'Taal' Music: Out To Mesmerise The Nation - KOMAL NAHTA
Gosh! Can you believe it? I went to Delhi last Saturday (12th June) for the music release of Subhash Ghai's Taal and now, exactly seven days later, I don't remember what happened there. I can't recall who formally released the album. I can't recall who made speeches on the occasion. I can't even remember the venue in Delhi, where the audio was released.
But who cares? What you readers should care to know about is the quality of music. You do remember that A.R. Rahman is the film's music director, don't you? You also know that Anand Bakshi has once again penned all the songs of this film of Subhash Ghai, don't you? If I were to tell you that the music of Taal is brilliant, par excellence, would you be keen to know more about it or about the function that marked its release? If you opt for the latter, I'm sorry because, as I said earlier, my memory fails me. If you opt for the former, here we go.
Undoubtedly, the music of Taal is the best of 1999 so far. My hunch says, it will be difficult for any other filmmaker and music director to surpass this music this year at least. Listen to the opening track. Ishq bina kya jeena yaaron… It mesmerises you. It has mesmerised me. Ah yes, that's why I've forgotten what the hell happened in Delhi. A.R. Rahman's music composition matches the excellent lyrics of Anand Bakshi. This song, in days to come, will be heard in every car on the street and, yes, in every discotheque. It is slow, then fast, then slow, then fast. But it is the best song of the album.
Or maybe, it isn't. Because Taal se taal mila, the next number, is equally wonderful. This one also has you in a trance. The more you listen to it, the more you want to listen to it. Is it the magic of Rahman, Bakshi or singers Alka Yagnik and Udit Narayan? I think, it is all of this plus the Midas touch of Subhash Ghai.
Ramta jogi is another extraordinary composition. Sukhwindara Singh is in great form and so is Rahman. Dance on this number and you, too, will be in form! Yet another super-hit song which will make inroads into the discotheques in the days to come.
Kahin aag lage lag jaaye has Asha Bhosle at her sexiest best. Accompanied by Aditya Narayan and Richa Sharma, the veteran singer could put most of the younger ones to shame, such is the sharpness of the voice and her flawless rendition. Nahin saamne tu is a very slow number but don't underestimate its power. It will grow on you slowly but surely. Full marks to Hariharan for the rendition and to Sukhwindara Singh for the l-o-o-o-o-ng aalaap!
Ni main samajh gayee and Kariye na are the other two songs in the album which also has the title music (called Beat of Passion) and another music piece (Raga dance). In the film, there will be a total of six music pieces. And are they superb? You bet!
The music of Ghai's Taal is bound to mesmerise the nation. Contrary to A.R. Rahman's trademark South flavour, the music of Taal has a predominantly North Indian flavour. This may then well become the first Rahman album which will set the music market in North India on fire first and then spread to the rest of the country. It should become a rage in Overseas countries too.
I remember Subhash-ji often telling me how he had had to keep awake for nights together for the recordings of Taal because Rahman prefers to record at night. Well, all those sleepless nights have been worth their while. No, don't just go by what I am saying. Ask Kumar and Ramesh Taurani (Tips) and they'll inform you that they've released an all-time record 15 lakh audio cassettes in the first lot. They may, however, not tell you that they've got repeat orders in just three days of the first release! They'd hide this fact because, maybe, they are apprehensive of the evil eye. But they will tell you that they've pressed 40 to 50,000 CDs when the usual quota for a big film is 10,000…..
…….Oh, oh, oh, I remember now. This is what Ramesh Taurani revealed at the press conference in Delhi last Saturday. I remember how Anil Kapoor politely refused to answer any questions which did not relate to Taal, saying that it was the function of Taal. I recall Akshaye Khanna expressing a lot of concern for our army jawans, and Aishwarya offering any help for them, whenever needed. I remember seeing the audio-visual of Taal, prepared for the occasion. I remember Ghai calling on the prime minister to extend an invitation to him to attend the music release function that evening. Yes, I do remember now, that the release function was held at Siri Fort auditorium. I also remember that Kavita Ksirhnamoorthy sang a song of Taal. So did Alka Yagnik, Udit Narayan, Hariharan and Sukhwindara Singh. I also remember Ahmed Khan's troupe giving dance recitals. I remember Ramesh Taurani telling me that Anand Bakshi had not come to Delhi as he has a phobia of air travel. Yes, I remember also that Anil Kapoor had the presence of mind to reach the dais alongwith the other artistes and unit members of the film when the VIP, who was to present the audio cassette of Taal to Ghai, was reported missing. The entire unit, instead, presented the cassette to Subhash Ghai who was visibly touched. I remember Subhash Ghai puffing cigarettes nervously before the start of the function at Siri Fort. I also remember Amrish Puri making the atmosphere light whenever he opened his mouth. I remember some clown of a Master of Ceremonies conducting the function and describing Satish Kaushik as art director, and A.R. Rahman as poet and lyricist. I recall the wit of Javed Akhtar who jocularly chided the master of ceremonies for having called Rahman a lyricist but not having addressed Javed as a music director. Thank God, he did not need to call out my name. Otherwise, he may have mistaken me to be the hero of Taal. And then both, Anil Kapoor and Akshaye, would've felt bad. Of course, Aishwarya, I'm sure, would've loved it….
