Wednesday, February 20, 2008

UTV MOTION PICTURES and

ASHUTOSH GOWARIKER PRODUCTIONS presents

Jodhaa Akbar

as ASHUTOSH GOWARIKER film

produced by RONNIE SCREWVALA and ASHUTOSH GOWARIKER

lyrics JAVED AKHTAR music A. R. Rahman

Hey, you guessed it right! Those last two words are of my dearest concern. Before I start, let me proclaim loudly that this is not a music review. It would not be fair to call it a music review with me being a great fan of ARR; I have just tried to put what ran through my mind when I heard the music of Jodhaa Akbar.

The album is packed with five tracks and two instrumental numbers. There’s also a bonus material DVD containing 5.1 Dolby based trailer of the movie.


101 AZEEM-O-SHAAN SHAHENSHAH

An elaborate arrangement dominated by Trumpets and Drums constitutes the 1st track AZEEM-O-SHAAN SHAHENSHAH sung by Mohammed Aslam, Bony Chakravarthy & chorus. This track is all about praising the greatest Mughal emperor, Jalaluddin Mohammad Akbar. The chosen pitch and strong intonation rendered in the song, envisages the picture of a battle field (I haven’t watched the movie yet, so dono how it is portrayed on the screen). My 5.1 home theatre system does enough justice in conveying those little nuances which Rahman would have toiled to mix while recording. Percussion work is great (One can say it is done in the best way) and Sivamani’s Taiko and sword rhythms are awesome.

Dheem toam taanaa naanaa… all set to rock!


102 JASHN-E-BAHAARAA

Kehne ko pyaara sa Ghana hai… This one is a mixture of everything... heart touching lyrics, soothing music and an everlasting tune. When I read JASHN-E-BAHAARAA by Javed Ali in the booklet, thought it must be by mistake. I initially thought it was Sonu’s voice. Though, my lil sis could immediately say that it is not Sonu's voice (she is very good at that) but later got confirmed on the web pages that it was sung by Javed Ali. His voice has close resemblance with Sonu Nigam. Longing to see how Hrithik and Aish would look in this song. ARR slightly breaks the rule of Pallavi and Charanam concept by reusing the last two lines of the Pallavi before the first after second Charanam. That makes it an unconventional master piece. I love these two lines “… Jaise milte nahin kisi dariya ke do kinaare.. Paas hai jo paas nahin”, it reminds me of so many things.

Kehne ko Jashn-e-bahaaraa hai… lovely!

103 KHWAJA MERE KHWAJA

A Qawali by the genius ARR... I was not a person who had good taste for Qawalis untill I heard this one. I agree that Piya Haji Ali was instilled by ARR in Fiza but this one makes Qawali a new entry into the genries of songs I usually listen to. These days ARR keeps atleast one track for his own voice. Nothing wrong about it until his tender voice can do magic to his already mesmerizing music. ARR’s voice and the harmonium give a good start to the song. When tabla joins the team, the journey becomes more elegant and I bet you cannot stop listening to it just once.

Khwajaji… Dil me Samadiya aapne!

104 INN LAMHON KE DAAMAN MEIN

Hats off to the genius and his creativity. I have no words to express the quality of this song. The tune.. the arrangement.. the choice of singers.. the pitch.. absolutely flawless and definitely a master piece. Javed Akhtar’s lyrics are heart touching. Especially the lines “Phoolon mein rang mere the lekin, Inn mein khushboo tumhee se aayi hai…”

Ishq hai jaise hawaaon mein.. love will definitely be in the air after listening to this song!

105 MANN MOHANAA

This one is a devotional song in a sad tune. Guess Jodhaa (Aish) sings it during her separation from Akbar (Hrithik)… not sure. Not a song to be ignored just because it’s placed last. But you need at least two iterations to start admiring it first and then sing along (ARR’s usual magic.. isn’t it?).

Tum bin paoon kaise chaiyn… true lord!

106 JASHN-E-BAHAARAA (Instrumental)

Flute by Naveen is the main attraction. Naveen is not new to ARR’s music.. He has been around since Roja. A man who can do wonders with those perforated bamboo pipes but humbly say “It’s nothing but wind”. This track is best suited to be a ringtone.. just trying to impose what I have done ;).


107 KHWAJA MERE KHWAJA (Instrumental)

ARR has roped in LEIGHANN WOODARD to play OBOE for the instrumental version of Khwaja mere Khwaja. I felt Oboe is a good choice for the tune.


Surprisingly, (Unlike Shivaji) the CD packing is also sooooo good with aesthetic pictures of Aish and Hrithik with all the jewelery. Hats off to the whole team of Jodhaa Akbar. Folks! At last paying 160 bucks for the CD is simply the least you can do to experience a musical extravaganza. Trust me, its worth more than that. Please don’t support piracy, buy the original.

God bless A.R.Rahman.
Insha Allah