Racegurram Audio Review

Movie: Racegurram - రేస్ గుర్రం 

Music: S.S.Thaman

Director: Surendar Reddy 

Producer(s): Nallamalapu Srinivas (Bujji) and Dr. Venkateswara Rao

Cast: Allu Arjun, Shruti Haasan, Saloni Aswani and Shaam

Allu Arjun's latest offering Racegurram is said to be a youthful romantic action thriller. Surendar reddy first time working with Allu Arjun has roped in Thaman in music department.Shruti Haasan is female lead. Initially it was thought Samantha would be the female lead. This movie audio release was made simple and delayed due to Pawan kalyan's political debut. 

Surendar reddy and Allu Arjun are known for being stylish in their presentations. So they teaming up and the teasers released has set huge expectations on the movie. Thaman is working for the first time with Allu Arjun. Thaman worked earlier with Surendar, this would be their second movie. Thaman's last movie that released was Masala, This shows there has been some gap for Thaman who was busy otherwise scoring movies left and right. For Charan though Yevadu released in January, the music was released long back.

This movie has total 6 songs, one is title song of course. The lyrics department has a surprise name as Varikuppala Yadagiri who is known for his songs in Erra Sainyam and Veera Telangana. He is also a singer, so lent his voice for a song. Another surprise is Usha Uthup who featured in Title song.

Coming to music, in general I have been complaining about Thaman's music regarding the following. 

1. His music is repetitive, he copies music from others.

2. He uses wrong tunes for situations due to which the tune and mood are out of sync. 3. His music is perfectly within his template doesn't offer variety.

4. Most of the time, we cannot hear any of his singers original voice - he changes the voice sometimes so badly that it irritates listeners.

5. His music is very loud that singers voice is lost most of the times.

6. All songs sound same with his repetitive pattern of beats/rhythm.

7. Most of his songs are highly pitched half way thru the song.

8. His melodies doesn't sound like melody due to his style of orchestration, rhythm, choice of tunes, singers voice manipulation.

Apart from these issues which I don't have to repeat again, I will try to see whether Thaman offered anything different this time.

1. "Boochade Boochade"  

Lyrics:  Chandrabose

Singer(s): Shreya Ghoshal, Rahul Nambiar, Naveen Madhav

This is typical Thaman to start an album. He always make listeners to remember his old songs to just introduce himself. This song is perfect example of it. If you feel you are listening for first time, then you really don't know about Thaman or hearing him for the first time for which he might feel sorry for that. I guess he will keep doing that until entire Telugu audience is familiar about his music. The way the singer sings the song also exactly Same to Same. Chethade, Gilletode, Tegistaade, all the same style. No wonder we call him S(Same) S(Song) Thaman. The interludes, the beats all perfectly same - reused, rehashed put in a new wrap and is called a new song. There are many shades of his earlier songs done quite differently. This makes his life easy though :) Chandrabose is irrelevant here in this song.

2. "Sweety"

Lyrics: Varikuppala Yadagiri

Singer(s): Siddharth Mahadevan, Rabbit Mac

This song for a second appears better, but when the singer says freedom pondave, its again Same Song style. This doesn't have his template beats, but the singing style of singers doesn't make it a different kind of song. Rap in between is nothing different. Having said that this is perfect example of Thaman's trendy, youthful, new generation music for which people rave about him and are behind him.

3. "Cinema Choopista Mava"  

Varikuppala Yadagiri

Singer(s): Simha, Varikuppala Yadagiri

The song starts with an irritating singing style and then Thaman becomes himself. His famous dappulu are back. This song offers nothing new everything same to same. His alteration of singer voice is just irritating and makes singing so reckless. Not sure why he does that to a song. The lyricist has written perfect mass song, but Thaman doesn't add any value to the song. There is absolutely no variety in this song.

4. "Gala Gala"  

Lyrics:  Rehaman

Singer(s): Dinesh Kanagaratnam, Megha  

Heavily inspired by ARR songs. Thaman doesn't feel shy of copying himself or others. Not sure how movie makers are accepting and paying for music that is already made. Are they so naive or they don't care that no one complains and keep accepting what ever they give? Surprising to see so many people tweeting Thaman that the music is great for a song that is already made by someone and all Thaman has to do is to present in a different way. The moment its remade, there is nothing to write about this song.

5. "Down Down" 

Lyrics:  Viswa

Singer(s): S. Thaman, Shruti Haasan

This song is perfect play for any RJ/DJ in any dance party. Unfortunately for Thaman its everyone's unanimous guess about the original song. So if you guess it means you listen to same music that Thaman also listens. Shruti Haasan lends her voice for this song along with Thaman. Being a dancer this song will help Bunny a lot or we can say it other way. This is perfect song for onscreen. The tunes, the beats are heard in any dance party, so Thaman has nothing to do in this song either other than singing the song along with Shruti Haasan.

6. "Race Gurram"  

Lyrics:  Varikuppala Yadagiri

Singer(s): Usha Uthup, M. M. Manasi, M. M. Monisha

Thaman tries to be different in this song, but his dappulu and repeated tune doesn't allow to. This song has energy, pace, race for the horse that can dance. He added Usha Uthup to the song, but she is completely lost as told in one of the issues of Thaman. She didn't sound herself at all. Whatever the song has the energy, beats which Bunny needs and is short song in entire album.

Pick(s) of the album: Race gurram, Sweety

Thaman said he had completed composing the songs in January itself. Now we know why, 3 songs copied/inspired the rest typical template music so why does he need time to make them? The definition of successful music has changed, so if fans like the songs, I guess the album is successful. But music wise, not required to say again and again. Songs for Bunny and they are really for Bunny and his fans. Thaman still has his regular issues but who cares as long as movie is successful.

