Music Review (Telugu): Majili

Music Review (Telugu): Majili
Music Composer : Gopi Sundar

Maayya Maayya ticks off all the checkboxes required for Hero introduction/ revolutionary song and Gopi Sundar sets the soundscape with the punchy rock base. Bhaskarabhatla's lyrics go well with the mood while the tune evokes a memory of multiple Harris Jayaraj songs especially the charanam portions starting off with 'Thala thirige Rangelo' which makes me go back to Harris's Orange. Naa Gundello is easily breezy track bundled with the pleasant orchestration especially in the interludes with the Shehnai bit and Nikhitha Gandhi surprisingly sounds like Shalmali Kholgade while Yazin Nizar renders effortlessly. Gopi Sundar employed Xylophone and strings effectively throughout the song.

Yedethu Mallelle's gorgeous folk tune is captured by minimal arrangements and the tune is backed by Kala Bhairava and Nikhitha Gandhi's effectual rendition. Director Shiva Nirvana's affecting lyrics about pain and separation blends well with the earnest rendition of the lead singers. The album's stunning highlight is undeniably Chinmayi's Priyathama Priyathama. The melodious tune is adorned with the highly likeable arrangements backed by Josy Alpy's flute and Sumesh Parameshwar's guitar work. The title hook and the repetitive Ishtamaina Sakhudaa is the winner in this phenomenal track which is bound to hit the charts similar to Inkem Inkem last year. One boy One girl is the soundtrack's weakest where Gopi Sundar plays to the tune of commercial Telugu cinema requirements but the track is sketchy and Revanth's processed vocals don't help the track either. BhaskaraBhatla's lyrics sound adequate. Ye Manishiki Majiliyo is another easy winner from Gopi Sundar where the composer churned out an affecting charanam tune in the backdrop of celebratory percussion arrangements. Arun Gopan who composed for the underrated Amutha last year croons this song along with Chinmayi and  Baby Anusha. Gopi, as usual, weaves his magic in the melodious interludes.

Verdict: After last year Geetha Govindam, Gopi Sundar strikes a chord once again with the highly listenable melodies in Majili.

My Rating:8/10

Pick of the Album: Priyathama Priyathama, Ye Manishiki Majiliyo, Naa Gundello

P.S You can listen to the songs in Youtube.

Music Review (Hindi): Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota

Music Review (Hindi): Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota
Music Composer: Karan Kulkarni

Rappan Rappi Rap's funky sound and Benny Dayal brilliant singing give a heady start to the trippy album of the year. Benny Dayal's singing takes me back to the singer's last year Tamil funk album Funktuation. Composer's bass section and blackjack Horns's exploding brass sounds is enough to dive deep into the soundscape created by the composer for the whole album. Karan Kulkarni gives an exciting swing to the familiar Punjabi vibe in Kitthon da Tu Superstar while the background is peppered with electronic synth sounds and Rajesh Rajbhatt's Dhol. After a lively start to the album, composer returns with the dreamy Tere Liye where Kamakshi Rai's velvety vocals in the backdrop of keys and Karan's guitar strums makes this one a delightful listen in the album especially the chorus is easily the most hummable part in the song. 

Nakhrewaali is another trippy insane track in the album where the arrangements are phenomenal especially the inclusion of udukkai sounds amidst the hypnotic rhythm structure which is peppered throughout the song. Saba Azad of "Calcutta Kiss" and Nautanki Saala fame enters in the second half for the whispery appealing rendition. Karan Kulkarni delivered another crazy intriguing song Life Mein Fair Chance Kiska with Suresh Triveni, Surya Ragunathan's south Indian accented Hindi which imitates SPB's vocals and Tamil words are thrown throughout the song but the prelude is an absolute kickass bit from the composer and the song gains immensely from Kishore Sodha's trumpet. Dreamtime is true to its title, which starts with the ticking sounds and moves into the waltz tune backed up once again by Kamakshi Rai and the serene tune is sure enough to enthral the listeners. Shaolin Sky is the tweaked version of Rappan Rappi Rap and the Karan Kulkarni's version is also adequately enjoyable and arresting listen. Kitthon da Tu Superstar's shooter version is instrumental one for the most parts with Sanj V joining towards the end.

Verdict: Karan Kulkarni arrives in style with the full fledged soundtrack and this album is the most eclectic and wacky one in recent times.

My Rating: 8.5/10

Pick of the Album: All of them.

P.S You can listen to the songs in JioSaavn.