Delhi 6 Music : Romance, Rahman & Gali-Muhalla
This has to be most ‘instant’ AR Rahman album that I can think of. Rang de basanti was commercial no doubt and had its moments, but in that one also people would raise an odd frown or two, and go back to the tracks. Not the case here. Masakkali. Maula. Delhi 6. And I guess the trend will continue, what is the deal man! Make some tracks make some music that makes the head go all grrr grrr. Just kidding. Why should I complain? Rahman ji is big suddenly. People I never thought would give bhaav to anything remotely familiar now stop in their tracks and enquire about a random ‘Jai Ho’ song from a random ‘Indian-Hollywood’ film. So ya, that is where we start.
I was listening to some old Rahman favourites (personal) off late – Tehzeeb, Kabhi na Kabhi, Ada(yes its old only), and was wondering when did this Janta ki pehli pasand transition happened. May be I was too busy asking everyone to check out Water’s soundtrack out too. So what it didn’t win the Academy. Tu cheez badi hai mast mast/Tirchhi topiwaale/Jumma chumma de de/Choli ke peechhey didn’t win it either. Anyways why should I crib? Awards and recognition are always good, for those who win them and for those who don’t, for they aspire to do so some time in their lives, Aamir Khan included.
Delhi 6 is gonna be lapped up by one and all, it has poetry, groove, jazz, hiphop, pop, bhajan, qawwali, muhalle-ki-ladki-pataao number, and even a dadaji ke zamaane ka classical gaana. What else you could possibly want?
Prasoon ji also is back here in full form, I guess his rich work in these songs will go places, I mean you can always point flaws like the words don’t match up, but I feel he has done rather well in going with the sounds of the typical Rahman structures and song-points, you would find them aplenty in Maula, Dil Gira, Massakkali & Delhi 6. It is not great poetry but it is somewhere between a good sounding song and some good ethnic word usage. Obviosly the flaws also exist where some better phrases are held privy to the heavy sounds(like in Kaala Bandar and Rehna tu), Kaala Bandar specifically stands out as the only track which does not impress much, I felt it was quite not upto the greatness of the other songs.
As for the proverbial question of ‘where did you hear the songs?’, all have to say is(to borrow a phrase from Dabba), Shut up or put up, and this is for the music giant T-Series. I mean come on dudes! What the hell are you thinking? You will put a Rahman and a RDB team and wait for the janta for eternity to pick the delayed CD off the shelves? Sorry buddies. Yes, I have downloaded the music like a million others who can’t stay convinced waiting for a delayed release. Because, no you don’t deserve a reason. ‘Rahman’ is all I would say. If you want more reasons, let me also say ‘OLLO’, ‘Dev D’ and ‘Slumdog Millionnaire’.
Ladaai jhagdaa apart, let’s get to the point.
MASAKKALI
Masakkalli set the tone for this film and its music, what to expect and what not to.
The visuals can’t be separated from the effortless synth(I forgot what’s the instrument called, I guess Rahman used it in Ae hairatein from Guru as well, in fact if you isolate the mood and setting, the style is very similar to that song, the tune sets the mood, and the male vocals pick it up from there). Mohit Chauhan. Who would expect this from him? He sounds like Sukhwinder, the same rustic charm that holds you and doesn’t let you go.
Aye masakali masakali, ud matakkali matakkali,
Aye masakali masakali, ud matakkali matakkali.
Aye masakali masa masakali, ud matakkali matakali,
Masakali masakali, ud matakkali matakkali.
Zara pankh jhatak, gayi dhool atak aur lachak machak ke door bhatak.
Ude dagar dagar kasbe koochey nukkad basti mein (Yai yai),
E tadi se mud, ada se ud karle poori dil ki tammannaa,
Hawa se jhud, ada se ud, phur phur phur tu hai heera panna re.
Masakali masakali, ud matakali matakali.
Masakali masakali, ud matakali matakali.
Minimum rhythm, the focus is the vocals and the expression of Mohit’s voice. Here is an unexplored voice, last heard in somber tracks like Dooba dooba, Boondein, Khoon chala, and that Jab we whatever track. And here he comes across as pleasantly brash, manmaani, naadaani.
Ghar tera saloni, badal ki colony,
Dikhlade thenga in sabko jo udna na jaane.
Udiyo, na dariyo, kar manmaani manmaani man maani,
Badhiyo, na mudiyon kar nadaani.
Udiyo, na dariyo, kar manmaani manmaani man maani,
Badhiyo, na mudiyon kar nadaani.
Gataan le, muskaan le, keh sanana nanana nana hawa,
Bas thaanle, tu jaanle, keh sanana nanana nanan hawa.
Aye masakali masakali, ud matakali matakali….
Tujhe kya gum, tera rishta gafan ki baansuri se hai,
Pawan ki guftagu se hain, suraj ki roshni se hai.
Udiyo, na dariyo, kar manmaani manmaani man maani,
Badihyo, na mudiyo kar naadaani.
MAULA
What do I say, Rahman has mastered all genres now, qawwali being the frontrunner, this one has its own elements, that keep you hooked in spite of the length.
