Water
Music That Entices!
While the nation looses control over Rahman’s frothy Rang De Basanti score, his quiet and serene Water languishes away in oblivion. I am not a Rahman fan, but his few scores have really made an impact with me. Dil Se, Zubeidaa, Pukar, One Two Ka Four, Bombay and Lagaan are my favorites. A point to note – all the above are prior to his current phase where the stress seems to be more on beats, rhythms and sounds than tunes. So, listening to Water came as a very pleasant surprise; till the time I read somewhere that Rahman’s music for Water was scored way back in 2000.
Anyways, whenever Rahman recorded these songs, they are beautiful!
The music is very delicate, like a dew drop; as if touching it would soil its purity. At other times, it’s like a soft drizzle which sends a thrilling shiver down the spine. Instruments are used minimally. You can switch off the light, put on Water’s music, and soak yourself in sheer melodies – extremely relaxing, that’s what Water is!
My favorite number – and I heard it five times on repeat mode after the first hearing – is ‘Piya Ho’ sung by Sadhna Sargam and Sukhwinder. There is this subtle rhythm which keeps flowing in the background, and a tune which cascades in its own curves in an unhurried pace; and over this Rahman places some riveting flute pieces so softly as if he is placing an expensive crystal over rich velvet – but then, that’s what this song is – bright as a crystal, soft as velvet! And it’s the tune which holds attention and not just sounds; a strong harkback to the old era of music. Oh yes, I have to mention the chorus which trails after the mukhda; it’s like a soft breeze which ripples over the tranquil river waters! If I am allowed to make one wish on this score, I would have loved to hear Lata Mangeshkar in this number!
Continuing the same mode, but switching theme to Meera’s unfulfilled love, is ‘Naina Neer Bahaye Mujh Birhan Ka Dil Saajan Sang Jhoom Jhoom Gaaye’ – quite similar to ‘Piya Ho’ but has a distinct rhythm and melody. Once again the able Sadhna Sargam at the mic, but this time she is solo. ‘Prem toh hai gangaajal jisme vish amrit bann jaaye’ writes new lyricist Raqeeb Alam. The song encapstulates unadulterated love, alongwith it’s underlying pathos.
Sukhwinder returns, but with a trifle increased tempo in ‘Aayo re sajan sakhi’ – earlier I felt it resembled Sukhwinder’s own Kisna title song. But as the song progresses the difference is stark. In this number Sadhna Sargam joins Sukhwinder from mid-way. A lovely use of Indian instruments like santoor embellishes the song . The song is like the royal sea's tide washing over an expansive beach.
With these three songs itself, the album can be called a dizzying exponent of high-quality sweet music. But there are three more tracks remaining – like the silver vark on tasteful barfi!
This album is definitely Sukhwinder’s crowning glory. Listen to him in yet another Lord Krishna-theme-based semi-classical song Bangri marori saiyan ne meri. I love the way the tune takes a sharp upward curve at the line ‘Radha ke gal-dori’
The next exquisite track is ‘MoheShaam rang de’ – a Holi number. This is a full-fledged masti song and the heart dances as the singers throw up a vocal flourish with ‘bajale zaraa dhol zor se’. The rang-bhang ka mausam is right at our doorstep now, and this number should be right up there – and it is such a relief after Rahman’s own horrible Holi number in Mangal Pande. This time the singers are Richa Sharma, Naqeeb Alam and Surjo Bhattacharya – and they create an ocean of riotous merry making with their voices.
The last track is the famous Gandhian bhajan- Vaishnav Jan To sung by Kaushaki Chakraborty. This is a bhajan immortalized by Lata Mangeshkar’s rendition in the bumper hit album Ram Rattan Dhan Paayo. Rahman moves away a bit from the basic framework, and manages quite well overall. My bias will remain for Lataji’s version!
Yes, this is not the score that will be played at parties and discos. But the difference lies exactly there – it does not set your foot tapping, but your head swaying in its lyrical rhythm. And it makes a place permanently in the heart. This is A R Rahman’s very best in recent times.
Do grab it as soon as possible – and while you go to buy it, I will return to have another hear of ‘Piya ho’!
Overall: Not to be missed; A Must Buy
Sunday, 14. May 2006 0:29
This has little to do with the blog I’m replying to. I just needed a place to write you to record my appreciation for the classy way you’re going about your reviews and your sites in general. The last time I remember appreciating music reviews of this kind was when Subhash K. Jha used to do them for Filmfare mag. I often found his likes and dislikes match mine and after a while I seem to have encountered someone with similar opinions on music in general. I haven’t had time to read much of your blogs (at the old site or this one) but what I’ve read pleases me.
I was googling around to find a streaming/downloadable copy of ‘O radha tere bina tera shyam hai aadha’ and the 1st useful hit I got was the neerajpoonam.com site. “Aah!” , I thought someone who finally has this elusive gem from Anu ‘I’m such a genius’ Malik. Ctrl+F on the page and I find it isn’t the site owners but Mr. Jeswal who notes it as one of his favourites. Click to check who Deepak Jeswal is and I’m taken to Random Expressions (Old one) and from there to here. Oh, the same places I’d come across a couple of months ago and been impressed by their style ad substance. And this time I just couldn’t resist writing to record my thoughts on the blogs.
In that favourites list at neerajpoonam.com that I quickly scanned, I found other numbers that are close to my heart but you don’t see on nearly any list – mainly because most people have either never heard them or forgotten them. I’m big on these tucked away jewels and whenever I find a kindred soul that also likes them, which is very rarely, I feel I HAVE to reach out and connect, if only for the sake of assuring myself that in some distant place there’s someone who, for at least a few moments, thought just like I did. I’m speaking of songs like ‘Tere liye palkon ki jhalar bunoon’, ‘Mere pyaar ki umar ho itni sanam’, ‘Baali umar ne mera haal woh kiya’(Awaargi) besides ‘O radha’. To find four such songs on a single list is almost unprecedented for me! Hence all this fuss I’m making.
If you like these kinds of numbers, you’ll like these too, I’m fairly certain:
1. Jo main aisa jaanati – Batwara (late ’80s/early ’90s, J. P. Dutta, Laxmi-Pyare, Anuradha Paudwal, Alka Yagnik, Kavita K)
2. Thaare waaste re dhola – same movie, same singers
3. Mere pee ko pawan – Ghulami (you’ve probably heard this one)
4. Couple of songs from Yateem – again, J. P. Dutta, L-P
5. Chamakte chand ko – Awaargi (I’m sure you’ve heard this one)
There’s many more but these will do for a start. By the way, check out ‘My adorable darling’ from Main Khiladi Tu Anari to know how Anuji is inspired by, ahem, himself. Hear that one and tell me if you don’t meander into ‘O radha’. And then, of course, the source eludes me now but ‘O radha’ is itself heavily inspired by an older international number. But at least its a very endearing version of the ‘inspiration’. Any chance there’s a downloadable version of ‘O radha’ and ‘baali umar ne mera’ to be found anywhere?
Keep going!!!
Wednesday, 7. June 2006 12:08
Hi Abhijeet, Hope u do read the reply to ur comment here- I tried to mail u at the mail address u filled in the form here, but it has bounced back.
Thanks for the lovely praise. Hope to see u back on the space soon
Wednesday, 24. January 2007 10:11
[...] More naina neer bahaye (Water) – I should have covered this last year, since I believe the music was out in 2005 itself. But as they say, better late than never! Water is a stupendous score from A R Rahman, and vastly different from what he creates now. Each number is an aural pleasure – and a showcase for Sadhna Sargam’s voice quality and singing capability. Detailed review here. [...]