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Reviews
JATIN-LALIT
HITS
Sony Music, Rs. 55
Jatin-Lalit are among the few music directors around who have made their
mark in a few years, and have lately composed most of the popular songs.
So an album compiling their hits is anytime welcome. The only hitch here
is that the album includes songs from only four films of theirs, which
doesn’t do them justice. Sony could have taken the rights from other
music companies and given variety in this compilation, instead of repeating
songs from same films. Nevertheless, the songs are hits, so no further
complaints. Here you get to hear Ae kaash ke hum, Deewana dil hai deewana
and Aana mere pyar ko from Kabhi Haan Kabhi Na; Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani
title song and Aur kya from the same film; Koi mil gaya and Ladki badi
anjani hai from Kuch Kuch Hota Hai; and the title song of Dil Kya Kare
and Mainu lagan lagi from the same film. Makes for a good listening.
NAINA BARSE
Sony Music, Rs. 55
This album has the “sentimental hits” from Hindi films.
Only these sentimental hits are the ones recorded from the different concerts.
Well it’s good to hear singers live once in a while, since you get
to know their weaknesses in the absence of computerised recordings, which
covers up their flaws.
The album begins with Yaara sili sili from Lekin, and it’s a treat
to hear Lata live. The ‘Nightingale’ is delightful singing Naina
barse too. But after that, the numbers fail to impress because the re-singing
isn’t up to the mark, and you have faulty pronounciations of Hindi
and Urdu words. S.P. Balasubramaniam and Chitra sing Tere bina zindagi
se from Aandhi. S.P. is okay but Chitra’s singing and pronounciations
are bad. She makes a mess of Raina beeti jaye too. S.P.’s singing
of Mere naina is okay, while Sudesh Bhosle does a good job re-singing
Chingari koi bhadke. Hariharan and Kavita Krishnamurthy sing Tu hi re
from Bombay. While Hariharan is competent, Kavita is pathetic. She can’t
raise her voice to a high pitch, and she sounds shaky. But for the technical
manipulations in recording studios, she surely wouldn’t have been
a leading singer today and bagged awards. Those music buffs who love original
songs, might not like the re-sung versions here. After all old is gold.
ROOP SAVLE SUKUMAR (MARATHI)
Venus, Rs. 30
This is Part 5 of the devotional songs album and offers eight Vitthal
abhangs sung by Ajit Kadkade (four on side A) and Suresh Wadkar (four
on the flipside). Those rendered by Ajit Kadkade are Sakal teerthahuni
Pandhari, an abhang by Sant Tukaram set to music by Pandurang Dixit, Vitthal
amuche (traditional) with Kedar Prabhakar’s music, Sant Tukaram’s
Yeyee gaa Vitthala with Shank-Neel’s music and Sant Namdev’s
Vitthal maauli, again with Shank-Neel’s music.
The abhangs sung by Suresh Wadkar are Sant Eknath’s Maazya mana laago
chhand tuned by Shridhar Phadke, Sant Namdev’s Tuzaa maaza Deva with
music by Prabhakar Pandit, Sant Eknath’s Roop savle sukumar (the
title piece) tuned again by Shridhar Phadke and Sant Tukaram’s Yaajsaathi
kela hota with music composed by Pradeep Lad.
TU DAYAALOO DEV MAAZA (MARATHI)
Venus, Rs. 30
In the series of Marathi devotional audios Venus is bringing out,
this is the sixth part and is easily the best amongst them, because well-known
singers like Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki, Suresh Wadkar, Ajit Kadkade, Usha
Mangeshkar, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Pralhad Shinde and Anand Shinde have
rendered them. Most of the songs, in the nature of abhangs and bhajans,
have the classical flavour, but are easily hummable in addition to being
ear-pleasing. The title piece, Tu dayaaloo Dev maaza rendered by Suresh
Wadkar and Kadhi laagel re vedya tula godi by Pralhad Shinde are the pick
of the lot. The music composer for the title piece is Shridhar Phadke,
while the one sung by Pralhad Shinde has been tuned by Vithan Shinde.
Suresh Wadkar has also rendered Om namoji Shiva, a Sant Eknath composition
tuned by Prabhakar Pandit. The Sant Tukaram-written Waat paahe Vithu,
the Sant Eknath-written Bhulvile Krishnaala and Jaahale swapna aaj written
by Pravin Davne have been rendered by Ajit Kadkade. Vishnumay jag Vaishnawaacha
dharma a Sant Tukaram creation, has been rendered by Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki
in his own inimitable style. While Usha Mangeshkar has sung Naama vinasansaaraat
penned by Vandana Vitankar, Kavita Krishnamurthy has rendered Haati tujhya
sukanoo written and composed by Pandurang Dixit. The Damodar Shirwale-written
Vighnahar Lambodar is sung by Anand Shinde, who has also composed its
tune.