Arziyaan saari main chehre pe likh ke laaya hoon
Tumse kya maangoon main tum khud hi samajh lo
Maula Maula maula mere maula
Daraarein daraarein hain maathey pe maula
Marammat muqaddar ki kardo mere maula
Tere dar pe jhuka hoon bana hoon mita hoon
Marammat muqaddar ki kardo maula
Jo bhi tere dar aaya
Jhukne jo sar aaya
Mastiyaan peeye sabko
Jhoomta nazar aaya
pyaas leke aaya tha dariya wo bhar laaya
noor ki baarish mein bheegta sa tar aaya
noor ki bearish mein bheegta sa tar aaya
maula maula
(Kailash Kher enters)
Jo bhi tere dar aaya
(the song begins to register)
(this generally happens in a Rahman qawwali)
Ek khushboo aati thi
Main bhatakta jaata tha
Reshmi si maaya thi
Aur main takta jaata tha
Jab teri gali aaya
Sach tabhi nazar aaya
Tujh mein hi wo khushboo thi
Jisse tune milwaaya…maula..maula…
Toot ke bikharna mujhko zaroor aata hai
Har nayi ibaadat waala shahoor aata hai
Sazde mein rehne do ab kahin na jaaoonga
Ab jo tumne thukraaya to sanwar na paaoonga
Sar uthaake maine to kitni khwaahishein ki thi
Kitne khwaab dekhe they maine kitni koshishein ki thi
Jab tu rubaroo aaya nazarein na mila paaya
Sar jhukaake ek pal mein maine kya nahi paaya(wow!)
(Here is a supercool quintessential qawwali/sufi device. )
Mora piya ghar aaya
Mora piya ghar aaya…
(done entirely on the mukhda tune, it’s like those old Lakshmikant(LP) interviews when he used to sing the entire song on the mukhda))
GENDA PHOOL
Ever thought of setting up a lil hip-hop disc in the gaaon ka aangan?
Welcome to Genda Phool. The much-awaited collab between Rekha Bharadwaj and AR Rahman finally happens! And what better song. The low-scale queen of a twisted-intentioned-harkat gets a groovy track based in the milieu of Raipur! Rahman chooses her over the usual suspects(Sapna Awasthi and Richa Sharma, and the choice only stands supreme as you start grooving to the lilt and vivacity of Rekha’s criminally underused voice).
The traditional cribfest of a newly wed and how she is ‘sataaofied’ in her new house(sasural genda phool) forms the crux of the song, saas and devar and nanad included.
Saiyyan jee vyapaari chale hain pardes…
(this is where a beat hits you unawares like a premika ka thappad and slowly your head starts bobbing without even you realizing it)
Saas gaari dewe
Devarji samjha leve sasural genda phool
Rekha Ji triumphs as expected. Much credit should also go to Prasoon Joshi for adding the flavour so well at all the right places. Though I could use a little more mischief but I guess this is not the Rakyesh Mehra of Aks, this is the Rakyesh Mehra of Lukka Chhuppi.
DIL GIRA
Now this is some fun. So many different sounds – Arabic, European symphony, sounds from Turkey etc etc.
The way it starts gives the imagery of someone sitting with a guy on a string instrument like a Rabaab and jamming up to glory.
Dil gira kahin par dafatan.
The same string patterns go on and on, and time ceases to move. Ash King mesmerizes with his convincing and heartfelt rendition. You can add soulful to that.
I wonder how they gonna base this in Delhi, may be Majnu ka teela., because it is so empty desert and mid-east in its appeal. I would say the craziest track of the lot, changes genres like it was being paid to do so.
The vocals express the unending quest of a spirited heart, out on a bargain.
Dil mera
Dil gira kahin pe
Dil Gira kahin per da-fatan
Dil Gira kahin per da-fatan
Jaane magar ye nayan
Teri khamosh zulfon ki gehraiyaan
Hai jahan dil meraa uljha hua hai wahin kho gaya
Tu magar hai bekhabar, hai bekhabar…
the same pattern continues, as we slowly hear a female voice.
Kyun goonj rahi hai dhadkan.
Jaane magar ye nayan
We move into more symphonic sounds, and more mystic instruments, and it’s like a free fall into neverland.
Seepiyon ke honth se moti chhalak rahein hain
Ghazlon ki sohbat mein geet bhi behek rahein hai
samundar lehron ki lehron ki chaadar odh ke, so raha hai
Par main jaagoon
Ek khumaari ek nashaa sa ek nashaa sa ho raha hai
Tu magar hai bekhabar, hai bekhabar
NOOR
Big B sounds surprisingly young and full of hope in this small narration.
Zarre zarre mein usika noor hai
Jhaank khud mein woh na tujhse door hai
Ishq hai usse to sabse ishq kar
is ibaadat ka yahi dastoor hai
Is mein us mein aur… us mein hai wohi
Is mein us mein aur… us mein hai wohi
Yaar mera har taraf bharpoor hai ..
HEY KAALA BANDAR
Though fun trip enough, I am not too big on this song, it’s too Pritam and Neeraj Shridhar for a Rahman score, sounds more like Shano Shano remix.
Having said that, it might be great fun in the film, whatwith The legend of Monkey Man at the hands of Rakyesh Mehra and Kamlesh Pandey can do.
Wonder where does Joshi get these ideas..
Chhoosey choosey choosey, life ki phaank le…
Taank jhaank taank jhaank taank jhaank, dil mein bhi jhaank le.
Kasmein to moongfali hain
Jab jee chahe hum khaate
Upar se na na karte
Par thaali aage hum sarkaatey
Sounds more like an ad to me.
The song fails to take off, and then, in an almost revolutionary turn of events, a ‘jaago re’ (c)rap comes and changes the mood. Not me. I didn’t like all the preachy tone. Let the monkey man be himself man! Why all the ‘jaago re’ tone. I am not gonna vote anyways.
Oops. Did I pan the track too much. OK, take a little away.
