NTR - The Biopic Audio Review- Telugu (2018)
MOVIE: NTR- BIOPIC (2018)
DIRECTOR: KRISH JAGARLAMUDI
PRODUCER: NBK & KORRAPATI
CAST: BALAKRISHNA & VIDYA BALAN
MUSIC: M. M. KEERAVANI
MUSIC LABEL: LAHARI MUSIC
This film has got two parts for telling the legend's story, first part is 'Kathanayakudu' & the second one is 'Mahanayakudu' for telling his political career. Both films slated to release in 2k19, not even with a span more than 1month b/w both the parts. Let's hope for its success.
After Mahanati, everything is on a row of biopics in Telugu film industry, after this YSR, NCBN etc films are in line.
Coming to music, when directors want something special with Telugu music, they usually draw in Keeravani for composing music. Keeravani ensures that his compositions never lack keen of Telugu nativity, this trait of him is the reason for his long sustainability. Right from 'Manasu Mamatha' till yesteryear's ' Baahubali' he has been proving his prowess & talent. And its one of the ingenious move by the film's unit to bring in Keeravani garu. The audio launch was held at JRC convetion centre on 21 Dec, 2018.
KATHANAYAKUDU [PART-1]
01. Kathanayaka (Male)
Vocalists: Kailash Kher & Chorus
Lyricists: Shiva Datta & Dr.Ramakrishna
Rating: 4/5
Lyricists: Shiva Datta & Dr.Ramakrishna
Rating: 4/5
A majestic title song', what some section of people missed in the title song of 'Mahanati' is the magnanimity & grandeur in lyrics, here goes that feeling of them in void. Selection of particular wordings & some Orthodox phrases brings back the life for this track. Both the lyricists did a commendable job, especially in second stanza where they described the legend with all his characters in movies, is prodigious. But usage of convectional words itself will'nt serve the purpose, but giving a right meaning is more important.
Keeravani has composed one of the great tunes. Who else can bring in that retro feel with conservative essence other than Keeravani! That prelude itself predicts something breathtaking. Shehnayi as interlude sounded sonorous giving us a rehash of Ghantasala Garu's compositions. Overall Keeravani has done a laudable job.
Coming to vocalists, Kailash Kher is a wrong choice. A pure telugu song with a pure telugu lyric needs a telugu singer. Is it that our singers cannot sing better than them or they sing something great than our singers? There are many singers striving for a chance like Hema chandra,Revanth, Sriram Chandra etc with ample of talent, but what's the fascination over getting those foreign singers or non-Telugu singers? My straight question to Keeravani garu. Kailash Kher is stamped for some particular genre in commercial films, so let him do that why should he be overrated with these many chances? If not for that, Kailash Kher sounded stupendous, his pronunciation is too sounded good, no issues with his rendition. But there's some over stress on the word 'Kathanayaka' which isn't needed, we can find that difference when the chorale sings. Chorus sounded great followed by the postled . Overall a great & feel good song, only because of Kailash Kher, song has got a mediocre applause, even though he hasn't made any mistakes. So music composers should know that selection of singers is also a very important thing.
02. Vendithera Dora
Vocalists: M.M.Keeravani
Lyricists: M.M.Keeravani
Rating: 5/5
This is a melancholic song with lot of agony, sorrow & intensity. When Keeravani is at helm with right situation in his hand, nothing can make it less then a masterpiece & gives a tearful experience to the listeners. Keeravani has brought an eerie tune with a dreadful rendition. This song has a very serious connection with the situation in the movie & might wrench our hearts with pitiful pictuarisation. Here the people in void/needy/poor are pleading the legend to listen to their problems & penury. The way Keeravani has rendered this song, is something jaw-dropping & beyond extraordinary. He has put his heart & soul into this song. The orchestration is very minimal at the beginning, then suddenly interludes with majestic percussions turn the situation into a sinister feel. Everywhere in the song, there is some pain & that is brilliantly mastered by Keeravani. Took a standing ovation for you're effort sir!! Indeed a great song!!
