a real good review. so nice to read! On Feb 4, 2008 5:39 PM, Chord <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> http://www.movietalkies.com/movies/music-reviews.asp?MovieId=18429 > > It goes without saying that the hype and expectation surrounding > Ashutosh Gowariker's epic, Jodhaa Akbar, is almost sky high. The > film's promos have rightly gone on to whet one's appetite for the > feast to come. The music of the film, composed by A R Rahman, who is > royalty where music composers are concerned, in tandem with lyricist > Javed Akhtar, has succeeded in taking the baton further in arousing > and creating a sense of awe and majesty about the film. The stamp of > royalty is more than evident as one goes through the music of the > film. And there is no place for anything frivolous here. > > Rahman sets the tone with the very first number of the album, Azeem-O- > Shaan Shahenshah sung by Mohammad Aslam and Bonnie Chakraborty. It is > a rousing paean in praise of the Emperor and Akhtar's lyrics capture > the mood wonderfully--- Azeem-O-Shaan Shahenshah, Farmaa-Ravaan, > Hamesha Hamesha Salaamat Rahe, Tera Ho Kya Bayaan. There is a kind of > gravity to the lyrics which does full justice to the mood and intent > of the song. Coupled with music which conveys the sense of grandeur, > this number captures the epic feel of the film. The singers have it > all laid out for them and they do full justice to the number. > > The second number, Jashn-e-Bahaaraa sung by Javed Ali is a much more > private number in tone, but its language is just as impressive as the > first number. The poet conveys the insecurity and anxiety that grips > lovers, an emotion that afflicts emperor and commoner alike. Rahman's > music does full justice to the emotion, with music that is full of > dignity and restraint. > > The true gem in this album one feels is the `sufiana' number `Khwaja > Mere Khwaja,' sung by Rahman. It is not the typical filmi sufiana > number that one has grown accustomed to hearing. History tells us > about Emperor Akbar's great faith in the Sufi saint Salim Chishti, > and this number reveals a true communion with the Almighty with its > rare combination of purity and devotion. One cannot think of any > other voice but that of Rahman's which has that in it to form a > bridge with the Almighty. The album also carries an instrumental > version of this song as well and the magic is evident here too. Even > without the support of Rahman's vocals, the piece has a `therav' and > an unusual calmness to it. By far, the most moving number of the > album. > > `In Lamhon Ke Daaman Mein' shows a shift from the realm of the purely > spiritual to a different call of the spirit, that of romantic love. > Sonu Nigam and Madhushree come together for this utterly romantic > number, which is quite dramatic in the manner in which it has been > composed. The first shift in tone takes place when the female voice > makes its entrance. The tone becomes even more intimate with the male > voice making its entry at the end. The chorus in the background adds > to the dramatic effect of the song. The three distinct shifts in the > song almost parallel the progression of love and longing. Rahman > punctuates the shifts wonderfully with a subtle change in the music > and the mode of rendition. Sonu is a seasoned singer, and in company > with the mellifluous Madhushree, captures the underlying tension of > the song. > > Set against the purely sufiana number is an exquisite bhajan > number, `Mann Mohana', another offering of love to the divine. The > number seems to set against a stormy and tumultuous background and > comes as a voice in the darkness. Bela Shende gives a masterly > rendition to the number, maintaining the delicate balance between the > divine and the human. > > Jodhaa Akbar is definitely not your run-of the-mill film and its > music has a quality of exclusivity to it. It is everything that one > would expect from a film of its grandeur and scale. The meticulous > choice of words by Javed Akhtar and the masterly touch imparted by > Rahman's music all go on to make it a true connoisseur's delight. It > has a beauty which is akin to classic Greek art, with its balance of > emotion and restrain. Truly a royal treat! > > >
