Movie: Om Namo Venkatesay ( ఓం నమో వెంకటేశాయ )
Producer(s): A. Mahesh Reddy
Cast: Nagarjuna, Anushka, Jagapati Babu.
Direction: K Raghavendra Rao
Music: MM Keeravani
Kaliyuga Daivam Venkateswara Swamy's miracles are infinite. There are countless such experiences of devotees where every devotee would have experienced. Every devotee knows the power of the name, that by just saying his name with utter devotion, what wonders it can do. No matter how many times these experiences are brought to big-screen, people wouldn't mind seeing it again and again, when they are properly brought with right content.
Nagarjuna, K. Raghavendra Rao, JK Bharavi, MM Keeravani have been teaming up to bring stories of few great devotees to the big-screen. This time they are going with the life story of HathiRam Bhavaji, who is not very much popular with Lord's devotees and less heard of. Hathi Means Elephant, Ram is added to this person's name as he was original devotee of Lord Ram. He once happened to be in Tirumala and impressed by Lord's grace and power, decided to stay back. When he was glaring at the Lord for long time, the priests suspected something foul and didn't allow him to the temple. Didn't know what to do, he went back to his play got bored and started playing game of dice along on behalf of Lord Venkateswara as opponent. Pleased with Devotion, Lord himself decides to play with him after the temple is closed. One day while playing gets delayed and in hurry leaves couple of ornaments with Hathiram and goes back to temple. Priests finds the ornaments missing and when trying to return them, Hathiram gets punished. What happened to him later,how he gets protected by Lord when King puts him thru a challenge, what happens to him later is the story.
Without much details available on Hathiram, getting this story on to screen is very tough task for any script writer or the director himself. However the title of the movie, the songs made in this film shows how much liberty the movie makers took to make this a full length movie. Raghavendra Rao is known to cleverly mix mass elements like romance and drama into any devotional movie to get mass connected to the movie. However when this goes overboard, he wont get success either way, whether its commercially or making the story reach mass. Its a debate that every time his movie gets released regarding the way he makes movies.
This movie is said to be last film of K. Raghavendra Rao as a director. Not sure whether it really is. Nagarjuna should be really blessed to be portraying these characters. Given his initial career, he is for sure blessed to get these roles. Then Keeravani garu has become synonym for these kind of albums in Telugu and there has been no one who can fill these kind of albums better than him. However he couldn't repeat the magic post Annamayya to get that kind of success. Probably Annamayya's songs are more popular than Ramadasu or Shiridi Sai or Panduranga. That doesn't deter what he has contributed in this area.
This album consists of 12 songs of different genre. There are some duets, some pathos, some requests and some name chantings. Given the backdrop of the movie, the commercial duets type songs wont fall in place of the story, but its KRR's mark to get these induced into the story. Lyrics are mostly written by Vedavyasa a noted lyricists who, recently one of his song was selected in top 100 songs published by a leading news paper. Rest all equally shared by commercial lyricists. SPB gets a 9 minute long song, which probably might be the reason to look forward for this album. Lets see what KRR/Keeravani has to offer us. Did they get involved into just devotion, or devotion with romance or many moods that include bhakti.
1. Veyi Naamaala Vaada
Singer(s): Ramya Behara
Lyricist: Vedavyasa
The album starts with Venkatesa being 1000 names God. The song goes on praising the Lord in a typical pattern. Koti Koti and Hrishikesha should have been said with more care and properly. Konetirayadu or Konetirayudu? the later word is popular, but they went with grammar? Ramya Behara the trusted singer for Keeravani does just what is required. She throws in right expression during the start of the song and first stanza. But later on the feel is not there, probably due to the tune. Moodu Naamala muddu Srinivasudaa, the breaking of the words to sing doesn't sound right. Typically these kind of praising Lord songs, shouldnt sound commercial. However this is not something a huge issue. If this song is made as devotional song, this doesnt bring that feel for various reasons, just remains as a pleasant song with some praises to the Lord.
