Mahanubhavudu Audio Review

Movie:              Mahanubhavudu (మహానుభావుడు)

Producer(s):     V. Vamsi Krishna Reddy

Cast:                Sharwanand, Mehreen Pirzada

Direction:         Maruthi Dasari

Music:              SS Thaman

Sharwanand is always clashing with biggies during the festival season. Last time he was colliding Chiru and Balayya, yet scored a hit. Now its among Mahesh babu and Tarak. And his fans hope this one to do the same. Maruthi after super success with Bhale Bhale magadivoi, did Baabu Bangaram and didnt meet the same result as Bhale Bhale magadivoi. Now he is coming up with combination of Sharwanand naming the movie Mahaanubhaavudu along with Mehreen Pirzada. He roped in Thaman for music which was surprising as lately Thaman is not seen much compared to what he used to be. Probably Thaman has to blame himself for that. However whether this would be a comeback for Thaman or whether he offered routine music, is what everyone interested to know. The initial songs that were released gave a pleasant surprise for sometime before web media went to explore further. But his fans were so happy to see the kind of songs from Thaman. Now since the album is released, lets see how they did. The comparisons with other big albums will be there among fans, but that will not really help any one. 

1. Rendu Kallu

Singer: Armaan Malik

Lyrics: Krishna Kanth

Starts with a nice melody, guitar beats accompanying the tune, but when the singer starts singing it appears it is heard somewhere. As usual Thaman doesnt keep us forgetting his style. Nannu Lagesaye, Oopiraapesaaye, the way he makes singers sing doesnt deviate from his standard template. His style of song making is to make sing in high pitch, stop the singing add instruments to it. So as long as he follows this pattern, the songs will be same. Meghana Meghana and words before and after are slow rap? The tune at times when saying this dominates the words. At one place the voice is not heard. Probably recording could have been done better. First interlude sounds better than the start and the rap. Rendu Kallu Rendu Kallu the way its said is not very pleasant. Krishna Kanth got "Rendu Kallu" and weaved song around that. Armaan Malik as usual got confused with lyrics and makes this song so so.. However this song can be heard for 2nd stanza inspite all these issues. Also I can say this is a decent start for the album. This song appears to be deliberately made a normal song, which otherwise would have been a better song. 

2. Mahaanubhavudu

Singer: Geetha Madhuri, MM Manasi

Lyrics: Krishna Kanth

When this song was released, people got pleasantly surprised looking at the name on this song that this was from Thaman. However immediately people found the source of the song that it was from a KV Mahadevan's composition.  Thaman's fans supported him, saying that he only got heavily inspired from the original source. Questions were, Did he copy, Answer was No, Did he Program it?? Answer was yes. Every song in the album label has a special mention as Programmed & arranged by Thaman S. This is what probably he did for this song. He got the base and then programmed it to different song. Excessive stress on each word to add "Ehhh" makes this song not very pleasant to hear. He also unnecessarily accompanies the singers with instruments at many places this doesn't go well. 

"Dont you wanna come and get me now" is for sure well done and well sung. Coming to singers, One has to understand the word "Mahaanubhaavudu" to sing it well or fit into the tune well. I dont think neither the singer nor music director did. Manasi and Geetha Madhuri combination worked well. Geetha Madhuri had few minor issues, but that gets suppressed by the interludes arranged by Thaman. Again Thaman lacks the skill of making an extraordinary song. He himself limits the song by inducing some small issues into the song. Else this song has every capability to be one of the decent composition from Thaman, even though its heavily inspired or copied. 

3. Kiss Me Baby

Singer(s): Thaman S, Manisha Eerabathini

Lyrics: Krishna Kanth

Thaman singing this song is very unfortunate. He is no professional singer by any means and he sounds so amaeturish in this song. He misses notes in few places. At some places its not singing its reading and added to his not so good voice. Not sure whether its intentional or not. Thaman doesnt forget the auto tuner to this song probably to coverup his mistakes. Manisha doesnt get enough footage, but her presence is felt. He brings in template rhythms, adds in different sounds to make this different. Manisha is Paaduta Teeyaga Product who was a finalist in USA version. Glad to see that she is getting oppurtunities to sing for movies. Even though she is limited in this song and her voice is not really heard. If not Thaman, this song might be heard once or twice. For now this can be easily ignored. 

4. My Love is Back

Singer: Rahul Nambiar

Lyrics: Krishna Kanth

Once again back to typical song making style of Thaman. This song is not so refreshing as others. Appears to be rehashed. Not sure why Thaman is comfortable making songs at this pitch. Not every song can work in that range. Even singers will never be comfortable. Probably thats why he uses AutoTuner. Krishna Kanth got 4 of 6 songs. However he doesnt make much impact. As none of the song stands out in lyrics. Probably this is what the best he can do for the tunes or situations provided to him. Rahul Nambiar as usual lacks the right saying words. The way "My love is back" is definitely heard somewhere. One routine song from Thaman. Not sure what is the back drop of the movie. Thaman at times took classical route along with his routine style of song making. He is good at making song sound stylish with all modern sounds brought into the song, and voices sounding alien to Telugu. Youth are getting caught to this and this style is appealing them. Probably this will catchup with Youth. 

5. Bhamalu Bhamalu

Singer: Nakash Aziz

Lyrics: Bhaskarabhatla

Once again Bhaskarabhatla gets to write a song which he is made to be known as good at. The phrase, Pony tail vesukunna domalu, probably fits the situation. Nakash Aziz had the required energy to sing the song. One mass song, with added rhythms, patterns, rightly programmed and arranged by Thaman, this song should appeal on screen than off-screen. This song some how appears as other music director style of composing not typical style of Thaman. Not sure why. But it appeared better. 

6. Eppudainaa

Singer: Swetha Pandit

Lyrics: Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry

Sitarama sastry garu writing a song is anyday better to listen. Even for a routine commercial song, he makes his mark and difference to others. However Thaman has taken no care making this song, neither the singer. She was not comfortable at all singing this song. Her voice was not in comfort zone. This is where Thaman misses to either choose right singers or compose to the singers comfort level. What ever one adds to the song, if singer is not pleasantly heard, the song goes to drain. This shows the capacity of composer and the difference between one who understand the lyrics and who doesnt. Just adding a good tune doesnt help. Her voice is fragile which didnt suit the song. Thaman doesnt fail, in making this song but arranging the song is where he fails. Anyways lately not many understand these issues, so it will appear fine to them. There is no complain about this song other what is said before. Unnecessarily he adds additions to already feeble voice which messes up the overall feel of the song. Having said that Thaman composes this song very differently keeping aside his routine hat. He should be commended for that. 

Pick(s) of the album: Mahanubhaavudu, Eppudainaa

The last album which Thaman made an impact was Jabardast, where he stayed outside his routine stuff and provided different music. Its took so much time to comeback and offer such stuff again. Earlier it was Nandini Reddy who made the impact and probably its Maruthi's turn now. Whatever it is, he still has issues here and there, which needs to be fixed. Else he will have to fade in and fade out like what happened to him lately. Also a music director shouldn't wait for director to make an impact on him. Anyways this album is different to what Thaman usually offers and it should help the movie a lot.