Delhi 6 Music Review ~*Indeed A Masterpiece*~

I still remember 1992, when I first time heard A R Rahman’s music in trailers of Roja (Dil hai chota Sa) and I was so amazed by the song that I use to listen Vividh Bharti from morning 8.30-10.00 (there was a program where they give trailers of new movies) almost everyday. And when I bought the cassette, I played almost 50 times a day and I have to bring a new cassette within a month. That was my first encounter with the magic RAHMANIA and the magic kept on growing me through Urvashi Urvashi, Kya Kare Kya Na Kare, Tu Hi Re & Kehna hi kya, O bhavare, Hai re Hai re Hai Rabba, Chaiyaan Chaiyaan & Aye Ajnabi, Nahin Saamne Tu, Ek Tu Hi Bharosa, So Gaye Hain, Khamoshiyan gungunane lagi, O Rey Chhori, Desh Mere Des, O Humdum Suniyo Re, Kabhi Neem Neem, Khoon chala, Mayya, Kahin To hogi wo, Tu Meri Dost Hai, Gujarish and this list goes on, on and on. And now the master is back with Delhi-6 and again I was glued to it by the first aired song Masakalli and when I got my hand on the album I was more amazed. Here is my take of the album

Bhor Bhayi: Rahman is known for the use of Indian Raags in his music, be it Kariye na Kariye na (Raag kalian), Rut aa gayi re (Raag puria dhaneshree), Desh mere (Raag desh), Tu hi to (Raag Sri ragam) and recenlt Aye Hairathe (Raag yaman) and now he is back with Bhor Bhayi a song based on Gujri Todi with brilliant use of tabla and harmonium. This song is well supported by Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan and Shreya Ghoshal (with her superb aalaaps) who gave superb classical rendition and never failed to amaze. If you are an Indian classical music lover, this is the song for you.

Masakali: The first aired song of Delhi-6 which holds our attention is indeed a globalized number. Ok well tell me one thing what caught Ur attention first, the music (specially the mouth organ and the superb fusion of Arabic sounds with Latino drum beats) or singing (Mohit Chauhan’s (who already have given a superb Khoon Chala) charmed pastoral raw voice) or it is the Lyrics by Prasoon joshi. This song is a perfect fusion of a wild and free melody which sounds a bit animated and diversely arranged rhythm (ranging from Turkish beats, Arabic drumming with a Latino touch in it (you can feel it in the sound of drums in between) and an inspiring orchestration along with a soulful accordion but still keeps the focus on the vocal expression. And a lyric are quite interesting (Using metaphor of a dove which is a symbol of innocence, gentleness, peace and liberation and aspires to fly high he related brilliantly to a young girls aspiration) but still in place as it suits the mood of song. But the best part of the song is free-style rendition by Mohit especially when it comes to crooning dil ki tammanna, manmaani man maani and the Alaps in between the antaras. Masakali is a fresh, absolutely tuned melody dipped into the preeminent exotic music styles. Wanna relax. Listen to it and you gonna say phur phur phur with it.

Zara pankh jhatak

gayi dhool atak

aur lachak machak ke door bhatak

Ude dagar dagar kasbe koochee

nukkad basti mein (Yai yai)
Etadi se mud, ada se ud

karle poori dil ki tammannaa

Hawa se jud, ada se ud

phur phur phur tu hai heera panna re

Noor: Next track Noor is a small nazm (poem) in the deep baritone Big B who sounds surprisingly young. This poem talks about looking within to find the truth and to love all human being.

Zarre zarre mein usika noor hai

jhaank khud mein woh na tujhse door hai

Ishq hai usse to sabse ishq kar
is ibaadat ka yahi dastoor hai

Aarti Tumhre Bhavan Mein: Do you still remember Aarti that our elders use to sing in our homes (I know now most of us don’t sing aartis)? If know listen to this track which is a tribute to Maa Durga and will surely bring you back to your roots. The best part of this is the superb rendition (by Rekha Bharadwaj, Kishori Gowarikar, Shraddha Pandit and Sujata Majumdar) along with measured glimmer of the sitar, vibrating ghantis and a humming background. A poignant and hypnotic bhajan with a soothing background that will catch your attention whenever you play this track and will sooth your ailing heart.

Genda Phool: Next track Genda Phool (meaning Marigold) is a catchy folk song in rustic voice of Rekha Bharadwaj who is brilliantly supported by Shraddha Pandit and Sujata Mazumdar. This song talks about a newly wedded girl’s view about her sasuraal and her in-laws in Raipur. This will surely get its place in the league of Main toh bhool chali babul ka desh, piya ka ghar pyaara laage. The lyrics were superb with use of typical pastoral words and display beautifully the thoughts of a newly wedded one. In this Rahman and Rajat Dholakiya used some impish beats with the use of synths and techno beats along with traditional dhol and ghungru sounds. But the USP of this song is the eccentric voice of Rekha giving the required rustic feel that will touch your heart. Superb is the word for this one. Rahmaan at his best