2. Aanandham
Singer(s): Sharath Santosh,Shweta Pandit
Lyricist: Chandrabose
A beaten tune from Keeravani. Probably he is so favorite of this tune. Chandrabose uses a formula to define "Anandam" with phases of a life. He remained the same he was and Keeravani reminds other songs so this song looses identity. In a devotional movie, having these type of songs is typical mark of KRR. He can add any song to any movie any subject. Using of good words doesnt make a song good. Anyway the context of this song will not be know until we see the movie, so this song remains clueless until then. KRR during audio release said he wants to make movie about Lord Venkatesa, listening to this song brings in a question what this song has to do with the Lord.
3. Akhilanda Koti
Singer(s): Sharath Santosh,Srinidhi
Lyricist: Vedavyasa
Govinda Namam has great sanctity in it. The name brings in sheer devotion just be listening to it. However Govinda Govinda nuvvu punnami vennella Govinda, brings in tampered feeling of the namam. Vinaa Venkatesam doesn't bring the feel of the words. These two should have been avoided in the song. Akhilanda koti brahmanda nayaka is the word used for Lord Venkateswara. That is fine. as is the rest of the song. Sharath Santosh and Srinidhi are ok. The mention of various types of objects that goes on to Srivaru, how it feels should be something for visual imagination. This song should have been lot better if the two mentioned parts have not been there.
4. Brahmanda Bhandamula
Singer(s): M.M. Keeravani
Lyricist: Vedavyasa
A short bit sung by Keeravani himself. Not sure what is the context, but from the lyrics we can imagine something. Keeravani's voice and the chorus behind were contrast to each other and at times didnt match each other. Keeravani took it light while saying "Tharalaadu". Felt he could have left this song without chorus. would have been much better to listen his voice along with simple orchestration.
5. Kaliyuga Vaikuntapuri
Singer(s): S.P. Balasubrahmanyam,Srinidhi,Ramya Behara
Lyricist: Vedavyasa
Finally here comes the voice, the song that we can cherish on. This is a brief story of Lord Venkateswara summed up in 9.20 minutes. The magical voice of SPB is a treat and to revisit the summary of Venkateswara how he landed on the Tirumala hills, how Hari becomes Srinivasa, can be heard as many times as we want, from as many as voices we can, but SPB voice remains unique. Srinidhi and Ramya were apt to accompany SPB Sir. Vedavyasa just did right by remaining simple in telling the story. Keeravani occasionally reminds few other songs of different stories told in song format. If anyone can visualize what would have happened listening to this song, they are blessed.
6. Vayyari Kalahamsika
Singer(s): Revanth,Sunitha
Lyricist: K. Shivashakti Datta,Dr. K. Ramakrishna
Whether its class or mass, the end result is same. KRR never ceases an oppurtunity to show case "నాభి ". For a said praise the Lord movie, here comes a romantic song with class touch of words, a typical KRR mark song. "తనువంత" పులకింతలతో "ధ్వనిస్తోందిలా", the expressions for this song appeared odd in 2 places when it is repeatedly used in this song, and then ధ్వనిస్తోందిలా got messed up. "Valape OO yagamlaa" also could have been better. Her voice was probably got lost in between. Revanth was better compared to Suneeta in this song. Probably Jagatibabu got this song in the movie with Anushka as he said in the audio release.
7. Anda Pinda
Singer(s): Balaji,Muniraju,Sneha
Lyricist: Vedavyasa
Once gain Keeravani used a popular commercial song of his own to tune this song too, Probably thats why this song will not work either as it reminds other song(s). Words are classy, but not sure how many will enjoy it and what would be the context in the movie for such heavy content lyrics. Being a Marathi, did Hathiram had this version? Not sure why that heavy tune and lyrics were used? It for sure sound good to hear, with words used nor heard these days. Probably movie would answer.
8. Maha Padma Sadmey
Singer(s): Saketh
Lyricist: Vedavyasa
A short and sweet stotram of ammavaru sung by Saketh did his job perfectly did better and this song could have been for a longer length.
