Best Choice

One Two Ka Four has what one would call mass-friendly music by A.R. Rahman. Lata Mangeshkar and Sonu Nigam wow you with Khamoshiyan gungunane lagi.

Suresh Wadkar’s singing and Pravin Davane’s devotional lyrics, with a brief introduction, make Ramalo Swaminchya Bhajani an ideal devotional fare for Marathi music lovers.

Saturday Blast (Vol.1) is among the better version albums of English hits in the market. The choice of songs is good.

ONE 2 KA 4
HMV, Rs. 55
A.R. Rahman comes up with an enjoyable score here, which is highly catchy. The songs click with you right away, in the first hearing itself. And for a change, the composer comes up with simple, easy-to-hum tunes, not complicated ones. Everything’s great about this album. The rhythm’s good, and each number is high on melody. The first song Khamoshiyan gungunane lagi sets the mood for the album, that it’s going to be fun all the way. Beautifully penned by Majrooh Sultanpuri (this is the lyricist’s last work before his death), this melodious song has Lata Mangeshkar sounding great. And Sonu Nigam matches up to her with his sensitive rendition. Sona nahin na sahi, the next number, has good beats, with Alka Yagnik and Udit Narayan singing it well. Udit is in his elements in the children’s songs I am sorry. The theme music One two ka four comes next, and is quite wacky.

On the flipside, there’s Osaka muraiya (God knows what language that is), which is on the lines of Rahman’s earlier Jumbalika from Thakshak. The concluding number Haye dil ki baazi laga has a good rhythm, and is the only song penned by Mehboob. It’s obvious Rahman has had a ball while composing for this film, and you don’t tire of pressing the replay button.

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SHE BANGS
T-Series, Rs. 60
Ricky Martin’s new song has been picked up as a title for this T-Series compilation album. Wonder whether the company knows how obscene the title is. Nevertheless, you get to hear some hi-energy numbers here, which have been re-sung of course, but its a good job done. The album features dance hits like She bangs, Macarena, American pie, Cup of life, Bad, Dr. Jones, We will rock you, Scatman, Where do you go and Final countdown. Songs which will have you rocking and rolling.

SATURDAY BLAST (VOL. 1)
T-Series, Rs. 60
Saturday is the weekend, when everybody lets their hair down. It’s usually party-time on Saturday nights, and the title of the album indicates that it has songs which will help you in having a blast. This version album has on Side A numbers like I feels so good, Lucky, Unpretty, Rock DJ, Right here right now, Beautiful stranger, To the moon and back, My heart goes boom and 5, 6, 7, 8. Interesting compilation.

RAMALO SWAMINCHYA BHAJANI (MARATHI)
Krunal, Rs. 35
An album of devotional songs pertaining to Swami Samarth of Akkalkot. Written by Pravin Davane, the lyrics are meaningful. Each lyric is preceded by an introduction written and also spoken by the poet. Suresh Wadkar has rendered all the eight songs with feeling and leaves an imprint on the mind of the listener about the meaning of the song lines. The title track on Side B is a highlight along with other songs like Anudini me aalvito, Utha Utha Swami Samartha and Swaminchi paalakhi. The audio is a must in one’s collection of devotional albums.

MANAACHE SHLOK (MARATHI)
Prism, Rs. 35
Saint Shri Samarth Ramdas Swami’s lyrical creations called Manaache Shlok form the contents of this audio. Considered as an invaluable gift to humanity, these creations are in the nature of teachings, advice and guidance in an easy-to-understand yet effective language. The Shloks are presented in the form of choral singing and, with Paresh Shah as the music arranger, have been rendered by Nitin Morajkar, Mohan Morajkar, Rajiv Jagtap, Sanjay Singha, Ashwin Bhandare, Arvind Mohite, Asmita Satardekar, Sarita Pathare, Roopali Aangane, Deepali Green and Swati Harvande. The Shloks are extremely popular and the album will get patronage from the young and old alike.