Hamaam mein hum saare nangey…
BHOR BHAYEE
After the song plays for some 3-4 times, and one realizes what just happened was not a wormhole trip but an actual present day song! Truly mesmerizing. The raaga structures reminded me of Water’s Piya ho, especially the ‘piya piya/hum san much ki batiya’ bits.
Bhor bhayeee Tori baat takat piya
Bhor bhayeee Tori baat takat piya
Naina alsaaye bhaaye
Sagari rain ka Jaage
Bhor bhayeee Tori baat takat piya
Sautan ke bhaag jaage
Hum san mukh ki batiya
Karat sabar tori basak
sautan ki bhag jaage
Bhor bhayeee Tori baat takat piya
Bhor bhayeee Tori baat takat piya
It might be Shreya’s most decent playback effort till date. He holds her won in harkats and aalaaps against Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan himself. This is one achievement of the score amongst many others.
REHNA TU
A Rahman track, it starts off very soft, much like a Meherbaan from Ada.
Rehna Tu
Hai Jaisa tu
Thoda sa dard tu
Thoda Sukoon
Rehna Tu
Hai Jaisa tu
Dheema Dheema jhonka
Ya phir junoon
Thoda sa resham
Tu humdam
Thoda sa khurdura
Kabhi daud jaaye, Ya lad jaye
Ya khushboo se bhara
Tujhe badalna na chaahoon
Ratti bhar bhi sanam
Bina sajaawat milaawat
Na jyaada na hi kam
Tujhe chaahon jaisa hai tu
Mujhe teri baarish mein bheegna hai ghul jaana hai
Tujhe chaahon jaisa hai tu
Mujhe teri lapat mein jalna raakh ho jaana hai
Tu zakhm de (a)gar
Marham bhi aake tu lagaaye
Another song that could have used better words. It solely stands on Rahman’s singing and the Arabic effect towards the latter half. This surely will grow. Finally! Some track that triggers that reaction!
But hold on to that judgment of this being a simple track, it turns around the whole soft romantic pop feeling when Rahman introduces a wind instrument slowly fuelling life and emotions in the electronic(till now) atmosphere till now, the effect is divine, so much said with so less, in fact nothing at all, all the sounds echo in the distant background, and things fall in a lovely montage, as ‘rehna tu’ reverberates in your head, and the song closes to a soulful conclusion.
AARTI- TUMHRE BHAVAN MEIN
Takes one back to the gali-muhalla sounds of devotion. Simply hypnotic. You would stop doing what you are doing when these sounds hit you. That’s the innocent beauty of this track.
DELHI 6
Ye dilli mere yaar
Bas ishq muhabbat pyaar
Back to the phunk, this is no melodramatic theme song, it kicks ass at all the right places, it brings the Dil back in Dilli, EX back in South Ex and gives a 21 top ki salaami to this wild wild album.
Basti hai mastaano ki dilli..Delhi 6
Gali hai deewaano ki dilli…Delhi 6
Some supercool alien rap(lil reminiscent of Aye Bachchu) follows and Blaaze gets back to what he does best.
(As for the lyrics, this is what I meant when I said Joshi knows the rhythm of Rahman)
Bada kas ke gale lagaata hai
Dhadkan ki dhoom sunaata hai
Iske baayein taraf bhi dil hai
Iske daayein taraf bhi dil hai
Ye shehar nahin mehfil hai
Ye dilli hai mere yaar
Bas ishq muhabbat pyaar
Kabhi pyaar mein gaali deta hai
Kabhi gaali mein pyaar bhi hota hai
DELHI 6
Ye Dilli hai mere yaar…
Bas Ishq Muhabbat Pyaar.
Anurag Kashyap
Abhay Deol
Dibakar Banerjee
Hansal Mehta
Khalid Mohamed
Kundan Shah
Anish Kuruvilla
Jaideep Verma
Manish Gupta
Navdeep Singh
Bhavani Iyer
D. Santosh
Onir
Ashvin Kumar
Ramu Ramanathan
Sudhir Mishra
Pankaj Advani
Revathy
Saurabh Shukla
Shilpa Shukla
Sujoy Ghosh
Suparn Verma
Santosh Sivan
Shashank Ghosh
Shivajee
Pavan Kaul
Partho Sen-Gupta
Prroshant Naryannan
Sam Langoria
Satish Kasetty
Tushar (Soundtrack man);
mast Music Review;
Definitely I’m going to check it out ,
Good morning guruji. Ye to hamaara farz hai. Waise Rahman ji ne kamar tod ke rakhi hui hai boss. :-)
expansive, expressive & impressive. like musik like review. keep the flag flying bro.
I love it. Absolutely love it.
What a review man, for once I thought you were pissed with this album.
Get some sleep bud! Praja here will lap this up too.
Tushar, you are the Baap of music reviewers. Excellent review. Since this noon, I listened to these songs 4-5 times. So many genre/styles of music in a single album. I thought Yuvraaj was Rahman’s experimentation at his best, this one is even better.
Disappointed with “Bandar” song, it reminded me of Shanno and an interlude in Yuvraaj.
Wanted a longer version of “Genda phool”, damn its just 2.5 mins..can’t get enough of it.Rekha Bhardwaj’s voice in so intoxicating.
Thanks for the review..keep’em coming.
thanks for the insight…nice review…am getting the music rightaway… keep up the good work!!
Well, i also have listened to songs but legally, anyway nice article.
Kala Bandaar and Delhi 6 are good. I would like to say i also liked masakali.
