99.9 FM - Pleasant Blend!!
In my quest for some new music to listen to, I came across a Hindi movie album on Raaga.com. I did not know there was a new Hindi movie called 99.9 FM. But then, I am no authority on movies. From what I gathered over from an assortment of Bollywood websites, this is a movie about radio jockeys and the movie has no producer!! I figured the movie is not yet released when I found no movie reviews and a just a couple of music reviews.
As I looked at the list of artists on this album, I was impressed! The movie track is a definite aberration from the stereotype – the album has a medley of artists with a wide assortment of music. It is also highly uncharacteristic of typical Indian movie soundtracks, with only 2 of its numbers being produced exclusively for the movie. That had me interested, alright!!
The Album starts with Kate Nahi Raat, by Ustad Sultan Khan. Known more famously for his mastery over the Saarangi, his repertoire includes singing as well. The song is very well rendered and this piece has some beautiful Saarangi and piano work. A wonderful beginning to this album!!
Biddu 'booms' next with Nirvana. There are just a few bits of conventionally styled violin-flute music and that was a bit disappointing. It has a retro-pop feel to it that is appealing.
Zila Khan follows with Kesariya – Beautiful!! The daughter of Ustad Vilayat Ali Khan, Zila Khan has given a very soulful rendition of this common Rajasthani folk song, in the Mand Raaga. The song itself was popularized by Lata Mangeshkar in Lekin. Zila’s version definitely brings new meaning and depth to this song.
Shubha Mudgal’s Intezaar is next. A contemporary fusion piece with some verse recital, it is laced with some jazz. Shubha’s rich voice amplifies the painful process of waiting. The lyrics by Prasoon Joshi are poignant - aayega who dhoop ka tukda ik din meer dwaar.
Shaan’s Tanha Dil carries the same mood in a lighter note. It’s a perfect blend on nostalgia and youthfulness. Also featured from the same compilation is Ghumsum. Both the songs are airy yet touch all the right chords in your heart. Enjoyable!
Usha Uthup sings Sau Feesadi – one of the 2 songs composed by Piyush Khanojia for the movie. The music itself is too funky for my taste and the zest that normally accompanies Usha’s songs was missing.
This compilation of maestros has been graced by the immortal voice of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan as well. Sanoon Ek Pal reverberates through the atmosphere as you conjure images of old world courtship in the yellow fields of Punjab.
The Biddu connection comes back into the album with Zoheb Hassan’s Muskuraaye Jaa with the unmistakable 80’s Disco theme!! This song is originally from the Hindi Movie Star starring Kumar Gaurav & Rati Agnihotri. I had forgotten the movie, but then who can forget Nazia & Zoheb, the Pakistani brother sister duo who popularized pop!! Biddu is the true pioneer of Indi-pop as we know it today.
Movement- by Sum - (Sumangali) was next. I found a bit of a disconnect in this piece. It sounds close to Taufiq’s percussion ensembles, but does have its own resonance. Raindance – is the other piece of music - a contemporary percussion medley. Frankly, I've heard them perform better music. Besides, there was an attempt to bring an orphic mystical element, and it jars a bit. It’s definitely worth watching this group.
Shubha’s strong voice follows in Is Pal – Has a bit of a Caribbean-Calypso touch – can hear some pan drumming in the background. Good fusion! ....banjaare armaan hain, awara sapne hain
Exceptional singing, the Prasoon Joshi-Shantanu Moitra-Shubha Mudgal collaboration never fails!
The other number by Shubha is Chori Chori – pop fusion. It showcases her versatility. The song itself is beautiful, but the music does not do justice to Shubha’s singing or the lyrics.
Zia Mohyeddin recites some wonderful Urdu verse by Faiz Ahmed Faiz. Zia Saab’s powerful voice intensifies every emotion that one tends to feel while listening to such poetry. When he recites Tun Na aaye to har cheez each word paints the many colours of love. And in Yeh Mujhe Azeez bhi aur Napasand, one feels the sheer bitter-sweet agony of life. The simplicity and eloquence with which these few lines have been recited left me with goose bumps. I am unable to say which is better – the poetry or the recital. Language, indeed, is no boundary!!
