Tribute to SPB Sir

 Will keep Updating this page paying my respects to the emotion called SPB, An experience called SPB, a Soul called singing connected to all of us. #SPBLivesForever

Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy Audio Review

Movie:                 Sye raa Narasimha Reddy (సై రా నరసింహా రెడ్డి )

Producer(s):       Ram Charan Konidela

Cast:            Chiranjeevi, Nayanatara, Tamanna, Amitabh Bachan, Kicha Sudeep, Vijay Sethupati, and others.

Direction:           Surender Reddy

Music:                Amit Trivedi

Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy is a dream project of Chiranjeevi, produced by his son Ram Charan. it is a Mega project made in different Languages. This is touted as Pan India Movie, with cast including from all languages of Indian Cinema, that includes Big B. Getting released simultaneously in many Indian languages, on 2nd October has created a lot buzz in the market. Cost wise too this is a "Mega Project" as it is estimated that 300 crores are spent on this project.

This movie is inspired by Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy who is a polygar from Kurnool, and this place became heart of conflict with British East India company. Narasimha reddy led the 5000 strong people which fought against British. The story of Narasimha Reddy taken up as dream project of Chiranjeevi, came into hands of Surendar Reddy to project this on the big-screen. With huge cast at his dispose and so much money in the hand, its really an uphill task for the director to make it big and meet expectations of people and also project the history in a right way to reach people. He got a huge help in terms of Paruchuri brothers who contributed to the movie by taking the writing part of it. Art and DOP will be critical for this project and these two departments were given to able hands.

The Music has been given to Amit Trivedi, a Hindi music director originated from Maharashtra, who started his career in 2008 and worked for lot of films and jingles, also a singer. This album consists of 4 songs, 2 songs written by Sirivennela garu, one by Ananth Sriram and the other by Chandrabose. Any Such history based movie in Telugu, the default name that would come to mind is Keeravani to score the music, or even Manisharma, but music by Amit, probably keeping Hindi release in mind. Lets see how the songs of the album are, did they help to the movie or not. 

1. Jaago Narasimhaa jaagore

Singers – Shankar Mahadevan, Haricharan, Anurag Kulkarni

Lyrics – Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry

Backing Singers – Rajiv Sundaresan, Arun Kamath, Suhas Sawant, Rishikesh Kamerkar, Aditi Prabhudesai, Madhura Paranjape, Pragati Joshi & Rucha Padhye

This song should be instantly reaching listeners. Shankar Mahadevan, Haricharan, Anurag Kukarni seems to be right choice for this song. Anurag is slowly taking the space where Tippu or Kk left in Telugu Film music. Sirivennela garu gets 2 of 4 songs, and guess gets the critical songs in the album. He weaves pieces together to connect them to make a beautiful story out of it. All the three singers with power packed Chorus, makes this song a power packed song, and it is one. A good start to the album, which starts pleasantly, takes to the next level with good singing by the three singers. A little care should have been taken in pronouncing and also to keep words intact without breaking them to fit the tune. 

On a side note, there is a huge list of backing singers, unfortunately none of these names sound Telugu, Do we really have no singers that cannot be even used as backing singers?? So many singers are coming out of Paadutaa Teeyaga, what is happening to them??

2) Andam Ankitam

Singers – Vijayprakash, Shashaa Tirupati

Lyrics – Anantha Sriram

Backing Singers – Rajiv Sundaresan, Umesh Joshi, Deepti Rege & Pragati Joshi

This song is not sounding right. Female singer, Vijay are disconnected I guess, Shashaa Tirupati didn't sound good, Tuning didn't suit well with this combo of Vijay and Shashaa, The beats are heavy, Vijay singing is also heavy, but Shashaa singing is contrast, probably thats why this song doesn't appeal well, even though its made grand. The chorus did their part well. But overall this song will not really appeal well. 

3) O…Syeraa

Lyrics – Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry

Singers – Sunidhi Chauhan, Shreya Ghoshal

Backing Singers – Rajiv Sundaresan, Arun Kamath, Suhas Sawant, Rishikesh Kamerkar, Deepti Rege, Pragati Joshi, Arohi Mhatre & Aditi Prabhudesai

Title song written by Sirivennela garu, is so powerful, Sung by Sunidhi and Shreya, both never sounded Telugu'ish. The chorus is really powerful, saying of Oh Syeraa is very good, There is lot of power in the song, heavily orchestrated, backed by good Chorus, the visuals too were good. But the lead voices dont match the rest of the grandeur of the song. Some words written by Sirivennela garu couldn't even be pronounced by these singers. Ignoring lead singers the rest of the song is really well made. It will bring the required patriotic feel to the viewers/listeners. Shreya's voice is feeble compared to the power of the song. Sunidhi could have done lot better with a little bit care on the words. She has the range required for the song, but saying words took away that benefit of her voice. But overall a very well made song, that fits and suits well as title song. 

