Hello Audio Review

Movie:              Hello ( హలో )
Producer(s):    Nagarjuna Akkineni
Cast:                 Akhil Akkineni, Kalyani Priyadarshan
Direction:         Vikram K Kumar
Music:               Anup Rubens

Akhil Akkhineni after making a disastrous debut with Nithin as producer and VV Vinayak as director, Nagarjuna took it as challenge to re-launch Akhil and the result is the movie called Hello. Nagarjuna this time gives the task to his close to heart movie maker Vikram Kumar, the maker of Manam.  Vikram Kumar takes this oppurtunity to debut the daughter of Priyaradarshan, Kalyani as casting her as female lead opposite to Akhil. The movie is said to be a romantic action thriller, the kids in the teaser and the action series of Akhil indicates the same. Anup Rubens who worked for Manam too once again joins hands with the Producer director team to re-create the magic. Akhil also lends his voice to a song with rest of the 5 songs  goes to different singers. Vanamali and Shreshta combination writes two songs. Chandrabose who got many awards for song in Manam writes the critical song in this album. Lets see whether Anup recreates the magic or not. 

1. Hello

Singer(s): Armaan Malik

Lyrics: Vanamali, Shreshta

Album starts with Title song, Hello for many things. There are two lyricists Vanamali and Shreshta.. Not sure what each of them wrote. Probably the lyrics are written by Vanamali and Shreshta the rap part. The start of the song is typical of Anup Rubens. Armaan Malik sings pretty decent, except for extending the words like enta, chota, jaada, chenta, . The interlude before the rap also is typical of Anup Rubens. The rap didn't gel very well with the song, also the ending also was not good.  This comes as an obstacle to the free flowing song with a good feel. Anyways thats what youth wants. The second interlude alaaps are good. Anup as usual provides a feel good song to end it abruptly. 

2. Anaganaga Oka Uru 

Singer(s): Sri Dhruthi

Lyrics: Chandrabose

Chandrabose after Manam, comes up with another song. Kids chorus singing song is an asset. The lead singer was ok, but chorus dominates very strong. Seems like the story in backdrop when the screen play goes. This song is longer than normal standard song length. The orchestration is strong to set the mood of the situations. However felt that Anup rehashed the second stanza. Once again Anup plays is feel good seems like this is the motto of the album. Kids to a commendable job. I liked the chorus better than other elements of the song. The piano ending was also good. Overall another feel good song by Anup, well sung by kids. 

3. Thalachi Thalachi

Singer(s): Haricharan

Lyrics: Vanamali

The starting of song is standard signature style of Anup, we can recognize that this is his song. Lately Haricharan hasn't impressed much the listeners, but this song he seems to be fine. Another nice feel good song in this album. Vanamali tries to elevate the scene with his lyrics. So far Anup's instruments selection and using them in right place has been good in this album. The interlude says so. This song has Anup's style written all over. whether its instruments, making singers sing, the tune, the interludes all say its Anup. Once again a song that has length more than standard 2 stanza song. Yet another feel good song.

4. Yevevo

Singer(s)s: Akhil Akkineni, Jonita Gandhi

Lyrics: Chandrabose

Akhil turns singer. He said he took 3 months to get this song right. Not sure whether this is required for him at this stage of his career. His singing should draw a mixed reaction from the listeners as it will take few hearings to get used to the song. He is for sure not a professional singer, but he did lot better than what one would expect out of him. He started off well but then looses track to comeback again to where he started. He was able to bring in the feel in this song and this is much better. One good thing is that he didn't take use of auto-tuner, Which is commendable. On the other side, Jonita who is a professional singer, sounds nothing much different to Akhil, so Akhil has nothing to worry about. Anup relies mostly on electronic instruments and piano. So the pattern is seems to be fixed, the motto is feel good and everything is fit into that format. This song again is pleasant to hear and impresses for various reasons. 

