Robo 2.0 Audio Review- 2018

Movie: Robo 2.0 (2018)

Director: Shankar Shanmukgan

Producer: Subhaskaran & Raaju Mahalingam

Cast: 'Superstar' Rajanikanth, Amy Jackson & Akshaya Kumar

Music Director: 'Mastero' A. R. Rahman

Music label: Lyca Productions

2.0 is an upcoming Indian  science fiction film written and directed by S. Shankar, co-written by B. Jayamohan, and produced by A. Subaskaran.The film serves as a spiritual successor to the 2010 Tamil film Enthrian, and features Rajinikanth reprising the roles of Dr. Vaseegaran and Chitti, alongside Akshay Kumar and Amy Jackson. With an estimated budget of ₹543 crore,it is the most expensive Indian film made to date.

As the film is a bilingual one, I decided to fare the album in Tamil & Telugu by drawing in comparisons. ARRahman, the music 'Mastero' who amazed us with his brilliant compositions in Robo, is now back with the same zeal. So, why late let's directly fare the album.

01. Yenthira Lokapu/Yenthara Lokapu

Singers: Sid Sriram & Shahasa                             Tripati
Lyricist: Tamil- Madhan Marky
                 Telugu- Anantha Sriram
Rating: 4/5

This is that hi-fi romantic song, which has all that metallic instrumentation to suit to the context. ARR, this legend never fails to enthrall us with his rocking orchestration, especially those interludes with looping notes define his prowess & brilliance in composing music. Tune is absolutely perfect. But the problem lies some where with the vocalists & lyricists, both in Tamil & Telugu. I meant they aren't upto the range of Rajanikanth, Shankar or ARR. May be I expected more, likewise this is an amazing song for normal music lovers. 

Madhan's(Tamil) & Anantha's (Telugu) lyrics are ok. Sid Sriram is fine in Tamil but had too many issues in singing Telugu. Shahasa's husky tone clicked on very well, but she would have taken utmost care while rendering, lyric isn't that clear.  Overall a song which cannot be any better. Kuddos ARR for a lovely composition 🙏.

Coming to lyrics, all the technical words like engine, wifi, battery, alpha, beta, gamma, sensor, omega etc are used to show that song isn't the same commercial one, but has something relating to the context. And it even features Rajini's laugh in b/w on which usually fans embrace. Telugu song is just the translation to Tamil song, so Ananth writes it as 'Yanthara' like in Tamil it's 'Yenthira' , but actually it's 'Yantra' in telugu that's it, these all can be overlooked because it's a dubbed version, we can bear all this until they don't spoil the essence of language. So, Anantha & Madhan have done a fair job in penning this song.

02. Raajali/Randaali

Singers: Tamil- Blaze, Arjun                                              Chandy   &  Sid                                          Sriram
                Telugu- Blaze, Arjun                                             Chandy & Nivas
Lyricists: Tamil- Madhan Marky
                   Telugu- Bhaskara Bhatla
Rating: 4/5

This song comes into a genre where it can't be classified into any stream, coz it has all the elements which set the stage into fire, mostly this is like a dance number. ARR at the helm with all those foot tapping beats & looping percussions, what else can make the song better than this. ARR's peppy orchestration takes the song to a different level. With out ARR this album would be a vain. 

Vocalists did a commendable job. Madhan karky is ok. But what's wrong with Bhaskara Bhatla, his lyrics are a big trash, completely out of form. It's a dubbed song, it has its limitations ok, but does it mean that lyricist should fill it with creepy words just for adding space? 

So I'll definitely suggest you to go with Tamil song. Overall a great song which has its grandeur only with in its instrumentation. Don't know what shankar & Rajini have done for us on the screen. Eagerly waiting for the film's release.

03. Pullinangal/Bulli Guvva

Singers: Tamil- Bamba Bakya,                                           A.R.Ameen &                                             Suzzane. 
                 Telugu- M. M. Keeravani,                                       A.R.Ameen &                                             Suzzane.
Lyricist: Tamil- Na. Muthukumar
                  Telugu- Anantha Sriram
Rating: 4.5/5

A song that can be embraced for its rich melody & great sense of rhythm pattern & instrumentation. Lyricists did an amazing job, both in Tamil & Telugu, the words just sounded marvelous. Does ARR knows how to do magic? Probably yes,whoever the listener is, same question would repeat. ARR is a class apart from all other composers, that's the reason he sounds like a pro everytime. This music 'Mastero' needs a pat on his back for this jaw dropping composition.
One more surprise element is, Keeravani singing the Telugu version!! His voice perfectly blended with the tune, he's been a right choice for the song, his voice is everything, till date never a song sounded too sweet like this, everytime he said 'Bulliguvva' a beat in my heart skipped out. ARR & Keeravani made it a cult classic.

Coming to Tamil, Bamba is fine, above par. But ARR would have recorded even Tamil song in MMK's voice. But it's ok, song sounded brilliant. AR Ameen was feeble, sweet & made his impact in a clear transparent path. Suzzane 's humming portions are awful, her voice leaves the listener in a blissful experience. Anantha Sriram & Muthukumar's lyrics are sublime. Overall a song that has sheer magic hidden within it.

PICKS OF THE ALBUM: Entire Album

OVERALL RATING: 8.3/10