Seems like MS is really rocking back to its original days as much as Cricket and controversies galore.
Am I glad that we got a real good captain in Kumble and we proved to be
wonderful ambassadors
of the game as a team? You bet!! Yes after many
years I watched live cricket being awake all night and what a
coincidence, it had to be this one. :->
Doesn’t matter the appeal, we should put the issue in the back of our
minds and just play the rest of the games with the right spirit and
return home. There is no point fighting with silly Pontings, Symonds
and the like. Its Malcolm Speed that we eventually will need to deal with(yes ICC). ba*tards. Did anybody ask you to set aside different
rules for Indian team? The ridiculous situation we are put in is due
the appointment of Steve Bicknor by ICC in spite of his repeated plea
of incompetence by way of his previous umpiring past several years.
Remember how many times he gave Sachin out even though everyone else in
the esteemed box differed in the opinion along with the cameras?
This review could be more termed as on Rahman. But I put it in this
section as this album is worth the mention of Rahman’s effort even though its mediocre in terms of Rahman’s standards. Moreover, I do not have to use MouthPad.
Coming to the topic of the review, am sure many would agree when I say
that "There are two things that we Indians are passionate about. One is
Cricket and another is Movies. But Music was never a one-choice thing
as a whole nation till Rahman happened. Even today, there are North
Indian or South Indian favoritism in classical circles and to an
extent commercial as well. But Rahman paved the way for India to think
his music as Rahman Music, the Indian music with global appeal, the
marriage of Indian melody to the western tunes and technology. And what
way has he achieved.? Starting with jingles like "TVS Champ, Oh what a way to get carried away" or "Hero honda, you gotta good thing going" or the Titan ad music or the Garden Vareli music to the present background score of the Lord of the Rings musical. He still has a long way to go.
I came to US 3 years back and have not been in real touch with the new
releases in Desh. But one music director whose music I have come across even here time and again is AR RAhman. You watch a Fit TV channel (a US local
fitness channel) and you can listen to Rahman music in the background
while the girls are performing rhythmic Yoga(modified version of the
Yoga that I learnt) dacning to the tunes of Aashiqui mein Hadd se guzar Jaane Ko Jee Chahe, You watch Nicholas Cage’s Lord of War movie and you can listen to the background music of Uyire or Tu Hee Rey from BOMBAY during the titles or the pretty lengthy and modified version of the Chaiyya Chaiyya song and music during the titles of Denzel Washington’s Inside Man movie. Reportedly, Rahman is the only Indian based composer to be among the all time top 25 best selling albums list.
One Love is an effort by AR RAHMAN to promote Taj Mahal as one of
the New & wonders of the World. It is also a title song composed
by him for an upcoming release called Taj Mahal. This album is also supposed to promote the theme of pure love beyond all that is materialistic.(read the Ek Mobabbat lyrics below).
Rahman is known for doing something that appeals more than just music.
Sometimes, an inspiration like Rang De Basanti or Lagaan or sometimes
the feeling of oneness(as Indians) through his songs like the album of
VandeMataram or sometimes the totally out of world romantic numbers
like Sun Ri Sakhi Meri Pyaari Sakhi Yeh Dil Kahin Khoya Tho Nahin(Hum Se Hain Muqabla) or peppy numbers like Chiku buku Chiku raile(Gentlemen). In one way or the other, this magician made sure that his magics on his Apple MAC computers did wonders to
our ears, the music that can be enjoyed irrespective of north/south
or east/west preference or the age difference. Think about this, most of the elders who have lost
interest in current music trends of Himesh Chamiya kind, will anytime lend their ears to Rahman music which in itself is an achievement as you know how stubborn these elders are.
One Love has 6 tracks. Same music, same singers, same composer and same lyricists. And the credit goes to composer AR RAHMAN, lyricist RAQEEB(of the Water movie fame) assisted by RAHMAN and singers KARTHIK and NARESH IYER. The only difference is the languages these tracks are sung in. Following are the numbers.
1-Ek Mohabbat (Hindi)
Mausam aate jaate hain.. Sadiyaan aati jaati hain..
Kuch cheezey reh jaati hain yaad mein..
Woh din woh raj kahan hain.. Naazon andaz kahan hain..
Nagame hain aaj sada ke saath mein..
Koi kehta hain jeene ka maqsad yahaan inayat mein hain..
Koi kehta hain jeene ka maqsad yahaan daulat mein hain..
Mujhse jo koi yeh poochey, kyun na kahoo zindagi ki karamat Mohabbat mein hain..
The song starts with soft music appealing to one and all and carries with the same tempo. You have to give credit to Indian music here and of course to RAHMAN who makes sure to utilize the melody part of Indian music to give that Indianness feel. And as usual, excellent arrangement of orchestra which sure appeals to western lovers as well. But for me, the Indian feel of melody wins over.
2 - Kaadal Onru Allava (Tamil)
There is not much to talk about other languages except that the renditions could differ with their clarity in pronunciation, etc depending on the singer. But the music arrangement is same for all the songs. Hats off to the lyrics as well which really don’t kill the flow of listening unlike the songs of the early 90s or late 80s wherein south indian songs were as it is copied music-wise and the lyrics were adjusted accordingly like the Patti Rap song in Hum Se Hain Muqabla.
3 - Pranayam Onnu Allo (Malyalam)
Can’t comment much except for "love the song and music" due to limited exposure to Mallu language.
4 - Prema Okkatega (Telegu)
Ah.. I know this language so lil lengthy comment. In recent times, singers in Telugu and tamil movies are more and more from Bollywood these days. No doubt these very same singers are excellent in Hindi. However, you do not feel like listening to the Telugu words that these singers utter. Unfortunately they can’t even use the option of dubbing as like the actresses ;-). In this particular song I felt the pronunciation of Telugu was really very clear with a feel. Would love to hear your opinion on One love in language you can understand.
5 - Premavu Illi Onde (Kannada)
Same as 3.
6 - Bhalobasha Ek Hoye (Bengali)
Wow.. A revelation. The only few words I knew about Bengali were. Aami Tumha Ke Bhalobashi from Khuddar or Hey Naahi Cholbey from "Krantiveer". To summarise Bengali sounded more like Hindi.
Kabhi Zindagi palon mein guzar jaati hain
Aur Kabhi Zindagi bhar ek pal nahin guzarta hain..
Iss liye aur ek review likh daala :-) Happy New Year to all.