…Just as music lovers are going to love… Come on, you know what I mean — the music of Taal, of course!!
Source : filminformation.com
But who cares? What you readers should care to know about is the quality of music. You do remember that A.R. Rahman is the film's music director, don't you? You also know that Anand Bakshi has once again penned all the songs of this film of Subhash Ghai, don't you? If I were to tell you that the music of Taal is brilliant, par excellence, would you be keen to know more about it or about the function that marked its release? If you opt for the latter, I'm sorry because, as I said earlier, my memory fails me. If you opt for the former, here we go.
Undoubtedly, the music of Taal is the best of 1999 so far. My hunch says, it will be difficult for any other filmmaker and music director to surpass this music this year at least. Listen to the opening track. Ishq bina kya jeena yaaron… It mesmerises you. It has mesmerised me. Ah yes, that's why I've forgotten what the hell happened in Delhi. A.R. Rahman's music composition matches the excellent lyrics of Anand Bakshi. This song, in days to come, will be heard in every car on the street and, yes, in every discotheque. It is slow, then fast, then slow, then fast. But it is the best song of the album.
Or maybe, it isn't. Because Taal se taal mila, the next number, is equally wonderful. This one also has you in a trance. The more you listen to it, the more you want to listen to it. Is it the magic of Rahman, Bakshi or singers Alka Yagnik and Udit Narayan? I think, it is all of this plus the Midas touch of Subhash Ghai.
Ramta jogi is another extraordinary composition. Sukhwindara Singh is in great form and so is Rahman. Dance on this number and you, too, will be in form! Yet another super-hit song which will make inroads into the discotheques in the days to come.
Kahin aag lage lag jaaye has Asha Bhosle at her sexiest best. Accompanied by Aditya Narayan and Richa Sharma, the veteran singer could put most of the younger ones to shame, such is the sharpness of the voice and her flawless rendition. Nahin saamne tu is a very slow number but don't underestimate its power. It will grow on you slowly but surely. Full marks to Hariharan for the rendition and to Sukhwindara Singh for the l-o-o-o-o-ng aalaap!
Ni main samajh gayee and Kariye na are the other two songs in the album which also has the title music (called Beat of Passion) and another music piece (Raga dance). In the film, there will be a total of six music pieces. And are they superb? You bet!
The music of Ghai's Taal is bound to mesmerise the nation. Contrary to A.R. Rahman's trademark South flavour, the music of Taal has a predominantly North Indian flavour. This may then well become the first Rahman album which will set the music market in North India on fire first and then spread to the rest of the country. It should become a rage in Overseas countries too.
I remember Subhash-ji often telling me how he had had to keep awake for nights together for the recordings of Taal because Rahman prefers to record at night. Well, all those sleepless nights have been worth their while. No, don't just go by what I am saying. Ask Kumar and Ramesh Taurani (Tips) and they'll inform you that they've released an all-time record 15 lakh audio cassettes in the first lot. They may, however, not tell you that they've got repeat orders in just three days of the first release! They'd hide this fact because, maybe, they are apprehensive of the evil eye. But they will tell you that they've pressed 40 to 50,000 CDs when the usual quota for a big film is 10,000…..
…….Oh, oh, oh, I remember now. This is what Ramesh Taurani revealed at the press conference in Delhi last Saturday. I remember how Anil Kapoor politely refused to answer any questions which did not relate to Taal, saying that it was the function of Taal. I recall Akshaye Khanna expressing a lot of concern for our army jawans, and Aishwarya offering any help for them, whenever needed. I remember seeing the audio-visual of Taal, prepared for the occasion. I remember Ghai calling on the prime minister to extend an invitation to him to attend the music release function that evening. Yes, I do remember now, that the release function was held at Siri Fort auditorium. I also remember that Kavita Ksirhnamoorthy sang a song of Taal. So did Alka Yagnik, Udit Narayan, Hariharan and Sukhwindara Singh. I also remember Ahmed Khan's troupe giving dance recitals. I remember Ramesh Taurani telling me that Anand Bakshi had not come to Delhi as he has a phobia of air travel. Yes, I remember also that Anil Kapoor had the presence of mind to reach the dais alongwith the other artistes and unit members of the film when the VIP, who was to present the audio cassette of Taal to Ghai, was reported missing. The entire unit, instead, presented the cassette to Subhash Ghai who was visibly touched. I remember Subhash Ghai puffing cigarettes nervously before the start of the function at Siri Fort. I also remember Amrish Puri making the atmosphere light whenever he opened his mouth. I remember some clown of a Master of Ceremonies conducting the function and describing Satish Kaushik as art director, and A.R. Rahman as poet and lyricist. I recall the wit of Javed Akhtar who jocularly chided the master of ceremonies for having called Rahman a lyricist but not having addressed Javed as a music director. Thank God, he did not need to call out my name. Otherwise, he may have mistaken me to be the hero of Taal. And then both, Anil Kapoor and Akshaye, would've felt bad. Of course, Aishwarya, I'm sure, would've loved it….
…Just as music lovers are going to love… Come on, you know what I mean — the music of Taal, of course!!
Source : filminformation.com