The year 2008 saw 4 releases already from AR Rahman – Jodha Akbar, Ada, Jaane Tu..Ya Jaane Na and now Yuvraaj. Come December he will release his fifth one – Ghajini. Sometimes I wonder where does he get all this energy and creativity from ?

Arguably, this would be the most productive year from AR Rahman.

I heard the music of Yuvraaj some three times today. Must say some of them are pretty hummable. Considering AR Rahman’s earlier work, I can confidently say this is not the best from him. May be the best is still in store – Ghajini ? What say ?

Ok, coming to the review

Main Hoon Yuvraaj

If not for the background music, the rendering from Salman Khan is very disappointing. The background score sounded more like Beethoven’s masterpice – his 5^th Symphony.

My verdict – Melodramatic.

Tu Meri Dost Hain

It sounded as if the song has been lifted from the song – Aaja Gufaaon mein Aa…from the film Aks, especially the start. Shreya Ghosal was refreshing, Benny Dayal sounded more like K.K. The instrumentals in this song are also good.

My verdict – Pretty good.

Aakash Gandhi on NaachGaana.com wrote

The true beauty of music is realized when a full orchestration of acoustics, strings, woodwinds, brass, percussions, synths, and pads liquefy into an other-worldly phenomenon set to light your soul ablaze. This is how Tu Meri Dost Hai ravishes

Mastam Mastam

Very youthful, extremely catchy Mastam Mastam leaves with you a tune that is hummable till the next Rahman track is released. Sung by Sonu Nigam, the song is also supported by Alka Yagnik, Benny and Naresh.

Naresh who ?

Well, we are talking about AR Rahman and he has this knack of introducing young talents. C’mon give the youngster a chance !

My verdict – Listen for Sonu!

Tu Muskura

This song has the soul of Alka Yagnik and the metallic voice of Javed Ali. Well, I read this review on the song and I couldn’t stop myself from putting it out here.

Her vocals simply glow in exuberance as Gulzar’s metaphorically touching words kiss Yagnik’s lips with a resonating shower of aural supremacy

Sounded sensuous ? Wondering how can the vocals glow ?

Never mind – Fact is the song is good. Go listen !

Shano Shano

My two cents- “Under under, beach ka Sam-under”

An offbeat track that lacks the beats to be played in discos.. Although the number has a cool funky tune to it, Rahman fails to make this hip-hop dance number his own. Nevertheless, the song grows on you as you listen to it. AR Rahman can definitely get better.

Many artists sing this song – I will not bother to mention their names, even..

Zindagi

My pick of the album. Sung by Srinivas, this song will be remembered for its melody. It seems Srinivas is following the footsteps of Hariharan. It is a peaceful song, one that you’d love to hear while lying down in the bed.

My take – Zindagi brings Life to the album

Dil Ka Rishta

Hummable. Could have been better. Roop Kumar Rathod was a disappointment

Manmohini Morey

Meaningless. But it is AR Rahman. He can make songs out of meaningless dialogues. My points for creativity – mixing techno with classical stuff. This song was rendered by “what was his name, again ?”

Oh! Some one by name Vijay Prakash – Go Google him !

..And let me know !

Popularity: 17%

Yuvvraaj – music binds love

Produced and Directed by: Subhash Ghai
Lyrics: Gulzaar
Music: AR Rahman
Audio on: T-Series
Starring: Anil Kapoor, Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, and Zayed Khan

Image Courtesy: Wikipedia

Taal – a beat of Passion. It was the last time when Subhash Ghai struck gold. Kisna – a warrior poet, sank with traces left thanks to Rahman’s music. Now he is back with Yuvvraaj (double v and double a intended) and believes that “music binds love”. Not too sure how the movie will fare after what we have seen in Kisna, but I can tell you music will definitely bring in some wealth for the producer.

AR Rahman teams up with Gulzaar this time to deliver some soulful music for Yuvvraaj. After a perfect soundtrack for Taal, comparisons are unavoidable whether Rahman has met the standards set by him. Comparing Taal with Yuvvraaj would be inappropriate as the former is more Western music weaved into Indian and this one’s the other way around.

