Ek Word Le Guru
The much awaited music album (including by myself, for Gulzar had written the lyrics) of the Mani Ratnam biopic "Guru" is out, and is not all that impressive, at least for a first listen, first thing on a Sunday morning.
I think AR Rahman's musical moves towards mixing quasi-raga-based tunes with classical western music based harmonies, such as in "Ey Hairathe" and "Jaage Hain" has't really panned out into that "wow" factor - these tracks come across as something you had already heard somewhere before. The only exceptions are tracks - ("Satrangi Re" from "Dil Se" tinged) "Mayya Maryem" and "Tere Bina", which deliver on the strength of their strong rythm (or beat) sections.
Finally, for godsakes, who was it that picked vocal idiots like Udit Narayan and Bappi Lahiri as backup singers?! Give me Sukhwinder of "Dil Se" any day. That said the lead track "Tere Bina", I predict, will alone sell this album never mind its averageness overall*. Moving on to Thyagaraja's kirthis...
* A judgement that might change once I decipher what new metaphors Gulzar has managed to pack into the lyrics.
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Madhu
Have to agree I liked only "Tera Bina" I could not even gauge Gulzar's lyrics. Maybe listening couple of times you can get to the lyrics.
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Gulzar's Dilution
is something that bothers me too, Madhu. I think as he has become more mainstream - Javed Akthar-ization as a friend termed this - his lyrical force has become a hit and miss affair. I also think his stuff doesn't go very well with a very non-folkloric musician like AR Rahman. Gulzar would well to stick to Vishal Bhardwaj, and give us more Omkaras than Gurus.
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