A shadow of Naushad. Review on Taj Mahal Songs

This is one album, which I always wanted to hear for a long time. Before I heard it, I read the reviews and it was a mix match. Two things naturally intrigued me to hear it. Naushad and Hariharan. But I must confess that the Hariharan, we hear here is only a shadow of what he is and so is Naushad

Ajnabi_Tehro_Zara A very very beautiful song. Preeti's voice really suits the song. The place where she sings ''Dil poochu tha hai'' is simply a fantastic modulation. Comparing with the same line rendered by Hariharan, I must say that she has outclassed the master. I have two complaints about the song.

1) Does this contemperory tune really suit the Mughal period?

2)The way the song ends is abrupt.

Ishq_Ki_Dastaan:A very average kawali sung by Preeti Uttam and Kavitha Krishnamoorthy. Preeti has sung other numbers very well indeed but this one, well, I believe either her voice does not suit this song or the influence of singing with Kavitha, who seem to have an extra nose beneath her nose, has rendered her incompetent. Naushad has not at all done a good job, especially considering the fact that his earlier kawali type works were notable numbers. The choir portions are dismal to say the least. No feel in the song. A wholehearted suggestion to kavitha, ''please retire and leave the stage to Shreya Goshal''

Apni_Zulfein_Mere:Excellent song. What starts as a heavily orchestrated western fusion transcends to a beautiful ghazal. The starting violins, cello and especially piano tunes are handled very well. But does one really have to go towards western chords to give a rich dramatic feel. More thought into handling a dramatic score with classical Indian sound could have been tried. Nevertheless Hariharan has lent heart into this song. Subtle variations and a flowing voice give fantastic feel to the song. Somewhere this song reminds me heavily of Hariharan's ghazal ''haath mein leke tera haath, ye vaadha karlo''

Yeh_Kaun_Mujhe_Yaad_Aaya I am writing about this song not as film music but as a classical number. Ajay Chakroborthy has rendered the vocals. If Kumar Sanu were to sing this song (which I am sure he won't, in a thousand years to come), I would rate this as his crescendo. But as a pure classical singer, Ajay has done a very good job but not an extraordinary one. First of all, his voice culture is very good.

I am not sure how old he is, but his voice certainly marks the withering of age. Clearly breath control is not in peak and so is mouthing of words. In most places, the gamakas and tone modulations are stupendous. But in some places, it exhibits lack of control. It is easy for a trained voice to extend the gamakas, but takes a lot of voice culture and talent to cut it at right places. This is an aspect that I have seen yesudos and Bombay Jayshree exhibit. Overall this is a fantastic number and a real gem to have.

Tareef_Needa_Bazaar An instrumental piece starting with a poetry rendering. This piece effectively highlights the beauty of the saarangi. The tune flows at ease with the instruments in a mix of sober and expectant emotions. The end portion suddenly gives a western feel. I don't know the relevance of switching over to a western feel, nevertheless, it sounds very peaceful and makes you remain eyes closed.

Taj mahal A song, be it a track or an instrumental piece or a full-fledged number, is like a carefully brewed cappuccino. The milk, sugar, creme, coffee all has to be in right proportion. A good coffee bean if blended with improper milk/sugar ratio will not satisfy the taste buds.

This is exactly what is wrong with this number. The ''taj mahal'' chorus portion is an ordinary piece, but not horrible to listen. Hariharan's lines are good. Dilruba piece by preity has been heard in another track and is good. The instrumentation, as a stand-alone is acceptable. But put it all together in this ''I can do anything'' way and you've got genetic mix of a coffee mocha and cauliflower.

Mumtaz_Tujhe_Dekha Sung by Hariharan, this is a very pleasing pathos number. Hariharan is brilliant in most of places. But in some places, he gets over ambitious and the result is pitchy. Considering the caliber of the singer, these flaws could have been avoided. In the starting slow rendering, listen when he sings ''yeh hai woh ayina'' and in the second charan listen when he sings ''simiti meri tanhai''.

These pitchy faults could have been avoided. Having said that, his variations in the third charan where he sings ''leharathe huae'' and ''awaz theri jadhoo'' and when he gives the variation to ''guzura hua kal dekha'' are brilliant. Talking of voice control, this song is ample proof of Hariharan's classical training.

Dilruba_Dilruba Sung by Hariharan and Preeti, this is a good pleasing pathos. I liked the tune very much. Simple yet has a classic feel about it. Preeti has done a good job. Orchestration could have been better. Yet a pleasant number.

By and large, I would rate this album as a fantastic work, if you don't look at the track record of Hariharan and Naushad and way way better than the crap that we have now gotten used to in Hindi movies.