Audio scan
Vibrancy & Rahman
Ada (Big Music)

A R Rahman has had some mega hit scores in films but I have always felt that cinema just does not exploit his full genius because of its inherent limitations. He has to make far too many compromises to cater to the popular taste, not only of the public, but also film-makers.

Here, he seems to have been given a far freer hand and what a score he has come up with. Almost every song bristles with vibrancy, which is infectious. Before you are through with listening to the album even the first time, you are hooked good and proper.

The film has been written and directed by Tanvir Ahmad, who has also done the screenplay and dialogues also. As far as music is concerned, he has let Rahman dominate, even on the album jacket.

The music of Ada was conceived and recorded some six years ago, but the film was put on the backburner. But aging has only made the melody sweeter. Lyrics have been penned by Raqueeb Alam (of Water fame) and Nusrat Badr (of Devdas fame).`A0

What is in store is made clear by the very first song, Ishq ada, sung by Rashid Ali. It is a class act, indeed. Equally powerful songs keep coming one after the other.

Raqueeb Alam’s lyrics are later rendered by debutant Parul Mishra also but the female version somehow does not have the same class.

Another song which stands out is Meherbaan (watch out for the masterly use of piano) sung by Rahman himself. Hai dard (Udit Narayan) opens up like Ai ajnabee, tu bhi kabhi awaz de kahin se, but then takes off in an unexplored territory.

If Gum sum exudes fragrance of fresh romance from every cell, Milo wahan wahan (Alka Yagnik, Jayachandran) is the epitome of melancholy. In Gulfisha Rahman has for the first time featured Sunidhi Chauhan with Sonu Nigam.

Overall, it is an accomplished album, which may turn out to be one of the most memorable of the year.

Namee (Times Music)

There are songs which call for pushing the volume to the max. Well, here you will be better off doing exactly the opposite, considering that the romantic numbers that are included are too soft to be sung aloud. They are Valentine stuff from beginning to end and deserve to be heard with rapt attention.

The first album of Ritika Sahni, who is a social worker, a disability activist, singer and composer, was released by Ms Priya Dutt, MP, some time ago. She sings about the touch of love, falling in the depths of the first sight of love, pining for the faraway love and nurturing the intimate feelings of being in love.

Namee comprises eight songs, including two music videos for the songs Bheeni bheeni (co-written by Ritika), and Sundar sundar (composed by Ritika). Apart from being the singer, Ritika has also composed three songs for this album. — ASC

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