5. Anaganaga Oka Uru (Female Version)

Singer(s): Shreya Ghoshal

Lyrics: Chandrabose

Shreya Ghoshal never impresses me with her Telugu in-spite of singing so many years. She still has lot of issues singing the words. The kids are much better. Somehow this song too doesn't impress me. Given a professional singer she had to do lot better than kids, which she was not able to. The command over the words was missing, the expression was missing overall she misses to elevate the song to next level. She was not comfortable either. Chitra garu would have been so apt for this song, not sure why music directors fail to choose right singers, instead choose to down play their songs with wrong choices. The movie seems like the friendship started in the childhood turns to love as they grew. The teasers so some hints and the wordings too. The tune creates a great feeling, but words doesn't match the feel. This song is outclassed by the kids version. I prefer kids version than this version. Movie needs this song version, but we have a choice while listening. 

6. Merise Merise

Singer(s): Haricharan, Srinidhi Venkatesh, Shruthi Ranjani

Lyrics: Vanamali, Shreshta

Again its a combination lyricists. Two lyricists, three singers make this song. Backdrop of this song seems to be connected to some marriage. Didnt feel singers are comfortable singing this song. Haricharan too was not at this normal. The female singer is feeble. Not the singer comes once a while. ముళ్ళు  is different to ముల్లు . Anyways these are like picking non-existing issues of these days. Singers fail to impress with this song. Rest all fits to the format of the movie, so Anup keeps this song to fit into his format. This song might sound better on screen. 

Pick(s) of the album: Hello, Anaganaga oka ooru ( kids version ),  Talachi Talachi, Yevevo.

Anup has fixed that he needs to give a feel good album as he did for Manam. Nagarjuna and Vikram too might have demanded for the same. So the end result was a totally feel good album. Anup/Nagarjuna/Vikram kumar combination once again provided a feel good album after Manam. Hello is said to be a romantic action thriller, but the songs provide the romantic side of it. Which should be fine. Nagarjuna has taken utmost care in this movie and the songs prove that. Hope the rest of the departments too come out the same as audio.  

MCA Audio Review

Movie:              MCA ( మిడిల్ క్లాస్ అబ్బాయి )
Producer(s):    Raju, Shirish, Laxman
Cast:                 Nani, Sai Pallavi, Bhumika
Direction:         Sriram Venu
Music:              Devi Sri Prasad

Nani probably is the only Telugu Hero who is running on a high success note. Most of this recent films did very well at box office and also few of them are critically acclaimed. His latest project paired up with Dil Raju's team obviously has created a lot of buzz among the Telugu audience. Directed by Venu Sriram, this movie casts Bhoomika and Fida fame Sai Pallavi. Venu Sriram's earlier movie was with Sidharth, Oh my friend. After that he didnt have any movie, and Dil Raju producing a movie with him is something to note. This movie is slated to be released on 21st December, followed by Nagarjuna's Hello starring Akhil. So this movie has to be really good to sustain at box office. 

DSP was roped to compose music for this movie. This album consists of 5 songs. Srimani gets major pie writing 3 songs and the rest shared by Chandrabose and Balaji. Singers are standard from DSP's team, making no mistake, Sagar sings one song. Shravana Bhargavi gets to sing probably after a long break. Lets see how the songs are from DSP.

1. MCA 
Singer(s): Nakash Aziz
Lyrics: Chandrabose

The album starts with title song, Chandrabose starts the song with explanation of what Middle class abbayilu is about. Its a routine fare for DSP. Nakash Aziz's expressions could have been better at times. These kind of songs demands expressions, but Naakash just goes flat. Chandrabose brought in Middle class families issues rather than middle class abbayila issues. Few things what he wrote doesn't fit for abbayilu, its for families. As usual he was more on praasa. The song doesn't impress on first hearing, as DSP goes on template mode. Naakash doesn't provide any add on to the song. So probably this will be impress when seen on the screen or repeated hearings. 

2. KOTTHAGA KOTTHAGA 
Singer(s)s: Sagar & Priya Hemesh
Lyrics: Srimani

Sagar needs to get a song in DSP's albums. Seems like DSP again goes out in template mode, takes one out of his standard templates and provides variations to make this song. Kshanam oka nimisham, nimisham ganta is beaten phrase that Srimani uses. Interludes are better in this song. The song if a little bit slower tempo would have been more pleasant I guess. Somehow this song too doesnt impress on first hearing. Probably the already heard feeling might be the reason. Sagar and Priya did their job. Priya could have focused on pronunciation a little bit more.

