Saturday, August 19, 2017

Arjun Reddy Audio Review

Movie:             Arjun Reddy (అర్జున్ రెడ్డి )
Producer(s):   Pranay Reddy Vanga
Cast:               Vijay Devarakonda,  Kanchana, Shalini Pandey
Direction:        Sandeep Reddy Vanga
Music:             Shakthikanth Karthick

Slated as intense action love drama, Arjun Reddy movie created a lot of buzz and sensation the way the title is created, the posters, teasers are released. Vijay Devarakonda is obviously on high note after pelli choopulu movie which was followed by critically acclaimed Yevade Subrahmanyam. This movie seems to have broken many Telugu film barriers and created intense anxiety among the movie goers. Debutant Sandeep Vanga has directed the movie. Obviously everyone is looking forward to this movie. Probably its first time in recent times, that a hero is depicted doing many things that werent meant to be done by a hero. This movie started in June 2017 and slated to be released August 25th. 

Radhan had 3 tamil movies, 3 Telugu movies so far. This will be his fourth Telugu film. After making debut with Andaala Rakshashi, he got noticed with Evade Subrahmanyam. Not sure he got noticed again with Raadha, but this movie had got some recognition due to good promotions of the movie and the buzz it created with the first teaser. 

Lets see how Radhan offered the songs. There are 4 songs released on youtube by Aditya music and hope there will an official release function for this movie. 


1. Madhurame
Lyrics: Shresta
Singer: Sameera Bharadwaj


The song starts on a classical note followed by techno tune. However from 1:32 to 1:52, and thereon shows the huge difference between the original instrument and the techno instrument. Radhan, Shresta, Sameera did their job well, to make this song to get stuck with listeners. Sameera worked with Radhan earlier in movie Radha. There are few minor issues, but this song having many positives will cover it up. The techno, classic mix with classic part dominating most of the song makes this even more pleasant. Radhan took care on how the lyrics are said, "Bharaale" was said well which is missing these days. However not sure why Radhan had to use auto tuner at few places, I am not sure whether Sameera was not comfortable at those notes. Shresta used some good phrases in the songs to bring in the mood of the situation probably in the movie, as the visuals show most of it is between lead pair. Radhan has done good in most of the places in the song. Even though most of the song goes on classical mood, he takes immediately to the modern music by adding pace to the song. Overall a good song to listen, singing is good, they lyrics are good and song made in evergreen classical mode. Song should work with listeners. 

2. Emitemitemito
Singer : Alphonse
Lyrics :  Anantha Sriram

Radhan after giving a good first song immediately switches the gear to modern era of music complete contrast to what he offered in first song. This song has all sorts of differences. Alphonse had done probably the way he was asked. He breaks the words, singing style is different, probably to suit the pattern of the song. However if one hears this song first and Madhurame later, the impact of later on this song will be clearly visible. Alphonso could have done at few places in the song, he looked at few places clueless and pale. However Radhan attempted a different song, should fit well in the movie. Listeners should get attached to the song as it will grow on repeated hearings. Initially one might not connect to the song. For sure Radhan did offer a different song. 

3. The Breakup Song
Singer : Revanth
Lyrics :Rambabu Gosala

Radhan offered this song to Revanth and it seems this is not of comfort zone of Revanth. He did try his best but it doesn't sound Revanth. The discomfort is audible clearly at many places. Aa ninnale Nanu choosi, Here Nanu in the tune got modified. Radhan should have taken care of this song a little bit more, as again he offered this song in different genre. Probably the experience will help Radhan to fix the minor issues like these and others to take the song to a different level. Probably he should take a clue here and there from ARR, who works on the song to give the quality which is clearly visible when we hear his songs. Once again a different song could have been better.

4. Mangaluru - Mussoorie
Singer : Nikhitha Gandhi
Lyrics :Anantha Sriram

Songs were made in this style before. But somehow this song appears fragile probably due to the singing. Something didn't work well to make this song pleasant. Probably the tone set by singer is not pleasant. Singer is at a different tone and chorus is different. Both didn't get in sync along with the music. They all were in their own little area. Song too appeared to end abruptly with a brief silence. Probably this song also will grow after repeated hearings. Singer for sure should have done better. Once again in-spite of something to offer, it was not made workable. 

Pick(s) of the album:  Madhurame, Breakup Song.  ( Emitemito will work on repeated hearings?? probably )

Radhan has offered something different from the crowd and has been successful in atleast couple of songs. A little bit care could have made this album perfect set 4 out of 4. However since the movie has to offer something different, so is music, Radhan had succeeded in that. Radha and Vijay had a good combination earlier so hope this one worked too. Wish to see people who have something to offer differently get more chances, instead of hearing same sounds, this will be a bit better. Wish the team a good success. 

Thursday, August 17, 2017

Paisa Vasool Audio Review

Movie:             Paisa Vasool ( పైసా వసూల్ )
Producer(s):   V. Anand Prasad
Cast:               Balakrishna Nandamuri, Shriya Saran  
Direction:       Puri Jagannadh
Music:            Anup Rubens

After Gautami putra saatakarni, Balakrishna is on a super pace signing up films and even completing them. When he confirmed the movie with Puri Jagannadh fans were surprised at the choice. When Chiranjeevi himself didn't approve Puri for his 150, why would Balakrishna accept his story and offer the movie was the question. However there were mixed reactions when the teasers were released. And then with the controversies around the director and Charmee who was said to be involved in the movie as production of the movie, the movie took a different turn even though they have nothing to do with the movie itself. 

