Music Review: Shamitabh (Hindi)
Composer(s): Ilaiyaraaja
Listen to the songs online here: Saavn
Ishq-E-Phillum is synth-friendly Ilaiyaraaja goodness and the mesmerising orchestration (wow, those interludes!) gets pitch-perfect support in Suraj Jagan. So is the case with the brilliantly tuned Sha Sha Mi Mi with Caralisa Monteiro doing a fantastic rendition of the enticing melody. The inclusion of brass instruments is a master-stroke! Piddly, a vintage Ilaiyaraaja melody boasting of a lovely assortment of strings and a superb singing by Amitabh Bachchan, is not far behind either. I'm sure if this was a Tamil song, Ilaiyaraaja himself would have sung it! Johnny's sensuous 80's number Asaiya Kathula gets a part dubstep-part techno makeover in Stereophonic Sannata and Shruti Haasan spruces it up with her sprightly vocals.
Words cannot merely express the astounding musical extravaganza that's Thappad! Arresting and peppy, the retro-styled guitary track is fabulous and Suraj Jagan shells out a rocking performance. Lifebuoy (Suraj Jagan), a quirky techno take on the famous soap ad, is mighty interesting too. Maestro Ilaiyaraaja whips up a winsome techno frenzy for his landmark 1000th film that's captivating, contemporary and techno-tastic! Beautiful, just beautiful. Undeniably one of the best soundtracks in recent times. Now if you will excuse me, I need to go hit the replay button!
Update: I have been listening to the entire album of Shamitabh on endless repeat since I commenced to write out this review yesterday, and I feel what I've written just doesn't do enough justice to the musical splendour that Ilaiyaraaja has unleashed upon us. (Perhaps my expectations were tempered in part because of the composer's previous associations with director R. Balki - most of the tunes in Cheeni Kum and Paa were reimagined versions of their Tamil/Malayalam originals.) The predominant synth soundscape is very much distinctively the composer's, yet it's totally fresh, upbeat and majestic! And the more I listen to it, the more it grows on me. A slow poison and a thoroughly refreshing effort this. I can't recommend it enough!
Listen to the songs online here: Saavn
Ishq-E-Phillum is synth-friendly Ilaiyaraaja goodness and the mesmerising orchestration (wow, those interludes!) gets pitch-perfect support in Suraj Jagan. So is the case with the brilliantly tuned Sha Sha Mi Mi with Caralisa Monteiro doing a fantastic rendition of the enticing melody. The inclusion of brass instruments is a master-stroke! Piddly, a vintage Ilaiyaraaja melody boasting of a lovely assortment of strings and a superb singing by Amitabh Bachchan, is not far behind either. I'm sure if this was a Tamil song, Ilaiyaraaja himself would have sung it! Johnny's sensuous 80's number Asaiya Kathula gets a part dubstep-part techno makeover in Stereophonic Sannata and Shruti Haasan spruces it up with her sprightly vocals.
Words cannot merely express the astounding musical extravaganza that's Thappad! Arresting and peppy, the retro-styled guitary track is fabulous and Suraj Jagan shells out a rocking performance. Lifebuoy (Suraj Jagan), a quirky techno take on the famous soap ad, is mighty interesting too. Maestro Ilaiyaraaja whips up a winsome techno frenzy for his landmark 1000th film that's captivating, contemporary and techno-tastic! Beautiful, just beautiful. Undeniably one of the best soundtracks in recent times. Now if you will excuse me, I need to go hit the replay button!
Update: I have been listening to the entire album of Shamitabh on endless repeat since I commenced to write out this review yesterday, and I feel what I've written just doesn't do enough justice to the musical splendour that Ilaiyaraaja has unleashed upon us. (Perhaps my expectations were tempered in part because of the composer's previous associations with director R. Balki - most of the tunes in Cheeni Kum and Paa were reimagined versions of their Tamil/Malayalam originals.) The predominant synth soundscape is very much distinctively the composer's, yet it's totally fresh, upbeat and majestic! And the more I listen to it, the more it grows on me. A slow poison and a thoroughly refreshing effort this. I can't recommend it enough!
Thanks for the great review!!
ReplyDeleteI like your passion for movies and how you are reviewing them as a medium to express your views.
You should become part of movietalkr community where there are lot of movie lovers like you expressing their views about latest bollywood movies. You should post your reviews at
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