3. FAMILY PARTY 
Singer(s): Jaspreet Jasz 
Lyrics:  Srimani

Its a family party song, also seems like out of DSP's standard routine fare of song. Srimani tries to provide situational lyrics which describes the scenes in the movie. Something to do with party at home in replacement of going outside and partying. Not sure whats the song about, but the words gets lost in singing and tune. Ille was sounding like Illai.. The beats create energy for sure. 

4. YEMAINDHO TELIYADU NAAKU
Singer(s)s: Karthik & Deepika V
Lyrics:  Srimani

Srimani like DSP tries to reuse standard phrases of expressing love. Peru paata, prati varsham chinuku, Deepika doesn't sound like a right combination to Karthik. DSP who tries to provide melody in his albums struggles to get the right one so far. The beats accompanying the song intermittently also doesn't suit well. It sounds alien to the song. Except for Karthik, there is nothing much to get from this song. Srimani writes routine song, so is DSP. Deepika was not fit for this song in combination with Karthik. So far its not upto DSP's standards of songs. All appear routine songs including lyrics.

5. YEVANDOI NANI GARU
Singer(s)s: Divya Kumar & Shravana Bhargavi 
Lyrics:  Balaji

Its been a while that Shravana Bhargavi sang in Telugu. Seems like another situational song. Once again played safe by DSP. Singers expressions also doesn't help the song, could have been better. Nothing much to say about this song. As seen in the teasers, Nani is also called as Nani in the movie. So this song goes on Nani obviously. However what is this song about should be seen on the screen. 

Pick(s) of the album: Not sure what to pick, nothing really impresses.

Seems like DSP played safe by providing template songs. Not sure whether the movie didn't demand different tunes or the situations in the movie didn't require different songs. Not the DSP who gives at-least 3 out of 5/6 good songs and rest as routine songs. Here he didn't do that even. Not sure whats the reason, normally he helps the movie with his songs, but probably first time, he needs help from the movie. These songs if movie is hit should get noticed. Hope DSP will be back next movie/year.

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. 

Jai Lava Kusa Audio Review

Movie:             Jai Lava Kusa (జై  లవ  కుశ )
Producer(s):   Nandamuri KalyanRam
Cast:               N.T.Ramarao(Tarak), Raashi Khanna,Nivetha Thomas
Direction:     K. S. Ravindra
Music:             Devi Sri Prasad

After Janata Garage becoming phenomenal, Tarak tried to start few films with different directors, but eventually they all ended up paving way to this film by K.S.Ravidra ( Power fame ) and rest all went behind either being shelved or delayed. Kalyanram took Social Media route to announce the film and the initial teaser which marked some fantastic eye-expressions from Tarak became viral and raised expectations towards the movie to a different level. Then the teasers followed or the songs released didn't deter the initial feeling that movie created with fans and viewers. 

This movie is all set to be released on 21st September right when Dasara season starts. With Sypder around the corner, this has as much as the vacation to grab the viewers to the movie. All it needs is to meet the expectations that the teaser has set. DSP was roped to provide music. Tarak's earlier combination won many awards in the music department, singing and lyrics department. As usual fans expectation is that this movie will offer nothing below that. Chandrabose got major pie in this movie getting 3 of 4 songs and the remaining song went to Ramajogayya. Chandrabose is not see lately as much as he used to. So he should have given his full to write the lyrics. 

Lets see how the songs go.

1.Raavana
Singer: Divya Kumar
Lyrics: Chandrabose

Chandrabose after long time writes lyrics to a movie. He gets a major pie in the movie, which is surprising. As usual he invents words with hard to find meanings from the overall sentence or song. DSP and Divyakumar didn't take care of the words, as their focus was more on the rigorous tune and aggressive singing. Satruseshana (it should be Satru Saasanaa), Simhasana, Jai Jai Jai, Ramanagara pattanala, sakala janaakarshaka Chandhrabose should have some hidden meaning in many such words. Svairavihaara is one word. There is no Svaira vihaara. Thats words side. Now the tune, this is for sure agressive and electrifying. If one forgets about the words and what it means, This song is definitely foot tapping, catchy and instant appealing. One would keep saying Jai jai Jai. Satrusaasana is not said properly as the singer would have no idea what it means. 

