Best of 2007!

Well 2007 was quite good when it comes to Indian film Music! year 2007 recorded some great musicals ,few hyped albums din do that well.IndiaFM has already come out with nominations.More importantly 2007 saw many new fresh talents coming up in Indian Film Music Industry.Its very difficult to name any one particular album/song as Best.

Starting the year was Mani-A R Rahmans "GURU" which was supposed to be a big movie of the year and Mani-ARR combo always promised to deliver great music and satisfy both kind of audiences.And as expected Rahman came out with classic numbers "Ay Hairathe", "Tere Bina". Again Rahman proving hes the Mozart of Madras. "Ay Hairathe" was a real master-piece of Rahman(Though its not nominbated).

After GURU,Its "JBJ"-Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy under Yashchopra Banner.Though Music might sound like typical YashChopra movie,Yet Musically Speaking JBJ was good enough.Especially,title track and another track sung by Rahath fatheh Ali Khan and Mahalakshmi Iyer were more than worth Listening.

The next Biggest movie of the Year was "Sivaji"(Tamil).Infact most Hyped movie in Indian fim Industry though it was a Tamil Movie.Though Music did well in terms of Economics but not in terms of Music."Sivaji" musically was a flop.Rahman probably tried more than it required.

There wasn't much in the middle of the year.Pritam was in news after Life In Metro.“Happy Days” by Mickey was biggest surprise to me.Almost all the songs were melodious,energetic. “Arey Rey” by Karthik is one of my all time best songs.Even the BGMS of the movie were done really well.All Kudos to Mickey.Long way to go for Mickey.But I see a great talent and potential Rahman in making!
Later half of the year did not see big musical hits.Om Shanthi Om and Saawariyaan were other big ,hyped movies of the year.Infact,Both the movies were offered for A.R.Rahman due to various issues Rahman declined the offers and also Mr. Bhansali went on in the media “I Have found Rahman in Monty”!!!

OSO had nothing much musically apart from “Ajab Si” from KK a real master piece.It was typical SRK.Where as Saawariyaan was ahead interms of Music.Fact is that Monty had done full justice to his Director.Monty has great deapth in Music.Few tracks were beyond imagination.Probably I felt there was more Bhansalish kind of music in the entire album.Else Monty deserves the Best.

Finally….years best movie and Best Music “Taare Zameen Par”.Undoubtedly Shankar-Ehasaan-Loys best Album of the decade after Dil Chahta Hai.I always felt SELs talent were not explored to the max or may be they never got good scripts/directors. A great treat to music lovers.Especially songs “Meri Maa” “Taare Zameen Par” “Kholo Kholo” “Mera Jahaan” were real class.

I think i missed out to rite on "Khuda Ke Liye"(Pakistan Movie,though movie was not released in India) was another good album, a mix of Sufi+Western more of a Fusion.

Over all 2007 was pretty good for Indian Music Lovers def. not dissappointing.2007 also saw new talents Mickey & Monty(M&M).I wish them good luck.And also am looking ahead for a great 2008 which includes
Jodha Akbar
Dilli6
Delly-Belly
Gajini(Hindi)
Dasavataram(Tamil).....many more!

Happy Days

HAPPY DAYS..
Director: Shekhar Kammula
Producer: Shekhar Kammula
Cast: Sandesh, Nikhil, Vamsi Krishna, Raahul, Tamanna, Gayatri Rao, Sonia, Monali Chowdary, Kamalinee Mukherjee
Music: Mickey J Meyer
Editing: Marthand K Venkatesh
Screenplay: Sekhar Kamula
Story/Writer: Sekhar Kamula

As every time i do,Before I continue wid my views on the Music I Speacially Thank to Chaitanya Very good freind of mine.

Frankly, am a great fan of A.R.Rahman its very unusual me hearing to non ARR music,Ofcourse nobody till date have really challanged A.R.Rahman. More,Rahmans music,notes have Spirutial and Divine Touch which makes it so special.Few days back i read an article about Mickey J Meyer
( http://www.idlebrain.com/celeb/interview/mickeyjmeyer.html ) 2-3 days Later Chaitanya gave me Happy Days. Initially i was bit suspect about Music,But when I listened to the very first track "Arey Rey" I knew I got it wrong. Was a totally different Expirence Later i listened to all the tracks.All tracks were new,fresh,Melodious.

