Raavan - A Rustic look on the music

Bhera Bhera : Starts of with African voices and chants. You will feel the excitement that a Mani- Rahman film usual has when the songs flows in. Totally fresh and catchy, rustic tune which suits the character Bheera. Very good percussion arrangement's throughout and this song gives you the feel the genre Raavan belongs too. This song can be really power full when seen with good visuals.

Ranjha Ranjha : My favourite. The song starts of with Anuradha’s Sriram’s voice flanged followed by a guitar riff. Amazing vocals and fantastic rhytm patterns. It is got variations through out including the interludes which are masterpiece's. The bass holds on to the beats overall perfectly programmed song. This is one of Rahmans raunchiest tracks ever till now and the best number in Raavan

Khili Re : A classical number in shades of Zubeida, Legend of Bhagat singh & Laagan. Not so rich as there were, but still it is creative and fresh. Very neat vocals by Reena Bharadwaj. The highlight is the first interlude which has class written all over and only Rahman in this generation can produce something like that.Its creative because the blend of Arabic beats to a classical song is again mind blowing stuff.

Thok De Killi : More of a Jai Ho type. Catchy ,energetic and fast beats sets the song to be one sung by Sukwinder singh who has sung it beautifully. The first interlude is masterclass and reminds me of old days when Ilairaja used to compose something similar for a Mani film. Variation in tunes is a roller coaster ride. Overall an highly emotional song pulled off very well by the whole team.

Kata Kata : Composed on similar lines with a Veeraphandi Kotayle or Azeem-O-Shaan Shahenshah from Jodha Akbar. Rahman cannot be beaten in heavy orchestration and he has done it again with this song. The song will very much deepen on its picturisation to make it popular.

Behene De : Everybody is waiting for this song to be played on the radio. Belongs to category of Rahman songs which is completely new and pulled out from the earth. The first time I heard the song I had no clue what was I listening too. The song takes a century for it to grow on you and once it does it’s a virus and you can never get rid of it. You just cannot predict what is next in the song because the tune and musical arrangement's are highly complex ed creatively . kartick is done a magnificent job on the vocals front. This song will stand out for a long time and will fall under Rahman’s best songs.

On the whole Raavan cannot be compared to any of their previous albums because every time they came out with an album it has been a new package. Just enjoy the package and appreciate the efforts.

Chiang Mai - Walking street

This is one of world’s largest markets the Chiang mai walking street. This market is on the Saturday and Sunday every week where you find localities from Chiang mai and near by towns assemble here with their goods. Must say that the goods sold here is off amazing quality, unique to its own kind and you find what not here. Fashionable, ethnic and present lifestyle displayed here in class and creative. This market defines Thai people the hardworking they are and humble to the earth. Priced standardized which doesn’t give a room to cheating. Not only shopping you find some entertainment along this shopping time. Blind, handicapped have their opportunity to display their talents and earn some for the same. This is one market the world should be proud off.

Composed on a sony erricson c903

Sankhampang Hot Spring

This is located around 40 km from Chaing Mai north of Thailand. Maintained by government ensured spic and span. The water is drawn from the mountain which is steaming hot.
Why take bath here? It relieves body, muscle, joint ache; skin patches clear making the skin smooth and give a fair skin texture
How to get their?
Just rent a car or bike get there. It’s a marvellous drive all way. You would want to keep going again and yet again.

Composed on Sony Erricson C903

Fish Spa

Heard about spa right? Fish spa? Humans eat fish and now it’s their turn to eat us.
They clean the legs and eat the dead skin off our legs which results in a super soft skin and clean feet. The experience is just super cool. I tried this out yesterday and must say it was astounding. At the first instance it was creepy when I put the legs into the water. But few minutes later you get used to it. I am feeling a lot healthier after this. Plenty found in Thai, in and around south East Asia. These fishes are imported from the Middle East and its worth giving this spa a try. :-)


Composed on Sony Erricson C903

Vinnaithandi Vaaruvaya

I waited for hour’s day’s nights to write this review. Why? Is it just because this is an A.R.R album? We had to wait for more than year for a Tamil album. This is equal to a ten year wait from him. Today I am writing this after the movie is out and after watching it three times. I didn’t write the music review cause I knew it will take time for all to get along with these diamonds. Today everybody accepts that they are. Every song has its uniqueness. I can imagine the hard work he has put into every bit of sound in the songs and the BGM. I watched the movie three times just because of the film itself the style class presentation blend genre wow. I was sitting one day in Bangkok and wondering if ARR would ever create an vintage sound track again like he used to a decade back.
The BGM is his best I am not mentioning about his previous but right now it is the best. Gowtham is class. He has just carved this melancholy to the minute best. The movie is like the train and wheels are the music. Without wheels the train won’t run, the same is the case here. I meant both are hand in hand making it a million perfect. I respect the feelings of people who didn’t like the music or the film. All I can say is wait for the next. I always felt my mom would not like this so much as I did. I asked her when we got into the car after minutes of silence how was movie ma? She said awesome. VTV broke generation’s barrier.

Composed on a Sony Erricson C903

Blue- An Electro Storm (New Era Rahman)

Delhi 6 was liked by all. All the songs in the album were masterpieces. It doesn’t happen all the time for any composer this way. It happens to Rahman once in few years. Examples : Roja, Dilse, Alaipayuthey, Laagan, Rang de Basanti etc…Delhi 6 belonged to this race. I wish this album wins the best music award for 2009 keeping in the mind the movie failed. But musically it was terrific.

