Dhamarukam - Audio Review

Dhamarukam - Audio Review

Movie: Dhamarukam (2012)
Direction: Srinivasa Reddy

Music: Devi Sri Prasad
Cast: Nagarjuna, Anushka

Nagarjuna is on roll these days with a variety of roles he is protraying, having no correlation to his previous movies. Rajanna, Shirdi Sai, now Dhamarukam. His lineup also is attracting media to air few 30 minute programs on him regarding his selection of movies. It really needs a sharp brain and luck to get into these kind of movies at fag end of his career. I guess this is something to do with their family genes I guess or he has been following the foot steps of his father. A socio-fantasy movie at this stage is really a huge risk that Nagarjuna is taking. The title Dhamarukam suggests something to do with Lord Shiva, and it is as the music talks the same.

On other hand Devi Sri Prasad (DSP), had created doubts about his Telugu film career when at a time it was all Thaman's show. However suprisingly Thaman is not seen and its again all Devi Sri Prasad's show now with many big projects lately. Started his career with a socio-fantasy movie "Devi" and making his surname as the movie name, DSP had come a long way becoming the leading music director and being in the top league ever since his debut. He is known for his melodies initially, then consistently created sensation with his consistent quality and standards. He is definetely far away from the current crop of music directors and he for sure made a mark in TFM for himself. Reaching 50 movie milestone is not a small thing in these days. He always says he is inspired by hearing to Ilayaraja and treats him as God. Many times there is influence of him in his music. Lets see how DSP marks his 50th movie in this movie Dhamarukam. DSP and Nagarjuna had in past provided huge successful movies and definetely the expectations are huge with all these factors.

This album provides 4 bit songs all written by Jonnavithula ( Sri Rama Rajyam ), one full song on Lord Shiva again by Jonnavithula. The rest of 5 songs are the normal songs including one item song which these days DSP is famous for and is expected to provide in every movie.  The rest of the songs are shared by the regular routine writers who just fill in words to the songs.

Coming to singers, surprisingly lists Chitra, and doesnt list any non-telugu singers like Baba Sehgal, Adnan Sami, Udit, Daler Mehndi, Sukhwinder singh, Shreya Ghoshal and others who cant pronounce Telugu properly. Also good to see Sri Krishna and Gopika poornami making into the list. Lets see how songs fare in the 50th movie of DSP

01. Omkaram Srusthi  
Artist(s): Sai Venkat
Lyricist: Jonnavitthula

This is a very good start as a bit song accompanied by Jonnavithula's trade mark lyrics. The singer was perfect for this bit song. The words are provided right justice. Om karam is told in a simple way.. On a side note, I assumed Sai Venkat to be a professional male singer, however seems like the song was sung by a kid. This song leaves a good feeling.

02. Pancha Graha Kootam  
Artist(s): Karthik
Lyricist: Jonnavitthula

Another bit song, now sung by Karthik. It goes in similar lines of earlier song, but somehow not the same though the length of this song is almost 50seconds more. The beauty of this song is the words. Its been many years that even though a bit song had such kind of lyrics which tells beauty of the language when properly written. However the singers who don't understand the words sing చ్చరమ instead of చరమ. 

03. Nesthama Nesthama  
Artist(s): Sri Krishna, Harini
Lyricist: Bhaskarabhatla

Now DSP switches gear comes to current times as per the movie and gives us his trademark duet of melody. Srikrishna not sure why he doesnt get to sing that many songs that he is capable of. He excels in this song effortlessly. But on the flip side, Harini is a drawback for this song. Her singing is not upto the mark. Her singing makes one feel for her as if she is getting hurt. Overall a good attempt by DSP and would have been better if not Harini.

04. Reppalapai    
Artist(s): Hari Haran, Chitra
Lyricist: Ramajogayya Sastry

Foot tapping number, Hariharan and Chitra's perfect rendering elevates a simple song to different level. Hariharan is good at these type of songs, Chitra has mastered these songs and the end result is what we get as a pleasant song to hear. Ramajogayya sastry all had to do is to get right words and get gets in..

05. Dheemtana  
Artist(s): Shankar Mahadevan
Lyricist: Karunakar and Jonnavithula (mantras)

Any song to Lord has to basically have very clear words and simple clear singing. Shankar not sure why had stressed a lot to sing this song. He couldn't do justice to this song. This song runs around 2 minutes but didnt appear powerful. At 1:30 length of the song the recording didn't appear right.

