Saakshyam Audio Review- Telugu (2018)

Movie: Saakshyam ( సాక్ష్యం ) - 2018

Director: Sriwass

Producer: Abhishek Namma & Vivek Kuchibhotla

Cast: Belamkonda Srinivas & Pooja Hegde

Music: Harshavardhan Rameshwar

Lyricist: Anantha Sriram

Music Label: Times Music South

Saakshyam (English: Witness) is an upcoming Telugu action fantasy thriller film produced by Abhishek Nama on Abhishek Pictures banner and directed by Sriwass. Starring Bellamkonda Sreenivas, Pooja Hegdein the lead roles with Sarath Kumar, Meena and Jagapathi Babu in supporting roles and with music composed by Harshavardhan Rameshwar. The first look and motion poster was released on October 18, 2017.

The teaser of the film was released on April 18, 2018.

The film had an audio launch in Hyderabad on 7 July, 2018. All music & lyrics are satiated by Harshavardhan Rameshwar & Anantha Sriram respectively. Harsha composes this album after Vijetha. This album features jaw dropping, 11 tracks!! Usually, now-a-days films featuring 3-4 songs itself is great, but this album has 11 tracks to everybody's surprise. Singers names at the inlay card gave one more surprise. So why late lets directly go into the review.

01. Soundarya Lahari

Singers: Jithin Raj & Aarthi

Rating: 4/5

This is a beautiful romantic fusion. Whole song is a fusion of classic-western melody, it sounds no where odd in terms of fusion, that's why I meant it as a melody. It features even a rap, which sounds same like that of in Racegurram, but that's no where a issue, everything struck the right chord. That prelude featuring Nadaswaram & Veena is too pleasant. Harsha made the song soft & sweet without crossing the limitations of a fusion. That classical notes are heard everywhere in the instrumentation & western or modernized style of singing & a rap synchronized very well with the tune. Veena notes in first interlude are same like that of 'Sada Nannu' in Mahanati, somewhere this song has references of many old songs. How ever sounded fine. At last there is even a surgum part which too sounded like the notes of Sada nannu song. As I always tell inspiration can come from anywhere, its no offence untill its plagiarized. Lyrics & vocals are fine, not extraordinary. The way ' మరి ' is said irritates, though its a fusion, but its ok for contemporary listeners. Overall a well made one.

02. Design Your Destiny

Singers: Harshavardhan Rameshwar, Jithin Raj & Haricharan

Rating: 2/5

A routine hero's hifi intro song, which is very routine & no where interesting. I don't know how many more this kind of songs will be made and how many more we should listen to them. Actually we Telugu people have become heady with this kind of songs, so atleast now directors should understand that these kind of songs no purpose except to increase their screenplay run time. Lyrics are pretty ordinary, I mean routine, I'am bored of using this word 'routine'. That preludes & interludes sounds like rehash of some Thaman's songs.Music falls apart, singing falls apart, I don't know who sang what, but its not ' వెల్లకే ' its ' వెళ్ళకే ', when Telugu words are not said properly, they lose their nativity & it oozes the interest of listeners. Overall, a very routine song.

03. Ishq Karle

Singers: Ranjith, Janani & Yadhu Krishnan

Rating: 3/5

A romantic duet  presented in a savagely fierce genre. This is a unique song, but its nothing new, we have heard enough of them in Bollywood. I think, Harsha seems to make music by inspiring from some other's works, this song sounds like a rehash of 'Tera Jadoo Chal Gaya', that intensity is there here & a bit of 'Chali Ayee' song, that ferocious way of singing is seen here. What ever it is, this song works out. Intensity is at peaks, vocalists did a commendable job, music too is fine. Coming to lyrics, I don't know what happens to Anantha Sriram, sometimes he writes very well, some times he is out of the track terribly, he makes the songs creepy, particularly after his changeover (i.e. when he decided to make songs sound Tenglish). This is not that creepy, but not at all good. If not for lyrics, this is one more from Harsha.

