Movie: Dictator ( డిక్టేటర్ )
Producer(s): Eros International, Sriwaas
Cast: Nandamuri Balakrishna, Anjali, Sonali Chauhan
Direction: Sriwaas
Music: SS Thaman
Balakrishna's 99th movie is almost there. His fans might be waiting for getting this movie out of way as soon as possible and paving way for 100th film. Loukhyam and Lakshyam fame Sriwaas is directing this movie and co producing with Eros International, their first movie in Telugu. With Sonali Chauhan and Anjali casting opposite to Balakrishna. The audio release was the first movie to be held at the capital of Andhra Pradesh. Noting the 99th movie, there was a car rally held before the audio release after getting special permission from government of Andhra Pradesh. The audio officially released on 20th December 2015, but one song "Gam Gam Ganesha" was released long time ago. Gopi Mohan and Kona Venkat after series of issues with their films failing at box office, are pretty much eyeing on this movie to fare well at the box office, so that this will help them a lot. For Balayya Babu, this movie result pretty much is irrelevant as even fans are aiming for his 100th movie.
The trailers released so far received mixed responses from his fans and audience. After Sher Thaman tried to make a point that he is trying to fix issues, but whether he continued that or whether he was back to where he was is what we need to see. Lyrics wise I guess Ramajogiah Sastry can only make justice to Thaman's tunes and the album shows the same. Only one song goes to Varikuppala, one goes to BhaskaraBhatla, rest all 4 are written by RJS. Lets see how the music fared.
01 – Gam Gam Gam Ganesha
Singer(s) : Divya Kumar
Lyrics: Ramajogayya Sastry
This song was released way long ago before audio was released and it was instant hit. This song starts with and promises lots of energy. There is speed, energy, beats, and all what is required to be played at Ganesh Pandals. This song was indeed the mostly played song for Vinayaka Chaviti 2015. The timing of the release of the song was perfect to become so popular. Now coming to issues of this song, Heramba has become Hey Rambha, changing the meaning, Aaku Pacha the color has become aku and pacha making it two words. Nothing to be said on already popular song, but Thaman's tunes at many places didn't match the lyrics. Couldn't get what was said by chorus in between. The shouting of ha was not required. Changing voices are also not required. This is a song on Ganesha and he likes originality not artificiality. Having said all these this song is all super duper hit. Whatever the issues doesn't matter at this time. How this voice suits Balakrishna, need to seen on screen. It was said that this song was shot on thousands of Junior artists and grandiere all over its place. Wish that this song could be original as much as possible with original voices instead of artificial voice of Divya kumar. Ramajogayya lyrics are good, he excels in these types of song and the highlight is that he asks Lord Ganesha why the issue of coming every year why don't you stay with us permanently. Taking away the standard issues with Thaman, its well made song for the lyrics and energy in the song.
02 – What's Up Baby
Singer(s) : Naveen ,Malavika
Lyrics: Ramajogayya Sastry
This song is all stylish, with unchanged template beats from Thaman. Whatsapp, Selfie, Cellphone are the latest buzz words for every movie maker. Scenes are made, lyrics are written on these words, Even though its Whats Up, it will be correlated to Whatsapp. Malavika sounded more like Geetha Madhuri. Naveen is just ok. Multilingual Ramajogiah sastry, is at his standards with all words he could find to fill the song. Balakrishna I guess wanted to be latest and catching up the latest trends of music and lyrics quite unusual for his songs, braces this stylish song like old wine in new bottle. Thaman's music doesn't offer anything other than tune revolving around Whats Up, rest all made around that. Except for the style, this song has nothing to offer.
03 – Chura Chura
Singer(s) : Sanjana ,Sri Krishna
Lyrics: Ramajogayya Sastry
Thaman tries to offer a melody, his singing is more like sarcasm than singing. Somehow felt his singing and the song were way off like going in separate tracks. He should have given this to some polished singer. The chorus did much better job than him. SriKrishna in this song was pretty much limited. Sanjana's voice is at times like Sadana Sargam and at times Shreya. She should have tried to be more natural singing this song. The instrumentation is quite simple, the beats are simple. A good tune, but not very well made song. Mainly there is some disconnect, not a good continuity in the song to keep it haunting. This appears an amateurish composition. This should have been standing out, but the issues makes it to stay simple.