06. Sakkubaai  
Artist(s): Suchith Suresan, Mamta Sharma
Lyricist: Ramajogayya Sastry

A movie that had music by DSP and doesnt feature an item song? Cannot happen these days. DSP doesnt disappoint. This time the theme is Sakkubai Chai. Ramajogayya has definetely become a multi-lingual lyricists. Hard to find a song written by him which doesn't have words from other languages. Suchith and Mamta didnt do any thing extra ordinary. majaa cheyy has become majaa che ( as in number six ). These songs are like software code, which can never be delivered without any bugs. This song cannot become as popular as other popular songs that DSP has tuned, but can be reckoned.

07. Laali Laali  
Artist(s): Gopika Poornima
Lyricist: Chandrabose

In the Audio release function, DSP mentioned that hearing to Ilayaraja's lullaby ( laali paatalu ), he used to dream whether he can make any such song in his career. This was his life time oppurtunity to excel. He might have thought many tunes, but he ended up tuning this song as he provided in this album. However he forgot the basic rules of a lullaby. The basic rule for a lullaby is that first thing it should be simple with no surprises. A lullaby should be like a person going in a car in cruise, with no turns and twists at a constant speed. There can be ups and downs, but no sudden turns, breaks, no bumpers. A person who hears to it should completely go with the flow constantly by following it with no jerks. Having said that, Devi tuned this song very well a nice melody, made it sung by a singer who can pronounce Telugu very well. Having laali in the song doesnt make it a lullaby. He added unnecessary twists in the song, interludes are heavy at times, there are too many notes touch high pitch. Simple beats suddenly made complex. If this wasn't tagged as lullaby this is another good attempt made by DSP and well performed by Gopika. I wish she could have been more clear in the words. Thats the basic one would expect from a Telugu Singer. Coming to lyrics, Chandrabose made another funny comment in Audio release by saying "He got a chance to write a great song" and thanked whoever gave this chance to him. Chandrabose Sir, you might think it is great, but others should say that, not yourself. Basically this is not a laali paata, this is just another song. And it is not great lyrics either. Not sure what is his fantasy about laala (bath), whenever he writes this phrase, he thinks its great ( another song he wrote that I remember is from Magadheera)

08. Bhoonabhontaalake  
Artist(s): MLR. Karthikeyan
Lyricist: Jonnavitthula

Another bit song on Shankara. One might think a movie named Dhamarukam, and where is the song explicitly featuring Dhamarukam. Here it comes. But it should be more predominant. Lord Shiva famous for his tandava natyam, the movie should have it. Else it wouldn't be complete. These type of songs cannot have pronounciation issues, even if slightest issue, this songs goes to trash bin. Not sure when music directors give preference to clarity than sound? Jonnavithula might be thinking why I am wasting my effort?

09. Kanyakumari    
Artist(s): Jaspreet Jasz, Sunitha
Lyricist: Sahithi

Another routine song from DSP nothing much to be said about this song as it goes as designed. Nothing special in this song appears heard it somewhere and many times earlier. Jaspreet Jasz a new name on the block and Sunitha lacks energy.

10. Shiva Shiva Shankara  
Artist(s): Shankar Mahadevan
Lyricist: Jonnavitthula

Jonnavithula excels in this song, by providing powerful lyrics. He proved his mettle in earlier movies and he does exactly what he is known for. However DSP made this song too loud and noisy. He added too much flavor to this song which would have been kept simple. Not sure why it is assumed that Shankar needs to get fast paced, breathless type songs. He has typical pronunciation issues. Lately I find singers when had to add stress on expression, unnecessarily add stress on the words, which doesn't sound right. Shankar is no exception to that. Somehow this song can be watched in movie for its intensity in scenes, but the song was provided with lot of intensity in sound, which makes it unpleasant to hear.

Pick(s) of the album: Go grab whatever you want. This album provides various flavors.

Devi Sri Prasad has provided a range of songs from devotional bits to duets to item songs and back to devotion flavored song. He has done a decent job in handling the variety that is required for this movie. However he should have added more clarity to words for songs on Lord Shiva. One would like to listen what were the words sung on Lord Shiva. The other routine songs were his trade mark and he didn't deviate much there. There is however nothing special as defined by landmark of DSP and if some expects some thing extra ordinary leaves disappointed.