SHRI MAHALAKSHMI BEEJMANTRA
Riki Cassettes, Rs. 30
This audio is a compilation of invocations to Goddess Mahalakshmi
and also includes Lakshmihridayam and Shreesukta. The mantras and shlokas
are in Sanskrit and have been rendered effectively by Ravindra Sathe,
Veena Joglekar and Shrihari Vaze, who has also composed the music. The
manner in which they have been rendered and tuned, the Shlokas and Mantras
are able to almost mesmerise a listener. The chanting of each mantra is
prefaced by a commentary in Hindi written by Hemant Purushottam Joglekar
and read by Anand Singh.
The compilation includes Om Rhim Shrim Klim Om, Gayatri mantra, Mahalakshmi-
Gayatri mantra, Mahalakshmi ashtakam and Om Mahalakshmai namah.
At a time when albums devoted to the chanting of various mantras are becoming
increasingly popular with listeners, this audio is a must in one’s
collection.
SOORYA ARADHANA
Venus, Rs. 30
An album of devotional bhajans and aarti addressed to the Sun God
and which also incorporates the Raviwar wratakatha. Written by Pandit
Kiran Mishra and set to music by Triveni-Bhavani, they have been rendered
by Shailendra Bharti, Rajashri and Pamela. There is also commentary by
Adarsh Gautam which helps the listener to understand what Raviwar wrata
is. The highlight of the audio is the Soorya aarti rendered by Kumar,
Mukesh, Shishir, Sugandha, Keya and Aarti. Subah subah tu haath jod ke
sung by Shailendra Bharti and Rajshri and Hey Soorya devata aao by Pamela
are also noteworthy for their lilt and rhythm.
BHAKTICHA JIWHHAALA (MARATHI)
Classic, Rs. 35
An album of 11 devotional lyrics (five on side A and six on side B),
the creations of well-known Maharashtrian saints like Sant Dnyaneshwar
(one), Sant Namdev (one), Sant Eknath (three), Sant Tukaram (five) and
Sant Nikoba (one). They have been presented by the Hanuman Prasadik Bhajan
Mandal Utne (District Kalyan), the singer being Sanjay Rothe, the pupil
of Pandurangbuwa Koshvikar. The singer has received able support from
Vijay Zunzarrao and Bhushan Bhoir. This audio will find favour with listeners,
specially in the rural region of Maharashtra group singing of bhajans
is extremely popular.
DEVA KHANDOBA UGHAD DAAR (MARATHI)
Venus. Rs. 30
An audio of eight devotional lyrics addressed to Khandoba and Jejuri
where Khandoba’s temple is located. The lyrics have been written
by Vithal Shinde (who has also composed the music), Nivrutti Owhal, Sagar
Pawar, Deepshyam and Dattatraya Khadtale. Four of these have been rendered
by Pralhad Shinde, while two each are sung by Vaishali Samant and Shakuntala
Jadhav. The renderings are lilting, although most of the tunes, with folk
flavour, are reminiscent of old ones heard in films before. Deserving
mention are Deva Khandoba Ughad Daar the title piece sung by Vaishali
Samant, Tu waghya mee murali rendered by Shakuntala Jadhav and Jejuri
Jawooya by Pralhad Shinde. A must album for Khandoba devotees.
CHHAND SAI BHAJANANCHA (MARATHI)
Venus. Rs. 30
An album of eight Sai Baba bhajans related to Sai palakhi which would
find favour with Baba’s devotees. Shravan Bala, who has written them,
is also credited with the album’s concept. Singer Chandrashekhar
Gadgil also gets credit for special assistance. The bhajans have been
rendered by Santosh Nayak, Nitin Diskalkar, Shailesh Sagar, Dilip Naik,
Shashikant Mumbre, Hemant Manohar and Chandrashekhar Gadgil. The audio
opens with OPratham vandito Gajanana sung by Dilip Naik eith adequate
devotional fervour. Ek don teen chaar sung by Santosh Nayak, Janseva ratrandin
by Chandrashekhar Gadgil and Shirdi Vaikunth bhuvari by Nitin Diskalkar
are also noteworthy.
Salma Khatib and Pandit Shimpi