I want the choice to decide
Not only by your words must I abide
I regret but am happy to tell you
I live for me and what I do.

Whispering in an ear you shouldn’t
Living deadly dreams knowing you coudn’t
With foolish eyes that led you on
To defeat the purpose of this song.

I tell you I quit to have hope,
Release this, to have ability to cope.

I wish I hadn’t heard the voice that spoke
Wrap your words around my neck
Learn to efficiently choke.

Grievances of a past scar you know is there
Guilt of a past love you know wasn’t fair
I no longer know what I’m trying to say
So I’ll leave it for today…

I’ll leave it for you to ponder this way.

Image Credit: Gadlab

Popularity: 14%

10:42 PM

Eddie Murphy is on stage to present the Jean Hearscholt Humanitarian Award. And the award goes to legendary Jerry Lewis. Nostalgic, huh ?

10: 54 PM

AR Rahman wins two Oscars for India, two more to the Slumdog Millionaire kitty.

AR Rahman wins the best Original Score for Slumdog Millionaire. Proud of you, AR Rahman..What more – He gives a live performance from Slumdog Millionaire….O Saya and Jai Ho along with MIA.

This is probably the best night for A R Rahman.

He is also nominated for the best background score and he wins it hands down. The song is Jai Ho and the lyricist is Gulzar.

Arguably the best night for Slumdog Millionaire, AR Rahman and India.

11:05 PM

Guess what ? Freida Pinto, from Slumdog Millionaire is on stage with Liam Neeson for presenting the best Foreign Film. The Oscar goes to “Departures”

The Japanese director is Berry Berry Appy and Sankoos everyone. Did I say, Freida Pinto was lovely in that Blue dress.

I think this is the first time, an Indian has been called on stage to present an award. I may be wrong, though !

Popularity: 23%

The Oscar fever has caught on and for the first time, I am blogging live watching the Oscars, from the comforts of my home. Nothing can beat this experience. Seeing it live, munching my favourite triscuit, watching my two kids screaming louder than the Oscar host and blogging as Slumdog Millionaire is about to win Oscars – At this point, I don’t know how many, though!

The expectations are high among Indians that music maestro AR Rahman, who has bagged three nominations for “Slumdog Millionaire”, will bring home the coveted trophy. What a moment that will be!

Other two Indian films vying for the glory are “Smile Pinki” and “The Final Inch”.

The time is 8.30 PM EST.

Ok, the Oscar Awards has begun and so is this live blogging.

The time is 8:33 PM

Singer, Dancer, Actor Hugh Jackman enters the show with startling display of his talent. He starts of with the song on Slumdog Millionaire, moves onto Benjamin Button – what a startling display, picks up Anne Hathaway for an impromptu dance. Jackman performs about the other movies – The Reader, The Wrestler and Nixon. What a Live Performance that was!

The time is 8:40 PM

Hugh Jackman introduces all the nominees including Mickey Rourke, the couple – Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie, the guy who played Nixon, Demi Moore.

The time is 8:45 PM

5 yesteryear Oscar actress winners including Whoopi Goldberg introduces Penelope Cruz, Marisa Tomei, Demi Moore et al.

Penelope Cruz wins Oscar for the best actress. She goes to the stage and thinks she would faint…but doesn’t. She gave an emotional speech saying it is art which unites the universe. You are too good and beautiful. Penelope – Congratulations !

The time is 8:54 PM

Some type pad clicks. Few sentences and sounds of a typewriter. I don’t know what is happening.

Enter Steve Martin and Tina Fei. They starts joking around, as usual and soon picks up the mike for announcing the best screenplay. Now I understand why there were those type sounds.

The best screenplay award goes to Dustin Lance Black for Milk. Dustin, on the stage, emotionally talks of “Hope” for Gays and Lesbians across America.

Next comes the award for the best adopted screenplay…and the award goes to Simon Beaufoy, the writer for Slumdog Millionaire.

Oscar # 1 for Slumdog Millionaire. Wondering why Vikas Swarup for Original Screenplay. But yes, he thanked Vikas Swarup and the other two musketeers and his love for India.

