Monday, October 12, 2015

Sher Audio Review

Movie: Sher ( షేర్  )
Producer(s): Komara Venkatesh
Cast: Kalyan Ram, Sonal Chauhan
Direction: Mallikarjuna
Music: SS Thaman

Nandamuri Kalyanram after huge success of life time in the name of Pataas should be riding high. His next movie automatically sets high expectations. Known as perfect gentleman for his sincere and down to earth attitude the success in terms of Pataas was welcomed by everyone since it took so long for him to get success. The trailers, teasers looked good so far and the audio too set some expectations as Thaman got huge success for Brucelee. Both combining together after success by default the expectation is the music has to be success.

Sher, directed by Mallikarjuna and produced by Komara Venkatesh. The female lead for this movie is Sonal Chauhan supported by Brahmanandam and Nora Fatehi.The music department as said, Thaman working with Kalyan ram. He is supported by Srimani (3 songs), Kandikonda and Varikuppala for lyrics. Singers are fine not having surprises or new names.

Lets see whether the songs were pataas or tapaas.

1. Hare Rama
Singer(s): Deepak
Lyrics: Srimani

Thaman starts the album with his typical high pitch auto tuner voice with echoing effect for the Hare Rama, Hare Krishna.. This sounds really good. Then he shifts gear and now sound as if this song was for Ravi Teja. The song has simple beats, nice lyrics and well sung by Deepak. However the words didn't fit the tune so singer had to hurry saying them like some one pressing ffwd button for that word.Thaman himself said his tunes are difficult for lyricists. It appears that the second interlude is repeated from "Darlinge" song. There is slang here and there for the words that didn't appear good. The beauty of the song is Thaman being unusual kept it simple without being lound. Simple beats, simple tune, with no side effects will makes this song instantly likable. 


2. Surangani
Singer(s): Deepak, Malavika
Lyrics: Srimani

Deepak sounds a lot like Karthik in this song. This song even though doesn't appear fresh, its highly fast and energetic. The rhythm seems to be borrowed from yesteryear hindi songs. The song being, Slow, silence and then picking up energy is very well done by Thaman. This song gets a big boost from the programming skills of Thaman. Once again Thaman made it very simple and yet powerful. Singers did good job. Srimani was fine within his limits. Overall a good package from Thaman. 

3. Chal Chalona
Singer(s): Suchith Suresan, Sameera Bhardwaj, Sanjana Kalmanje
Lyrics: Srimani 

Thaman comes up with a catchy tune that will get addicted. His techno interludes added a lot of strength to the song. This song will be embraced by youth. Female singers added a lot of weight to the song. Nuvvante Ishtam sundara was done and sung very well. The non-stop words before that phrase is also done well. This song stands as very decent composition from Thaman in recent times. The guitar is perfect to the mood of the song. Simple rhythm added to interludes are good to listen. Male singer was a little out of sync in terms of tune with female singers at elevated singing. Thaman scores yet another decent song. So far so good. Touch wood.

4. Naina Naina
Singer(s): Anudeep Dev, Sanjana Kalmanje
Lyrics: Kandikonda

The start of the song is fantastic, Thaman should have used a different beats so that song appears fresh and Anudeep's start too might have be done slightly different to avoid being redundant. Having said that these issues doesn't create problems to the song at all. Once again Thaman stressed on being simple. A melody added with nice flavors makes this song a very pleasant song. Its ఉగాది not  ఉగాధి . Thaman should avoid such simple mistakes while recording the songs if he needs to be professionally perfect. Non Telugu singers write it as Ugadi, they wouldnt know the difference. Anyways thats a minor issue these days. But Thaman scored yet another decent song, nice catchy, haunting melody keeping everything simple and sweet. 

5. Naa Pere Pinky
Singer(s): Simha, MM Manasi
Lyrics: Varikuppala yadagiri

A routine item song. If a little bit freshness added to the song in tuning, this album would have been perfect score in terms of hits. Some how this song remains as a routine item song. Simha and Manasi should have been let them sing by themselves. Felt Manasi was ok, but she could have added more energy to the song. The beats and instruments were successful but not singers. Varikkuppala got a chance to write perfect mass song and he was fine. No complaints on this song other than appearing as routing composition from Thaman. Somehow this doesnt meet the standards of the other songs in this album. Thats the only limitation, other wise song is fine as such. Its fine on screen as the visuals show. 


Pick(s) of the album: Songs 1-4. Would have been entire album if not for Naa pere pinky. 

I would say after Jabardast, this is album that meets similar standards of Thaman's work. At that time I said that Thaman was still raw talent and need right people to squeeze good work of him. His recent interview before Brucelee audio release confirms that all the issues in music was caused by the movie makers. Hope he comes out of that shakles, be independent and his music command the movie makers instead of others commanding him. Not sure trolling on social media by lot of people helped too, but this album should be the starting point of Thaman's music career to go on a positive side. Kalyanram gets a very decent album The music is Pataas and its now in his hands to make the movie Pataas too. Wish the team a huge success. 


Friday, October 2, 2015

Brucelee - Audio Review

Movie: Brucelee (The fighter ) -  (బ్రూస్ లీ - the ఫైటర్  )
Producer(s): DVV Danayya
Cast: Ram Charan, Rakul Preet Singh, Kriti Kharbanda
Direction: Srinu Vytla
Music: SS Thaman


After being a family man with GAV, Ramcharan decided to be a fighter. Srinu Vytla tasted a career disaster with Aagadu, trying to recharge with Ramcharan, who also didnt get huge success with his last film. Thaman who has slowed down a bit now trying to regain his space with this film. Being a critical for all the three, this film has already set the bar and raised the expectations to sky high. Fans are extremely confident on this movie, that it would beat latest hit Srimanthudu and after MD would collect good amount in movie collections.