Dil mera starts off like a Shibani Kashyap song from seomwhere .. cant get its name.. tushi??
Fantastic Review yaar!!
Delhi 6 is actually the most aggressive number I ever heard from Rahman. I was listening the songs on Youtube and by mistake played Maula instead of Dilli 6 and when the cool voice of Jawed Ali touched me, I realized that how ‘prepared’ for assault I was, waiting for Dilli 6’s guitars to go on full blast!
Love it!!
16 days into the year and already we have DevD, Naan Kadavul, Nandalala, Slumdog Millionaire and now Dilli – 6. The best January that I have ever seen interms of music.
As usual really great review man!
Have just finished listening to the tracks for about 5 times.
Loved every one of them – ‘Dil Gira..’ failed to grow at the first listen and havn’t gone back to that.
Rest of them are OUTSTANDING, I loved ‘Rehna tu’, ‘Arziyan’, ‘Masakalli’, all the tracks.
The title tracks is really cool! I am wondering what’s delhiites take on it, sure they’d play it everywhere and make it Delhi’s anthem forever. I wish he’d make a state anthem for all 27 ones!
:P
This album goes into my top 10 AR list without doubt. All those who said that AR was out of form after GHAJINI (3 songs were good man!)have a cracker of an album by AR. This is the AR of the 90’s. I love it!
Prasoon Joshi ROCKS man! The lyrics are super-cool, I hope I’d work with him (Advertising mein re! Me a so-so copywriter).
________________________________________________
The ONLY bad thing about this album is that, it’s so good people COULD now rate other FUTURE AR albums as not happening and compare it with this. Comparisons are good but to an extend.
I think if GHAJINI was by any other MD and not AR, it would have been gretly appreciated – beacause its AR and we know he can do much better, we think it wasn’t upto the mark (Which is not true).
Ok… my favorite (as of now) has to be Genda Phool!!!
Being someone from Rajasthan, I totally enjoyed the lyrics, but it was the way he merged the beats that got me sit up!!! ‘Masakkali’ is good and unusual… Mohit Chauhan sounded like never before!
Loved Kaala Bandar & Dilli 6 too… Though it sounded a lil RDBish….
Btw, Tushar, in ur Dev.D music review, u dint mention much about “Pardesi”… I just wanna know if I’m the only one going totally bonkers over that song!!!
A review as lovely n awesome as the music n lyrics. AR Rehman n Prasoon together are a pre-gurantee of a hit music.
Masakkali is a already a hot favourite not only cos of the lyrics n music, but for sonam’s super cute screen presence.
~Ashu Bhai MAPRM Wale
Tushar,
I liked the way in which Shreya’s vocals were used with Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan Saheb’s thumri. here is a recording of Khan saheb’s original thumri:
http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=YCBZ6ERyxLA
After Khan Saheb, I would give the credit for this song to Shreya for her excellent singing than Rahman, who I don’t think had much of creative input going into this one.
Rehana Tu is just Magical .. I am sure it would take no time for anyone to love it
excellent music review man!!! n thanx a ton for putting up the lyrics esp of Masakali , i was waiting for someone to put it on net
what exactly is ada
is it a movie ? is it releasing can someone explain
17 Vivek — Ada is a movie which is yet due to release .. music by AR Rehman
Ritsjoey – make that two. In fact you can count me in any and every Dev D song.
As for this one, time will tell. I am not as hooked up to it as you guys, and I can nitpick like ‘genda phool’ sounds like those Suraiya songs we used to remix in early 90’s (post Choli ke peeche and Chura Liya – Bally Sagoo remixes), Rehna Tu is too Elton John-ish, Kala Bandar is too Shanno-ish and in turn 80-pop’ish and so on.. :D
maula mere maula n masakalli….in loop since last nite!!
Thanks for a great review. Its a boon for me as i can only read this for now….
—
Damn these Dev D songs. First was Brass band EA, Nayan Tarase, now Rock EA. When i try to change to anything else some unknown force grips me and i turn the dial back to … khoon ke, khoon ke, khoon ke, khoon ke…
Mesmerized…after a long time (after ‘Namak’ i guess)
I am with you Satya. I am not sure when I will even listen to Dilli 6 again. ;)
Tushar,
Nice review. The instrument which you are referring to, in Masakkali song is Accordian. Even I thought of this when the promos started. If i remember, ARR used this instrument in Aye Hairate (guru) and Zindagi (Yuvvraaj) before Masakkali.
not to be mean, but tushar didn’t write a long post on dilli 6 for ppl to discuss dev d on it…there is an equally excellent write-up on dev d by tushar for everyone to discuss those songs: http://passionforcinema.com/dev-d-ka-muzic-roz-bajaane-ka
anyway, really nice write-up, tushar. it’s great that you took time out to write out the lyrics. i was also surprised by mohit chauhan’s masakkali rendition…absolutely flawless
but, then again, rahman ji always brings out the best of every singer! it was also a real treat to hear rekha bharadwaj sing for AR Rahman. And, Bhor Bhaye just left me mesmerized…simply amazing…and Dil Giraa is also excellent…
koi nahin…you’ll enjoy kaala bandar more later on…
Amanda – the reason we are discussing Dev D is because it doesn’t ever happen with me that I cannot give time to listen to ARR soundtracks.
my favourite song from Delhi 6 now? Dil Giraa… one of the finest compositions i have heard in a long time… the vocals seem in no hurry to reach anywhere as the backing tune is on a roll… it is a musical representation of that sequences in movies where the protagonist is suspended in another time zone and the background visuals zip fast…
baap hai tu music reviews ka.. BAAP. will read your review after listening to the music in its entirety.
the best interview & article written on A.R.Rahman in recent times on Tehlka http://www.tehelka.com/story_main41.asp?filename=Ne240109cover_story.asp
Phew! That’s some response in mere 12 hrs! Thanks guys.