This movie is said to be an action-comedy movie donning Balakrishna in a different look. There was a complete makeover which indeed caused a surprise. The movie had the muhurtham shot in March and the movie is ready to be released in August. Thats the pace both Puri and Balakrishna are making movies these days.  Anup Rubens was roped in to music department with Bhaskarabhatla getting most of the songs. Balakrishna got good music for his earlier movie and given that most of songs in movies of Puri Jagannadh had become hit after movie has released. There are total 4 songs and a theme song. Lets see how these songs did. 


1. Paisa Vasool
Singer(s): Daler Mehendi, Uma Neha, Anurag Kulkarni
Lyrics: Bhaskarabhatla Ravi Kumar

Will Daler Mehendi's voice fit Balakrishna? His voice was feeble, strained at many places. It lacked the power when saying Paisa Vasool even when chorus was added. Since the song was made in Bhangra style, Daler Mehendi was chosen, but he is not right fit for the song. He couldnt bring in any value to the song. Gundeelu teesi collar egareste paisa vasool.. vasool vasool paisa vasool.. The title song says it all. Bhaskarabhatla has written formula based lyrics to say something about the hero. Anup did something to in the middle which looked very odd, when Daler was saying Kal aaja soniya, then ahh.. This whole thing didnt work. Anup might have lost the thought of what to do here. This song for sure will receive mixed reactions, mass/fans might like it, but hard to impress music lovers.

2. Kannu Kannu Kalisai..
Singer(s): Anup Rubens, Jithin, Sree Kavya Chandana 
Lyrics: Bhaskarabhatla Ravi Kumar

The nasal voice of Anup(Jithin??), and careless singing probably took away the good feeling of the song. He took liberty to kill the otherwise good song he made. Hate when music directors do that to the song by singing themselves and kill the song. The tune in the interlude is heard in an old song and the tune that follows the singers later in the song is for sure rehash. 

It is tough to tell, what any one tried to contribute to make song be heard different. The place at which Kannu kannu kalisayi, is said by Anup and the change in rhythm appeared to be done as a mistake, as it didn't work very well. Female singer also was not up-to mark. She misses to make her mark. Overall a good song messed up by singers by purely careless singing. Bhaskarabhatla did his job fine. He got a chance to deviate himself from mass/catchy numbers.

3. Mama Ek Peg La...
Singer(s): Balakrishna Nandamuri, Divya Divakar
Lyrics: Bhaskarabhatla Ravi Kumar

Balakrishna sings this song by himself or rather we can say he said the lyrics with tune. There was a video that came out while recording this song. Balakrishna seemed to have enjoyed singing this song. The question is whether audience will enjoy the same way Balakrishna enjoyed singing this song. Nagini Dance, is what chorus keep saying in pattern of gangham dance. 

Mama ek peg laa is for sure catchy. His fans will embrace song saying "picha pichaga nachinde". Pakka mass song, with energy coming in from the beats. Bhaskarabhatla has created a drinks sitting environment with this song, probably a scenario rightly to fit the song in the movie. The reference of nagini, is related to the tune in the interlude. Overall a mass song that is for mass and fans. Balayya was his usual self one has to sync with him to enjoy the song. Probably this will be song for his fans when they have a drink sittings.


4. Padamari
Singer(s): Mano, Geetha Madhuri
Lyrics: Pulagam Chinnarayana

Mano sings this song, where he reminds an old Kishore Kumar song. With auto tuner, both voices are messed up, badly for Mano and helping Geetha Madhuri. I feel these kind of songs are not for Geeta Madhuri, but when one has a good hit song that got award, these type of songs keep coming to the same singer. The way she struggles to sing the lines after making an entry to song is pathetic for such a singer who has been singing so many songs. 

However this song has absolutely nothing new to offer. Anup again doesn't have to offer anything new. He just rehashes something for us. Another mass song, with right beats, patterns, added with Mano's energy and vigor. Song will be in different dimension till Geeta Madhuri enters the song. Then she takes down the song to a different level. Pulagam Chinnarayana has nothing to offer in this song, given the situation he was given. Probably he would have been a given a song to write for a different scenario. As long as Mano is singing this song appears good. 

5. Theda Singh (Theme Song)

As per movie grapevine, seems like originally this was the title chosen for the movie, but changed to Paisa vasool as fans didn't like it. Probably this was already filmed, by the time movie title was changed. Then it might have become the theme song, else could have been the title song. Teaser, Trailer show Balakrishna in a different make over and this song shows the same. Music wise and song content wise nothing special to mention.

Pick(s) of the album: Mama Ek Peg le, Padhamari. ( Kannu Kannu would have been in the list if singers were different )

I guess the need of hour for Puri Jagannadh is that he will need the movie to talk for itself, given the other things going on with him that were getting talked more than anticipated. A part from that is not getting real good success at the box office with his films lately ( Temper being an exception ).  Balakrishna seemed to be enjoying his late prime time signing films at a pace that seems to be not possible for most of the actors given his age. Music for this movie has not been a criteria for the success and it didn't help either. Balakrishna should go back to either Kalyani Malik or Manisharma or a different director as modern music makers have no clue about real mass song sound like. They can only add techno flavor to the songs, but can never bring the real mass feeling in the songs. Having said that this album lacks many things that Balakrishna fans would want from his movies. Anup not sure whether he played it safe by choosing beaten tunes or he was not asked to provide something different. Anyways songs of Puri movies doesn't make much impact for him, so fans have to wait for the movie.