Legend Audio Review

Movie: Legend ( 2014 ) - లెజెండ్

Music: Devi Sri Prasad

Director: Boyapati Srinu 

Producer(s): Ram Achanta, Gopi Achanta, Anil Sunkara and presented by Sai Korrapati

Cast: Balakrishna, Jagapathi Babu, Sonal Chauhan

Legend is an upcoming Telugu film in the combination which pleasantly surprised everyone last time, Balakrishna and Boyapati Srinu. This movie is produced by Ram Achanta,Gopichand Achanta and Anil Sunkara under 14 Reels Entertainment and Sai Korrapati will be presenting the film on Vaarahi Chalana Chitram. Along with Balakrishnna, Radhika Apte and Sonal Chauhan in lead roles and Jagapathi Babu playing a negative role in this film. 

There are huge expectations on this movie right from the day 1, the posters, trailers, feelers only increased them more. Devi Sriprasad has earlier worked with Boyapati Srinu, but hasnt worked with Balakrishna so far. It took so many years for him to work with few biggies, earlier with Mahesh Babu for 1-Nenokkadine and now with Balakrishna with this movie. For DSP's talent and success, not sure why it took so long.

Music in Balakrishna movies has been always or mostly one of the key factor for the success of the movie. His music appeals variety of listeners. Though mostly targeted for masses, music in his movies has a special appeal. Manisharma was one of key Music director who worked with Balakrishna for many musical hits, however his last hit Simha was by Chakri. DSP who can provide music various genres, was expected to provide the successful factor for this movie. 

No new faces in Singers list and Lyricist being single card by Ramajogaiah Sastry. RJS known for multilingual lyrics that appeals youth and masses, should be a right fit for this movie. There are total 6 songs, which includes one Slokam on Goddess Durga ( Om Sarvaani ) and an item song ( Hamsa Nandini was part of this song - Lasku tapa ). Lets see how DSP/NBK combination worked for the first time.

01 – Legend 

Singer(s):    MLR Karthikeyan

Lyrics: Ramajogaiah Sastry

Obviously the title song. DSP provides the rigor, vigor and energy yet doesn't go overboard. Rightly done. Boyapati and Balakrishna's screen presence should elevate this song to make fans go on their feet. RJS provides the words to describe the hero, telling even though he is legend, but still down to earth and easily approachable. Short song, but yet does what it is supposed to be. DSP has started the album with his mark and will appeal Balakrishna's fans. 

02 – Tanjavuru 

Singer(s):    Sooraj Santosh, Harini

Lyrics: Ramajogaiah Sastry

Now its turn for Fans what they expect from Balakrishna. DSP provides the trademark song for Balakrishna. Except for lyrics getting broken in the song, its a go merry for fans. It has beats that make one keep foot tapping and shake leg. Harini could have done better. DSP switches gear and speed in between the song, but when singers comeback to Tanjavuru, its the time for fans. Choreographers should do justice to this song and the on-screen energy of Balakrishna should be what everyone will be looking forward. 

03 – Om Sarvani 

Singer(s):    MM Manasi

Lyrics: Ramajogaiah Sastry

A Slokam on Maata Durga could be situational. RJS weaved different names of Ammavaru into a good slokam. DSP brings in the devotional look and feel to this song. Manasi and chorus did a decent job. DSP seems like yet again provided/adopted a nice tune and make this into a good song to hear. Devotional Content songs have to be simple, involve listeners in a line or two to get them connected, if one achieves that the song is successful. Seems like DSP was successful in that part. Singers too brought in the feel. Overall after nice adaptation in Attarintiki Daaredi, DSP does it again.

04 – Nee Kanti Chupulloo 

Singer(s):    Vijay Yesudas, Chitra

Lyrics: Ramajogaiah Sastry

Chitra shows what a legendry singing is. So effortless, expressive and the variations she provided were simply beautiful. Vijay Yesudas was just supposed to be there to support her, so that she can take care of the rest. However he did more that that. Overall this song leaves a beautiful feeling in the end for a feel good song. DSP provides yet another melody and he chose right singers this time to get this song elevated. The staring tune of the song touches the heart. RJS provides a little bit better lyrics which I guess the situation demanded. The rhythm is good, chorus is good and overall a very feel good song. 

05 – Lasku Tapa 

Singer(s):    Sagar, Malathi

Lyrics: Ramajogaiah Sastry

Here comes which is supposed to be a feast for fans. Sagar and Malathi did just as required. Jwaram, Naram melika, BP all have been standard phrases for such types of songs. NBK and HamsaNandini should make fans merry and all DSP had to do is to provide foot tapping tunes to them, which he did. Rest what RJS did doesn't really matter as long as they are decent, which are. Only screen can tell the range of this song. For now its a song for a decent  hear having all the elements required for an item song.

06 – Time Bomb 

Singer(s):    Narendra, Rita

Lyrics: Ramajogaiah Sastry

This song is a routine song from DSP. Compared to the rest of the songs, placing this song in the end of the album justifies its position in this album.  RJS also till now was wearing a different hat takes off and comes to his basics :) Anyway time pass song, strictly for fans and onscreen watch.

Pick(s) of the Album:  Nee Kanti Chupullo, Om Sravani, Tanjavuru, Legend. - 

Lasku tapa will sure pick up after movie gets released for now fans will enjoy to the core and 

Time bomb is for fans.

This album shows, DSP has worked with care since its first time for Balakrishna. He dedicated this album to his uncle who recently passed away, a right album to choose to dedicate to. Inspite of working with big heros DSP didn't miss any of his elements ( melody ) and Balakrishna's ( mass melody ). He provided a successful album that he can count on for future movies with Balakrishna. All the best to the team.