Analysis. Review on Rang De Basanti Songs

There is only one person in the Indian Music industry, which always has something new and refreshing to offer. I pray to the god please don’t make him so big (in a selfish way) that he starts forgetting his roots. AR Rahman has always been a mystique figure to me. Once we were having debate on his Lagan Music. One guy goes like “Don’t you forget that he was originally a Hindu and that is why his Bhajan is so soothing”. But I believe quite opposite. I believe it (converting to Islam) was a good thing that happened to him. I always felt a “high-in-spirit” experience listening to his “Piya Hazi Ali” and “Al Maddat Maula” songs. A whole lot of discussion could be made out of whether a Muslim Qawaali gives you a higher spiritual experience or a Hindu Bhajan (I would go for the first one even though I am a Hindu). Let’s not digress from the main topic. What I am trying to say is that when it comes to religious music Rahaman has always had given a spiritual piece. Let it be Piya Haji Ali (Fiza), “O Palanhare(Lagan)” or “Ik Omkar(Rang de basanti)”. On the other hand when it comes to give a patriotic music there is no one as par to Rahman. It won’t be far from truth if I say that Rahman has totally changed the way we used to listen to patriotic kind of music. Starting from his “Maan Tujhe Salam (I still remember some people has objected to his word –salaam, they say the Mother India is Hindu and you are disgracing her by using word Salaam….Alas what a shame…I am not sure where it came from but it must have come from somebody as equally intelligent as Uma Bharati) ”, “Des Mere Dese Mere(Bhagat Singh)”, “Yeh Jo Desh Hai Tera(Swadesh)”, “Azaadi(Bose)” and now “Rang De Basanti”. Well enough said now I would like to take on his Rang De Basanti Music(As being a critque).

Rang de Basanti music has mainly three things to offer …it starts with giving you a religious experience (Ek Onkaar), then makes you feel like dancing at a Patriotic song(Rang de Basanti) and then fill you with High-in-Energy kind of experience with “Pathsala” and “Khalbali”. Here is my rating on the songs.

(1) Ek Onkaar (Harshdeep Kaur)              &n
bsp;           7/10

This is a very simple and serene kind of music. As an Indian we are all very soft hearted to different kind of religious music (though this is a very strong statement to make, but I will go for it), whether it’s a GuruBani, a Bhajan or a religious Qawaali. So I don’t think that Rahman has to try too much on this. He just thought it would be good to let it go in a simple way. So on technical merit or musical composition it does not have much to offer. I am giving it 7 just because it doesn’t involve any musical prowess. Nevertheless, it indeed gives a soothing experience to your ears. About the singer she has got a voice that perfectly suited to render this gurubani. Well done Harshdeep Kaur…

(2)Rang De Basanti (Daler Mahendi & Chitra)              &n
bsp; 9/10

ding ding ding ding ding ding ding

ding ding ding ding ding

If you carefully listen to this song, it starts with a very soothing Ding ding ding a ding(Using a typical Punjabi instrument) then suddenly a typical Bhangra beats takes over it. After one “Antara & Mukhada” it comes back again just to tell you why I was there at starting. Then Daler Mahendi also hummms this “Ding ding ding a ding” just to prove its presence.

thodisi dhuul meri dharti ki mere watan ki - 2

thodisi Khushbuu baurai se mast pavan ki

thodisi dhondhane waali dhak-dhak dhak-dhak dhak-dhak saansein

jin mein ho junoon junoon voh boonde laal lahuu ki

This part has a simple not so great starting.It is sung in a typical Punjabi way and ending of each Antara is supported by a chorus “aha oye” in the background.

But it is from the second line that it starts doing some variation (good to ear), and finally it ends at energetically high note (lahuu ki)

yeh sab tuu mila mila le phir rang tuu khila khila le - 2

aur mohe tuu rang de basanti yaara

mohe tuu rang de basanti

mohe mohe tuu rang de basanti - 9

High pitch from (Lahuu Ki) gets subdued here and it starts doing some mild Qawalli round in a Punjabi fashion (you can easily incorporate some qawalli clapping in the first line). Mohe tuu rang de basanti part has many soothing variation. It starts and comes back doing al least 9 slight variation.

The main highlight of this song is “Mohe raung de basanti” sung in high pitch. This is where this song starts telling you that I am here to win you over. Citra’s inclusion is beyond my understanding; it doesn’t make any impression at all.

Overall I rate this as 9 since it is going to win your heart definitely (umm may be).

(3)Paathshala…Part 1 (Naresh Iyer, Mohammad Aslam)              &n
bsp; 6/10

On Musical merit this song doesn’t make much impression on me. It was done in a DJ style. Whether it was an experiment from the Rahman’s part or the story demanded it. This first part uses lot of high frequency sounds (if you can view it through an oscilloscope). However, it indeed has some energy in it. I would say some people will like it a lot and some may be not.

Second part uses a lesser high frequency sounds better than the first part.

(4)Luka Chuppi.              &n
bsp;             
;             9/
10

Lata Mangeshkar & AR Rahman

This is indeed a good composition. It starts with guitar and then suddenly a lori type instrumental gets played. Lata sounded OK in this given the fact that her voice has become high pitched now days. Rahaman has very cleverly took over latas voice, and made it feel like more of a rahman song. Clearly a 9 from me on this good composition.

Well I think my review(random thoughts) has started becoming boring now. So I’ll stop here and ask you guys if I should write more or not?

(5)Roobaroo.. A R Rahman, Naresh Iyer              &n
bsp;           7/10

Inspired from American country type Music

(6)Lalkaar .Aamir Khan & Chorus              &n
bsp;             
;   6/10

Aamir’s voice sounds great but Rahman has done some fitering in it just to make it more appealing

(7)Khoon Chala Mohit Chauhan              &n
bsp;             
;   8/10

This guys has got a great voice

(8)Khalbali A R Rahman, Aslam & Nacim            &nb
sp;             
    9/10

Strangely enough but yes it gets my 9. A sincere effort…

(9)Tu Bin Bataye Madhushree, Naresh Iyer              &n
bsp;           4/10

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