Thanks, Ram. Yes! The album grew on me a lot!!! It's amazing how his music just grabs you eventually!
--- In [email protected], Ram Motipally <mramvina...@...> wrote: > > AJ, excellent writing. Your first brief review wasnt great, did the album > grow > on you later ? > > Ram > > > > ________________________________ > From: AJ <purev...@...> > To: [email protected] > Sent: Thu, July 15, 2010 8:45:46 PM > Subject: [arr] Substance Matching up to Style - Music Review of Komram Puli > > Substance Matching up to Style â" Music Review of Komram Puli > > (Cannot comment on lyrics and placement of them since I don't know Telugu. I > am > fully aware that the lyrics and the use of them have been a huge sore point > of > the album in others reviews.) > > In my opinion, Rahman composing for a hardcore commercial flick had yielded > mixed results going by history, but falling more on the positive side of the > fence. Commercial flicks can offer a somewhat safe canvas for Rahman to let > his > hair really loose and experiment like the mad musical scientist that he is, > but > often depends on the director's musical taste and film scope. With SJ Surya > at > the helm of this Telugu flick, would Rahman burst through or remain > uninspired? > > One observation to made about ARR's Indian soundtracks since his Oscar > recognition and having Western doors more wide open for him is that the > attempt > to "internationalize" the music is evident to me, since the spotlight on > Oscar > winning AR Rahman was on. Of course, Rahman's albums always had the > international/world influences, but somehow, post Oscars, the intentionality > of > this seemed more focused. But, this intention did not come without much cost > when you look at soundtracks like VTV and Raavan, both featuring world > influences, but retaining a core Indian-ness to the music. What a tricky > balance and tightrope act that Rahman managed to achieveâ¦..widening the > universal appeal scope of the music for more diverse ears throughout the > world > while still needing to satisfy the aum junta in the local domain! Did Rahman > walk the tightrope without tipping in Puli? > > Well, a pretty fine start if you ask me as the thumping beats of Power Star > blast their way into a high octane, adrenaline pumping track with a solid > raag > Bhairavi based melody sung spiritedly and spritefully by Tanvi and Vijay > Prakash. This tune is totally energizing and becomes ablaze with an > electronic > fire with splashes of folk. The part where Tanvi sings "Power Star" sounds a > bit too cheesy for my taste and is the only drawback in an otherwise > excellent > track. During the antara, Rahman has used the same techno synth sound sample > that he used in the song Kannkul Kannai from VTV and has used it very > tastefully. Did you also notice a bit of operatic singing at the end of the > first interlude following the brass solo? A mélange of sonic colors define > this > hot track and I only feel like dancing to it like crazy when I listen! > > My oh my, what do we have here in track 2? What a beautiful start with only > techno drums and plucked strings setting the minimalistic backdrop for what > is > to become one of the most genius tracks from ARR. Totally unconventional in > structure, it's a track where the singing in double time is punctuated by one > of > the most frequent and wild chord changes in one song I've ever heard, not to > mention how the various raagas used in the main melody seemingly shifting > with > each second! Only a genius legend like ARR can pull this off so brilliantly! > > Total drama and surging emotions cast a plucky hue to this scintillating > number > that is bound to become a favorite by many who appreciate the wild and > freakish > side to ARR, and freakish in a good way! Rahman is playing and having fun in > this track!!! I also love how ARR has used the flourishing symphonic based > interludes so tastefully that only add class to an already refined juggernaut > of > a track. Parts of the song do sound a bit cluttered and mildly noisy > arrangement wise at times, but that is entirely forgiven by me given the > complete brilliance showcased here! Warning: This track is not for the > conventionally and traditionally mindedâ¦.you need to really open your ears > and > mind to enjoy this one! > > And the brilliance only continues in track 3 with a patriotic surge voiced by > the one and onlyâ¦â¦ What a beautiful symphonic and epic soundscape that > AR has > used for this intensely passionate track that is full of courage and gusto. > The > beautiful brass interludes add a uniquely dimensional sonic texture to an > already richly laden, multilayered power track alongside the soothing > "Mannipaya" like choral interludes, once again full of aestheticism and > refinement. The thumping