04. Dung Dung Dung

Singers: Padmalatha, Manasi & Ananthu

Rating: 3/5

This one is a party song presented in a traditional way, same routine situations & music. I don't understand why our directors follow to make the routine thing again & again, don't we have enough wedding songs? but yet every movie must feature atleast one, we listeners are already heady with them, don't know when film makers will realise & make unique tracks. This is the routine dhol bhaja song with that cherubic vocals & characteristic lyric with same wedding lilt. Song has no consistency, music does no work, lyrics are filled into the space as usually, vocalists do what is demanded. Wonder who still listens to this stuff!! if yet they are there, this song is for them.

05. Cheliya Choode

Singers: Harshavrdhan Rameshwar & Madhupriya

Rating: 2/5

One more contemporary routine mass song, as I said I'am bored of saying the word 'routine'. Music helps in no way, yes mass songs are a must in Telugu films, but not a custom, if people can't fill their screen presence, they make this kind of songs, & moreover this songs are placed in odd situations, with full swing mass steps by the hero, which serve as a moment of embracement for the cults, but film makers forget that this songs get no attention of common audience. If at all mass songs are made, they should sound like Manisharma's or Keeravani's songs with full swing & rhythm, which is missing in this. Unnecessary intensity & energy does'nt make it a mass song. And Anantha Sriram writes the most creep lyrics, which lower the standard of the song.

06. Saakshyam

Singers: K.J.Yesudas, S.P.Balasubrahmanyam, Hariharan, Kailash Kher, Bombay Jayashree & Chorale

Rating: 4/5

This is a special song narrating the story of hunting the evil, with the power of Five elements (పంచభూతాలు ) . Actually, "when the evil is so strong, that a normal human force cannot harm it, then those Five Elements come together & kill the evil" sums upto the meaning in the song. Its 12 minute long, but never gives boredom, a very well made song. Music keeps changing in the interludes, as a sign that element has been changed. First one minute its like a introduction, to the title ' Saakshyam', if the evil is so dangerous that it has been hiding all the preys & proofs of its immoral & nefarious acts, then these five elements stand as witness of its sinister acts & curbs the evil with its extreme capacity & competence.  How these five elements take away the evil is written in the song. Anantha Sriram must be lucky enough to get this song, he did a commendable job, but lacks consistency, after a while lyrics no where matches the intensity of a masterpiece, they are pretty much ordinary, then again like a boom words sound hyper. Either he must follow one, that is making the song powerful with simple words, nor powerful with heavy words conveying the need, but not both like this, which did'nt gel well. Harsha's tune is the same, till the end except the interludes, which sounded extraordinary. A great job by the music director, don't know what's the situation in movie, this thumping song stands out.

Coming to the vocalists, its a huge surprise to listen to the legends coming together. It gave me a great excitement when I read their names on the inlay card. After listening to the song, then I understood, why they are here. This song requires someone, who clearly aces through the vocals part & all together did it. Thank you Harsha Vardhan for bringing them together. However, Yesudas , SPB & Kailash Kher's singing dominates the other's rendition, they are amazing. Chorus is too good. Actually, this big song is cut into pieces, in next 5 songs representing the five elements. They can leave it like this, but they have cut into individual songs, to represent the theme of agony in deep. Now lets discuss in detail.

THE FIVE ELEMENTS 

07. Bhaava Maya ( Air - గాలి )

Singers: K.J.Yesudas & Chorus

Rating: 5/5

This is a powerful song on 'Air', Anantha Sriram aces through the lyrics, he showcases the wrath of air in hunting the evil & providing the witness of its malevolent acts.First he explains us about the 'Air' , " With air our life starts, with the air life ends, what goes in between is the life what humans live, the day when it starts to count the breaths taken, life is a wrap" sums up to the intro, " How air has become a life supporter (breath) to you, in the same way it becomes a cyclone & takes your breath away", with this phrases he explains how air hunts the evil. So neatly told & beautifully composed. Yesudas in a commercial film after many years, its a wonder!! Rendition of Yesudas is ageless, awful & what not, even at this age he sounds soo good!! That intensity, power, dedication in his voice, gives goosebumps to the listeners. Hats off sir!! We are lucky enough to hear to your voice even now.  Marvelous rendition by the legend.

