http://www.glamsham.com/music/reviews/30-robot-music-review-081012.asp
ANDRO-HUMANOID ROBOT! An intangible and theoretically glitzy 'n' stupefying
sci-fi concept...no, we are not talking about any Hollywood flick but about
India's costliest film ROBOT. After delivering out the swashbuckling
blockbuster SIVAJI-THE BOSS (TAMIL -2008), technically superlative director
S.Shankar makes another grandiloquence of affair with superstar Rajnikant in
this endeavor with a brigade of scintillating SFX effects in its package. There
are plethoras of techno-buzz sounds, tantalizing rhythms and upbeat electronic
beats that forms melodic sensory concoction with the breathtaking
love-chemistry, conceptual displays and visual delights in this
larger-than-life thriller. Maestro A.R Rahman's dexterity with digital sounds
and modernized instrumentals are the expertise that are going to play symbiotic
relationship in creating pure 'magic' on big screen. This trilingual (TAMIL,
TELUGU and HINDI) entertainer has already charmed its listeners in its Tamil
and Telugu versions and now the buzz is likely to take Hindi audiences by
storm. No two doubts about its worthy attributes but does the Hindi version
carries the same pep-fizz that it had in its earlier two versions. Against all
odds, S. Shankar's earlier dubbed flicks (JEANS, HINDUSTANI and APARICHIT) had
the quality musical stuffing and were winners all the way. Let's walk into the
musical territory of this ROBOT...
Evolution of Robot...! Techno-buzz of electronically paced digitalized voices,
synthesized sounds and loads of computer-crafted arrangements marks the arrival
of much-awaited 'Enthiran' (meaning 'Robot' in Tamil) in 'O Naye Insaan
('Puthiya Manidha' in Tamil). The song is a narrative about the fruition of
'Robot', its evolution, advancements, applications and its means of operations.
Swanand Kirkire's enterprising words communicate well and delivers monologue
for 'Robot' as well as narrates the situational feel with simple wordings.
Srinivas D's resounding voice (similar sounding to S.P.Balasubrahmanyam's
tones) is compelling and convincing and creates a visual euphoria. The surprise
package is Khatija Rahman's (daughter of A.R. Rahman) nimble-touch demure
rendition in echoing mode and is equally convincing in lighter tones. Rahman's
credible moves at improvisation in sound techniques and ingenuity in composing
this peculiar-feel soundtrack deserve appreciation and are likely to be big
supportive factor in flick's narrative flows.
Scientific love...! Shankar's innovation gets a superlative Rahman's musical
entourage and together, they create a magical gist of romantic happenings in
sweet 'n' saccharine sounding 'Pyaara Tera Gussa Bhi ('Kadal Anukkal' in
Tamil). Soul sauntering electric guitar strumming, tender bagpiper flows and
flows of electronically profound synthesizer combines well in creating a well
etched prelude. Mohit Chauhan's picks notes through peculiar 'alaaps' that
stretches well and delivers into format of lovable duet. Its peculiar
rhythmical groove is enticing and so do Shreya Ghoshal's genteel warmth, in
tender melodic ambience. Rahman's romantic spell of late 90's can be felt with
modernization in sound techniques. Swanand Kirkire's wordings again excel in
bringing technical terminology ('electron', 'neutron'...) into poetic flair.
This song will be having maximum takers among listeners who have been
enthralled by Rahman's earlier romantic numbers. On repetitive hearing, it
really gets into senses and exudes a smoothening impact on ears.
Robot with a heart...! Truckloads of synthesized electronic tunes and
hypersensitive digitalized rhythmical moves collage together to create a
synonym of 'Super sonic Super Star' for 'Robot' in funky-pitched 'Naina Miley'.
Lady Kash 'n' Krissy sensuously gliding hip-hop rendition rocks the floors and
creates a superficial decorum of techno-tronic happenings. The prelude is too
high on thumping electronic beat patterns, exemplifying the functioning or
emotional terrain of 'Robot'. Rahman's booming rendition jester all the funky
moods of 'Robot falling in love' and its repercussions. This situational
soundtrack is presumed to be a lively cinematic affair and fun-fare for all
those lovely eyes who crave for something spectacular.
