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The original showman, Subhash Ghai, Beethovan of the East,
A.R.Rahman and ageless lyrical genius, Gulzar, all are great
names that command respect and are absolutely fantastic in
their respective fields. So, naturally the teaming up of all
the three for the first time is bound to create a heightened
curiosity and manifold expectations from the audio album of
YUVVRAAJ. And that more so after a scintillating show of creative
masterpieces in TAAL, which had only Ghai and Rahman. Since
the film is a musical and some of the lead protagonists play
musicians, so naturally the scope for audio brilliance gets
wider and thus it also increases our craving for the classiest
album of a rather tame year.
The magnificence of the album is immediately brought to the
attention of the listener with the first track, "Main
Hoon Yuvvraaj With the Fifth Of Beethovan". The track
is a befitting introduction to the main protagonist of the
film, Deven Yuvraj, played by Salman Khan. And so naturally
we have Salman mouthing dialogues in his characteristic charming,
confident and unassuming manner, cashing on his bad boy image.
Salman's dialogues are well supported by the "Fifth of
Beethovan". Ludwig van Beethovan needs no introduction
to the followers of Western classical music and this (performed
to perfection by The Chennai String Orchestra) is the fifth
symphony. It is one of the most popular and well-known compositions
in all of European classical music, and one of the most often-played
symphonies. Why the genius music wizard A. R. Rahman has chosen
this particular piece (in all probability) is because Beethovan
himself had dedicated this symphony to two of his patrons,
one of whom was Prince Franz Joseph von Lobkowitz. And Salman
plays the title role of 'Yuvraj', a prince.
With such a brilliant and fulfilling start we move forward
with huge expectations and come across another brilliantly
crafted "Tu Meri Dost Hain". The lilting signature
tune sung by the composer, music maestro, A.R.Rahman that
heralds the commencement of the track is absolutely divine
(and so very infectious that one simply cannot help but repeat
it!) and the portion that follows, heavenly. Rahman's melody
is breathtakingly simple and comes as whiff of fresh air in
this era of mediocrity and plagiarism. The musical arrangements
are mind-blowing- simple guitar strums, bead sounds and of
course the cello, (a stringed instrument, part of the violin
family) played (in YUVVRAAJ) by Katrina who is supposed to
be a musician, adept at playing the cello. Shreya Ghoshal
and Benny Dayal are simply extraordinary. Benny Dayal is a
new find; he was fantastic in JAANE TU? YA JAANE NA and he
shows that "Pappu "was not a flash in the pan through
some superlative rendition in the present track. He will definitely
earn a foothold in the music industry, in the field of playback
singing. He has a distinct voice that is very macho as well
as sweet and his voice structure matches that of Salman Khan
perfectly. Gulzar's lyrics are simple yet classy and very
much identifiable, giving an insight into the relationship
shared by the two main protagonists of the film, Salman and
Katrina. In other words, simply fantabulous!
After "Pappu Can't Dance" Rahman targets the Gen
X yet again with "Shano Shano" a very contemporary
and in sync with today's time dance floor composition. The
tune is not very refreshing (unlike the first number) but
nevertheless manages to catch attention. It has the requisite
thump, required disco beats, the usual rap and combined with
(at times) quite unique as well as funny style of singing
by a host of artists like Sonu Nigam, Srinivas, Karthik, Timmy,
Sunaina, Vivienne Pocha and Tina makes it a happening song
and dance number. What must be kept in mind is that the picturisations
will be superb (with Ghai at the helm of affairs) and so it
will definitely serve as a tension reliever.
