In this post I’m trying to review a song by A.R.Rahman.
The two times Academy Award winner A.R.Rahman, our own Mozart has been reinventing the way music is being composed in the Indian film industry. He started a revolution which not only exposed western music to Indian music lovers but also made the West recognise the beauty of Indian music.
The song which I have taken now, Khamosh Raat, is from the Bollywood flick, Thakshak. This is a typical ARR album, consisting of songs of various genres. Some of the songs are originally from Tamil movies. It is a listener’s delight. The only off song is Toofan Ki Raat.
The song Khamosh Raat is a very soft, melodic song. This song is sung by Roop Kumar Rathod. The lyrics is by Mehboob. I find it hard to determine the genre of the song.
The song starts with the strumming of guitar. It seems as if the guitarist was learning to play the notes and Rahman recorded that. I have heard that Rahman records every sound that materialises in his studio during the recording session.
Slowly the singer starts. The tune seems simple. The song gradually picks momentum. When it starts there is no percussion as such, only jingles and backing up by guitar riffs, some bells and violins and a flute (for about a second). I love the part (1:27) when the singer sings Yeh Sachh Hai Ya Sapna!
The drum beats start slowly with jingles still continuing in the background-a typical Rahman style. There will be a base instrument which will continue till the end- here it is jingles – all the other instruments are added one top of the other. On the whole, a musical treat for the ear. This can be found in most of his songs if not all.
The tune of this song is simple but complex when one looks into its intricacies. In most of Rahman songs there will not be a set pattern. Usually it is like this- first stanza will have a tune, followed by a background score followed by the second and third stanza which will have exactly the same tune. But you cannot expect this in ARR’s song. In some songs he would have repeated the same tune, but no one would have known. This is mainly because of his layering- the way he adds instruments as the song progresses.
Coming back to the song, the singer’s voice is kind of husky which suits the mood of the song. The song progresses smoothly where drum beats and other instruments are added one after another.
After the first stanza there is a small BGM with Hawaiian guitar. It is simple. The tune after this BGM for the lines, Jhoonki Jhoonki Palkein Jab Uthi, I have no words to describe. Totally different from the previous stanza. You must listen to them- it gives a very distinct feeling. The tune makes the listener jump in joy (I was excited). A good orchestration can be found. It transforms from a somber to a pleasant mood. The sudden female chorus singing the swarams Sa Pa Pa Ma Ga Ma Ga Ma Pa… Ga Ma Ga Sa Sa Ri Sa Da Sa Ri is surprising.
As the chorus fades and eventually stops, Hawaiian guitar plays the swarams or tune which forms the second BGM. Everything except the pads comes to a sudden and unexpected halt, when Roop sings Jeene Ka Tha Hum Mein Dum Par Nahi Tha Koi Hum Dum. Good piece of poetry says my friend. You can hear the female chorus and the pads in the background. At about 5:23 the song reaches its high part (crescendo) with violins playing in the background. The Hawaiian guitar again plays the swarams in the background and when the song reaches the end, male backing vocal joins, singing the swarams previously sung by the female chorus.
The song fades out. You feel like listening to it once more? Go on, enjoy and try to discover subtleties which words fail to describe.
Cheers!
Good day folks.
PS: This is my first attempt in writing a review for a song as a whole. So please bear with any mistakes, especially technical terms. I would be pleased to read your comments.
The Confused Soul! 