Movie: Sye raa Narasimha Reddy (సై రా నరసింహా రెడ్డి )
Producer(s): Ram Charan Konidela
Cast: Chiranjeevi, Nayanatara, Tamanna, Amitabh Bachan, Kicha Sudeep, Vijay Sethupati, and others.
Direction: Surender Reddy
Music: Amit Trivedi
Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy is a dream project of Chiranjeevi, produced by his son Ram Charan. it is a Mega project made in different Languages. This is touted as Pan India Movie, with cast including from all languages of Indian Cinema, that includes Big B. Getting released simultaneously in many Indian languages, on 2nd October has created a lot buzz in the market. Cost wise too this is a "Mega Project" as it is estimated that 300 crores are spent on this project.
This movie is inspired by Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy who is a polygar from Kurnool, and this place became heart of conflict with British East India company. Narasimha reddy led the 5000 strong people which fought against British. The story of Narasimha Reddy taken up as dream project of Chiranjeevi, came into hands of Surendar Reddy to project this on the big-screen. With huge cast at his dispose and so much money in the hand, its really an uphill task for the director to make it big and meet expectations of people and also project the history in a right way to reach people. He got a huge help in terms of Paruchuri brothers who contributed to the movie by taking the writing part of it. Art and DOP will be critical for this project and these two departments were given to able hands.
The Music has been given to Amit Trivedi, a Hindi music director originated from Maharashtra, who started his career in 2008 and worked for lot of films and jingles, also a singer. This album consists of 4 songs, 2 songs written by Sirivennela garu, one by Ananth Sriram and the other by Chandrabose. Any Such history based movie in Telugu, the default name that would come to mind is Keeravani to score the music, or even Manisharma, but music by Amit, probably keeping Hindi release in mind. Lets see how the songs of the album are, did they help to the movie or not.
1. Jaago Narasimhaa jaagore
Singers – Shankar Mahadevan, Haricharan, Anurag Kulkarni
Lyrics – Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry
Backing Singers – Rajiv Sundaresan, Arun Kamath, Suhas Sawant, Rishikesh Kamerkar, Aditi Prabhudesai, Madhura Paranjape, Pragati Joshi & Rucha Padhye
This song should be instantly reaching listeners. Shankar Mahadevan, Haricharan, Anurag Kukarni seems to be right choice for this song. Anurag is slowly taking the space where Tippu or Kk left in Telugu Film music. Sirivennela garu gets 2 of 4 songs, and guess gets the critical songs in the album. He weaves pieces together to connect them to make a beautiful story out of it. All the three singers with power packed Chorus, makes this song a power packed song, and it is one. A good start to the album, which starts pleasantly, takes to the next level with good singing by the three singers. A little care should have been taken in pronouncing and also to keep words intact without breaking them to fit the tune.
On a side note, there is a huge list of backing singers, unfortunately none of these names sound Telugu, Do we really have no singers that cannot be even used as backing singers?? So many singers are coming out of Paadutaa Teeyaga, what is happening to them??
2) Andam Ankitam
Singers – Vijayprakash, Shashaa Tirupati
Lyrics – Anantha Sriram
Backing Singers – Rajiv Sundaresan, Umesh Joshi, Deepti Rege & Pragati Joshi
This song is not sounding right. Female singer, Vijay are disconnected I guess, Shashaa Tirupati didn't sound good, Tuning didn't suit well with this combo of Vijay and Shashaa, The beats are heavy, Vijay singing is also heavy, but Shashaa singing is contrast, probably thats why this song doesn't appeal well, even though its made grand. The chorus did their part well. But overall this song will not really appeal well.
3) O…Syeraa
Lyrics – Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry
Singers – Sunidhi Chauhan, Shreya Ghoshal
Backing Singers – Rajiv Sundaresan, Arun Kamath, Suhas Sawant, Rishikesh Kamerkar, Deepti Rege, Pragati Joshi, Arohi Mhatre & Aditi Prabhudesai
Title song written by Sirivennela garu, is so powerful, Sung by Sunidhi and Shreya, both never sounded Telugu'ish. The chorus is really powerful, saying of Oh Syeraa is very good, There is lot of power in the song, heavily orchestrated, backed by good Chorus, the visuals too were good. But the lead voices dont match the rest of the grandeur of the song. Some words written by Sirivennela garu couldn't even be pronounced by these singers. Ignoring lead singers the rest of the song is really well made. It will bring the required patriotic feel to the viewers/listeners. Shreya's voice is feeble compared to the power of the song. Sunidhi could have done lot better with a little bit care on the words. She has the range required for the song, but saying words took away that benefit of her voice. But overall a very well made song, that fits and suits well as title song.
4) Swaasalona desame
Singers – Haricharan
Lyrics – Chandrabose
Backing Singers – Rajiv Sundaresan, Arun Kamath & Suhas Sawant
Chandrabose writes his usual algorithm based lyrics which revolves around what is about for the country. Haricharan does decent in this song. Chorus is efficiently used again. Situational song in explaining Narasimha reddy? This shows what he did how his life transformed with sacrifices he did in life to make his life for the country. Should be great on the screen and a treat to watch the transformation of Narasimha Reddy's life. Song should bring out the emotion from the people. A decent song made and sung by Haricharan, who brings the emotion rightly and expresses it well.
Pick(s) of the album: Syeraa, Jaagore
Movies made on history will need a great background score, as the score will need to elevate the scenes. Songs will need be inspiration and emote the elevation properly to get audience connected powerfully to the backdrop of the move. Title song Syeraa leaves a good impression, but female lead singers disappoint which is compensated by Chorus, and Jaagore also instantly gets in, but Andam Anikatam was let down, could have been added little effort. When songs are limited in the album, expectations will be that all the songs should be very well accepted. Swaasalone is a very decent effort with Haricharan doing well in expressing well. Chorus is very well used in the entire album. Overall the album leaves a something missing feeling, probably movie will fill that gap and these songs will make lot of impact after the movie is released. All the best to the entire team who made the life of Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy even after 170+ years, live with us.