TRACKLISTINGS:

1)Arey Rey-Karthik
2)Jill Jill Jinga-Krishna Chaitanya, Kranthi, Aditya Siddharth, Sashi Kiran
3)Happy Days-Naresh Iyer, Mickey J. Meyer
4)Ya Kundendu-Pranavi
5)O My Friend-Karthik
6)Ye Cheekati-Ranjith, Sunitha Sarathy
7)Happy Days (Slow Version)-Harshika, Mickey J. Meyer


1)Arey Rey....Best track of the Album.Undoubtedly this song enters into my Library. amazingly sung by Karthik I had never heard Karthik singing such a melody.Especially the notes.."Ni Sa Ga Ri Sasaasa Ni..." Mickey Just plays the same notes thru out the movie simply mind blowing. Music suppliments every seen in the movie.More Importantly Guitar and other arrangements adds to the Melody of the Song.

2)Jill Jill Jinga...A youthfull number. Many reviews said this song has lot of Rahmanish Touch (Song- Dhakalakka frm Yuva) and We will Rock You. But I absolutely deny,May be some inspiration.I just love the lines.."Nee confirmation Illa".On a whole nice track...refreshing ,Nicely Done.. Special mention on Jazz bit.

3)Happy Days...Title Track of the album...Few years back I did Criticise Naresh Iyers singing abilities.But today hes so matured ,has worked really hard to bag his first National Award(Rang De Basanthi).Me obsessed wid ARR....listening to this track did feel Mickey has tried to copy the chords of Rahmans ("Journey Home" from Bombay Dreams)...Belive me the chords of these two tracks are so close... yet I appreciate Mickys Work speacially the "String" arrangements...Awesome!

4)O My Friend...Another treat for Music lovers hardcore Melody..Karthik doin the job again Kudos to him! catch of the song is the Chorous goin wowowww...by Mickey.Mickey sounds good.Again Music arrangements are good, bits of Acordian sounds good too.Just...WOowOWOwoOWowoWOowOWowwwwww..oooooooooooo..

5) Ye Cheekati...A fast number nothin much to comment okay song of the album still people will love this song.Musically speaking nothin much.Software & Techno Music.Asusal Sunitha does well...Did Mickey tried Fannah? hehee.....if u ask me my answer will be "Yes".

6)Happy Days (Slow Version).......This is my second fav in the album. Last song of the album.The beauty of the song is the transition from the western to classical and Harshika is Fabolous.

The other track is just a sloka. All Rahman Folks will enjoy am very sure about it.Mickey has done a great job.All credits to him.Most noticable is picking right singers.Music arrangements, Mixing is very Impressive.Mickey graduating from Trinity college of Music exibhits the art of arranging Back Ground Music. On a whole I rate 4/5, a great Musical.
Finally My Happy Days coming to an End!

shivaji-music review

People talk of the pressure of expectations on Sachin Tendulkar whenever he steps out to bat in Indian colours. But spare a thought for A R Rahman too. The Mozart of Madras is in no less unenviable position. Every time a film’s audio for which he has scored music is out, the whole world sits up to listen. And for Sivaji, the pressure is three-fold, as he has to satisfy his own fans, that of Rajinikanth and Shankar too. In such a situation, when you have constituencies to live up to, the music inevitably is populist.

HAS ARR DELIVERD TO THE EXPECTATIONS????
WILL SHIVAAJI ROCK????
MY REVIEW ON THE MUSIC...COMING SOON.....:)

Music: 'Isai Puyal' A.R. Rahman
Lyricist: Vaali, Vairamuthu, Na. Muthukumar, Pa. Vijay & Traditional Lyrics of Thiruppaavai
Musicians' Coordinators: Samidurai, Ganesh (Toronto)
Recorded & Mixed at: Panchathan Record Inn, A.M Studios (Chennai), Phase One Studios (Toronto)
Nathaswaram: Natarajan
Guitar: Ivan
Strings Orchestrated & Conducted by: Srinivasmurthy
Music ***: Satish Chakravathy & Krishna Chetan
Recording Engineers: S. Sivakumar, Karthik, V. Mohammed Saifiullah
Mixing Engineers: H. Sridhar & K.J. Singh
Mastering Engineers: H. Sridhar & S. Sivakumar

MY REVIEW:

Song 1: Balleilakka
SINGERS: S.P Balasubramaniam, Raihanah, Benny & Chorus

“Annan vantha TamilNadum America”-Typical Rajini introduction song in his unique "istyle",a folk kinda track,a foot tapping track,more of situational song,has lots of intensity as it progresses, amazingly sung by SPB and Raihanah (ARR'S SISTER) making a debut has done well.Dont forget SPB is 60+ yet his passion,style of singing,voice modulation is tremondous infact no words to describe him.
Other than the lyrics and SPB'S voice the music really takes back seat.Rahman had created a magic with songs like "ORAVAN ORAVAN" (FILM:MUTHU) still this song will reach out to the masses because of "RAJINI" factor!!!