AATHAVATA TULA? (MARATHI)
Krunal, Rs. 35
Two well-known names, actress Varsha Usgaonkar and actor Prashant Damle, are associated with this audio, which seems to be specially designed for young people in love. Aathavata tula?, meaning “Do you remember?”, is a reading of couplets (embellished by a soft musical score in the background) alternately by Varsha and Prashant, which will appeal to listeners who are in love. The inlay describes the contents of the album as Premachya chaar oleechee chaaroli. Dilip Bhosle and K Anil are credited with the writing of the couplets. The album starts with an introductory narration by Veena Chandrashekhar. Ashok Wayangankar is the music arranger. The album is no doubt a novel one and will find ready listeners. But it would have attracted more patronage had some of the couplets been sung by Varsha and Prashant, both of whom are popular singers.

SHOLAYLA LAAGLE KOLHE (MARATHI)
Zapata, Rs. 35
The AVP-produced Marathi drama Sholayla Laagle Kolhe presented in the form of a remix drama by Symphony, go to form the contents of this album. In the nature of dialogues plus songs, the contents are highly hilarious. The songs as well as the music by Parish Thakur are not imitative of Sholay. There are two songs on Side A, Raat sharabi thandi gulabi by Uttara Kelkar and Taal naay soor naay waajavto kaa by Kiran Shembekar, both of which are likable. On the flipside also there are two songs, Khaaibaba bhaaibaba by Kiran Shembekar and the Uttara Kelkar-rendered Dhak dhak kartay kaalij udatay, which is quite lilty. The music arranger is Arvind Hasabnis, who has done a competent job. The comic dialogues are in the voices of Sanjay Kasbekar, Manohar Gaikwad, Gajanan Sangale, Ram Kajrolkar, Chhaya Palav, Vivek Thawal, Vijjay Lad, Sudha Shive and Prachi Saturdekar.

PARAMESHWAR PARSAN (MARATHI)
Krunal, Rs. 35
The name of Nivrutti Pawar ranks high among the folk singers of Maharashtra and the moment one hears the song Kaathi na ghongada ghewoo dya ki ra, his name flashes in the listener’s mind. There is one rising singer, Vijay Sartape, whose voice is similar to that of Nivrutti Pawar. The audio, described as superhit Nivruti Pawar, offers in Sartape’s voice ten of Nivruti Pawar’s most popular songs. These include the title track with which the audio opens, followed by Kaathi na ghongada ghewoo dya ki ra,Kashi basu me gaadit, Hoshil ka ga rani, Ag ye aambraait shiru, Surya ugawala soniyachya and Ek baahuli chaalali. The album is a must for the lovers of Marathi folk music.

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New Releases

CHANTS OF SURYA
Milestone, Rs. 65
The album is rare and has chants in praise of Lord Surya, composed and arranged by Shri Govind Prasann Saraswati. The compositions have been sung in Sanskrit by classical vocalists Pt. Rajan and Sajan Misra. The highlight of the album is the Aaditya Hridaya Stotra, and it is believed that meditating with this empowers the listener with the divine strength to take on challenges and ward off evil.

CHANTS OF SHIVA
Milestone, Rs. 65
A collection of rare Shiva stutis said to be ancient and soul elevating. The album includes the famous Shiv Tandav Stotrum. Shri Govind Prasann Saraswati is the composer, while Rajan and Sajan Misra are the singers.

CHANTS OF GAYATRI
Milestone, Rs. 55
Here you have the Gayatri Mantra or the Mool Gayatri, the traditional Vedic chant, which is known as the ‘Mother of the Vedas’. The mantra is one of the most powerful and widely accepted chants in India. The ancient chants in praise of Goddess Gayatri have been composed by Shri Govind Prasann Saraswati, and sung by Ritesh and Rajneesh Misra, sons of vocalist Rajan Misra.

Reviewed By
Salma Khatib And Pandit Shimpi
salmakhatib@hotmail.com