The "Shano Shano" remix by Krishna Chetan is a
superbly handled composition. In fact, it can be classified
as new track because of the numerous innovations and inputs
by the arrangers. The rap is better than the original and
we have Ember doing full justice to the track. The remix even
has Salman saying in a deep husky voice, 'Main main main Yuvvraaj',
and 'Ladies come closer, I am the Casanova', a throwback to
Ghai's very own KHALNAYAK song. Alka Yagnik sounding a bit
like the nightingale of India, Lata Mangeshkar, holds fort
in this soothing love ballad , "Tu Muskura" and
Javed Ali who impressed all with "Jashne Bahara"
supports her with his high octave singing. But Alka sounds
a bit out of sorts (at times jaded) and one misses Shreya
Ghoshal who would have done wonders to track. The melody is
on the slower side but the result still superb. The Western
musical arrangements do make up for this slow pace and the
use of cello (V.R.Sekhar and Eldith Martin), guitar and the
culmination with Hindustani classical alaaps in the end; make
the number a pure delight. Gulzar's lyrics are the outstanding
feature of the track. The pristine feeling of unselfish love
is expressed superbly through some very beautifully penned
wordings.Its time to put your dancing shoes once again as
Rahman is bound to rock you with his trademark rollicking
song and dance track, "Mastam Mastam". Sonu Nigam
is in his elements as he renders this festive, celebration
number, orchestrated in a carnival like manner. Benny Dayal's
superb infectious croonings start the proceedings that are
all fun and mirth. Alka Yagnik too renders her part well.
The rock and roll touch and the style of singing take us back
to the era of the fifties and sixties, the Shammi Kapoor times.
However, once again the plus point of the song are the lyrics
by Gulzar .We have heard of Hinglish but Gulzar Sahab comes
up with Hindi-Persian, although this is not the first time
that he has done it to perfection before. Who can forget his
classic super hit, all time favourite number "Zee haal-e-maskin
makun ba ranjhish" (J.P.Dutta's GHULAMI)? All in all
another superlative number that will look fabulous on screen
with some frenzied, rock and rollish dancing.
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For a change it is bandonion (a kind of accordian) and cello
string notes that commence "Zindagi". The use of
harmonica and woodwinds played effectively by PMK Naveen Kumar
are the highlight of the song. The philosophical way of looking
at life is brought to the fore through some superb words by
Gulzar. "Zindagi zindagi kya kami rah gayee, Aakh ke
kor mein ek nami rah gayee." Absolutely spellbinding!
The singer is Srinivas who is no novice to playback singing,
having sung for the maestro himself in quite a few of his
period films and he once again stands up to the faith instilled
in him by Rahman. The situational track may be used as a background
score during the sad, poignant moments of the film.
Low key piano caressing followed by some high note cello
sounds and massive orchestral arrangements with some volatile
drumming and shrill outcry leads one to arguably one of the
best numbers of the album, "Dil Ka Rishta". The
song has so many shades that it is simply difficult to classify
it as a single composition. A. R. Rahman's classical Hindustani
'alaaps' are a real treat and we are treated to another facet
of the master. The fusion of symphony orchestra and Hindustani
classical has rarely been attempted and it is simply mesmerizing.
One is amazed at the versatility of the creative genius called
Allah Rakha Rahman and the YUVVRAAJ soundtrack dons a magnificent
garb through this track. And before the song gets all instrumental
and hi-fi in comes Sonu Nigam and Roop Kumar Rathod and the
number assumes a completely new shade with normal peppy tune,
English lyrics by Blazze and chorus singing by Suzanne D'Mello,
Clinton Crejo and Viveinne Pocha. A truly world class composition
this one!
Superb fusion of cello string sounds and mild classical alaap
brings forth "Manmohini Morey". Those who loved
the "Man Mohini" of HUM DIL DE CHUKE SANAM will
definitely relish this one here is another treat in store
for the die-hard semi-classical patrons who do not mind some
good fusion with normal commercial tunes. Vijay Prakash shows
his vocal control and is quite good. The "Tu Muskura"
cello piece gels with the composition and a sense of pain
and suffering and of being separated from the beloved is conveyed
well through it. A fantastic conclusion to a brilliant album.The
year 2008 has been a good one for Rahmanics, what with JODHAA
AKBAR, ADA-A WAY OF LIFE and JAANE TU...YA JAANE NA (and GHAJINI
to follow!) all hitting the stands, which is very rare as
Rahman has become very selective of late. But somehow (barring
to a large extent JODHAA AKBAR) the quest for a start-to-finish
brilliant Rahman album was still on when we last heard. Well,
we want to say 'Eureka' as we finally run into YUVVRAAJ! One
just cannot find a single composition that can be classified
as less than good, let alone ordinary or mediocre. If one
has to shortlist the best of the best they are - "Main
Yuvvraaj", "Tu Meri Dost Hai", "Mastam
Mastam" and "Dil Ka Rishta". Grab the YUVVRAAJ
audio album, snatch it or go ahead and even steal it
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