joining the gang.

What it can do without?
Asha Bhonsle and Karthik do a decent job with Chori Pe Chori but the song somehow doesn't sound like Rahman and gets a kind of thumbs down from me.

My Pick
Saathiya (Sonu Nigam at his best), O Humdum (Mindblowing)

8. Rang De Basanti, 2006

Why it's on this list?
Because the music is youthful, inspiring and complements this cult classic of a movie to such a level that you can't separate the movie from the music. No doubt Rahman had previously enthralled the audience with youthful tracks such as Duniya Dilwalon Ki, Boys etc but RDB is the jewel in the crown. The album starts off with Harshdeep Kaur singing the punjabi prayer Ik Onkar which is just a divine start to the album. The title track is a pulsating bhangra number sung by a rocking Daler Mehendi and Chitra. The song is proof enough that music knows no boundaries and regionalities aren't a limitation for a musician. Khalbali sung by Rahman and Mohammed Aslam is fast paced number with sufi feel with some outstanding music arrangements. This is one such albums where Rahman needs to share the credit for brilliance with Prasoon Joshi whose manna like words ooz inspiration. Listen to Rubaroo for instance where Naresh Iyer and Rahman mix playfulness and meaningfulness with amazing style. Coming to the song that became an anthem of sort Paathsala has two versions with Naresh Iyer and Mohammed Aslam crooning some weirdly effective lyrics and then teaming up with Blaaze for rap version. The album also marks the foray of Silk Route singer Mohit Chauhan (he came into prominence with this song and then went to be a Rahman and Pritam regular) whose amazing voice does justice to the well written Khoon Chala. The album features two out-of-the-world slow tracks. Madhushree and Naresh Iyer shine with the romantic Tu Bin Bataye while Lata di shows age cannot erode her voice with Luka Chupi as Rahman suddenly appears to provide the perfect foil to her. All in all sheer magic.

What it can do without?
I can't think of anything :)

My Pick
Queue the songs in a playlist in repeat all mode, enable shuffling, close your eyes and get lost into the world of RDB.

9. Jodha Akbar, 2008

Why it's on this list?
Because a grand movie about one of the most liked Mughal emperor needed a score that probably only Rahman could provide. The grandiose Azeem-O-Shaan performed by Mohd. Aslam and Bonnie Chakraborty sets the tone with awe inspiring performance. The percussion used in the song is too good. Jashn-E-Bahara and In Lamhon Ke have two things in common - some nice lyrics by Javed Akhtar and brilliant vocals with Rahman's protege Javed Ali singing the former and regulars Sonu Nigam and Madhusree doing the honours in the latter. Bela Shinde does a great job with the partly devotional track Man Mohana. But the highlight of the album, is Khwaja Mere Khwaja , a sufi track with words by Kashif and sung brilliantly by Rahman himself. May be its the vocals or the music arrangement but there is something divine about this song. Rahman also packs in two briliant instrumental versions of Khwaja Mere Khwaja and Jashn-E-Bahara as freebies for the audience.

What it can do without?
None

My Pick
Azeem-O-Shaan (Great music arrangement), Jashn-E-Bahara (great lyrics and vocals), Khwaja Mere Khwaja (divine)

10. Delhi 6, 2009

Why it's on this list?
Because many claim it to be Rahman's best and I think an album cannot have any more variety than this. Well it has two devotional numbers - the marvellous sufi piece Arziyan by Javed Ali and Kailash Kher and the aarti Tumre Bhavan Mein with Rekha Bharadwaj and co., a core classical Bhor Bhaye where Shreya Ghosal more than stands up against the likes of the legend Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, along with the usual romantic and fast paced tracks. Masakali  may be weird name even for a pigeon but it sure does magic as Mohit Chauhan shows his class. Rahman teams up with Benny Dayal and Tanvi Shah to give the nice sounding romantic number Rehna Tu but is surprisingly overshadowed by his protege Ash King and Chinmayee in the dreamy track Dil Gira Dafatan. Music is an essential part of the tracks with the former seeing a debut by continum fingerboard by Rahman while the latter has a portion which is reminiscent of Yeh Haseen Wadiyan from Roja. Hey Kaala Bandar has some really intriguing lines sung by Karthik, Naresh Iyer, Srinivas and Co. The album also provides Delhi with its very own anthem, a catchy title track sung brilliantly by Blaaze, Benny Dayal and Tanvi Shah and comprising of some incomprehensible French lines in between which only add to the spectacle. As is the case in all of Rahman's album, the maestro keeps surprising you with atleast one track and here he takes a folk song from central India Genda Phool and adds some nice techno beats to it and abracadabra, I never thought you can do hip hop dance on a rural folk track. Though Rekha Bharadwaj and co. do a great job in the song, its is Rahman's handling of the song that takes the cake.

What it can do without?
Well didn't I say its one of Rahman's best. So no changes.

My Pick
Too many brilliant songs in this, unfair to pick favourite(s).

Well this is my favourite selection. And picking the top 10 was really tough as some great albums like, Swadesh, Bombay, Jaane Tu..., Zubeida missed the cut. Also since I considered the entire album, popular songs like Mustafa Mustafa, Muqabla, Shakalaka Baby etc lost out. Would love to read your comments on this piece.

I am Back...Maybe!!!

Its been a while since I last wrote something on this blog. More than a year maybe. There were other tasks to attend to or may be I couldn't find anything to write or probably I was simply lazy. Now that I am back, I guess this blog will see some new posts. Right now I am too much fed up with philosophical talks, so don't expect any such preachings to feature here for the time being. May be I will start with my "And I..." series of reviews and favourite listings to fill up the space till I get bored of it. I will probably start with the first of the series about Rahman. Let's see how I fare?