2. Tring Tring
Singers: Jaspreet Jasz & Ranina Reddy
Lyrics: Ramajogayya Sastry

Ramajogayya as usual writes casual no sense lyrics for a routine commercial songs. He is very good filler to tunes as he is multilingual and he gets his job done effortlessly. DSP comes with a routine template song for this situation in the movie. Probably sensible lyrics ended with Sitarama Sastry garu, who even for a casual commercial duet comes up with something to think about. Of course this generation got used to tune and since no one cares about the lyrics anymore, lyricists are making merry. Jaspreet Jasz's voice is somehow not appealing for Telugu songs. He sounds sometimes sarcastically different. Ranina Reddy does her part . Overall a routine song that needs help from movie.

3. Nee Kallalona
Singer: Hemachandra 
Lyrics: Chandrabose

Lately Hemachandra's singing is not up-to mark. Something happened to his voice over the period of years and he is at times not comfortable singing few lines. He is not himself. Not sure what happened to his singing otherwise a very good singer. Having said enough of the singer, this song should come into the typical quota of good songs DSP offers. Asura Asura bhaga bhaga, was rendered well by Hemachandra. The rhythm added a lot of weight to that. However later the way the same words are said is typical style of DSP where he adds nasal type style to the words. Initially Hemachandra disappoints but later on picks up well with the base voice and ends well. Could have done better.

4. Dochesta
Singer: Nakash Aziz
Lyrics: Chandrabose

Lava, Kusa, a movie title about these and a song about Ravana, suddenly we come hearing about Krishna. Even though it appears totally unrelated as per the title and songs so far, only movie should resolve the connection. mullu annitini Erestaa, this is not E  restaaa.. There is no gap between them. Rangula maatuna rangaalanni is something to note of Chandrabose. When its all about Dochestaa, and the character is assuring I will steal, why in the end everyone has to ask please steal is the question movie should answer if not Chandrabose. Chandrabose added cute Krishna, naughty krishna kind of phrases not sure why? Is it Venna Krishna or Enne Krishna?? Anyway another routine song from DSP. Nakash sounded more like Sagar and the singing style with extra feelings and expressions are typical of DSP. This songs seems an absolutely situational song with many questions that needs to be answered by the movie. This song has the rhythm, catchy words, will grow on repeated hearing. 

Pick(s) of the album: Raavana, Nee Kallalona

DSP came up with a safe venture for this movie. Not sure whats the movie genre is about and why only 4 songs in the album compared to standard 6 is something that movie should answer. With other movies around the corner one from Mahesh, there will be competition and this album will not be in competition to anyone as it played safe. Except for Ravana that will hit listeners instantly others have to grow on multiple hearings. Movie will have to help the songs not the other way round. Hope that will become reality. 

5. Swing Zara

Singer(s): Neha Basin, Devi Sri Prasad

Lyrics: Ramajogayya Sastry

After the jukebox is released Lahari, this song was released as a single but the jukebox is not updated. This is probably the latest trend that movie makers are following to keep the buzz around the movie until it hits the release date. This song has an additional attraction as Tamannah Bhatia performing dance to this song in the movie. There is a sentiment going around with the fans that the movie that Tamannah plays a guest appearance, the movie was successful at the box office. Keeping aside all these lets see how the song fared. Whether added value or didn't make any difference. This song is sung by Neha and DSP. Lyrics say that the song will be performed by the lead who is bad. DSP did good saying the stammering words. However matching Tarak would be tough, seems like Tarak mastered the stammering when the trailer was released. Normally when any person stammers, they wouldn't repeat the word again, they would continue. This was done perfectly by Tarak. This song is pretty much routine so called item song. But the difference is that it is situational as the words say. DSP and Neha did well with singing, and DSP did well with the song even though it appears routinel, he added enough variations in between to sound different. I guess they did save the best till the end.