Yuvvraaj has come just at the right time. In a year devoid of melodies and full of songs that may appear catchy but lack substance, here is an album that reminds us why music can truly be blissful.
Yuvvraaj is completely different from what AR Rahman has offered in 2008. If Jodhaa Akbar was all about traditional Indian music, Ada about heavenly melodies, Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na about fun, catchy music-Yuvvraaj is Western classical. Highly appropriate as apparently the film is set in two Central European cities.
What makes Yuvvraaj a touch superior to Rahman's other albums is the grand ambience and orchestration. It is as if the music director has concieved a set of tunes and challenged Ghai to visualise these songs at a higher level. The soundtrack is so good that I feel it would only achieve its true potential when played in front of a symphony orchestra.
*Main Hoon Yuvvraaj-Salman Khan, Beethoven's Fifth Symphony
*Salman effectively announces that he's a bad guy amidst some dramatic music.
*Tu Meri Dost Hain-Benny Dayal, Shreya Ghosal, AR Rahman
*This is what you call the 'perfect song' from start to finish. Breezy and magical throughout, every second of this wonderful song is pure musical heaven. It would need an essay to do justice to this song, as there is so much to appreciate-the 'Banista Banista' chants in the beginning, the 'Ni Sa Ni Sa Ni Sa' chants by Rahman himself, and the haunting Tu Muskura bit tune before the second stanza. You almost feel as if you are exploring the museums and churches of Vienna in a starlit night!
Benny Dayal's heartfelt passionate rendition makes an instant connection to the listener. His selection for this song seems like a masterstroke considering its context within the film. Shreya Ghosal sings with immaculate control, effortlessly scaling the high and low octaves of her notes. And then there's the maestro himself. Since 'Marudhaani' in Sakkarakkati, Rahman seems to have adopted an uncanny knack to learn when to make an impact, here too he makes his presence felt with the minimal amount of lines.
It would be a crime not to mention Gulzar's hummable lyrics which make you want to sing along, especially in Benny Dayal's lines!
*Tu Muskura-Alka Yagnik, Javed Ali
I like to listen to this song after Tu Meri Dost Hain-it almost picks up from where the former left off. Slightly more conventional in its arrangements, the highlight here is Alka Yagnik's singing. She is so sweet in her rendition without overdoing her vocals. Javed Ali does really well too. What makes this and the above mentioned song so special are the wonderful interludes-in this case there is a piano piece of 'Tu Meri Dost Hain' present in the first interlude. Nonetheless, the song is at its most special in the final stanza when Alka sings 'Tu Muskura' quietly after a passionate rendition by Javed.
*Mastam Mastam-Sonu Nigam, Alka Yagnik, Naresh and Benny
There is nothing really special about this song, just pure fun with a catchy rhythm! Sonu Nigam does a good job and although the chorus is rather tired, the extended ending enables that it finishes on an entertaining note. Could have done without those 'Gur Gur' and 'Rastam' vocals!
*Zindagi-Srinivas
Slightly reminiscent of 'Yeh Jo Zindagi Hai' in 1947 Earth, this is a simple yet haunting melody. Srinivas sings this with a distinct South Indian accent but makes up for it with a soulful voice. Once again, like all the above mentioned songs, this one too has a highlight, the place where Srinivas sings 'Tanha re' in the penultimate stanza left a lump on my throat.
*Shano Shano-Sonu Nigam, Srinivas, Karthik, Timmy, Sunaina, Vivienne Pocha, Tina
*I am being kind when I say that this song would have been more effective had Pappu Cant Dance not been there this year. It does have a hangover from that particular song, and is comparatively weak when compared to the other songs in this album. Blaaze in particular with his 'Explode' lines is tiresome. But there is something about this song that makes one come back to it. Perhaps its the catchy rhythm, or perhaps it is nostalgia to those times to those entertaining hit songs of Rahman in the 90s.
The remix is better than the original as it has a much better flow from start to end.
*Dil Ka Rishta-Sonu Nigam, Roop Kumar Rathod, AR Rahman
This song will leave you lost for words! For 8 minutes, Rahman and Gulzar take you on a journey that you will never forget. Right from the haunting piano prelude, to the introduction of the orchestra and the fusion of East and West as well as effective intermingling of Hindi and English lyrics, this song has it all. All the singers do their part with the utmost dedication, Sonu Nigam throughout, Roop Kumar Rathod through his 'Ek Ja' cry and Rahman himself singing only the way he can with some Indian classical notes.
Grand, spectacular, and awe-inspiring, Dil Ka Rishta is a song that only Rahman could create. It is THE path-breaking song that is contained in most of his albums and one that you can only salute for the way it has been composed. It may be classical but its clapping beats combine for a lounge feel. Wow!
*Mann Mohini-Vijay Prakash
This classical fusion song will have you scramble for the 'Repeat' button. Vijay Prakash is a transformed singer from 'Sooni Sooni' in Cheeni Kum. It proves that music is truly an antidote to stress, washing away your worries in a lovely tune, creating a relaxing ambience. But it's a bit too short!!
Just when you think that Rahman is done for the year, he raises the bar even higher to a height that his musical contemporaries cannot even think of reaching in their wildest dreams. Each song (except for Shano Shano) is a musical treat on its own, composed with pathbreaking innovativeness by this composer who continues to have magical tricks up his sleeve.
Gulzar, take a bow for creating such poetic and hummable lyrics for all these songs.
In his 3 previous Hindi albums in 2008, AR Rahman had scripted a memorable 2008. Now with Yuvvraaj, he has made this year his own like no other! We talk about hit makers who deliver hit after hit every year, but a musical wizard who can combine melody, Western and Indian classical, pop and jazz songs in 1 year through 4 different albums? Thats AR Rahman for you!!
So prepare to be dazzled in his spell...