@Magik, thanks
@ravptor, Rahman release = no sleep more energy
@Vick, thanks man, your comment yesterday made me write the whole thing. Rekha ji is exhilarated at the response to Genda Phool, and has a lot in store for her fans in the near future!
@Saurabh, thanks
@cinemausher, go ahead and download!
@DPac, Shibani Kashyap song….hmmm she hardly did many songs, though Ash King does sound like Aslam Mustafa, the singer she did Ho gayee hai Mohabbat with her and also sang few Rahman songs(Samba Samba – Love Birds, Kalluri Saalai – Kaadhal Desam). So it might be that ringing in your head.
@Abhishek, Thanks. That’s a happy accident that happened with you mate. :-)
@Anand, couldn’t agree more man.
@Sriram, thanks. Would love to know how you found Dil Gira on revisit. Good luck for working opps with Prasoon. You are right about the Ghajini thing. I enjoy it nonetheless.
@Ritsjoey, big shout out to all Rajasthanis out there mate. Me too from there.
I have mentioned about Pardesi in both my Dev D write-ups, may be we can discuss it there.
@Ashu Bhai, thanks.
@Aditya, valuable insights(as ever). Shreya is truly hypnotic and it just registers more each time I hear Bhor Bhayee.
@ Siri, I am slowly growing to like Rehna Tu. Can’t get over that wind finale.
@skywalker, I love writing the lyrics down in a Rahman song, and the appreciation only makes the effort worth it.
@Vivek, you can read Amanda’s music review on Ada, just follow the hyperlink in my post.
@Tejas, karo karo aur nitpick karo. :-)
@Satya, thanks man.
@Antz, thanks for that mate, Accordion it is.
@Amanda, Kaala Bandar….hmmm..actually today when I heard it, I hated it! Let’s see…
@Gopi, damn right about Dil Gira, and bang on interpretation/imagery about the time zone suspension.For all we know this might outgrow all the other numbers in the album.
@Striker, Baap ka nahi pata. He he.
Waiting to explore the songs more in a jam session, I have high expectations from
Dil Gira, Kaala Bandar, Delhi 6.
As of Maula, it was the song of the day for me, the initial verses(daraarein daraarein) remind me of ‘yahaan dil se maango ye Haji Ali hain’.
@Tushar,you are welcome bro.. I removed OLLO songs from my play list today..rite now its DevD, SDM n D6..and some old gems as usual.
liked masakali and maula..I hope Delhi 6 is not the New Delhi Anthem” cos its a bit alien type song..set like a jingle..din like it at all..
@Tushar, are you attending/watching movies at BIFF? any worthy regional cinema (kannada, tamil, mallu)?
very good review, Tush!
masakalli-The starting music as someone pointed out accordian gave me hope that it is going to be an excellant track,but my hope was dashed when the song actually started with masakalli,where is an oustatnding tune which I am always expecting from ARR and always get disappointed and why those sound effects(manmani repeated 3times) when it is adding nothing to the song?already this type of experimentation was a failure in Bahka(Ghajini).Overall disappointing.
It was one of the most awaited album for me because I was simply charged-up when the promos were in air.
Bhor Bhayi – OUTSTANDING…kahaan the aap itne din Rehman bhaiyya !! no words for Rehman to have this classic in today’s music-scenario : 10/10 – If its shreya, then hats off to her
Arziyaan saari – OUTSTANDING – 9/10 ( a bit sounds repititive to earlier Sufi albums of Rehman )
Masakali – Superb. Especially the blending with the picturization ( whatever is shown in promos ) 7/10 ( marks cut for putting the so called technical gimmicks like echos, etc. There was no need. Try to be simple Rehman sir ! )
Saiyaan – Very good/catchy basic tune. I did not like the beats in the antaras. 7/10.
The small small instruments used to the Delhi-environment in the above 3 songs is simply superb.
Aarati – OUTSTANDING 9/10
Noor – its Amitabh afterall !! 9/10
Dil Mera – Not at all impressed much with the intro, but then lateron the song catched my attention. The “taral” music of the piano (?) throughout the song is mesmerizing. 8/10
Rehna tu – Lovely song. Reminded me of Aai yai yo from Rangeela. Should be a dream song. 7/10
Kaala Bandar – the beats start and I get pissed off !! Same old stuff from him. 2/10
Delhi 6 – ditto comments as per Kaala Bandar
Again the fading off each song in the album, at the end, in the same manner, album after album, makes so very monotonous. Rehman should INSTANTLY stop it or else I will keep away from them :P !!
But overall I must say that I am impressed with Rehman in this album. Kudos and keep it up and stop making duds like JTYJN, Yuvraaj, Ghajini, Slumdog, etc. This is the Rehman that I like. Different, but good.