08. Thatra Gandhavati Pruthvi ( Earth - భూమి )

Singers: Bombay Jayashree & Chorus

Rating: 3/5

This is on the mother 'Earth', same pattern continues , intro of Earth, then the way it hunts the evil. Earth is a sign for 'patience' and 'peace', but once it loses its patience, its rage is so disastrous, that anything can be destroyed. Life starts with small steps & how many steps more you might go ahead, only a 6 feet land is given to bury your body, how many stones you have extracted from the soil does'nt matter at last you reach the soil, so what is the need for such greediness ? if you test its patience, its gonna hunt you damn high" , that sums upto the meaning in the song. Music is extraordinary again. Lyrics are fine. Bombay Jayashree was fine, but that's not enough, she should sound like the fire with full intensity, voice should have that modulation, starting with peace ending in wrath. Chitra would be right choice for the song, her expression is required here. But no offence, she too is fine, but gets dominated in the combined song.

09. Om Agnirwa Apa ( Fire - నిప్పు )

Singers: S.P.Balasubrahmanyam & Chorus

Rating: 5/5

This is on the  'Fire', same pattern continues , intro of Fire, then the way it hunts the evil. " The warmth in mother's lap & the luminous light in father's eyes is a trace of fire's existence.  Will'nt the fury of Fire curb the one who oozes the bonding b/w parents & son, that camp fire becomes the fire at cremation and hunts you out, just wait and see" sums upto the meaning in this song. Anantha Sriram is inconsistent here, his words are too simple, which gave odd comparisions , though meaning is satisfied. S.P.Balu's voice is thumping, giving goosebumps. OMG!! his voice and intensity, who else could have sung this like him. That's why he is a legend. When he sang with full swag, it makes the listeners to sit at the corner of the seat, giving horrific experience. A perfect choice, for a perfect song. His voice is like that mountain spilling volacano fires. 

10. Shabdha Gunakam Aakasham ( Sky - ఆకాశం )

Singers: Hariharan & Chorus

Rating: 4/5

This is on the  'Sky', same pattern continues , intro of Sky, then the way it hunts the evil. "If the evil has cheated all the four directions & has done his criminal acts without the four direction's notice, then there is one more direction above, that's the sky, its watching everything. Its the witness for the miserable acts you have committed. Either for a fraction of seconds or about the history centuries back nor about the hidden truths, its the only witness. Culprit cannot escape, sky is watching everything" sums up to the meaning in this song. Hariharan does an amazing job, as usual his voice is sweet, that's the reason it gets lost in the instrumentation, rest everything sounds above extraordinary.

11. Gange Jayamu ( Water - నీరు )

Singers: Kailash Kher & Chorus

Rating: 5/5

This is on the  'Water', same pattern continues , intro of Water, then the way it hunts the evil. "If Water which serves our thirst, becomes a deadly ocean & comes to hunt you, who can stop it from doing so. Though a tear drop of humanly person  seems like a rain drop, its creating a huge tsunami. A huge storm is awaiting your death, go face it" sums up to the meaning in this song. Lyrics are fine. That chorus frequently humming 'nadir thim tha' gives a sinister feeling. Kailash Kher is amazing, what a voice, what a range!!! I felt he would have sung whole song, his intensity is amazing, he did'nt add any expression, just his voice suited to the tee. Hats off for his rendition. That aalap in the beginning, is a proof of his amazing talent. The way he sang, is like a stormy ocean roaring with its waves.A perfect choice. Loved this song.

Picks Of The Album: Gange Jayamu, Bhaava Maya, Om Agnirwa & Soundarya Lahari

OVERALL RATING: 7/10

Remarks: slated to release on 27, July. Don't miss it, I guess its a unique concept. Harshavardhan stood up with a different one, a sure mention album. Its like a blissful moment for music lovers, to hear Yesudas & SPB together in this album after Singarala song in 1992, though they have sung a song in 'Swarabhishekam' movie in 2004, it did'nt click on. But this song is a beautiful one & will be remembered for long. Two legends of Musical industry are together, sounded great. Thank you for getting in the singers, who could justify them perfectly.