Slumdog Millionaire has put India on the world map as never before. The film's musical score composed by the little maestro AR Rahman has brought home the Golden Globe and everybody seems to be looking Oscar awards. Rahman has made a dent in the international music scene even before this but this is the first time that his music has been accessible to his audiences and fans back home. The fact that the film has received so many accolades and awards has really helped in bringing the music of this film into sharp focus. The West has again given us a chance to appreciate once again, our homegrown geniuses like Rahman.
The album has ten tracks, which don't really fall into what one would conventionally expect. The album opens with the number 'Ringa Ringa', which sounds quite like the famous 'Choli' song from Subhash Ghai's Khalnayak. 'Ringa Ringa' is a remake of that classic sung by Alka Yagnik and Ila Arun, who do the honours for this one as well. The lyrics have been written by Raquib Alam. It manages to recreate the raunchy mood of the original.
'Jai Ho', the second number of the album, sung by Sukhwinder Singh, Tanvir Shah, Vijay Prakash and Mahalaxmi Iyer is a totally original number with no resemblance to any songs of the past or present. The song has been written by Gulzar (Hindi lyrics) and Shah (Spanish lyrics). This number is catchy and deeply rooted in the Indian soil. The mix of melody and rhythm in the piece is just right. It is a triumph over life which this song celebrates and kudos to Gulzar, Rahman and Sukhwinder who came together to create this piece of magic.
The next piece on the album is called 'O Saya,' is probably everybody's second favourite in the album. It has the classic Rahman touch to it, with a superb play of fast-paced percussion. Add to it, Rahman's vocals and the effect is quite electrifying. He is supported by MIA.
'Riots' is the next theme piece which follows and Rahman manages to create a deep and ominous piece which invokes just the right mood of fear. Incidentally, he did something similar many years ago in Mani Ratnam's Bombay, a film based on the Mumbai riots of 1983.
But one quickly shrugs off the mood with 'Mausam Escape', the next piece on the album with Asad Sitar Rashid Ali & Sanay Joseph on guitars. It is a fusion piece which is like a dramatic and exciting journey. It sees Rahman revealing another side of sublime genius as he fuses Indian classical with Western electronic elements.
'Liquid Dance'(Palakkad Sriram and Madhumita) is another piece which has a touch of unpredictability to it. This number too is heavy on percussions and is a delightful number.
'Jai Ho' may have won the golden globe, but there are at least two more beautiful pieces in this album, which are a class apart. One of them is 'Latika's Theme' and the second is 'Dreams On Fire'. Both the pieces have Suzaane D' Mello doing a superb job in the vocals department. There is a certain soft beauty that she brings to both these numbers which is quite bewitching. 'Dreams On Fire' is even more special, at least for Rahman, as he has dedicated this number to H Sridhar, who passed away recently.
'Millionaire' (Madhumita) is a louder track, in terms of mood with a predominance of electronic sounds. But it is 'Gangsta Blues'(Blaaze & Tanvir Shah) which is more appealing, specially the rap by Blaaze.
Slumdog Millionaire has an excellent score and it drives home the point about the importance of a good background score, which does so much to lift a film. For an Indian audience, which has been bred on the importance of words, this album is a revelation. It does give us numbers like 'Jai Ho', 'Ringa Ringa', 'Dreams On Fire' and 'Latika's Theme', and thus manages to strike a fine balance between Western and Indian sensibilities. Full credit to Rahman, who unleashes his musical genius in this album! An Oscar may just be the next milestone.
