It took 5 years and 50 films to find himself. Review on Vande Mataram - A.R.Rahman

It took some 5 years and 50 films to find himself.A.R.Rahman who was once so repetitive doing same love duets and peppy dance numbers turned into a serious composer on 1997 through this album “Vande Mataram”. After a heavy war of music with himself using keyboards and guitars and other musical accessories as his weapons, he climbed up the hill and hoisted the Indian flag to fly high and evoked a patriotic feel in minds of many Karan Shergils in India but not to the extent of joining the army immediately after listening to this album. I don’t know whether Lakshya of ARR is achieved but expectation of a common man on his music is fulfilled to a greater extent. I expect more such sensational albums from A.R.Rahman.

This is the most successful Indian pop album in last decade. Thanks to Bharath Bala productions who extracted such an awesome music of international standards with strong Indian values in music from A.R.Rahman. It is right album at the right time in India when India was celebrating her golden jubilee of Independence.

GuitARR

This album has a strong fusion of Indian classical and western and the thing that I admire the most is the choice of Guitar for a patriotic album, you can listen to the dominance of guitar in almost all the tracks. He used guitar in his first patriotic song “Tamizha tamizha” that sounds for peace and patriotism in his first album Roja itself and then in “Vellai Pookal” song in “Kannathil Muthamittal”. He avoided the tabla, flute, violin and all those traditional instruments used for such patriotic songs and there lies his uniqueness in composition and fusion.

With such a heavy usage of too many instruments and sounds I admire how ARR maintains the soul in it. Many people have wrong assumption that ARR’s composition are noisy, lacks soul and easily forgettable. ARR always works for “Breaking the rules” and proved that a fast number with heavy electronic stuff can also be soul stirring as like any melody.

Thai Mannae Vanakkam / Maa Tujhe Salaam

This song is the national anthem of the youth in 1997. It is a path breaking song with powerful lyrics and vocals by ARR himself. Song starts with a powerful chant of ARR followed by “Vande mataram” harmony with strong percussion and electro stuffs in the background. The electric guitar used in the background evokes the electrifying power of the word ’’Vande mataram”. Use of instruments like Nadhaswaram, flute, tabla’s etc at right places gives traditional feel and when fused with such a techno rythm elevates the patriotic feel of the song to even greater heights. The song is highly complex to an extent that even now you can hear a new sound somewhere in the song. Tamil lyrics is written “Vairamuthu “ who is the only lyric writer in India to win Best Lyricist national award five times and next comes Javed Akthar with Four awards. The lyrics are another big strength of the song. This song got seventh / fourth ( I am not sure but I am sure about it has got some position within tenth) position in a poll on world’s best song conducted by BBC radio.

Gurus of Peace

It is an excellent fusion song. Those who have heard original version of this song “Poralae ponuuthai” from the Tamil movie “Karuthamma” which is a pure duet song with traditional tamil feel will be stunned by listening this remixed version. The same tune and the beats are used with more additional harmony and fusion. The main thing that gives it a national appeal is the child chorus and fusion of alap of Nusrat. The song then takes a different turn to qawwali genre with the mix of tabla with already flowing beats. The lines “What are you waiting for another day, another time, sometime we have to find a new way to peace“ are great and when it comes from the vocals of the kids it is sensational and enlightening. The end is another surprise with some piper playing the tune with alap of Nusrat and excellent guitar makes the end grand and great.

Only you

It is a haunting melody in this album. Mild guitar fingering is played all through in the background. The main humm in the song is soothing and the tune is simply superb. The way “Only you “ sung is great with some thundering sounds in the background. ARR’s versatility as a singer has no bounds, with a rustic voice he manages to be good and expressive in melodies too. As like in any ARR melodies, the running violins in the second interlude adds more effect to the song and makes the sad feel complete. .

Tauba tauba

This is another techno number of heavy beats. Now ARR’s voice is husky, rustic and more raw and aggressive. Percussions of Sivamani rocks in this song and all electronic sounds and more usage of keyboard, synthesisers than original instruments. The ending with a strange wind instrument sound is good. This is the only fair and a forgettable number in this album.

Revival – Vande Mataram

When this album came ARR was quite obsessed with saxophone because of his Tamil album “Duet” which was also released at the same time. The fusion is a very tough task for such patriotic songs because in the name of westernizing one should not miss the soul of the song by mixing lot of electro stuffs. In that sense, ARR has really done a great job, with Saxophone as the basic instrument and the mild guitar usage. The chorus led by Anuradha sriram renders the words of original version without any flaws and with soul and expression. The main rhythm in the background is subtle and soothing. The tanpura used at the background elevates the traditional feel of the song. The final sax piece with mild piano fingerings in the background leaves a pleasant ending.

Missing - Vande Mataram

It is a much slower version of Vande Mataram. The sound that starts the track is like a that of a disturbed vessel. It is strange to listen but good though and blends well with the chorus and main tune of the song. I don’t know where he finds such sounds for fusion. Mildly a flute plays the notes of the Vande mataram. The guitar takes the lead at the end and flows well till the end of the track. Tests your patience but wins your heart for sure.

Whenever I write a review on any ARR’s album, so many people say that it is a biased one and they disagree. What about this review, Is it a biased one? Is it not a great work in music on patriotism? Let me know your views on this album, as there are only two reviews on this album in MS.

Keep commenting till my next review hits the list

VandeMataram.