The Magic Of Roja. Review on Roja Songs

Came the year 1992 and a simple jingle composer burst into the ‘Movie Arena’ and took the whole world by storm. Yes, the musician was none other than A.R.Rahman who now has the stature of God for many music lovers and the breakthrough movie that made it all possible was ‘ROJA’.

It has always been my heartfelt desire to write something on Roja’s music. Simply because it has a very special place in my heart. To be precise, if Roja would not have happened I would never have been a musician in the first place.

I remember my childhood days when my father who is a composer and lyricist himself, would just dream of hearing his son singing someday. But this son was not perturbed by any emotions and was miles away from music or even a thought of it. I didn’t know why I was like this. Maybe it was not the kind of music that I was expecting or it did not have the feel. Whatever it was, I still don’t know. Life was just going on.

Then came 1992. I was just passing through the market one fine day, when a sound halted my steps. That was a kind of music I had never heard before. Music that was calling me. Music that was crystal clear .Never had I felt like that before. The song was ‘Kadhal Rojaave” (Roja Jaaneman in Hindi) from ‘Roja’. I bought the cassette the next day and just as I listened to the songs, I was trapped. Yes, trapped in the raging ocean of music. And since then I have never looked back. A.R.Rahman became my virtual mentor and Roja became my turning point in life.

I attribute my music to my Father whose prayers made it all possible and he is proud today when the people see me not as an ordinary person but as Soban-The Musician. All praise to the Almighty, having made all this possible.

Coming on to Roja’s music, I can say that it still remains the best by A.R.Rahman till date. No wonder that the soundtracks of Roja have found place in the Top 10 soundtracks of all times by TIME magazine. It is a masterpiece. A rare musical work.

I would not pick up one song at a time and comment on it because all the songs in Roja are very special and I can just go Blah..Blah..Blah on every song. There is so much to write on each song. So it’ll be better to be precise.

The best track for me is “Kadhal Rojaave” for obvious reasons. The background music going on is really touching and further it has been picturized in the movie very well. It really touches your heart. No doubt about that.

On hearing “Yeh Haseen Waadiyan” it reminds us of “Chariots of Fire”. The percussion style is very similar but is deeper. One really gets a very cool feeling on hearing the track. The sound of glass breaking has been used very well in the song and it really seems as if we on some mountain top. Brilliant.

“Choti Si Aasha” was a great track no doubt. It was the track that fetched Rahman both the Filmfare and the National award. A track sung beautifully well by Minmini. The haunting sound effect given by Rahman is superb.

“Rukhmani Rukhmani” has great percussions used in them. Although the lyrics are vulgar and the Hindi version is very much lacking in lyrical quality but overall the track is very catchy and great to listen to.

“Bharat Humko” sung by Hariharan and chorus is a splendid track. So is “Choti Si Aasha- the farewell version”.

Overall Roja has been a Renaissance in the Music industry. It has changed the way in which people perceive music and has also encouraged young musicians to do something out of the blue. Roja still continues to be my hot favorite, a track that I can listen to anytime 24x7 without getting bored. All hats off to ‘Roja’.