4) Swaasalona desame

Singers – Haricharan

Lyrics – Chandrabose

Backing Singers – Rajiv Sundaresan, Arun Kamath & Suhas Sawant

Chandrabose writes his usual algorithm based lyrics which revolves around what is about for the country. Haricharan does decent in this song. Chorus is efficiently used again. Situational song in explaining Narasimha reddy? This shows what he did how his life transformed with sacrifices he did in life to make his life for the country. Should be great on the screen and a treat to watch the transformation of Narasimha Reddy's life. Song should bring out the emotion from the people. A decent song made and sung by Haricharan, who brings the emotion rightly and expresses it well. 

Pick(s) of the album: Syeraa, Jaagore

Movies made on history will need a great background score, as the score will need to elevate the scenes. Songs will need be inspiration and emote the elevation properly to get audience connected powerfully to the backdrop of the move. Title song Syeraa leaves a good impression, but female lead singers disappoint which is compensated by Chorus, and Jaagore also instantly gets in, but Andam Anikatam was let down, could have been added little effort. When songs are limited in the album, expectations will be that all the songs should be very well accepted. Swaasalone is a very decent effort with Haricharan doing well in expressing well. Chorus is very well used in the entire album. Overall the album leaves a something missing feeling, probably movie will fill that gap and these songs will make lot of impact after the movie is released. All the best to the entire team who made the life of Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy even after 170+ years, live with us. 

Song of the week - Jaaligaa Jaabilamma

జాలిగా జాబిలమ్మ రేయి రేయంతా

రెప్పవేయనే లేదు ఎందుచేత ఎందుచేత

పదహారు కళలని పదిలంగా ఉంచనీ

ఆ కృష్ణ పక్షమే ఎదలో చిచ్చుపెట్టుటచేత

కాటుక కంటినీరు పెదవులనంటనీకు

చిరునవ్వు దీపకళిక చిన్నబోనీయకు

నీ బుజ్జి గణపతిని బుజ్జగించి చెబుతున్నా

నీ కుంకమకెపుడూ పొద్దుగుంకదమ్మా

సున్ని పిండిని నలిచి చిన్నారిగా మలిచి

సంతసాన మునిగింది సంతులేని పార్వతి

సుతుడన్న మతి మరచి శూలాన మెడవిరిచి

పెద్దరికము చూపె చిచ్చుకంటి పెనిమిటి

ప్రాణపతినంటుందా బిడ్డ గతి కంటుందా

ఆ రెండు కళ్ళల్లో అది కన్నీటి చితి

కాలకూటము కన్న ఘాటైన గరళమిది

గొంతునులిమే గురుతై వెంటనే ఉంటుంది

ఆటు పోటు ఘటనలివి ఆటవిడుపు నటనలివి

ఆదిశక్తివి నీవు అంటవు నిన్నేవి

నీ బుజ్జి గణపతిని బుజ్జగించి చెబుతున్నా

కంచి కెళ్ళిపోయేవే కధలన్నీ

Mr Majnu Audio Review

Movie:            Mr. Majnu ( Mr. మజ్ను )

Producer(s):   BVSN Prasad

Cast:              Akhil Akkineni, Nidhhi Agerwal

Direction:       Venky Alluri

Music:            Thaman SS

Akhil is trying his best to make an impact in Telugu Film Industry. After his disastrous debut, he tried to recover with he second attempt, but it didnt take him where he expected to go. He is trying to hope to get successful with this attempt. Thaman who has changed his ways with recent hit album, scored music and this is something to see whether he made that change in this movie also, or he is what he is. Srimani gets single card on lyrics which is again a rare feat these days. Its been a while to see such in lyrics department. Lets go to the album to see what Thaman did this time. 

