Swades - A Winner. Review on Swades Songs

I had great expectations from this album,especially when it came from the same team that created Lagaan ( my favourite movie of all time). I first glanced some of the stills on websites of the movie. Although it contains SRK ( who I am not a big fan of), they are the most brilliant photographic stills. They contain the rural mix of India so brilliantly.

So with all of this, I expected songs filled with a rural and earthy feel. I heard the songs 4-5 times each and now I am writing this review. The songs are in no particular order

1) Yeh Taara Voh Taara

This song sort of reminds me of mitwa. However the comparison ends right over there. This is a song so brilliantly sung by Udit. The orchestration of this song is absolutely brilliant. I love the part when he says

Jag mag taare 2 taare, 9 taare , 100 taare

Jag mag saare har taara hain sharaara

I feel if this song had a female voice , it would sound better. Overall I would rate this song 8.5 / 10

2) Aahista Aahist

This song is so typical Rehman. Udit has sung beautifully in this entire album. Whoever said that he is no more good . This is a slow song, but it will sound even better while viewing the film. After repeated hearing this song will grow on you. I would rate this as 8/10

3) Dekho Na

This is the weak link of the album. The song is good, but somehow it just does not really feel right. There is a change of rhythm after every stanza. It did not work for me. I dont think repeated listening will change my opinion. I will rate this as 6/10

4) Saanwariya

This is beautifully sung by Alka Yaagnik. This is really a very nice song ... and the beat is really catchy. It really speaks to your heart. Although this song is the type of the song that you will eventually get bored of. I will rate this as 7.5/10

5)Pal Pal Hai Bhaari

This song is something like O Paalan Haare. This song is going to be good to watch. I hope it evokes the same emotions that I had when I watched Raadha Kaise Na Jale . This is not a musical masterpiece, but the lyrics are really nice and definetely I am waiting to watch this song in the film. I will rate this as 7.5/ 10

6) Yun Hi Chala Chal

Every album needs one peppy fast number to catch up with the youth. No matter how good the songs in Swades are , this is the type of song that is required to built public momentum. This song is brilliantly composed ... it reminds me of Rahman of yore. Kailash Kher sings well and continues with his Allah Ke Bandeform. The percussions/ guitar and slight riffs with the aalaps really gel well. I want to listen to this song and go at 100 kmph on my bike. Its that kind of a song. I will rate this as 9.5 /10

Yeh Jo Des Hai Tera

This is the song that takes this album to the next level . Both the instrumental and rahman solo are absolutely brilliant. I was brought up outside India for first 15 years of my life and now settled in India. I can really identify with the song and the lyrics are absolutely brilliant. The shehnai is one of my favourite instruments and it really works with this song.

The solo by Rahman is definetely one of the best songs of this year. That is a tough ask considering that there were some amazing music happening this year. But Rahman sometimes just pulls out one song which makes me speechless. The tabla used in the later part of the song is used to real good effect. I will rate this a perfect 10/10

Overall Swades is an outstanding album. This is not the best album by Rahman, but definetely one of his better albums and definetely his best album of the year. ( Yes even better than meenaxi and yuva). As for the comparison of Veer Zaara and Swades, Swades really scores over Veer Zaara. Just because it is composed by Madan Mohan does not make it a sure shot winner ( Lata Mangeshkar in veer zaara sounds as if there is a saw stuck in her vocal chords). She is a great singer but now too old !!

If you liked songs from Lagaan, you will definetely like Swades. So now go and get the album. Also try and get Musafir which is an absolutely good album too. Swades has a very earthy / rural touch to it which is both an advantage and disadvantage. Advantage because I love good melodious music. Bad because the masses may give it a miss.