Duvvada Jagannadham Audio Review

Movie:            Duvvada Jagannadham ( దువ్వాడ జగన్నాధం )
Producer(s):   Dil Raju, Shirish
Cast:               Allu Arjun, Pooja Hegde,  
Direction:        Harish Shankar
Music:             Devi Sri Prasad

Duvvada Jagannadham is the milestone movie from Dil Raju Productions. This marks his 25th movie as producer. Dil Raju has come long way as producer, distributor and what not in the movie and industry to make himself a brand name. 

Allu Arjun is on the roll and hope this movie will add to his list. This movie ever since it started has been in controversies. The female lead role was an issue, then the temple issue in Karnataka, then the issue of lyrics and finally the poster that made Allu Arjun as king of social media. Hope all these will be set aside by the time movie releases and movie will get the result what it deserves.

Heros portraying Brahmin character is not very common in Telugu movie industry though its nothing new. Tarak as Chari in Adurs has entertained very well, then Vishnu made a movie that was more controversial than entertaining. Now Arjun comes with this character and need to see how he appeased movie goers with his mannerism. Seems like Harish and Arjun took enough care making this movie.

DSP is on a roll this year with signing lot of movies and putting aside many music directors aside. However its been a long due from DSP to deliver an entire album as he used to do initially. The main complaint on him is he is delivering 50% and rehashes the rest. Allu Arjun and DSP's combination has always been special with Sukumar's factor added. Still they had a good understanding and DSP delivers special to Arjun. Lets see how this album fared with 5 songs listed in the album. Sahiti and Jonnavithula are forgotten names in the lyrics department.  

1. DJ
Singer(s): Vijay Prakash
Lyrics: Jonnavithula

After a long time Jonnavithula garu writes a song in movies. He starts with a powerful introduction of the lead in the movie #DJ. Obviously the lead is always powerful and has many qualities that make him the hero. Jonnavithula uses the words very intelligently to make it more powerful describing the character. DSP fully justifies the lyrics with right tune which has similar energy and vigor. Vijay Prakash also was the right choice for this song. DSP provides a good treat with providing a good variety and mix in the song. Not sure whether this is a song that comes in phases and goes in the movie instead of one go. The mix of Ganesha did gel quite very well in the song. The techno mix in between also worked well. Over all a powerful opening song the album. DSP delivers for what is required for DJ. This song is just worked well in all departments. A very rare feat these days.

2. Asmaika
Singer(s): MLR Karthikeyan & Chitra
Lyrics: Sahiti

Now we come to this controversial song that got finally resolved with producer and director deciding to change these lines ఆశగా నీకు పూజలే చేయ ఆలకించింది ఆ నమకం,, ప్రవరలొ ప్రణయ మంత్రమే చూసి పులకరించింది ఆ చమకం and keep the line,  అగ్రహారాల తమలపాకల్లె తాకుతోంది తమకం..

First lets review the song and then go to the issue with the song. Gadi, Madi, Eda, Soda are rhyming but denoting what ever comes to mind of the lead. Why DSP used autotuner for the aa chandra lines am not sure. It didnt gell well with song. Having said that this song is sweet and simple. If not for the controversy this would be one another song from DSP. Chitra and Karthikeyan were perfect fit for the song. The gamakas that Chitra garu takes effortlessly is something to note. Chitra gari voice at places is lot better than the autotuner. DSP should have let her go sing in her original voice. Yet another well made song from DSP and this too works a lot better. So far 2 of 2. DSP is guaranteed to deliver 2 songs in an album. Did he reach his quota or he has more to offer is the question we will see after hearing the rest of the album.

Now coming to the controversy, basically what this song in the second stanza explains is more of lust than love. And using the words నమకం, ప్రవర, చమకం  is pure non-sense is what the people who created issue might have felt. Most of the people in social media were thinking this song is in Sanskrit. This shows how much Telugu they know to support this song, which the director was taking to justify the lyrics. People liked this song which proves this is fine. I would say 90% of persons who supposed to know their Pravara, wouldn't know what it is? Also again if TV conducts a poll, 90% Telugu speaking persons wouldn't know what is Namakam and Chamakam. When there is a controversy obviously one would have wondered why as they thought these are some rhyming words which are good.  Harish Shankar gave a beautiful explanation for a non-controversial line, but ignored giving an explanation to the lines that have issues. Glad that Dil Raju has accepted to change the lines that caused issue to few people. Its a creative field, and there would be a sensible line. Creators and issue makers have to learn how to treat movie as movie and be withing the limits. No wonders in the singing departments, no surprises either.

3. Mechuko
Singer(s): Nakash Aziz
Lyrics: Srimani

DSP comes to his routine songs. If one would expect another song DSP doesn't have anything to offer in the song other than his routing style of song making. Srimani just gives back what it is offered to him. Song have kisses, DSP offers the kiss sounds in the song. Song has typical sounds that DSP offers in between the lines. He tried to be different but doesnt help. Chiranjeevi reference in this song of Allu Arjun? Is he still living on the legend? Or Movie might have a reference. We would know at the visual. Nakash did what is required. Not much to mess around. So this song goes as usual. This song might be for Arjun fans if he has to offer something on screen. Few visuals already released probably giving an idea of what this song is about. 

4. Seeti Maar
Singer(s): Jaspreet Jasz & Rita
Lyrics: Balaji

Another song routine, I guess DSP gives the go, with the electrifying start. This song is fast paced with Rita and Jaspreet singing to the pace. Last song has seeti and this one too in the song title itself. Once again references of Chiru, but this time along with NTR and ANR. Phrase of "Micheal jackson mike" is something to laugh. Ofcourse if movie has to offer good dance movements no one would care of the song and I guess this song is tailor made for Arjun. Should work on screen than off screen. Did Harish shankar become content with 2 songs? As the next two songs are more for on-screen.

5. Box Baddalai poye
Singer(s): Sagar & Geeta Madhuri
Lyrics: Bhaskara Bhatla

Too many references of Chiru and this time his popular phrase. DSP used auto tuner for Chitra garu, he should have used for Geeta Madhuri. However he covered her voice partially which is good. Once again Sagar gets a default song in the movie. This song is for its beats and massy touch. With Bhaskara Bhatla at the helm of writing department, this cannot go wrong. The songs that are missing is pathos and an item song. Else this song completes the standard format. This song again is within typical template making of song from DSP.

Pick(s) of the album:  #DJ, #Asmaika

Seems like this year DSP has worked more movies until now as we are hearing more of his name than earlier. As said before DSP offers 50% of songs to music lovers, and rest are typical of his song making style. However in this movie, he limited to 2 songs. Three songs are for fans and masses. So this album might work for the fans. But fans who expect more from DSP mainly when DSP/AA combination offered much more in their earlier movies, might have to be satisfied to the 2 songs. Guess the controversy helped the movie. Harish Shankar is coming back with a bigger combination and hope he succeeds.