drum beats and the backdrop tanpura throughout the > song add even more depth and beauty. This song somewhat reminds of the same > passion and style of the song "Ellapazhugam" from ATM. > The intensity backs off a bit in the fourth track, but not the quality! A > paced > track full of attitude, certainty and spirit, the symphonic strings and > patient > electronic accents give an all around beauty to this punchy number. Both > male > and female voices alternate between the heavy and lighter styles, adding a > nice > vocal balance, but with conviction! Possibly my least favorite track on the > album, but that is only a relative dislikeâ¦..it's still a solid number! > > > We suddenly shift gears in the fifth track as the Gangsta Blues template > appears, but with a sweet melody! A very sexy and seductive sounding number > to > me, this track scores and how!! ARR goes into sonic experimentation mode > more > minimalistically this time with light techno, crafty and sweet acoustic > guitar, > spacious electro sound effects, and accordion type sound. This track > breathes > slowly and patiently with breaks! The melody in the antara is the sweetest > part > of the song as Shreya croons the high notes with incredible ease with her > sweet > as honey voice. A beautifully crafted melody that only has one asking for > more! A very unique track by ARR, despite using the Gangsta Blues rhythm and > style template. > > > The final track is my favorite. So what if it somewhat sounds like Rahman's > previous devotional numbers? The melody is still unique, despite using > similar > ragas and the musical arrangements are incredibly refined, harkening back > also > to the Roshan Hua from Sapnay days with the Arabic sounding mandolin like > splashes. Oh, and Rahman has used the acoustic guitar here so beautifully > and > delicately throughout the song and with such softness adding just the right > feel > to this incredibly moving and spiritual number. I love the intro and first > interlude use of the solo oboe followed by very moving strings shifting to a > major scale temporarily. Oh, and did you notice the short flute insertion at > the 3'17" mark, that is so perfectly timed and placed to reflect the emotion > of > the moment? PURE MAGIC! The second interlude has Chitra doing her usual > alaap > best along with a loopy clarinet like sounding insertion before the low > octave > tuned tablas come in with a time signature that is really hard to figure out! > I > hope everyone noticed the nice bass guitar throughout the song adding only > depth > to an already deep number. Rahman has used raagas Charukeshi, Asawari, Pilu > in > various avatars so beautifully with a slow, drawn out melody that squeezes > out > every drop of emotion. This devotional track totally takes me to the clouds > and > has me floating on air. What a masterpiece! > > > So, there you have it. This is an album full of stylistic panache only to be > matched and even subdued by the substance that Rahman has poured into each > and > every track. The fact that the songs remind one of ARR's earlier works > doesn't > bother me one bit and I never get hung up by such things, because there is > way > more uniqueness and innovation in each track than similarities to previous > tracks, as there usually is in an ARR album! When listening to an ARR album, > there are certain core features of his music that I pay attention to like > sonic > range, innovation, emotion, passion, intensity, melody, orchestration, depth > of > arrangements. The surprise for me was the level of musical intensity and > highly > refined and sweet sounding sonic range and orchestration and arrangements, > which > I did not expect for an album for this type of movie under this director. > This > album has gotten a strong hold on me and I keep wanting to go back to it, > signifying another test passed for an ARR album. So, yes, an inspired > soundtrack with Rahman walking the tightrope with great élan, once again > showcasing why he is one of the greatest composers ever with a musical > versatility, depth, and range that is in a league of his own. > > If I had to give a numeric judgement: Comparing to other ARR albums, 7/10, > and > comparing to contemporary Indian film albums in general, 9/10. > > (This review or any part of it may not be reproduced without the expressed > consent of this writer. Copyright 2010 by ichord) > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > Are you searching for a reason, to be kind? > <b> > Explore, Experience, Enjoy A.R.Rahman - The Man, The Music, The Magic. > Only at arrahmanfans.com - The definitive A.R.Rahman e-community. > > Homepage: http://www.arrahmanfans.com > Admin: ad...@... > To Subscribe: [email protected] > To Unsubscribe: arrahmanfans-unsubscr...@...! Groups Links >
