Ankit Pallavi and Friends: Audio review

Sometimes we take chances, and it works! A slightly-aware-of hero (Nikhil, Happy Days fame), an even lesser aware-of film-maker (Hari Yeleti, idlebrain.com blogger) and a totally unheard-of composer (Vinu Thomas, who’s he?)... I just took a chance!

I would like to divide the music of this film into two categories. The first being the ‘conventional’ category; and the other is the ‘uniqueness’ category.

The ‘conventional’ tracks are meant to please those audiences who would feel dissatisfied on not finding certain conventional elements. ‘Dost he dost’, ‘Tell me yem kaavalo’ and ‘Aranavvulenduko’ fall in this category. The lyrics (Vanamali, Ramajogaiah Shastri) of these tracks are typical; many a times, we may find forced-in words/phrases. But what I found refreshing about these songs is the brilliant percussion used in the background; the mood is raised to a higher quality. And as we repeat hearing these tracks, the lyrics, here and there, have a few flashes of brilliance in the ideas expressed. Especially, check the song ‘Tell me yem kaavalo’ for the great arrangement and lyrics.

Now, the tracks that make this album ‘unique’…..
Concentrated in melody, ‘Alagake allari vayasa’, this track would make one nostalgic about moments when we relished the refreshing aura of clean and pleasant cinema. (Shekhar Kammula’s ‘Anand’ being an example). Vanamali’s lyrics are superb and the singers (Pranavi and Balu Thankachan) take full advantage of the melody and make a lasting impression.
The pessimistic part of Optimism is that it is tough to keep it on. But if it is made so easy to listen like in the track, ‘Leletha navvule’, pessimism winds up and hides at a corner; atleast until the song gets over. Apart from the great composition by Vinu Thomas and wonderful lyrics by Vanamali, just hear to the smooth rendition by Karthik.
It has been long since any composer has orchestrated a song like ‘Premani premani’. Probably Ilayaraja was the last person I can remember (‘aakasam anthahpuramayyena’ and ‘assalem gurtuku raadu’ from Anthahpuram are examples). Be it the guitar, or the violin, or even Karunya’s raw voice; everything flows so synchronously. And on top of all this, Vanamali’s words are simply beautiful.
A love story without painful moments is never complete. The track ‘Neelo medilina’ serves to make this film a complete love story. Deepu gives perfect rendition to Vanamali’s soulful lyrics.

Having heard the songs, expectations on the film go a bit too high. Vinu Thomas surely has the knack of creating more sweet melodies in future. But will Hari Yeleti prove to be another Shekhar Kammula? Let’s wait and watch….

Tail piece: Also do not miss the songs from Yashraj’s ‘Bachnaa ae Haseenon’; they are awesome, esp. ‘Khuda jaane’!