Mangal Pandey: The Rising
By Subhash K Jha
Mangal Pandey: The Rising

Music by A.R Rahman

Lyrics by Javed Akhtar

Yashraj Music

Rating: ***

When it comes to projecting periodicity A. R Rahman is next to none. His 
stronghold over the
language and sign-codes of a specific ambience creates a heartland of emotions 
in lyrical form.

The inspirational title song in Mangal Pandey may compare unfavourably with 
Rahman's similar
tracks in other period films, like `Chale chalo` in Lagaan or `Sarfaroshi ki 
tamanna` in The
Legend Of Bhagat Singh. But the title track has a grainy feeling of an 
impending conflagration.

As usual Rahman selects his singers impeccably. Kailash Kher is very rustic, 
very robust in the
title song. Although Kavita Krishnamurthy is in-mood for the Mujra, `Main vari 
vari` she's a
tad too nasal in rendering Javed Aktar's ecstatic swirl. Ironically, a far less 
experienced
singer Reena Bhardawaj (she sang for Rahman in `Tehzeeb`) holds up the Mujra.

The Holi song `Dekho ayee holi` may not rank as an all-time classic of the 
genre. Heck, it
doesn't even possesss the grab-by-the-collar quality of Aadesh Shrivastav's 
`Holi khele
raghuveera` in Baghban. What this Holi song has is a spirit of nostalgic 
reverberance,
qualified by the rustic and rugged voices of Udit Narayan, Madhushree and 
others. You can hear
Aamir Khan pitching in recitational lines in this track….if that's a high for 
you! I think,
he's no singer never was…not even in `Aati kya khandala.`

But if you want to hear some truly expert singing go to the next track 
`Rasiya`. My Gawd!
What's holding Richa Sharma from becoming a voice to create rapturous 
chartbusters?! Her
accompanyist is a new voice Bonnie Chakraborty. She sings in a bewildering base 
chord, bringing
to this erotic number a sense of unique wispiness.

You swig on the sensuously rich sufi strides of `Al maddath maula`, regale in 
its ripple
effect, drown in its divine dimensions. But there's always a cloud to every 
silver lining.
`Takey takey` is a track so indifferently done you wonder what Rahman was 
thinking while
putting it together

Though Mangal Pandey lacks the driven passion of The Legend Of Bhagat Singh or 
the melodic
felicity of Zubeida it nonetheless stretches if not extends the composer's 
parameters as a
music maker.

One thing is for sure. Rahman has reached a culmination as a maker of nostalgic 
music. He needs
to get seriously hip again. Shaka- laka baby, anyone?

http://sify.com/movies/bollywood/musicreviews/fullstory.php?id=13904640

"We neglect our cities at our peril. For, in neglecting them, we neglect the 
nation."
-John F. Kennedy




This August, Discover the Birth of Your Independence
and The Magic of A.R.Rahman's Music in 
Mangal Pandey - The Rising
http://www.risingthefilm.com
http://www.mangalpandeythefilm.com
Music released: Jul 14, 2005 Movie releases: Aug 12, 2005

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