Really looking forward to see the film…..
kcp
manmani – it is not a sound effect. you call that a bit of flirting or variations. playing with the word. and in this soundtrack, A R Rahman music doesn’t overpower the singers. The singers stand out more! Masakli is more about Mohit as it is about A R Rahman’s composition.
anyway, sharath, i am glad you didn’t like the soundtrack. if you had, i think you would have gone mental (maare Khushi – that you liked an A R Rahman soundtrack for first time- and the soundtrack being truly awesome) :-D
Dilli-some one who don’t like rap music much,If u cut out all rap type parts in this song it would have been a better song
Ghenda Phool-A Laxmikant-Payarelal type song with Rahman beats.I was taken aback by background beats,i don’t know whether i like it or hate it,because this type of upbeat beats is quite unusual in sad sounding songs in bollywood films so in that aspect this song is unique.The basic tune is average nothing exceptional.
tumre bhavan-a good song to put someone to sleep.Humming keeps going on and on.Nothing is there in this song for an opinion
@Honhaar Goonda
Masakali is a good song,accordian music is superb,but I sort of feel that the basic tune is not blending with accordian tune that is why I found it little disappointing.Singing is top notch no doubt about it
bhor bhaye- I am happy that Rahman did not think of any western type of beats to make mincemeant of this song like in Yuuvraaj.As such it is not a typical filmi song and sounds like hi fi Hindustani classical I am desisting from my opinion since my classical music knowledge is limited
Dil Gira Dafatan-great song.At last I found an ARR song I will keep on listening.An almost perfect song in all aspects.Great melody and superb orchestration.
Ha-ha. How Ironic. You always wanted a melody type song from A R Rahman and now you have liked a song, which is not actually a melody, it is sort of fusion between RnB + Indian Filmi Old Skool Melody + Symphonic. Anyway… good, you won’t repeat “A R Rahman doesn’t do melody like…”
Now keep listening to other Delhi 6 songs on a loop….
Dil Gira is hypnotic. No, I am not kidding. Something with the song. I am feeling euphoric for some reason. Its in loop. Help!
Rehna Tu-This song also I add to listen again list after Dil Gira mainly because of heartfelt singing by ARR and as such being difficult to hate this song because it has all ingredients of a feel good pop song.
@ Sharath!
You scared me man! For once I though you liked the album, are you sure your ears are perfect man?! Coz this album should suck, like all AR albums. Damn! He should just stop composing now, or take a crash course from Sri Sri Sharath master, to get anywhere.
_______________________________________________
That ‘Manmanni’ was repeated as in like teasing, just like ‘Aditi, has de has de has de, has de tu zara’, it’s the BEST part of the song! Glad you didn’t like it!
________________________________________________
‘Gaenda Phool’ is NOT A SAD SONG, it’s a funny kinda song which normally people in the north of India, sing during shaadi’s. The best part of the song is the western beats somewhere in -:50. So it means you didn’t listen to the lyrics. Which means, you are completely baseless. Which means I should stop replying to you from here.
@Neeraj: Hypnotic is THE word. Awesome stuff here.
Seeing all these rave reviews, I decided to break my practice of not listening to an album first time on the Net. And am glad that I did that. This is the most lush album to have come out for ages now! Beautiful compositions – each one chiselled to perfection, the instrumentation, lyrics and the vocals come together so perfectly in so many songs.
Bhor Bhaye is the best song in female voice I’ve heard since a long long time. Shows what an accomplished singer like Shreya can do with Rahman and Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan’s voice seems to be coming from a radio (I guess it’s shot with Sonam doing riyaz while Ustad is playing on radio). Arziyan (Maula) also shows the difference between a run-of-the-mill Sufi song and a class act. Javed Ali doesn’t sound like Sonu Nigam with sandpaper stuck in his throat and Prasoon is in fine form again. All’s forgiven!
@sriram
regarding ‘Gaenda Phool’ let me confess my ignorance,i didn’t know that it was a shaadi type of song from north india.As such regarding western beats I was somewhat surprised when it suddenly jumped out from nowhere and as such I don’t think it has enhanced the song in any way since the tune itself is pretty average
If ‘Dil Gira’ definitely made a positive impression on me,’Masakali’ and ‘Rehna tu’ also I will be listening again and keep with me,but rest of songs there is no chance that I will listen again
@Honhaar Goonda
Regarding ‘Dil Gira’ as u mentioned it might be ‘Indian filmi old skool melody’ due to which I liked it.Regarding symphony unlike Yuuvraaj songs where I found it superficial,here i feel it as apt.Coming to singer,eventhough he hasn’t done badly,i feel may be if KK has sung this song,it would have been better since I feel this guy has struggled little bit at beginning of the song
Great reviews Tushar!!!
God, wat an album, audibly stunned (if there is a phrase like that). Amazing, i cant get enough of the songs. Rahman does it once again. Every time i wonder, how different songs can he compose, and look at “Rehna Tu”, “Genda Phool”, “Dilli 6″ amazing sound track.
I do agree with Tushar that ‘Rehna Tu’ could have been more lyrical, specially in the middle. We expect more from Prasoon joshi. Still, this song stands out due to Rehman’s voice.
In ‘Masakali’, fault lies with Rehman not with Joshi. After first couple of stanza (mukhda?) the opening charm get lost.
‘Genda fool’ is probably the best song of the album. Everything fits well from Rekha Bhardwaj’s voice to Rehman’s experiment to wordings.
‘Arzian’ comes close to ‘Genda fool’. This is Prasoon joshi’s best wording in this album.
‘Dil Gira’ is another good song. Probably the starting alap “dila mera …. ” could have been avoided. Somehow reminds me of Nadeem-shravan, Anand-MIlind era. But once that line is gone, track becomes better.
‘Dilhi6′ is on the line of ‘pathshala’.
