Hi friends,
Welcome to yet another music review of aLi. Since you may have been tired of all my reviews, I’ll make a difference this time around. The album being reviewed, Taal, is just so spectacular and so unique that I could not find words to describe its richness.
Taal Se Taal Mila - These words (also used in a song of the film) by Late Mr. Anand Bakshi sums up the entire album in totality. The genius composer, A. R. Rahman, literally combines each taal with the other and comes up with a superior product, a cut above the rest. Indeed, a landmark in the Indian history.
As far as I can recall, the sales of this album, in 1999, surpassed even that of Hum Dil De Chuke sanam. So you tell me, how can a lesser mortal like me review this album? So I give over my keyboard to the maestro himself to present his thoughts on the same. Please welcome Mr. Rahman...
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Thank You aLi for giving me this opportunity.
The first track in the album is The Beat of Passion. More than being a song, it is a journey. I was told that the film opens with this one, Aishwarya dreaming about the dance and stuff. So I made sure to combine slow beats with vigorous ones! This starts on a slow note, and picks up pace gradually. And it involves the listener completely, leaving him with a satisfied feeling.
I need not remind you about the legendary Ishq Bina, by far the most Holy song related to love in the Indian cinema. You may ask anyone who has heard this song, and all of them will surely have one thing in common to say - that this is the best Rahman creation since a long time. The music is smooth-flowing and that, combined with the class lyrics by Bakshi-saab and the elegant rendition by Anuradha Sriram, Sonu Nigam and myself just makes your sensitive ears captive to the mesmerising melody of this one. Sample some words:
Ishq hai kya, ye kisko pata.. Ye ishq hai kyaaa sabko pata..
Ye prem nagar anjaan dagar, saajan ka ghar ka kisko khabar..
Chhoti si umar yeh lamba safar, ye ishq hai kya kisko pata..
Ye dard hai ya dardon ki dawa, ye koi sanam ya aap khuda..
Then, we have another sad version of the same, sung wonderfully by Sukhwinder Singh and Kavita Krishnamurthy. This, I must tell you, is a situational, erratic-paced number, with it appearing when something interesting is happening on-screen. So it gathers momentum only midway, and not before. After that, it does create a bit of zest in the listener, as much ahead, it rests solely on music, with no lyrics for a long time. Nevertheless, in the entire duration of 8+ minutes, it doesn’t disappoint a bit!
And now, I should not forget the creative Kahin Aag Lage Lag Jaaye. I wouldn’t be surprised if the opening music makes you feel weird, as it is meant to be so. Aditya Narayan, who has inherited singing skills begins this with ’’Jungle mein bole koyal ku ku ku...’’ Later, Asha-ji takes over. It talks about one being unable to bear a heart-break, and all other major problems does seem to be but small in front of this tragedy. Needless to say, Asha-ji and Richa Sharma (who sings in the background) only add to the song, but credit must be given to Ash and Shiamak Davar to have made it visually so much appealing!
Kariye Na, I was informed, was supposed to be sung by Alok Nath on-screen, so I tried to make it as earthly as possible. It is a gyaan-filled number, based on the lines of not breaking a promise once made. Though Alok did spoil the effect of the song video-wise, Sukhwinder did put an extra effort into it and made it feel good audio-wise. Alka Yagnik drops in for a line or two. Musically, the pace is consistent throughout. A decent one overall!
The pulsating Ni Main Samajh Gayi follows next. The fast beats start right from the beginning, and continues throughout. This one’s basically a Punjabi-appealing song, evident from the Punjabi lyrics of the track. However, with Sukhwinder Singh and Richa Sharma as the lead singers, they make sure that the other segment of the society do enjoy it too! Being a 04:30 min song, it does make for a good listen.
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Interval
aLi back for a moment. Ya, I know. A review of 10 individual songs at a stretch can be cumbersome. So have a break, have a Kit-Kat! If you don’t have one, don’t have. Simple!
So let me do the honour of giving Mr. Rahman a Nestle Munch or a Melody and give him some treatment from the hard work he has done out here. And while doing this, suddenly I realize that... 5 mins already over. Interval over too! Back to him again...
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Let me now introduce you to a soothing, slow-paced, sweet track of rememberance - Nahin Saamne Tu. With Hariharan behind the mike, be sure of melody that will not be instantly picked by you as your favourite. Sukhwinder sppaers in bits and parts. This one to be played while on w long drive with your beloved, or thinking about one.
Yet another theme music comes in the form of Raaga Dance. Nothing related to the music site Raaga.com though. A situational piece, it has some constant usage of orchestra to get the desired effect. Though not as appealing as ’The Beat of Passion’, a passable one here!
Main prem da pyaala pee aaya, ik pal mein sadiyaan jee aaya..
Saari madhushala pee aaya, ik pal mein sadiyaan jee aaya..
Main pee aaya main pee aaya, ik pal mein sadiyaan jee aaya, main pee aaya..
You are surely foolish enough not to understand that the song under question is Ramta Jogi, the best of the lot so far! And you are doubly foolish to ask me for the singer. Atleast the male singer. Sukhwinder Singh and Alka Yagnik do the honours this time around! A carefree song by Anil and Ash, while they chill out, and it marks the growing friendship between them! Listen to this one. I promise to pay you a handsome money if you happen not to like it!
The sooner the better. But the later, the best! Yes, I’m talking about the title song that comes up last of all - Taal Se Taal Mila. As said earlier, the entire album is summed up with these words, but still, a music review requires to analyze this too! An amazing number sung gently by Alka Yagnik and Udit Narayan. A highly ironical song, where Ash meets Akshaye just while she remembers him, so the feel of pain had to be given. Plus, I was to make sure that a carefree feel is given to the song, to justify that Ash could live without Akshaye. Bakshi-saab gave some amazing https://lyrics. Sample it:
Maana anjaan hoon main tere vaaste.. maana anjaan hai tu mere vaaste..
Main tujhko jaan loon, tu mujhko jaan le.. aa dil ke paas aa, is dil ke raaste..
Jo tera haal hai, woh mera haal hai.. Iss haal se haal mila.... Taal se Taal mila..
A western version of the same comes up soon after which, as the name implies, is western in nature. A short track, it gives a decent end to the album!
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aLi back again. f0reVer y0uRs n0w. After Mr. Rahman’s explanations, I have nothing more to say. I have my mouth shut. If you feel something strongly, or even if you don’t, do proceed to the Comments section!!
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© Aliasgar Poonawala, 2005
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