They always save the best for last!! Pt. Bhimsen Joshi!! Yes!! Pt. Bhimsen Joshi sings his famous Bhajan in Bhairavi - Jo Bhaje Hari Ko Sada. Needless to say, he is wonderful!! And as expected, it triggered off many memories of ‘Dasara Padas’ and all the music and verses came tumbling down from the old memory cupboard. Nostalgia in vernacular Kannada!! If you have not already heard his Bhajans in Kannada, I recommend it.
The entire album ends with another of Piyush Khanojia’s compositions for the movie. It is a nice instrumental piece which blends well into the background. I can’t help but wonder if that is where it is used.
The complete injustice to both of Zia Mohyeddin’s poetry recitals is in the way in which the songs have been placed. The heavy poems sandwich Shaan’s Ghumsum, and are followed by the rather funky Chori Chori. While the mood of Ghumsum might be more or less the same, it completely diffuses the intensity of the Urdu poetry.
It is a real pleasure to see Pt. Bhimsen Joshi, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Zia Mohyeddin, Shubha Mudgal, Ustad Sultan Khan, Zila Khan, Shaan and Biddu all on the same stage, sharing the same passion. It is truly glorious that a time has come when the most authentic and popular genre of Indian music can be so well integrated with the most powerful entertainment media in the country, in such a holistic manner. I look forward to similar harmonious & complementary synthesis.
Enjoy!!
As I looked at the list of artists on this album, I was impressed! The movie track is a definite aberration from the stereotype – the album has a medley of artists with a wide assortment of music. It is also highly uncharacteristic of typical Indian movie soundtracks, with only 2 of its numbers being produced exclusively for the movie. That had me interested, alright!!
The Album starts with Kate Nahi Raat, by Ustad Sultan Khan. Known more famously for his mastery over the Saarangi, his repertoire includes singing as well. The song is very well rendered and this piece has some beautiful Saarangi and piano work. A wonderful beginning to this album!!
Biddu 'booms' next with Nirvana. There are just a few bits of conventionally styled violin-flute music and that was a bit disappointing. It has a retro-pop feel to it that is appealing.
Zila Khan follows with Kesariya – Beautiful!! The daughter of Ustad Vilayat Ali Khan, Zila Khan has given a very soulful rendition of this common Rajasthani folk song, in the Mand Raaga. The song itself was popularized by Lata Mangeshkar in Lekin. Zila’s version definitely brings new meaning and depth to this song.
Shubha Mudgal’s Intezaar is next. A contemporary fusion piece with some verse recital, it is laced with some jazz. Shubha’s rich voice amplifies the painful process of waiting. The lyrics by Prasoon Joshi are poignant - aayega who dhoop ka tukda ik din meer dwaar.
Shaan’s Tanha Dil carries the same mood in a lighter note. It’s a perfect blend on nostalgia and youthfulness. Also featured from the same compilation is Ghumsum. Both the songs are airy yet touch all the right chords in your heart. Enjoyable!
Usha Uthup sings Sau Feesadi – one of the 2 songs composed by Piyush Khanojia for the movie. The music itself is too funky for my taste and the zest that normally accompanies Usha’s songs was missing.
This compilation of maestros has been graced by the immortal voice of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan as well. Sanoon Ek Pal reverberates through the atmosphere as you conjure images of old world courtship in the yellow fields of Punjab.
The Biddu connection comes back into the album with Zoheb Hassan’s Muskuraaye Jaa with the unmistakable 80’s Disco theme!! This song is originally from the Hindi Movie Star starring Kumar Gaurav & Rati Agnihotri. I had forgotten the movie, but then who can forget Nazia & Zoheb, the Pakistani brother sister duo who popularized pop!! Biddu is the true pioneer of Indi-pop as we know it today.
