Movie: Rudrama Devi ( రుద్రమ దేవి )
Director: Guna Sekhar
Producer(s): Guna Sekhar
Cast: Anushka, Krishnam Raju, Nithya Menon, Allu Arjun,Rana Daggubati, Prakashraj, OthersMusic: Ilayaraja
Gunasekhar known for his passion for recreating magic with sets be it okkadu or Arjun, creating movies like choodalani undi or sogasu chooda tarama, comes up with first Stereo 3D movie of India called "Rudrama Devi". He says the reason for making this movie is the passion of the story of Rani Rudrama Devi which everyone in Andhra Pradesh reads about. The passion made him spend 60-70 crores to make this film and add best technicians to this movie in music, lyrics editing, photgraphy, art and other departments. He is also casting Krishnam Raju, Rana, Allu arjun and many more actors in this movie along with Anushka.
A historic movie always needs much grandeur and Gunasekhar is said to have not compromised at all for the movie. He took long enough time to make this movie and worked innumerous hours to see the product thru, He completely dedicated along with his family for this movie just to see his passion come through the screen and make it to theaters. Finally he sees light and releases audio on two days 3 songs at Visakhapatnam and 3 songs in Warangal where Rani Rudrama Devi ruled. The audio release function was made as public function and the support he got from crowd would have made sure that he will get enough support with the movie from Public. For sure there is lot of sentiment for Rudrama Devi and if the movie is well made to reach viewers then all the hardwork Gunasekhar has put it will get what it is due.
Ilayaraja who completed 1000 movie mark, lately with Shamitabh showed why he is considered as GOD of Music. His fans will take 1000 more movies if he can give. With such a grand movie, none other than Ilayaraja can do justice to the back ground score. This kind of historical movies need support from music department a lot to carry right emotions. And Gunasekhar did right thing to rope him in. That would be one less worry for him. Then he did other best thing is to add Sirivennela garu as single card lyricists. And currently no one can do better justice other than Sirivennela garu. Having said that all Gunasekhar has to do if all have a choice is to pick right singers. However this shows Kailash Kher, Sadhana Sargam, Shreya Ghoshal, Baba Sehgal. Last devotional movie of Ilayaraja, SriramaRajyam, singers have messed the songs big time. Hope these singers do some justice to the songs. Total six songs, out of which one bit song, two duets, one item song and the rest is situation based. Lets see how songs fared.
Singer(s): S.P. Balasubrahmanyam, Kailash Kher, Chitra, Chorus
Lyrics: Seetharama Sastri
What a grandeur to start this album with this song. Ilayaraja after SriramaRajyam got another movie to show his grandness. Then comes the weakest link, Kailash kher who makes us feel to stop the song right there. However the chorus saves for a minute until SPB enters. This song is better to hear without Kailash Kher. If there is a way to replace his voice with another singer, I prefer to do that. His voice fades out in front of SPB. His voice is like a mouse in front of an elephant. Not sure why he was chosen of million singers out there? Without Chitra and SPB this song would have been waste. Chorus has tamil flavor in interlude. I was guessing this song should have some historic flavor, but Ilayaraja chose a different route which was just fantastic. Sirivennela garu wrote lyrics matching the tune but felt at some places the lyrics didn't match the tune. Like "Jyothalanaga", "Eka sila", "Saati Leni" and others. But this song has grandeur both in terms of tune and lyrics. Sirivennela garu seems like did lot of research before writing this song. Lot of facts written as one liners. This song leaves a mixed feeling singers wise, but for lyrics and tune can be heard without a doubt.
2. Auna Neevena
Singer: Hariharan, Sadhana Sargam
Lyrics: Seetarama Sastry
A beautiful melody that is as per Ilayaraja's trademark. The only lucky thing is Hariharan. Sadhana was not her usual. Sadhana Sargam is preferred singer of Ilayaraja for her sweetness in the voice, but this song didn't work better, due to "alien to Telugu" sounding accent of Sadhana at places. Ilayaraja's violins are complete magic, no matter how many songs we hear, no matter how many times we hear, they put us in trans with that smooth flow. Janma ayyano, did not sound right. If I were Gunasekhar, would got this song recorded back with Chitra or even Chinmayi. The reason is that this song sounds great, so just getting over ambitious to preserve such songs and not to loose repeated hearing like his old songs. This song just because of Sadhana Sargam doesnt have long life.