Robot...on floors! To pulsate out the sensory moves of super-sonic machine
called 'Robot', an instrumental in the form of 'Chitti Dance Showcase' comes
out as another harmonic surprise. Rahman's 'conductor' skills at philharmonic
orchestra, fusion of Carnatic music and improvisation in techno-filled fillers
collage impressively to sensitize out the 'robotic' feel on floors. It has
quirky shades of 'Liquid Dance' (SLUMDOG MILLIONARE -2008) with strong inputs
of racy emceeing and idiosyncratic electronically tuned signature tunes. The
percussions, drumming and later violin chorus delivers out a typical
fusion-pitched 'opera' ambience. Pradeep Vijay, Pravin Mani along with Yogi B
frenzied vocal spells add to the show and builds a tempo for engrossing
picturesque affair.
Robot regales...! Down memory lane in 1996, Rahman composed song titled 'Maya
Machindra' (HINDUSTANI -1996) that had nuances of royal grandeur of
princely-love, showcased through excellence of advanced cinematic skills and
technical musical binge. 'Arima Arima', a song about the royal legacy of
'Robot' follows all such guidelines that talks about valor and splendor.
Fuelled with persistently energized electronic sounds and rhythms, it has extra
boisterous sounds of trumpets, horns, harps matched with thunderous drumming to
epitomize out the musical grandeur. Hariharan's voice throw is splendid and
flashes out dramatic scenario of 'Robot' carrying out his entourage, with its
military strength. Sadhna Sargam's sedate tones works in tandem but again it's
the orchestral excellence that rules the show. It's scintillating SFX-filled
visual depiction with 'extra-large' entertainment will be its best judge. Just
wait for the countdown...
Landscaped delights...! Shankar's insatiable to discover new landscaped
location created a visual splendor in 'Ajooba' (JEANS -1998) and again he's on
another grand bon-voyage to deliver out visual spectacle in 'Kilimanjaro'. It
breaks loose from album beat-culture of techno-filled rhythms and works
primarily on African tribal sounds and rhythms. Javed Ali's yelling tones along
with Chinamyi's cheeky voice blooms vigorously with tribal sounds and sets a
multicolored cinematic decorum. Like energy-filled 'Arima Arima', its all for
visual spectacles that will work for the track and surely be engaging musical
piece in adding lighter moments to the flick.
Robot...the icon! The wonder boy 'Robot' gets glorified and is hailed as icon
with all its big reasons, specifications and features in enthralling sounding
'Boom Boom Robo Da'. A. R Rahman's most ferocious electronic beat filled punch
comes all the way in its foot-thumping hip-hop emceeing that are mixed in
proportion with atrociously loud rhythmical textures and engaging set of
vocals. Swanand Kirkire's lyrical wordings are informative par chirpy ('Isaac
Asimov ka khela hai robo, Isaac Newton ki leela hai robo, Albert Einstein ki
budhi hai robo....) and have wittily loud melodramatic appeal. Madhushree's
sweet-honeyed voice is affectionately lauded with Yogi B's energized hip-hop
emceeing and is supported well by Tanvi Shah, Rags and Keerthi Sagathia. The
soundtrack is scaled high on its frivolous catchiness and is framed in stylish
musical set-up for iconic 'Robot'. For its deliriously loud disco-beat melodic
maneuvers, it is likely to be having maximum takers among urbane listeners and
should be engaging add in the background score section.
ROBOT is stylishly packed sci-fi musical entertainer, exuding out multifaceted
classy acts from the maestro. Its herculean effort to compile and compose a set
of situational soundtracks with that extra trendy grace and poise but ROBOT
delivers all with style, thanks to A.R Rahman's ever-reliable expertise. The
album has no blemishes but works mechanically with varied situational needs of
the flick. Soundtracks like 'Pyaara Tera Gussa Bhi', 'Boom Boom Robo Da' and 'O
Naye Insaan' are expected to be catching fast with listeners while 'Arima
Arima', 'Naina Miley' and 'Kilimanjaro' will be following with flick's probable
success. Besides Rajnikanth's super-stardom, Aishwarya's drop-dead good looks
and Shankar's techno-skills, the flick promises another big reason for 'must
watch' and it is Rahman's breathtaking music. Grab it as it lands on your
nearby stands...!
Strongly Recommended!!!
Rating - 4.5/5