Movement- by Sum - (Sumangali) was next. I found a bit of a disconnect in this piece. It sounds close to Taufiq’s percussion ensembles, but does have its own resonance. Raindance – is the other piece of music - a contemporary percussion medley. Frankly, I've heard them perform better music. Besides, there was an attempt to bring an orphic mystical element, and it jars a bit. It’s definitely worth watching this group.
Shubha’s strong voice follows in Is Pal – Has a bit of a Caribbean-Calypso touch – can hear some pan drumming in the background. Good fusion! ....banjaare armaan hain, awara sapne hain
Exceptional singing, the Prasoon Joshi-Shantanu Moitra-Shubha Mudgal collaboration never fails!
The other number by Shubha is Chori Chori – pop fusion. It showcases her versatility. The song itself is beautiful, but the music does not do justice to Shubha’s singing or the lyrics.
Zia Mohyeddin recites some wonderful Urdu verse by Faiz Ahmed Faiz. Zia Saab’s powerful voice intensifies every emotion that one tends to feel while listening to such poetry. When he recites Tun Na aaye to har cheez each word paints the many colours of love. And in Yeh Mujhe Azeez bhi aur Napasand, one feels the sheer bitter-sweet agony of life. The simplicity and eloquence with which these few lines have been recited left me with goose bumps. I am unable to say which is better – the poetry or the recital. Language, indeed, is no boundary!!
They always save the best for last!! Pt. Bhimsen Joshi!! Yes!! Pt. Bhimsen Joshi sings his famous Bhajan in Bhairavi - Jo Bhaje Hari Ko Sada. Needless to say, he is wonderful!! And as expected, it triggered off many memories of ‘Dasara Padas’ and all the music and verses came tumbling down from the old memory cupboard. Nostalgia in vernacular Kannada!! If you have not already heard his Bhajans in Kannada, I recommend it.
The entire album ends with another of Piyush Khanojia’s compositions for the movie. It is a nice instrumental piece which blends well into the background. I can’t help but wonder if that is where it is used.
The complete injustice to both of Zia Mohyeddin’s poetry recitals is in the way in which the songs have been placed. The heavy poems sandwich Shaan’s Ghumsum, and are followed by the rather funky Chori Chori. While the mood of Ghumsum might be more or less the same, it completely diffuses the intensity of the Urdu poetry.
It is a real pleasure to see Pt. Bhimsen Joshi, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Zia Mohyeddin, Shubha Mudgal, Ustad Sultan Khan, Zila Khan, Shaan and Biddu all on the same stage, sharing the same passion. It is truly glorious that a time has come when the most authentic and popular genre of Indian music can be so well integrated with the most powerful entertainment media in the country, in such a holistic manner. I look forward to similar harmonious & complementary synthesis.
Enjoy!!
posted by Arpana Sanjay at 3:23 PM
6 Comments:
agree with ssm...fantabulous review...quite a few music lovers at dss would be delighted with it, i'm sure...:-))
Thanks guys!! I was a bit nervous coz of the length...especially, since I dont ever finish reading a review myself, and rush off to listen to the music instead...terrible of me na!! :-)))
Lollz!!
Hey, terrific review chay! i have this album sitting around for quite some time.. but havent got around to listening to it.. the only one (abt from tanha dil) i have heard is "kate nahi raatri", which kicks some major butt.
Wow SSM, that sounds like a cool idea. I was thinking of audio blogs last night, but the time was 2.30 and I was lazy..:-))I should explore that option...the excessive links can also get tiring...
LL...I mean Libran Lover has already posted some audio clips on his site, I noticed.
But I definitely will explore this and make some notes as well!!
Void...Thanks!! :-)))) So u listening to it?? Only then will my review be justified ;-))
Thanks again for all your encouragement...I definitely am feeling enthused enough to write some more reviews!!
hey chay, a great review. havent dug into all the links. as ssm said, will have to make multiple trips.
i will certainly pick up the album. it has been a while since i purchased good music.
Bottled imp...
Much Thanks!!
Will have to figure an easier way about them links...:-))
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