3. Choosukovo Teesukovo
Singer(s): Baba Sehgal, Chitra
Lyrics: Seetarama Sastry'
An item song within all limits. Sirivennela proves how an item songs can be written without writing the words directly. Ilayaraja shows his magic with perfect rhythm and his famous chorus in between with different strange words. This song might sound out dated for the latest listeners, but this song cannot be any better. Chitra proves how can she sing any type of songs changing the way she sings normally and fits perfectly to the tee. Sirivennela by saying "guppetlone guttu pattukovoyi", says everything. Baba Sehgal limited to saying few words in between is perfect as he doesn't bring in any new issues. A nice cute little song that one can enjoy.
4. Song: Punnami Puvvai
Singer: Shreya Ghoshal
Lyrics: Seetarama Sastry
Shreya Ghoshal singing was dull and energy less. Inspite of singing for more than decade in Telugu, she doesn't sound right in Telugu. Cant even say words like "Hrudayam", "bhandanalu" "Viharistunna" properly. Shreya was a wrong choice for this fantastic song. Chitram Madam would have taken this song to the place where it belongs to. Shreya was feeble, nervous, cautious and on top of that she has numerous issues with pronunciation. Ilayaraja in past got good support from singers, but not any more. Even if he is giving few best tunes, singers are wasting it. Given Sriramarajyam movie too, this was the huge issue that those songs didn't have long life. Same thing with this album too. Sirivennela garu as usual rocks for this otherwise great song wasted by Shreya Ghoshal.
5. Allakallolamai
Singer: S.P. Balasubrahmanyam
Lyrics: Seetarama Sastry
We would have heard many of these type songs, but listening to this song now again, we will know the greatness of Ilayaraja, SPB and Sirivennela garu and clearly understand what we are missing in Telugu songs lately. If I can say in one word, regarding what we are missing, I would say "Everything". Just couple of minutes is enough to make us feel a world of these legends. They again and again prove how lucky we are to be able to listen to these greats. Sirivennela garu the way he calls Rudaramadevi when things are worst is a treat to listen.
6. Anthahpuramlo
Singer: Chitra, Sadhana Sargam, Chinmayi, Chorus
Lyrics: Seetarama Sastry
Chitra and Chinmayi, along with Sadhana Sargam, I guess this song belongs to the poster that was released with three heroines. Ilayaraja proves again and again he is the king of melod, inspite of 1000 odd films he still can give music that has no bounds. Sadhna Sargam sounds odd in these three singers as her accent is clearly audible which doesn't go with the flow of the song. It will be difficult to figure out who is best Sirivennela or Ilayaraja. Who beats who. Whatever the context, the winner is audience to get this song. Gunasekhar might have planned a visual treat on screen for audience. Singers are irrelevant in this song. Not sure how sirivennela garu get those words. So fantastic. Just has to listen to enjoy.
Pick(s) of the album: Allakallolamai, Choosukovo, Antahpuramlo, Avuna Neevena
Once again Ilayaraja provides a treat to music lovers and his fans. However the singers if have done better would have best album in recent times, with all songs hit. However couple of songs stand below par just because of bad choice of singers. Once again it proves that there are no quality singers available in the industry to sing Telugu Songs. Gunasekhar did his best to rope in Ilayaraja to this album and he got more than what he want. Also BGM King is getting support from London Philharmonic orchestra for the background score for the movie. This is a great news for music lovers, which will tell us how grand the BGM is going to be. Hope Gunasekhar keeps the story in tact and doesn't deviate to appeal audience, yet still makes this movie watchable to get grand success he is waiting for. All the best for "Guna's Teamworks"