Mr Majnu 
Singer(s) - Ramya NSK
Lyrics - Srimani

Thaman and the album starts with the title song describing the hero, Akhil as grandson of ANR and Son of Nagarjuna. And then Srimani tries to add up based on his talent. Both Thaman and the singer (Is it Ramya as per label?) ripped the words apart with inconsistent synchronization between tune and words. Many words gets massacred by the singer. Thaman doesn't miss his flavor of this trademark, and doesn't add auto tuning. thats the grace for this song. Some how not impressed with this song, Thaman tried to be different, but his trademark probably makes this song less appealing, then the singer makes it worse. A song that can be skipped in the album. 

Yemainado
Singer(s) - Armaan Malik
Lyrics - Srimani

Thaman ensures that song represents his changing song making trends. Even though he is not consistent, he is telling, he is changing. The soft stylish melody should make his fans go merry about it. He removes most of his problems in the song making until now, by adding lot of unwanted things to a song, there by succeeding in making this song appeal to listeners. Having said that, there are slight issues that he should take more care to ensure he stays there. Arman Malik does good, but he has the usual problems with non-Telugu singers. He could have done a little better. Srimani did a decent job. Overall a good effort by the team. 

Hey Nenila
Singer(s) - Sruthi Ranjani
Lyrics - Srimani

The moment I said Thaman is changing the song making, but he didn't. He is not able to get away in making a song sound different from any of his earlier songs. The pattern cannot be same unless its a very rare exceptional. His instrumentation of this song is good. Sruthi's singing is decent. However the song should appeal a new song all together, cannot remind. As long as he cannot get out of this, he cannot become successful. With these minor issues of Thaman, this song will appeal and stick to listeners. Thaman had succeeded in making the lyrics of Srimani Listenable. The following of singer is cute. The interludes came out good and overall this song stays there. 

Kopamga Kopamga
Singer(s) - Armaan Malik, Thaman S
Lyrics - Srimani

Armaan Malik has become a choice of Thaman? Two songs for him? not sure why?. His Telugu is not good, so he cannot make a song sound better. His voice is not that great, similar to many singers, Not sure whats his added advantage, He gets off too at few of places, doesn't sound well in many places. Again Thaman did decent job in tuning the song. Srimani writes another decent song, adding his own youthful phrases which he is known for. Another pleasant song from Thaman, he is surprising the listeners, A new look to Thaman, which is good in a way. Not sure where I heard Thaman in this song. 

Naalo Neeku
Singer(s) - Shreya Ghoshal,  Kaala Bhairava
Lyrics - Srimani

Kaala Bhairava getting chances with other music directors is a good thing happened to him. He got the real boost from his family through Baahubali, people are probably cashing in the craze he got. Singing wise he has lot to improve. Hope he is not just limited to few type of songs. Thaman has toned down a lot compared to how he used to make similar songs. Some one really explained what was going wrong with him. Shreya Ghoshal has excellent voice and singing, but has no change in singing Telugu songs, inspite of singing more than a decade, She still sounds alien. Not sure why she never put any effort to sound Telugu. Due to this even though whatever she does, the song just go wasted. However her fans will not care for this and will embrace this song. Kaala Bhairava does what he was asked for. Situational song made as per demand and thats all is needed. Thaman doesn't go overboard and does with good limits set to himself. 

Chiru Chiru Navvula
Singer(s) - Tushar Joshi, Koti Salur, Ramya Behara
Lyrics - Srimani

Srimani has got single card for lyrics. That shows how he is impressing the movie makers. This is a rare feat these days where one song is written by more than one lyricist. He did decent in all the lyrics. But the more they do the more expectations will increase. Glad there is no multi lingual crap like other lyricists who enforce it even though it is not required.  The music makers and lyricists still have the coordination issues, that neither of them are able to sync together to make a song without breaking the word at right place. Not sure who is the root cause for it. But people got used to listening like this so it wont effect them. This song even though lacks freshness in the tune, is still good enough to sound decent. Thaman again gives a well controlled tune and instrumentation.

Pick(s) of the album:  Yemainado, Hey Nenila, Chiru Chiru Navvula

Thaman showed different face of his with Toliprema, then he again showed it with NTR's AVSR, tuning situational songs. He was lacking consistency as he couldn't convince listeners that he is trying to rediscover himself by fixing all his issues that he was talked about. This album should lead to that path of change. He not only fixed few issues, he tried to be different. Whether its Nagarjuna's effect or the director but a good change to be observed in Thaman. If he shows this consistency in coming albums, then he will have better future. But basically there cannot be a road that takes him backwards. He is forced to go only this route. Akhil gets a decent album, which should lead him towards success if the movie is made good.