Music Review - Raavan

Raavan (2010)
Music Director: A R Rahman
Film Director: Maniratnam
*ing: Abhi, Ash, Vikram et al

Khili Re - I listened to Khili Re first. Nice romantic song, can distinctly feel the Bengali style here. You can imagine this song being sung on a boat on Hoogly or Brahmaputra in a moonlit night. Not sure of the actual picturization. But, yes, something to watch out for!

Behene De - Initial parts remind of "paani paani re" from Maachis. The echoing bells and haunting background symphony are similar. Thereafter, the song picks up pace and stands on its own. ARR is using a lot more chorus based creations than earlier. Beautiful interweaving of solos and joint singing. Towards the end, there is a persian+underground mix that brings a terrific effect in a good audio system. Makes the hair stand on its end! Terrificilious!

Beera Beera - Anybody else could not have made a song out of so many different sounds - er, maybe Sivamani. Well, is Sivamani the brain behind this song? I would not be surprised least bit. Awesome percussion!! Would have loved the song to stretch atleast half a min or so more. (And is that some native tribal dialect? sounds vaguely like saying "kilimanjaro". a la deep forest?)

Thok De Khilli - It will take multiple listens to understand the underlying feel. I particularly loved the loud sounding of trumpets, as if to announce the arrival of a King. I have heard these instruments in real life, and they inspire awe. So, it is a great use of the instrument in this song. It's combination with electric guitar riffs stamps POWER all over this song. This could be really a morale building march song, "I am going out there to defeat the enemy and come back victorious" types!

Kata Kata Ila - The shehnai interlude is somewhat misleading, I felt. I particularly loved the rustic feel brought in by Ila Arun. String instrument arrangement is awesome! Can imagine the fun environment. I think this is more of a Bachelor Party song... raunchy, mischievous... even lyrics seem to suggest the same. Nice euphoric ending.

Ranjha Ranjha - I think this is the song of the album! Complex, bewitching... everything about this song is awesome... orchestration, chorus, lyrics, even the background humming. A casual listener will need to be patient in understanding the beauty of this track. It is a connoisseur's delight.

My #1 for now : Ranjha Ranjha and Khili Re (trying to decide on one of these, but unable to!)

BTW, read this after I was done and was just about to send out. Nice read!
http://www.planetbollywood.com/displayReview.php?id=m042310081210

Enjoy the treat to your ears!