 |
 |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Reviews
RASIYA - MILIND INGLE
Sony Music, Rs.
55
After Yeh Hai Prem, Milind Ingle comes up with Rasiya, which has a thoughtful
theme of enjoying life inspite of the ups and downs. This is one of those
‘pepping-up’ albums, in which Ingle shows maturity both, as a singer
and a composer, a great improvement from his amateurish stuff in Yeh Hai
Prem. All the eight compositions on the album convey a feeling of joie de
vivre, and though the music seems to be influenced a great deal from the
earlier Rajshri films like Chitchor, Dulhan Wahi Jo Piya Man Bhaye, Ingle’s
silken voice and his smooth singing is what you focus on more than the music.
He is one of the few singers who is blessed with a good, well-trained voice,
which is more effective than the music. Take the title song Rasiya for instance,
the folksy tune is no great shakes, but Ingle’s singing makes it hummable.
Ditto the case with Chunchun, Jadoo, Hasina and Pyaar, which are the striking
numbers in the album. Here’s a singer who you’d definitely like
to hear more often.
TU MERI MISS INDIA - BABBU MAAN
Catrack, Rs. 40
Here’s another of those Punjabi pop albums and another of those Punjabi
pop singers from abroad, releasing his album in India. That’s what we
thought too when we saw the album. But our impressions changed once we heard
the album, and we assure you that it is not among those to be dismissed off
without lending a ear. Simply because the eight numbers, though having a
Punjabi feel to it, have been differently composed by Surinder Bachan,
who’s tried to incorporate some new sounds in oft-heard Punjabi tunes.
And also Babbu Maan is a revelation as a singer, with a strong and deep voice.
Listen to him in the traditional Neendran, which has been presented in a
new way, or in Miss India and you’ll agree. Tupka tupka, Kudian kudian
and Rumaal de gaya are the other song worth hearing. An album which will
definitely do well in the North.
SONGS FROM ALLY MCBEAL
Sony Music, Rs.
125
Those addicted to the popular teleserial Ally McBeal,
which is all about the endearing antics of a young woman Ally McBeal, will
definitely welcome the idea of the album incorporating the songs from the
serial. But even those who don’t care much for the teleserial, will
like this album because it features a good singer Vonda Shepard, and because
some of the the numbers strike a chord in the first hearing itself. Shepard
proves herself to be exceptionally good, with her strong vocals and her ability
to sing every kind of song with aplomb. She’s adept at singing a ballad
or a blues, and the variation in her voice is marvellous. Of the 14 songs
on the album, the soul-stirring ones like Searchin my soul, Walk away Renee,
Hooked on a feeling, The end of the world, I only want to be with you; and
the foot-tapping Tell him, and the fun-loving It’s in his kiss are the
ones which make an impact. The inlay cover has all the lyrics and they are
quite fine, making a lot of sense.
BHALE TARI DEOO PARTS I & II (MARATHI)
Zapata, Rs. 35 (one
cassette)
This two-part audio is in the nature of kirtans, a combination of verse and
prose, presenting stories and anecdotes of Gods and Goddesses and well-known
saints. The kirtans medium was at one time extremely popular throughout
Maharashtra, specially in its rural and semi-rural areas. In these two albums,
an attempt has been made by the writer-singer and principal performer, Charudutt
Aphale, to co-relate the ancient anecdotes and stories to the present times.
The narration in places is in the nature of a stage play, with Aphale holding
centre-stage, and is supported by co-artists like Vasant Ruke, Devdutt Mahabal
and Krantigeeta Mahabal.
Side A of Part I begins with an anecdote of how Govinda, a child who had gone to the famed Prabhat Film Studios in Pune, to act in a Marathi film titled Shejari. But he was dragged out of the studio and severely reprimanded by his mother, at whose insistence he had taken to kirtans (which, he told her, no one attended and acted as hindrance in the way of marriage). But he went on to attain fame as Kirtankar Govindswami Aphale, whose contribution in popularising kirtans not only in Maharashtra, but all over India, and even abroad during the 1940-1988 period has been duly recognised now. At the end of the anecdote, Charudutt, the son of Govindswami, pays homage to his memory and the invaluable contribution he made in popularising this devotional musical folk-form among the people.
This anecdote is followed by Tirtha Vitthal Kshetra Vitthal, which is in the nature of a kirtan presented in stage form, narrating anecdotes and events relating to Pandharpur with its famed Vitthal temple, Sant Dnyaneshwar and Sant Namdev, and the annual pilgrimage of Warkaris to Pandharpur on Ashadhi and Kartiki Ekadashis. Side B of Part I is devoted to other saints such as Kanhopatra and Sawata Mali, incorporating such popular verses like Patit tu pawana mhanavisi Narayana, aamuchi maliyachi jaat, yewoon jaa bigi bigi and Raja Pandharicha ha Hari maaza aala.
Part II of this album is more musical. Side A starts with an extremely popular bharood with the words Satwar paawga mala Bhawani aai rodga coaheen tula, followed by Prabhuji tum chandan hum paani in praise of Sant Rohidas. Shrikrishna Govind Hare Murare and Mun changa toa katouti mein Ganga have also been rendered effectively.
Side B begins with Daar ughad baye daar ughad, which is ear-pleasing, and is followed by Sant Tukaram’s Jodoniya dhan uttam vyawahare. Part II ends with Ithe kaare ubha Shreerama, which is about Sant Ramdas addressing Vithal in Pandharpur’s temple as Ram. Both these albums drive home the message that God is all-pervading and that God is one, although he may be known by different names in different regions, by different communities.
Reviewed by Salma Khatib And Pandit Shimpi