Somehow i feel like this movie is going to be Rakesh Mehra’s ’swades’.
masakkali means “pigeon” in the movie and the movement of pigeon is compared to sonam kapoor as she is the female lead.
singer:mohit chauhan,
lyricsist:prasoon joshi,
music:allah rakha rahman
Amit, I agree with you there about the initial bit of Dil gira. Every time I listen to it I skip the initial part and continue. I go into a hypnotic state of complete submission to this song from there on. As though all my nerves are now connected to the earphones.
BTW, what is the instrument used to play the end part of Rehna tu. It sounds like a muffled flute, really mystic and kinda grows on you.
I am completely impressed with this album…each song has a different style and sustains it with aplomb. Way to go rahman… Dont know how others liked it ( should I say dont care :D) but this is gonna be on my player for sometime now…
@Neeraj – I beleive the instrument used at the end part of Rehna tu is a Continuum Fingerboard. Even i had mistaken it for a low frequency flute…. I kinda love that part.. has a carnatic touch to it… interesting song which starts with a jazzy feel and ends with a carnatic note..
@ Neeraj
@ Neeraj
That’s Continuum, just about a few ‘number’ of people in the world play that instrument and AR is one among them!
He had used the same instrument for ‘Ay hairate’ from GURU, a highly under-rated, under-promoted son. Do give it a listen, there it sounds even better!
Ok, I loved the Masakkali song and absolutely hated the Dilli 6 song. First off, it’s “Dilli chheh” not “Dilli six” !! I cannot believe Rakesh Mehra actually approved the lyrics.
Who ever says “Dilli six”? “Dilli chheh” means something because it is a short hand way to refer to Old Delhi (The post code is 110006). I’ve never ever heard anyone say “Dilli six”.
Second, the song is just very monotonous and uninteresting. There’s nothing essentially Delhi about it, it’s just your generic ARR song.
I know this is blasphemy, but really, Rakesh should have considered some Delhi based musicians like Indian Ocean, Mohit Chauhan, Midival Punditz for the music of this film.
sipiyon ki hoonth se moti chalak rahein hai
ghazlon ki sohbat mein geet bhi bhek rahi hai
When Rahman does these lines, which have such such a trance inducing beautiful tune set to them, he doesn’t repeat them for the sake of driving them or drilling them into the listener’s ears to register! (it must be very tempting to do so, even I had wished for it
) instead he moves on
samundar lehron ki lehron ki chadar odh ke so raha hai
per mein jagu ek khumari ek nasa sa ek nasa sa ho raha hai.
perhaps the lack of any such repetition to register is the reason why these tracks warrant repeat listenings to gauge the song!
and I will give it to Rahman and this track only for that “ho raha hai” after ek nasha sa ek nasha sa… and what follows this??
Tu magar hai bekhabar hai bekhabar
ALLAH!
how can any MD teach a singer the right way to do it?!!?!! doesn’t the choice of the singer deserve credit? how many such tracks does one get with the right mix of predictability and unpredictability taking you to a different world?
any answers?
Sharath?
*behak
*nasha sa nasha sa :P
@dewi – welll …
First off, it’s “Dilli chheh” not “Dilli six” !! I cannot believe Rakesh Mehra actually approved the lyrics.
Dint u notice that Rakesh mehra has named his movie delhi 6 and previously was called Dilli 6… why would he not approve the lyrics having it?
‘Dil Gira’ is my fav track from this album.
“Delhi Che” – would have implied Che of Delhi, i mean, first of all, it would have given a wrong impression of the film, so I guess he went for Delhi 6. Perhaps they could have had ‘6′ in Devangri script.
Anyway, i like the title song, but today ‘Rehna Tu’ has been on the loop. In Bollywood, people have sold so many songs on name of RnB and Hip Hop, but none of those would actually fall under that category. And this, “Rehna Tu”, is a genuine quality RnB song (in Hindi). I think.
@Santosh – you are hell bent after that guy Sharath, aren’t you!!! :P
amazing album. what a varied texture. Its pure magic. ARR is a musical genius. and so is the wordsmith prasoon joshi he is genuis – rehan tu arziyam dil gira.. what words they are gems. mohit chauhan rocks as well and I loved rekha b in genda phool. this is the best of best albums
@ Tejas- 65
Woh to kaafi purani dushmani hai. Sadiyon se chal raha hai.
Nahin, nahin, it’s absolutely fine to write it “Delhi 6″ or “Dilli 6″ or however they want to romanize it. But in the song, when ARR is singing, it should be “Dilli chheh” not “Dilli 6″. That’s what I have a problem with.
In the song, the expression “Dilli six” doesn’t make any sense.
Great review. Loved the gamut of songs in the album. I had a small question… What does Genda Phool exactly mean? I didn’t get the comparison between sasural and genda phool…
Awsome review mate!!! AR no stopping this man..Dil gira is simply outta this world…
Thanks again for sharing your thoughts on the music. This music is in to create some history!
@Vick, not watching regional cinema this time much man. Saw Rupantor today, from Bangladesh. Check my festival wrap for more.
@Indraneel, thanks.
@kcp, thanks for the detailed song review.
@HG, have been digging Masakalli deeper, and you are right, it is as much a Mohit song. I would love to see him do this with his band wherever he goes.
@Neeraj, Dil Gira is THE current favorite for me man. And contrary to what you guys feel, I feel the initial bit works when the whole song is considered as a complete orchestrated track.
@Subrat, welcome guruji. Aap aaye hamaare review pe, kabhi hum aapko kabhi apne reccos ko dekhte hain!
@gonydhoni, thanks.
@Amit P, Rekha ji has been following the comments here and is very glad to everyone for liking her first work with Rahman.
