Movie: Uyyala Jampala ( 2013 ) - ఉయ్యాలా జంపాలా
Music: Sunny MR
Music: Sunny MR
Director: Virinchi Varma
Producer(s): Ram Mohan P, D Suresh Babu and Akkineni Nagarjuna
Cast: Raj Tarun, Avika Gor
Producer of sensible and successful movies Ashta Chamma and Golconda High School, has combined hands with two biggies of Film Industry Suresh productions and Annapurna Studios to offer his latest venture called Uyyala Jampala. The trailer released some time ago was a pleasant surprise not only in the form of content, but also interms of cast. Raj Tarun who is known for youtube viewers for his numerous short films, seeing him as a lead for this movie was very pleasant to see. Then the female lead Avika Gor known for TV viewers for her role in Baalika Vadhu ( Chinnari pellikooturu ) and then with fantastic village back drop, a cute short scene on female lead has instantly caught audience attention. The movie is based on relationship of bava maradalu, which again fascinates Telugu audience. With producers background and sensitivity, the movie is expected to create wonders. Ram Mohan's earlier movies were musical hits too. Ashta Chamma's songs were heard for much more longer time than the normal life of any telugu movie in terms of songs. With all these positives obviously the songs and the movie created interest among viewers/listeners alike.
Sunny MR made debute in Telugu Film Industry with "Swamy Ra Ra" and this is his second film in Telugu. With his first movie he showed some promise and said he is going to stay here. Need to see how he composed music with such huge expectations for this movie. There are 5 songs in this album and most of the names associated to the lyrics and singing are less heard in Telugu. Himabindu and Deepu lent their voice for a song. Sunny sang a song and there is a Hindi song too which was sung by Arijit Singh. Major pie in lyrics went to Vasu Valaboju again a less heard name.
With all positives about the movie, lets see how music did.
01 – "Uyyalaina Jampalaina"
Lyricist: Vasu Valaboju
Singer(s): Harshika Gudi, Anudeep Dev
Uyyala Jampala are such a fascinating words for telugu audience as they have great memories woven around these two words togather. Have to mention the positives of the song before going further as Sunny did a commendable job. The lyrics are very decent. However the lyrics were not done justice is sad part for the lyricist. Sunny has provided a slow rhythmic melody with interludes are so perfect and the foot tapping rhythm accompanying the song perfectly, appears a great feel good song. The song catches slowly and ends on a great note. All this is based on tune composition. The singers doesn't have problems with singing as such. The title of the movie and song with this is a great start.
However this song is perfect classic example of the current sad state of Telugu music. A Telugu song is best known for the words and its bhaavam ( meaning ). The melody of words in terms of music is what Telugu song is about. Lately in the name of trendy catchy music, in the name of appealing the audience is going in some direction which is getting beyond control and someone needs to bring it where it belongs to. The singing has been so alien to Telugu that the words has lost the nativity and the meaning is gone for toss.
This song is well made, but what hurts is the singing. The composition stands out as top class but the tune and words doesn't match there by lost its soul. This song will be good to listen and watch, but audience cannot croon it as words are broken to fit the music. Few examples "నీతో ఊ గమని " "ని చూపులే " "స్వయం" "వరం " , "న పై పడే " "న గుండెలో" "న ఊహలో " "చెయ్ చాస్తే" "చందా మామ", "పొయెదె ముంది " "రెపంటు" "మ పంటు" "ఉండా లిగా " " న పాదమే" "ఎద లా". Once cannot break these words or cut short the words or give space between them. This reverts back the feel that song has created as listener tries to assemble the words. Thats' all about the synatax of the song. Since listeners got used to these type of songs having said all things, this song is done much better and if picturization helps, viewers will forget the issues with the song.
02 – "Lapak Lapak Ayipothundi"
Lyricist: Vasu Valaboju
Singer(s): Harshika Gudi, Bindu, Deepu
I guess this song is between the lead who want to irritate female lead by pretending that he is in love with some one. A teasing song probably, as the mood of the song says that. This song is a typical Ram mohan types. He is fascinated with vintage music in the contemporary times. In ashta chamma the song "Hello antu pilichi" was so well made song. In that lines, this song doesn't stand out as such but will impress to some extent. Since a situational song this will be enjoyed on the screen. Ram mohan/Virinchi needs to be appreciated for having this type of songs in the movies. This slow melodious song will appeal on the screen. Deepu and Himabindu will take care of issues with words that earlier song had. They did justice to the song along with Harshika. Could be an enjoyable song on screen. People might enjoy this after seeing on screen.
03 – "Nijamga Idi Nenenaa"
Lyricist: Vasu Valaboju, Rambabu Gosala
Singer(s): Harshika Gudi, Sunny MR
Another vintage song. The start of the song is so interesting, though it doesn't appear fresh once the song starts. The instruments kind of dominate the singer. This style of saying Nijamgaa has been dominant now a days with every other singer. Harshika could have said the words openly, lacks clarity. Sunny once again did great on this song too, except for instruments dominating the singers. The western folk is nicely made for this telugu native song. Chorus is well mixed with instruments. The subtle play of instruments in later half of the songs is also well made. Alaap and instruments were kind of competing at one stage. With small issues, this song doesn't go where it belong to. Could have been well made.
04 – "Mana Bandham"
Lyricist: Vasu Valaboju
Singer(s): Sunny MR
Pathos needs not only the tune, but the words too and an expression. Except for these two, the song again is well made. Vasu Valaboju has done a good job in lyrics department, keeping everything simple, yet communicative, but its music department wasted the lyrics. Sunny comes out as winner as composer, but fails as a singer. Not in terms of singing the tune in shruti, but in terms of expressing the mood of the song. He needs to realize what nativity means.
05 – "Der Tak Chala (Hindi)"
Lyricist: Ashish Pandit
Singer(s): Arijit Singh
Not sure what this song is about in a movie having Telugu nativity as back drop. May be used as a background song for some scenes. Seems an extension of song #4. This song is another nice composition from Sunny, which suits better in Hindi than Telugu. This shows the tunes are not made for Telugu, Tunes are just made and trying to use them where ever possible. Whatever is the history, this song is good to listen irrespective of movie.
Pick(s) of the album: Lapak Lapak, Nijamgaa Idi Nenenaa, Der tak Chalaa
Rammohan clearly misses the magic of earlier movies, if not at-least the initial movie he made. Sunny MR on other hand doesn't have any issues with the composition of songs, but the issue is how they are presented to audience. Sunny MR if he would have taken care of the issues here and there, this album would have done lot better than expected. This album is classic example of changing times, which is not appreciated by traditional music conservatives as it creates fear among them of loosing the glory of the Telugu song. It is very unfortunate that this happened even with big production houses are associated with this movie.
The reason I guess is that either producers/directors are fine with this style of presentation as audience don't care anymore or they are not present at recording to take care of such issues, These are the days when Music director or lyricists are not available most of the time during recording to see whats going on. SPB in one of recent Padutaa teeyaga said that when he sang for Greekuveerudu, the music director gave instructions over phone how to change style of pronouncing the song. Good luck to Telugu songs and Telugu movies. Hope someone will revive as life goes in full circles and until then, this album should not have any issues.