Song 2:Vaaji Vaaji
SINGERS:Hariharan, Madhushree & Chorus

Since the release of this song in the net before Officaial release,many started to say that this song will be anthem song of the movie,infact the states anthem!!!
starting the song with some mystic sounds resembling Buddhist musical notes and chorous going with "Ambal Ambal...Mavual Mavual" with Hariharan & Madhushree u cant expect better.Song has bit of qawaali,punjaabi, Mediterranean touch as well,thats what ARR is all about.AR RAHMAN has impressed Rajini fans with this number

Song 3:Athiradee
SINGERS:A.R Rahman, Sayanora

Last week i was walking in the busiest roads of Bangalore,SP road,to my surprise i heard t o ARR'S voice and sounded bit different just like HUMMA HUMMA,KHALBALI,later i learnt it was "ATHIRADEE" .Few years back when RAJINI was signed by K.S RAVI KUMAR for the movie "JAGGU BHAI"(which was shelved off later) RAJINI wanted a song from ARR which sounded very different from the other typical "RAJINI" songs, immidieatly ARR came out with "ARAYAR KODI" song which was later used in S.J.SURYA'S movie (AH..AHA..).So ARR has tried to compose the tune on the same lines.On the musical grounds song is WOKAY category,yet "A high-octane song" takes time to grow on u, dashing lyrics by Vaali.

Song 4:Sahana Pooval
SINGERS:Udit Narayanan, Chinmayee

OH!!!typical ARR composition, best track of the album,again ARR showing his talent in arranging the Orchestra.Song goes very much like the song "KUMAARI"(ANNIYAN)more or less SHANKAR has tried to do the same as he did with ANNIYAN.Again chinmayee has done amazingly well infact, she has great future ahead.But dissappointed with Udith narayan.ARR could have picked SHANKAR MAHADEVAN or HIMSELF for the song.But...

"The last few seconds of ending in 'Sahana' was completely Rahman anna's idea.. It took me a few takes to get in to the raga 'Sahana' and out of the song 'Sahana'.

I got several plaudits for this one too and there were people telling me that the end is one of the best portions in the song, and also asked me on how that short bit came into being.

Like ever, I guess Rahman anna conjured it out from where, God knows. He said, end it in Sahana, he sang the bit and all that I had to do is repeat :)" Singer CHINMAYEE said.

Song 5:Style
SINGERS: Rags,Tanvi,Suresh Peters,Blaaze

STARO STARO,NEE SUPER STARO... entire song glorifies RAJINI'S style,sung by RAGS of "PRETTY WOMEN"(KAL HO NA HO) fame along with suresh Petres & Tanvi,Blaaze.Song very much sounds like "WHO LET THE DOGS OUT" initially.Lots of computer music is been done.wait for this song till the movie releases.

Song 6:The Boss
SINGERS:Blaaze, Naresh Iyer, Raqueeb Alam

A rap by BLAAZE which is very much expected in ARR-SHANKAR movie.It is a BGM more than a song.Naresh Iyer dulcet voice manages to leave a mark even in this small piece.

Song 7:Sahara
SINGERS: Vijay Yesudas, Gomathi Sree & Chorus

Well last time SHANKAR used "JAGADANANDAKARAKA" and this time "THIRUPPAVAI" beautifully sung by Gomathi Sree.Vijay making his debut in the tamil film music is nice to hear definitely has his fathers influence on his singing.Vijay and a tiny flute join forces, you could almost feel heaven A fitting finale to a rocking album.

Finally,listening to all the songs repeateadly for more than 10 days,SIVAAJI is a mixed bag. "Athiredee" & "Sahara" will top the charts.Though the rest of the songs will make an impact once the movie hits the BIG SCREEN.As a ARR fan it is bit dissapointing.WISH THE MOVIE DOES WELL because MILLIONS of RAJINI fans are eagerly waiting to watch him on the big screen after a long time,so as SHANKARS fans.
NEWS IS THAT ARR IS FININSHING THE BGMS FROM LONDON AND THE MOVIE WILL HIT THE THEATERS ON MAY 17TH.