04 – Tingo Tingo
Singer(s) : Kousalya ,Geetha Madhuri ,Simha
Lyrics: Varikuppala Yadgiri
Thaman back to his routine template dappulu. He might have done "n" times similar songs, but he doesn't feel bored. Regarding Geeta Madhuri her singing these days is not upto mark. Her voice modulation is not suiting many songs. If not for the routine beats, this song has few things to offer. Simha struggles at places to sing. Out and Out mass song in terms of lyrics. Just for difference, Varikuppala Yadagiri got chance to write this song. And he perfectly writes as required the mass song that Balayya needs. Even though it has the template dappulu and singers not contributing much to this song, this will be enjoyed by masses as it is made for them. Thaman even after 50 odd movies, not trying to get away from his branded name in social media as Same Song or Same Sound. I thought he took the feedback from Social media very well and that change was visible in "Sher" movie. But unfortunately things never change probably due to movie makers demand he is stuck in the template tiger and not able to find a way to get out of it. Since people got used to these issues, this song will be enjoyed both off and on screen.
05 – Dictator
Singer(s) : Sathyan, Solar Sai Sharan ,Naveen ,Sri Krishna
Lyrics: Ramajogayya Sastry
This song has shades of many songs, sounds from games. Some how Thaman songs mostly sound artificial. No power, no energy pure techno sound with lack of soul. Not sure how he tries not to be different in tunes, sounds and singing formats. Lyricist might have had very tough time to fill in the words to make this song. The tune is even though has pattern, the tune itself is odd to write lyrics. No clarity in singing, background music is loud and non-stop. He programmed some tune and was made into a song. This song doesn't sound right at all.
06 – Gana Gana
Singer(s) : Sameera Bharadwaj, Deepak ,Simha
Lyrics: Bhaskara Bhatla
Once again a routine mass song. Not sure how different can one compose songs to such situations. Balakrishna means mass songs, but doesn't mean they all have to be same. Simha's singing range is very limited, only clever music directors will know how to use him. This song he is pretty average. But we never know due to lack of competition, he might win another filmfare for this song if it becomes popular on screen. Gana is different to Gaana. Not sure what lyricist was thinking writing this song. However he wanted to cash in based on regions and places. Nothing to say about Thaman's music in this song, nor singers nor lyricist. One pretty routine song aimed at masses, if on screen something works out this song will work other wise pretty much for audio, this can be skipped as we heard many songs like this.
Pick(s) of the album: Chura Chura, Tingo. ( Gam Gam Ganesha is already picked long time ago )
Balayya looks young and energetic even at this age. He might have wanted to be different in music and tried Thaman to match the energy he has. However things didn't work the way he wanted. Thaman's music issues shadowed the energy Balayya possesses. The music is different at places, repetitive at places, energetic at places. However that will not be enough as it goes no where with the mix that was provided. Thaman getting chance first time to work with Balayya should have focused more to give a better output. Singers are pretty ordinary and didnt help either. Simha getting major pie has nothing to offer. Geetha Madhuri needs lot of hard work. Hope movie meets fans demands and be successful.
Pick(s) of the album: Chura Chura, Tingo. ( Gam Gam Ganesha is already picked long time ago )
Balayya looks young and energetic even at this age. He might have wanted to be different in music and tried Thaman to match the energy he has. However things didn't work the way he wanted. Thaman's music issues shadowed the energy Balayya possesses. The music is different at places, repetitive at places, energetic at places. However that will not be enough as it goes no where with the mix that was provided. Thaman getting chance first time to work with Balayya should have focused more to give a better output. Singers are pretty ordinary and didnt help either. Simha getting major pie has nothing to offer. Geetha Madhuri needs lot of hard work. Hope movie meets fans demands and be successful.