I am so excited now. My friend, Madhavan, who wrote Will Slumdog Millionaire Win the Oscar Awards, pings me on Gmail. We exchange congratulations for the first in the kitty and many to go.

The time is 9:03.

Enters Kungfu Panda and his star friends…I am talking of Jack Black and Jennifer Aniston. He is hilarious.

The best animated feature film goes to Wall-E. Oscar is taken by Andrew Stanton. He thanks everyone..nothing extraordinary of a speech. The show goes on

The best animated short film goes to La Maison En Petites. Kunio Kato collects the award and “Sanks” everyone!…Sankooo..meaning Thank You.

Time for a break!

Popularity: 27%

Ghajini

Produced by: Geetha Arts
Directed by: AR Murugadoss
Lyrics: Prasoon Joshi
Music: AR Rahman
Audio on: T-Series
Starring: Aamir Khan, Asin, Ziah Khan

Aamir Khan should be appreciated for trying to break away from routine films. This time it is Ghajini, a remake of a Tamil hit starring a south Super Star Surya and Asin. Aamir successfully managed to keep up with Surya’s looks in the Tamil Version. Here’s a glimpse for you:

Images Courtesy: Wikipedia and The Hindu

Lets now jump straight to our topic, music.

This is the fifth score from AR Rahman this year and this time he teams up with Prasoon Joshi. Music for the Tamil version was by Harris Jayraj and was a big hit. I personally have couple of favorite tracks in the Tamil Version and I was eagerly looking forward to Rahman’s take on this movie. Gladly, I am not disappointed. On a track to track comparison, Behka Behka is the only track where Harris version is better. Rahman trumps the rest. Read take of few others on these two versions here.

I have mentioned in my earlier review of Yuvvraaj that usually Rahman’s music grows on you. Same is the case with Ghajini. However for a change these are a few tracks in this album which are instantly likeable.

Let’s get straight to the tracks.

Tu Meri Adhoori:
The album opens with this track and guess what it is likeable right from the first note. The track progresses very smoothly and again Javed Ali does a good job. Sonu Nigam lends his vocals and does that very well. Made me wonder why Rahman had to put to use two great voices for this track. Hey but again he has his way of making songs sound wonderful. Scores (10/10)

Aye Bacchu:
Stylish song Suzanne sang the song with exhilarting spirit. Very western and peppy. Short song, but impressive.
Scores (9/10)

Kaise Mujhe:
Soulful track in the album. Benny Dayal and Shreya Ghosal are superb. The haunting rhythm of the song doesn’t leave you once you listen to this. Lyrics are strictly ok, Prasoon Joshi seems to be running out of his stock. The music and excellent vocals make up for them. Scores (9/10)

Behka Behka:
I personally felt this song is the weakest perhaps because I love the song for this situation in the Tamil Version. But I saw the song in the TV the other day and it felt much better with accompanying visuals. Rahman has used Saxophone again after the Jazz number from Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na, but it doesn’t sound as well as it did in the latter. Overall this song sounds just about ok. Karthik, I felt is unimpressive on this track.
Scores (7/10)

Latto:
My favourite track in the album. Shreya Ghosal is outstanding in this track. Shreya sings this with lots of energy. I had an impression that Sunidhi is best for such songs, but Shreya is just too good in this song. The music and instrumentation is superb and is no less to any R&B tracks say of Rihanna or anyone else. Score (10/10)

Kaise Mujhe – Instrumental
Instrumental version of Kaise Mujhe.

Needless to say Ghajini is yet another success for Rahman this year after Jodha Akbar, Yuvvraaj, Jaane Tu ya Jaane Na and Ada.

Overall Score: 9/10

This year was a great year for all music lovers with five albums from AR Rahman. Now that we have all the releases for the year for Rahman. I wanted to provide a overall rating for his releases this year.

Top 1: Jodha Akbar 10/10
Top 2: Yuvvraaj 9.5/10
Top 3: Ghajini 9/10
Top 4: Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na 9/10
Top 5: Ada 7/10

If it weren’t Rahman’s releases, there aren’t any albums this year to write home about. Wish there could be so releases every year from Rahman!

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: 15%