A R Rahman always turns out his best for mentor Mani Ratnam. Adding Gulzar to the mix gave us the scintillating score for Dil Se... So naturally expectations are high for the threesome's new venture Guru. Lets see how it fares. With a storyline spanning more than half a century, Guru tells the story of a small time villager turned entrepreneur who goes against the grain and finds success. Keeping in tune with the timeline and the protagonist’s environment is the soundtrack of the movie.
The album opener Barso Re (Shreya Ghoshal, Uday Mazumdar) is a song that celebrates the showers and a catchy refrain coupled with folksy rhythm hooks the listener immediately. Expect a heady experience starring Ms.Rai in a rural setting from Mr.Ratnam for this one. (Stand-Out-Song IV)
Tere Bina sung by Rahman himself (accompanied by Murtaza Qadir) is a sufi / qawwali styled song with an alluring chant. Dedicated to the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and bears the legend's stamp throughout. A sure fire chartbuster, no doubt. (Stand-Out-Song I)
Ek lo ek muft is a situational song following the birth of twins and Gulzar renders tongue in cheek lines that are thought provoking at the same time. Bappi Lahiri (!!!) contributes lead vocals to a track that is north eastern sounding, not much unlike something veteran Bhupen Hazarika would compose. Though Bappida has a whale of a time revelling as a drunk, one couldn't help but miss Sukhwinder Singh's vibrancy.
Mayya Mayya, is a track with a distinct Middle Eastern feel and has Mariam Toller doing the vocal honors. At times the track heavily resembles Satrangi Re from Dil Se, not necessarily a bad thing. But the heavy percussion and driving grooves set up a steamier item no. which will have Mallika Sherawat as a belly dancer.
The alluring chant featured in Tere bina - Dam Dara Dam - reappears in Ay Hairathe. Hariharan delivers a relaxed soulful ghazal, which is turned on its head by Rahman with natty percussion breaks and the background score. Gulzarsaab is at his best here with tantalizing wordplay. Alka Yagnik too gives her best to the track, which might well outlast us.(Stand-Out-Song II)
Baazi laga is an old school Jazz styled song which, on the other hand is the most modern track of the lot!! Rock n’ Roll rhythm's combined with trumpets, tinkling keys, scat singing interludes and an exuberant chorus set up a riot in a old time Gambling den. Sadly Udit Narain's (another disappointment after Don’s Khaike Paan) insipid vocal performance yanks it into the Lakshmi-Pyare territory.Maybe the picturisation of the song featuring the junior B in a natty period getup will convert us.
With its heavy western classical background score, Jaage hain is easily the most touching of the tracks. The contrast between Rahman sounding world weary in the first stanza and later breaking out of the moodiness in his typical resonant fashion is astounding to say the least. A fitting closer for a Classy album. (Stand-Out-Song III)
The Verdict : By the standards of the masterful trio, the album falls a little short of expectations. Anyone looking for another Dil Se... is sure to be disappointed. But being a period film in the vein of Zubeidaa and to a lesser extent Lagaan, the score of Guru is offbeat, but classy. A pleasant departure from the multitude of rhythmic and heavily orchestrated scores that are hip right now.
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