Now I am linking Delhi 6 here because the new Rahman was born in Delhi 6. New era – If you notice the songs in Delhi 6 had a new sound to it. The mixing is completely different, I think his new sound system (Studio) and the MAC base is producing some amazing new sounds and bases. He started using the MAC base from Swades if I am not wrong. By now he has mastered it and is a pro at it.

Blue is an example that proves that Rahman is the best sound engineer out there. He can produce an outright new sound be it beats or pads. On to the tracks:

• Chigy Wigy : I have not much to say about this track. So much controversy, chuck all those and enjoy the beats. Wow this song is already rocking all channels and Saturday night out cars. Kylie is awesome in this track, her voice sounds crystal clear even better than her singles. Ok..No harm combining it with an desi portion but, I feel he should have opted for some one other than sonu…But nevertheless an awesome try by the maestro and should say there is some class in the mass that he tries and that is Rahman.
• Notice – The opening 0:00 – 0:007 International Standards. Amazing opening.
• 0:37 – Widero Beats, just too good.
• 2:16 – Bangra Transformation, new sound altogether.

• Aaj Dil Gustakh Hai : Instant hit. The tune is commercial and cute. Right choice of singers. The instrument (Piano) is very enthralling. This song excites me a lot because of the interludes. I miss this kind of interludes from Rahman big time. Now again here in this song both the interludes are of new formats. He has tried something totally new which has shades of vintage Rahman but new sound and presentation. Overall an Chillo feel track.
Notice – The opening is just mind blowing, listen to it on a bose headphone you will know it.
Both the interludes are terrifically awesome. No words to explain.

• Fiqrana : Took some time for me to grow. But now my favorite. I would call this as an roller coaster ride. Hahah…Because the track has so many variations. Got Vintage Rahman at times. I am sure this track would have suited Farhan Akthar perfect. Coming back to the track, second charanam in a typical Rahman goose pumping tune. I hear the portion again and again and will never get bored. I just felt the second interlude could have been better. The beats are an old one but when Rahman produces these it is totally new. My most favorite track. Enjoy this track it grows big time.

• Bhoola Tujhe : What an song. This is way better than the tracks that Rashid has sung in his previous albums. The orchestration is out of the world. This song gives that class that Rahman is capable of producing every time be it any genre (movies) that he signs. This is the next era of Rahman. This song can be repeated in your play list for even 100 times a day. Hats of Rahman Sir.

• Blue Theme: Rocking, Kicking and completely electro. I am happy Rahman has given his best in terms of technology to this track. The sounds suits perfectly to the underwater shots. This song should be enjoyed in the theatre with visuals. Rahman’s presence would be felt.

• Rehnuma : I am yet to get into this track. Will get back soon.

• Yaar Mila Tha : Whew…What to say. The tempo reminds me of those bollwood remixes or the famous Raghav song. But here this is what Rahman can give with a tempo like this. Naughtily rendered by Udit and Madhu. Other composers can learn a lesson or to as to how can these beats be linked to an original tune. The song has no flaws and rocks all way through. The interludes are fantastic. Overall enjoyable track.

An experience - Banglampoo – Backpacker’s street (Bangkok)

My dad was traveling from Chiang Mai to Bangkok by bus earlier this year in March 2009. A Japanese traveler who travelled with him in the bus mentioned about the place called Banglampoo in Bangkok where the rooms for stay (Actually guesthouses) are very cheap and easily available.

This time (August - September 2009) during our (Myself and dad) stay in Chiang Mai at (Little Home), the landlord told us about this place again. She told being a Localitie she prefers to stay in Banglampoo when she goes to Bangkok. We decided to stay in Bangkok for a day at Banglampoo. We cut short the stay in Pattaya by a day which was so pleasing and comfortable just to venture out this place. All my trips to Bangkok have been packaged well in Royal park view hotel in Sukumit Soi 18. I find this place close to being home, because being an Vegetarian; I get south Indian vegetarian food in Ganesha Restaurant down Soi 18. This time we decided to stay in the Swiss park hotel in Sukumit Soi 11 called as Nana. Since we had proponed and arrived a day early in Bangkok we wanted to venture a day in Banglampoo.

Took bus 501 and proceeded towards Banglampoo from Nana. Informed the conductor to tell us when we reach Khao San Road (Banglampoo). Reached the place we could see lot of Backpackers crossing the roads, immediately could guess we were close to the place. It was shocking to see a street full of Guest houses. Rooms starting from 200 bahts to 1500 Plus. It was indeed a very different experience for me as I have always seen the classy part of Bangkok, nevertheless I don’t mean that this place is low, but the truth is it’s not worth even dreaming of staying at this place if you are “Indian”. The standard reply you get from all the guest houses is the rooms are full SORRY. We have tried almost at all the guest houses in the street. We actually thought the rooms were full until a person from Burma told us this is the treatment we would get every where in Banglampoo if you were an Indian. I could see tears in my dad’s eyes. Come on he loves this country Thailand and more the people of this Gods Blessed country. He was so given up and told this is atrocious that Thai people were treating the tourists so bad, who are known for their hospitability and smiling faces. He became so irritated and wanted to come back to India the same day. I was shell shocked to see this (sorry to say) DIRTY side of Bangkok. I would rather stay in PATPONG which is the red light area in Bangkok than in Banglampoo.