JUNE 24 2003
The pressure was telling on every Rehmaniac. Rehmania was mocked upon by everyone and was slowly volatalising, thanks to very less involvement of ARR in Tamil Music coupled with the steady rise of Harris Jeyaraj, Yuvan Shankar Raja, Vidyasagar and others. ARRs last two albums Udhaya(Nothing magnificient by the album) and Parasuram(which turned out to be ARRs worst sold album) only added to the woes. Therefore every Rehmaniac was looking upto ''Boys'' to bail him/ her out. The pressure was on the makers of Boys as well, with Shankar and Rahman going for a double hatrick of successes. The pressure was taking its toll on everyone, and we were all waiting.
JUNE 25 2003
When I casually browsed through arrahmanfans Yahoo Group, there was a surprise titled ''Boys Song Added''. I eagerly followed the link and immediately downloaded the mp3 file, converted from the recording of Shakthi FM Music. the quality of recording was bad, however the song looked pucca A.R.Rahman, because I could not understand what was going on, but still a nice and pleasing feeling prevailed.
JUNE 26 2003
As I was going through the newspaper, the green and flashy ad was unmissable. I peeped into find ''Boys-Audio Release on 28th June''. The whole city was abuzz with the news, and every hangout, online or offline was discussing Boys. For all of our Rahmaniacs, June 28 seemed to be two years apart.
JUNE 28 2003
It was 4.30 PM, and I dashed into The Music Gallery, and handing a fifty rupee note asked the guy straightaway ''Have the FMs bought them to 50, or is it more?''. The guy who knew me too well simply replied ''Sorry Sir.The cassette is coming only on Monday. And I'll have one reserved for you!''. As I was sadly making my way out, another enquiry of Boys was underplayed by the owner.
There were ads here and there, but not of Shankars magnitude. Has Shankar decided to play safe and not create excess hype?. I also had the oppurtunity to see the trailer for the Boys. It was MINDBLOWING at its very best, full of extravaganza and energy.
JUNE 30 2003
Monday was indeed a long day, but that didnt prevent me from going for the Boys.I didnt think about dinner, and straightaway let the audio whistle in my 1990s tape. As I browsed the casette cover, I was stunned to see the names of Adnan Sami, Lucky Ali in the list of singers. For the next hour, I was in the planet of the Boys. My first impression was that I could only hear sounds and English. I had a tough time convincing my uncle that the album was indeed a Tamil One. I thought, I would end a deeper ear for the Boys the day next.
JULY 01 2003
Even as I got up in the morning, I was humming ''Maro Maro''. The AR Rahman slow poison effect was taking place. My sister did me a good turn, by playing Boys on instead of the FM, and I found the songs really cool and catchy.The Dating song, which I had heard earlier in mp3 struck with me throughout the day. Even in the college, only the most anti ARRahman guy said ''He could have done better''. Overall the pulse was ''They have done it''. As I was to be thoroughly occupied for the next five days, and since my outdated audio system was getting worse, I decided that I will have the clear music of Boys in my trip to Chennai.
JULY 05 2003
After hearing every song thrice, I find that the songs are highly techno savvy, and are thoroughly Westernised. They are meant for this generation, or the one immediately suceeding. The music will surely strike an accord with them.
The first song ''Enakkoru Girl Friend'' is my weak link in the album(My cousin argues that it is the best) is a marvllously rendered Western filled by melody in spaces, ane rendered by Karthik, Timmy and Tippu.
The next song ''Dating'' im my view, is the best of Boys. The song is the best example of a high quality fusion, fusion of the vocies, fusion of Western and Carnatic, and fusion of English and Tamil. The fusion is flawless, and the song instantly places itself at your tongues.
The third song ''Ekiri Kuthithen'' is the only melody, a sigh of relief for melody lovers. And it is the only song fully in Tamil too. Masterfully Rendered by karthik and Chitra Sivaraman, the song is a delightful one with pleasing sounds. All the same you can feel a sense of speed in the song as well.
The music verse ''SareGaMa'' is in danger, as Rahman and Lucky Ali come up trumps with ''SaaReeGaaMey PadaNisay'', a Westernised version. The hum , the music and the message of the song is indeed catchy. A cool Western song. I should say.
The next one ''Boom Boom'' marks the debut of Adnan Sami in South, as he joins hands with Sadhana Sargam for the fast duet. The one is with less instruments, but a very effective song altogether.
Last comes ''Maro Maro'', India's answer to all Western Pop Albums. Catching the trailer, I find the visualisation of the song is impressed by ''All I wanna say is '' from Michael Jackson. But I believe that even MJ would admit that Shankar and Rahman have outcastled him. The drums of Shivamani, and the cool voices of Karthik, Kunal and Co, and the subtle yet substanceful lyrics of Vaali make the song a masterpiece. Maro Maro is definetely one to watch for.
The lyrcists Plasse(English Lyrics). P.Vijay, Kabilan and Vaali do deserve a huge round of applause for their verses which suit the moods of the song to a T.
JULY 06 2003
Boys is for Boys, and Boys will always be Boys.
Overall, I feel that Boys is futuristic. And who can think better futuristically than Shankar and Rahman. It is sure that these two wizards have got their calculations perfectly yet again . The songs when listened to seperately give a Western dimension to the film, keeping with the theme of the film. I am sure that these songs which are a craze now shall be tremendously bolstered when supported by the extravagant visuals of Shankar.
21st Century. We are ready, as The Big Boys are Back in the Track, and they are Booming. In my opinion, Shankar and Rahman have did their double hatrick, and why dont we celebrate for the sake of our Good Old Kollywood. THE BIG BOYS have BANGED yet AGAIN