@skelly, thanks for that info about the instrument in Rehna Tu. Very true about the Karnatic effect.
@sriram, wow! HE plays it! How many instruments does Rahman play, any idea guys?
I LOVE ae hairathein man! But then there ain’t a Rahman number I don’t.
By the way guys, I have observed closely that JAI HO is a remastered BAAZLI LAGA. In terms of the structure. Do let me know if you think the same/otherwise.
@Santosh, agree with you totally about the effect in Rehna Tu. Divine is the word.
@Tushar,(IMO) Genda Phool is a euphemism for saying something to the effect of a
Ki gulaab ka phool nahi mila, to gende ka pakda diya
Genda is known for it poor man’s gulaab, and so the comprison.
@Harsh, Thanks man.
Delhi-6 title song has exploded onto my life! Insane rhythm! ye deli hai ye deli hai ye deli hai mere yaar…!!! woohoo life is good again!
Tushar & others
___________________
Guys, this track is from Rahman’s private album ‘CONNECTIONS’ which has not been released.
Chk out this track ‘Mosqito’, it’s 9 mins long, and is simply OUTSTANDING.
There are not lyrics, only various instruments it’s a fusion, and done damn well.
..
http://www.ijigg.com/songs/V24BCG4GPD
..
Hey Thanks Sriram. Thanks for reminding of Connections. I had Jiya se Jiya, but had quite forgotten to ‘check’ for the album in all this Delhi 6 wave. Just got it! Nice to hear Rahman’s instrumental and non-film fun. No holds barred compositions. More thoughts later, can’t wait to check it out. Mosquitoes is supercool, the sound design is just awesome. Rahman Ji bhi kya cellphone company tie-ups ke chakkar mein pad gaye, aaraam se CD release karna chahiye tha khud ke label par. Anyways, ab aise ya jaise, hum to songs nikaal hi lenge!
I also got this Big Band show’s theme by Rahman – Muqammal Noor Tera. Not to mention it kicks ass, very RDB and dhol-shol.
The party goes on!
Coming this year –
What’s your Rashi?
Blue
Raavan
What’s your Rashee? is not by AR, it’s by one Sohail Sen, as AR was busy with SlmD M, he had to give up on WTR.
Next release would be the dubbed version of ‘BOYS’ in Hindi, can’t wait for that. Esp the song ‘Girlfriend’, with Abbas Tyrewala writing the lyrics.
Gonna be super awesome.
Hey Tushar, Thanks for the info!
Got Rahman’s Connections yesterday.
This is supercool. He has taken folk and had superfun…some 9 songs in all.
Mann Chandre – Sukhi
Silent Invocation – A, B, C
Mosquito
Mylapore Blues
Kural(Blaaze)
Jiya se Jiya(Karthik)
Himalayas
If you ever wanted to stretch those brilliant as ever interludes in his songs and make them into an album, this is it.
@Tushar: Great Review !!!
The instrument you are talking about in the intro of Masakalli is an accordion. I have been intrigued by Rahman’s team of musicians (like Sivamani, Ranjit Barot etc) since the days of Sapnay, Jeans.. and guess what I found when I saw the cover of Delhi-6. Its ARR who has played the accordion and also that new instrument – Continuum in the end of Rehna Tu.
Genda Phool will be a lesson in creativity for future musicians although I guess Rajat Dholakia too needs to share some credit for this. The title song will definitely become the anthem of Delhi. As for Dil Gira Daftan, it reminded me a lot of Yeh Haseen Wadiyan (Roja)…vintage stuff I guess.
By the way, when was the last time I heard a bhajan and a qawwali in the same album. And is it just me or what… the lyrics of Hey Kaala Bandar – is it a tribute to the legend of MONKEY MAN
Thanks Sam. Didn’t know about the Rajat Dholakia angle. As for Kaala Bandar, all things point to the legend, I wrote about it recently.
http://passionforcinema.com/the-template-of-a-city-the-fate-of-a-nation/
btw, you found ARR on the cover of Delhi-6, I found myself!
btw, I edited some images from the film, they are updated in the post now, this one’s for all Delhi 6 fans.
Back in Delhi few months ago, my friend and I used to have lengthy debates about music. We agreed in only one fact, that Rahman can make superhit, sensational,awesome, heart touching, fantastic, fantabulous music with anyone in the industry or even out of it.Rahman tought us to ask who composed this song rather than who sang this song.
And Tushar, I disagree your view about Kala Bandar.Don’t you dare call a Rahman song less than any of what I said before (superhit, ………fantabulous). Lol, Joke.
one word mind blowing
@Deelip K, “Rahman taught us to ask who composed this song rather than who sang this song. ”
so true man.
BTW, I like Kaala Bandar now(predictable, eh?!) :-)
guys!!!!!!!!
get me the lyrics for the female version of kural connections – A.R.Rahman
hi Tushar,
This is the most amazing review i have ever come across…keep it up….bravo…
Heyyy Tushar !!!
Thanks a lotttt for posting all the lyrics .. I am absolutely in love with delhi 6 music ..superb work done by you ..
By the guys … can anyone tell me whats the meaning of GENDA PHOOL ??
GENDA PHOOL – ‘GENDA’ is the name of a certain type of flower …very common in North India..PHOOL is u can well guess is the hind word for Flower. …Hope this helps :-)
GENDA-PHOOL is marigold. its used a lot in wedding ceremonies and the garland itself is made of genda-phool.
.
by the way, genda-phool is a flower tat has no smell but just show. and i think tats wat is signified here. its a sarcastic take on in-laws