9. Kamaneeyam
Singer(s): S.P. Balasubrahmanyam
Lyricist: Ramajogayya Sastry
Lord is generous to everything and lets his devotee think anything and about anything on him. All he wants is the thought. That generous the Lord will be.
అన్నుల మిన్నల ముద్ద్దుకు నేడు అలమటించు స్వామి పెదవి తీపి చెయ్యరే,
తాల లేని తహ తహలు తలుపు చాటి తొంగి చూడ తనకు తానే జారి పోయే తెర చేలమూ
తాల లేని తహ తహలు తలుపు చాటి తొంగి చూడ తనకు తానే జారి పోయే తెర చేలమూ
సృష్టి రక్షణ లోనే దృష్టి సాగించక ఇష్ట సఖులను కూడా ఇంపుగా చూడవయా
These lines comes as a cultural shock from the makers of the movie. Not sure whether any one imagine Lord with being so passionate and uncontrollable desires? Not sure whether I understood the context right in the movie. This song is supposed to elevate the glory of Swamy vari kalyanam, however typical KRR, went ahead with post kalyanam imagination. ముద్ద్దుకు నేడు అలమటించు స్వామి పెదవి తీపి చెయ్యరే. Reading this line as standalone doesn't appeal by itself posing many questions and questioning the intentions of the makers of the movie. SPB and Keeravani sugar coats all these issues and makes this as another pleasant song to hear. His voice is still the same melodious given his age.
10. Brahmothsava
Singer(s): Srinidhi
Lyricist: Vedavyasa
Srinidhi had tough time in this song where she has to focus on the words, or the feel or both. Once again heavy words are used for supposed to be posing simple questions for not helping and requesting for help. When devotee is in trouble, questioning Lord on why he can have fun when devotee is suffering is the content of the song I guess. At this time the devotee has always mixed feeling of anger, helplessness, confusion, confidence and many other feelings going thru at the same time whether the Lord will be a savior for him. This probably is the time when Hathiram was punished by the king and was asked to eat roomful of sugar cane overnight. We can imagine what will go thru the mind of the devotee. Whether this song brought in the emotion is the question we will have end of the song.
11. Pareeksha
Singer(s): Shankar Mahadevan
Lyricist: Ananta Sriram
Good lyric doesn't have to follow Prasa, as long as the feel is carried that should be fine. The context of the song is not properly carried just by the song. Since the story is not know guessing where this song is placed, who is testing whom and who is throwing challenge to whom is something unanswered. Is it test for Lord or test for devotee who has is challenged as it throws a word "కాచుకో" The song says Lord has helped the devotee in the elephant form. Also he got the blessings of Lord where many Yogis couldnt obtain that is Lord himself playing pachikalu with the devotee. Probably all these questions will be answered in the movie. The way Shankar says Pareeksha is not appealing.
12. Govindha Hari Govindha
Singer(s): Srinidhi,Dhanunjay
Lyricist: Vedavyasa
Govinda Namam is one such namam which will bring ecstasy in devotees of the Lord. This song sounds a lot better with simple chanting of the namam, and adding right additions to the namam and is in lines of what devotees where hearing. Srinidhi and Dhanunjay were perfect for this song. One another song with no confusion and side-tracking until half way where there is melodrama added. Not sure why it switched the gear. Probably it will be answered on screen.
Pick(s) of the album: Kaliyuga Vaikuntapuri, Maha Padma Sadmey, Govindha Hari Govindha, Veyi Naamaala Vaada
This album is neither devotional nor commercial. if it is promoted as devotional, not sure whether people will get devotional feeling out of this album. However this has a mix of everything. If one expects an out an out devotional album, its an expectation mismatch. Using commercial tunes for couple of songs will remind those songs immediately than these songs. Its for sure a flip side. Few singers didn't bring in the devotional feel for the songs. Lyrical content also leaves a mixed feeling. Prasa doesnt help always. Using heavy literature without carrying the feel is also not always good. Given the Telugu we are hearing these days, the refreshing feel is the language. However this album poses some questions to the industry, we are loosing control over the lyrical values, singing capabilities and if Keeravani garu retires, will we be able to hear these type of albums?