This movie has many names announced and replaced. First its Samantha, who was replaced with Rakul Preet and then music director Anirudh with Thaman and so on. Kona Venkat and Gopi Mohan who left Srinu Vytla had come back and Srinu Vytla had to work with them due to Mega Intervention. This way the confidence of success is already ensured.

Rakul Preet Singh is getting lot of offers lately, tasting success to go to next step in the ladder and in the race, then kriti Karbanda is playing sister to Ramcharan. Again the Mega Atta is back again in this movie after Attarintiki Daredi. The cast is heavy, the expecations are heavy, fans are just waiting for the movie.

Coming to Music, Thaman has been candid on the allegations on him agreeing most of the stuff going on social media. He tweeted he is tense and excited for this audio as the success of this album might clear away some of the criticism. He teams up with Ramajogiah sastry (RJ) who wrote most of the songs and Srimani. I guess for the tunes Thaman gives, only RJS can fill in words. Most others will fail, where RJS is successful. Anchor Suma during Audio release function said, RJS is annamayya of TFI, even though she talked non-sense, atleast for Thaman it makes sense. 

Apart from singers, Thaman has additional singer called auto-tuner. So he doesnt have to worry about who sings the song. The album has 5 songs. Le chalo has already become widely popular after its release in youtube for Srinu Vytla's birthday.

Lets see what Thaman did this time for Brucelee.


1. Run
Singer(s): Sai Sharan, Nivaz
Lyrics: Sri Mani

Thaman starts the album with nice rhythm, energetic tune which is quite pacy. Good news is no auto tuner and thaman's template beats. The singers voices are original and energetic. The rhythm is highly addict-able and  Srimani has filled in some good words here and there. However singers seems to struggle at higher notes. "Yehe run" could have been avoided and replaced with something else. This song should be heard in a good music system for greater effect. Thaman starts the album with completely different to what he is known for. However he could not bring freshness in the song. The tune seems to be beaten. Srimani should be commendable for the flashes in the lyrics of course he could have done a lot better. This song is completely designed for Charan who will rock in terms of dance movements and should be done well by Srinu Vytla to give a treat to fans. Else only Srinu Vytla will be blamed as this song has everything that it needs to be successful.


2. Ria
Singer(s): Rabbit Mac, Deepak
Lyrics: Ramajogayya Sastry

Rabbit Starts the song, blaming the lead that she broke the heart. Did Thaman sing in between? This song has issues with singing the words. నాతొ is said as నాటో. Also didnt get what singer said after "Sunny Sunny morning laa". Anyway keeping singers issues apart, a pathos song composed in a different style. This is something made different. Trendy as it is called. Thaman though made it differently didnt take care much with rest of the song. Flute interlude changes the gear. After watching the bit song of Le chalo and this song having flute, is something related to story I guess. Singing issues makes this song ordinary. Only refreshing is this song being made different. But has many issues to keep listening repeatedly. Having said that this song has buzz words for youth, the rap makes them happy.


3. Kungfu Kumari
Singer(s): Ramya Behara, Deepak
Lyrics: Ramajogayya Sastry

Ok, now back to the terms, Thaman back to basics with his template beats auto tuner and tampering the voices, and familiar tunes. This song has "Mega""Chiruta" written all over it. RJS when he looks back to this album regarding lyrical achievement, there will be nothing other than he filled the tune with rhyming words. Is this Deepak different? His voice doesn't sound the usual him. Ramya who is known to be suited for soft melodies, does well for this song too. This song doesn't offer much and needs help from Ramcharan. Probably designed that way.  


4. Le Chalo
Singer(s): Thaman, Megha
Lyrics: Ramajogayya Sastry

The song is already hit before it was released officially, as the bit that was released had everything. This song had the flute step by Charan which will become a rage for sure. The song is so well until Thaman's voice is heard. There were comments made in youtube asking Thaman to replace the singer (LOL), with autotuner on, listeners couldnt realize it was Thaman. Thaman's voice was really "Shreik" ("keechu") when he sang "Veechu gali", "Konta Kalam". Not sure how a music director can live with this kind of issues, when he cannot sing, he should accept and give to a better singer. How can some one let this song to a substandard singer? Obviously listeners are unhappy with this. 

Whatever it is this song is different, has visuals, has excellent steps from Charan which can be benchmark, Ignoring Thaman this song is hit.


5. Bruce Lee
Singer(s): Simha, Sameera Bharadwaj
Lyrics: Ramajogayya Sastry

Again usual Thaman. Simha after Racegurram will aim for another Filmfare award. Brucelee will bang his head if he listens what Ramajogayya wrote after using his name Brucelee and lyrics after that. "టెంపో ట్రాలీ", "బెల్లం పల్లీ ". anything that rhymes with "లీ" Song aimed at masses, so this should work. Thaman doesnt offer anything in this song too. This is standard template mass song. Singers were fine and they did justice to the song.


Pick(s) of the album: Run Run,  Ria , Le Chalo ( have to ignore Thaman - onscreen pick)

Charan and Srinu Vytla has aimed this album at masses and youth. So they will be successful in that. Music wise, I guess Thaman is saturated and has nothing to offer other than a song or two which he kills them either with auto tuner or singing himself. He cannot get away with repeating tunes. Even though he satisfies his heros, movie makers with their demands, he is not going to go anywhere with these kind of albums. Mega fans will like this album and they will make it hit. That is more than required. Hope Charan gets the success he is wanting/waiting for.