Chora babul ka angana, Bhaave deraa piya ka ho

Bushirt pahine khayee ke bida paan

Poore Raipur se alag hai Saiyaan ji ki shaanSasural genda phool

Saiyaan ched dewe Nanad chutki leve Sasural genda phool

Dil Gira Dafatan: Next track Dil Gira Dafatan (Dafatan means all of a sudden) is a soul inspiring melodic magnum opus which left me wordless. Things happen in life all of sudden, we fell in love Dafatan, we miss something Dafatan, we found some thing Dafatan and sometimes we found new meanings of a word Dafatan. This track is crooned by Ash King (to be true, I don’t know this guy) who sounds like Javed Ali (Aditi and Gujarish Fame) and well supported by Chinmayee through her background vocals. Rahman used various western symphonies (Arabic and Turkish) along with use of some string instrument (either Rubaab or Sitar) in this track. Lyrics are amazing but the main USP is heartfelt rendition. Listen this and forget everything….

Dil Gira kahin per da-fatan
Jaane magar ye nayan Teri khamosh zulfon ki gehraiyaan
Hai jahan dil meraa uljha hua hai wahin kho gaya

Tu magar hai bekhabar, hai bekhabar…

Hey Kala Bandar: Well I have nothing much to say on this track except that this track totally belongs to Rahman loaded with techno beats and strong bass along with rap interlude. This track is crooned by Karthik, Naresh, Srinivas, and Bonny Chakravarthy. But still songs fail to leave its impression and will not get its place in league of Pathshaala and Shanno Shanno.

Kasmein to moongfali hain

Jab jee chahe hum khaate

Upar se na na karte Par thaali aage sarkaatey

Rehna Tu: Rahman’s album and till now no song in his voice??? Ok don’t get upset, here comes the maestro with Rehna Tu, an idyllic and tranquil masterpiece which has capacity to hold your attention and will tenderly grow on you. This song truly belongs to Rahman not only because of his superb rendition along with Benny Dayal but also because of the tranquility of the music where he used a wide range of sounds starting from modern techno beats to the soft Arabic tunes but still all the sound mixed and absorb into one soft tune that will surely leave you breathless specially the closing music with some wind instrument. Kudos to Prasoon for giving heart touching lyrics which talks about unconditional love. Listen to this track and I am sure every time you will find yourself related to this…

Tujhe badalna na chaahoon, Ratti bhar bhi sanam

Bina sajaawat milaawat,Na jyaada na hi kam

Tujhe chaahon jaisa hai tu

Mujhe teri baarish mein bheegna hai ghul jaana hai

Tujhe chaahon jaisa hai tu

Mujhe teri lapat mein jalna raakh ho jaana ha.

Delhi 6: Title track Delhi 6 (better to call Dilli 6) is dedicated to Dilwalo ki dilli and talks about delhites jo Kabhi pyaar mein gali bhi deta, Kabhi gali mein pyaar bhi hota hai aur jahan Ankhon ki tara bhi yahan pyaar mein bilkul khota hai. This song is crooned by Benny Dayal, Vivinenne Pocha, Tanvi, Blaaze and Claire and is filled with attitude, and panache. Here Rahman used vibrating synths, acoustic guitar in this number to support high-octane vocals crooning the lyrics by Vivinenne Pocha and Claire. I am now waiting for its video.

Arziyaan: Arziyaan is a devotional qawalli track which reminds me of Piya Haji Ali (fiza) and Khwaja Mere Khwaja (Jodha Akbar). This track is crooned by Javed Ali (in surprisingly different voice) and Kailash Kher. Here Rahman beautifully used tabla, harmonium, hand clapping and a soft guitar background to merger with tranquil lyrics to produce an expressively invigorating tune. But the main USP of the track is chemistry between Javed and Kailash which will keep you hooked to it in spite of its length and will sooth your heart.

Mein Bhatakta Jata Tha, Reshmi Si Maya Thi
Aur Mein Takta Jata Tha
Jab Teri Gali Aaya, Sach Tabhi Nazar Aaya
Mujhe Mein Woh Khusboo Thi, Jisse Tune Milwaya

My take: Bollywood has now started producing make album according to the theme of movies e.g music of Rock On, Razz-TMC (where almost all the song has scary feel related to it), Luck by Chance (almost all songs talking about hope in life) and Delhi-6 will come in that category too. Delhi-6 music has been created keeping the plot of the movie be it Masakalli (featuring Dove but symbolizing a free Sonam), Delhi-6 giving a glimpse of Delhi life and its attitude, Arziyaan- with Jama-Masjid in background and Noor giving idea of communal harmony, Aarti giving feel of our own home and chattarpur temple, Dil gira Dafatan and Rehna tu- talks about an unconditional love (between a American and an Indian girl), Genda Phool and classically enlightened ambiance of Bhor bhaye giving glimpse of Indian tradition. Overall, acoustic brilliance of Delhi-6 soundtrack with 10 OSTs will keep you glued to it and will cover you in the magic known as Rahmania.

My Favorites
1. Rehna Tu, Dil Gara Dafatan and Aarti
2. Masakalli, Genda Phool, Arziyaan and Delhi 6
3. Bhor bhayi, Noor, Kala Bandar