Usually Rahman’s music grows on you. It sometime doesn’t appeal immediately, but after a few rounds of listening, the tunes just keep haunting you. So let’s get straight to the tracks.

Track 01. Main Hoon Yuvvraaj – Salman Khan
This one is perhaps a bit of film’s background score, used as space filler. It is Beethoven no: 5 backed by Salman’s vocals (arrogant lines, would be appropriate). Serves as an intro to the album. Scores (NA/10)

Track 02. Tu Meri Dost Hain – Benny Dayal, Shreya Ghosal, AR Rahman
Right from the start, this song won my heart. This one is my favourite track in the album. Beautifully rendered by Benny Dayal and has superb closure by Shreya Ghosal. The Cello dominates the overall music and in fact the entire album. Instruments are simple, but tune is the king here. I almost repeated the track 5 times when I heard it for the first time. Scores (10/10)

Track 03. Shano Shano – Sonu Nigam, Srinivas, Karthik
At the outset the song sounded disappointing, but given the knowledge that not every tune of Rahman appeals immediately I gave it a second try. Apart from few strange vocals in between and a strange transition from disco-thequish music to Teen Maar, the song seems ok. What remains with you after you listen the song is the strange sound of Shano Shano. Having said that will have to admit, Rahman has done better disco songs (Fanaa – Yuva). Perhaps this will sound better with accompanying visuals. Scores (9/10)/

Track 04. Tu Muskura – Alka Yagnik, Javed Ali
This is another soulful track in the album. Alka Yagnik is impressive in this. Last time I was so impressed with Alka Yagnik was in “Yeh Rishta” song from Meenaxi. Rahman magically weaves the tune of this track into other tracks in the album. A fleeting tune of this song in Cello sweeps across the other songs in the album. I can bet you cannot resist the urge to repeat this song again and again. Javed Ali continues to impress after his “Jashn-e-Bahara” and “Kabhi Kabhi Aditi”. This one is my second favourite in the album. Scores (10/10)

Track 05. Mastam Mastam – Sonu Nigam, Alka Yagnik, Naresh, Benny Dayal
Mastam Mastam allures with variety of instruments, claps, lively singing by Sonu Nigam. Nice to hear Sonu sing again for Rahman. Track starts off slowly and moves to very delightful mood with very lively lyrics with excellent vocals from all singers. Another favourite of mine, which gives you a feel like this, is “Rang Hain” from Meenaxi. Score (10/10)

Track 06. Zindagi – Srinivas
Zindagi is a very good composition and Gulzar mark lyrics. Somehow I felt Srinivas’s voice did not suit the song, Rahman himself or Sonu could have been good. Nevertheless the song sounds very good. I can’t help but feel that the song feels like second bit of Lukka Chuppi from Rang De Basanti, where Rahman sings “Kya bataaon maa”. Overall the song feels like it would be better when seen. Scores (9/10)

Track 07. Dil Ka Rishta – Sonu Nigam, Roop Kumar Rathod, AR Rahman
Very tough to decide who was good at singing this one? Sonu, Roop or Rahman! From the sound of it sounds like the song, which culminates the movie. Not too sure who sung the English piece of it, he has done a very good job! With a simple tempo the song heightens it towards the end of it. Score (9/10)

Track 08. Manmohini Morey – Vijay Prakash
This is Indian Classical on western instruments. The song is very likeable from the beginning, my guess it is filmed on Anil Kapoor. Very well sung by Vijay Prakash, short and sweet. Scores (10/10)

Track 09. Shano Remix
Remix of Shano. It is strictly ok with rap in between. Scores (7/10)

Yuvvraaj is another success for Rahman this year after Jodha Akbar, Jaane Tu ya Jaane Na and Ada. But hey it doesn’t end here. There is Ghajni coming up and promises to pack a lot of Rahmanesque effect!

Overall Score: 9.5/10

Go for it!

Popularity: 18%