03. Bantureethi Koluvu
Vocalists: K.S.Chitra & Sreenidhi
Lyricist: Thyagaraja (Original) & Sirivennala Seetharama Sastry
Rating: 4.5/5
Here, Keeravani brings in a old Thyagaraja's classic traditional- 'Bantureethi Koluvu'. The situation is'nt altered but just the words change that's it. There in the original Thayagyya pleads Lord Rama to grant him job of guard for Rama, the actual meaning is that he always wants to be in the presence of the Lord. But here Seetharama Sastry changes it typically as demanded by the film, here he considers the legend NTR & his wife Basavatarakamma as Rama & Seetha, so as per my predictions after their marriage Seetha is asking Rama that she too needs such post of guard & she wants to stay with him whatever happens in life & she wants become his other half & she even assures him that she can take the share of his responsibilities too & innocently concludes pleading him for that Bantureethi post. Seetharama Sastry is a wonder as usual, his words are like pearls in ocean. Keeravani is just amazing, his orchestration is spell-bounding, a perfect classical swag!!
Comming to the vocalists, Keeravani knows very perfectly about who can justify this track therefore brings back the evergreen voice of Chitra. After 9 years again Chitra sings in his composition, which is like a boom. She is amazing like usual, her voice has some magic & ethereal quality which she uses to full extent here, already she has mastered this kinds, its nothing new for her, but listening to that legendary voice again is really sonorous.The ease with which Chitra sings those dynamics is something praiseworthy. Sreenidhi is ample support to the song, she sounded stupendous. Both the singers ace through the vocals part leaving us in a trans.
04. Kathanayaka (Female)
Vocalists: Ramya Behra, Mohana Bhogaraju & Sreenidhi
Lyricists: Shiva Datta & Dr.Ramakrishna
Rating: 4.5/5
This is the same title song presented in a female version. When two versions are made, comparisons are common, according to me, this is perfect. All the three female lead singers carry the magnanimity of the legend on their shoulders. This is a perfect tribute to that legend. Ramya's voice stood out, it was crystal clear, she sounded mellifluous with perfect voice throw, that is the required element in the song yet I did'nt mean others did'nt sing well, they too sounded great but not as good as Ramya. The synchronization of three voices gelled well. Overall, a decent song.
MAHANAYAKUDU [PART-2]
01. Ramanna Katha
Vocalsists: K.S.Chitra, Sunitha & M.M.Keeravani (Humming)
Lyricists: M.M.Keeravani
Rating: 4/5
This song would be a celebration for NTR's fans. Lyrics are a treat & a tribute to the legend's charecter. This is like that Lava-Kusa song 'శ్రీరాముని చరితము తెలిపెదమ్మ ' by P. Susheela & P. Leela. Keeravani made the tune absolutlely mellifluous which is very soothing to hear. His lyrics are a sure mention again. The instrumentation brings in that retro feel, he uses simple tabla beats as background & interludes are filled with flute notes & a mandolin or shenayi. The veena in b/w enhanced the flavor of the song. Here Chitra & Sunitha become Lava & Kusa to tell the legend's story. Their voices synchronized very well & sounded awful. However Sunitha dominated Chitra with her melodious tone. Chitra made her voice very bold while singing the first stanza (రామ రామ రామన్న కథ) irrespective of wherever it comes, which made her unique voice pellucid. When it comes to the second & third stanza, we cannot highlight any of their voices as both of them sounded similar & too melodious. But last it's a melodious treat & it's great to listen to their voices together.
02. Chaitanya Ratham
Vocalists: M.M.Keeravani, Kaala Bhairava, Sai Shivani & Keerthi Sagthyia
Lyricist: Sirivennala Seetharama Sastry
Rating: 3/5
This is the song that highlights the legend's 'Ratha Yaatra'. Might be Keeravani gave some extraordinary tune but failed to sustain that intensity in the song through the vocalists. It's not రమంటూ but it's రమ్మంటు . Whole chorale did that mistake. I don't understand again what's the necessity to draw in that foreign singers who don't even have an idea of what this song means. Keerthi Sagathyia sounded odd among all the singers & surprisingly he is given the maximal portion in the song. I dont know where Kaala Bhairava went in the song. Sai Shivani & Keeravani are the only vocalists who did justice for the song. And coming to the tune, if not for the orchestration it's above average. Sirivennala is the only saviour in the song, his lyrics are aptly situational. He describes the revolution brought by the legend at that time in politics, he tells we Telugu people are disparaged & our feelings are hurt as we are cornered as a part of Indian province. He asks the people in the voice of NTR, why are we quite inspite of being trolled as buffoons who are just used for increasing the polls through casting votes, so their initiated this revolutionary movement - 'చైతన్య రథం ' proving the power of 'Telugu Spirit' to the world, sums upto the maening of the song. Overall a great lyric destroyed by the vocalists & an above average tune.
03. Rajarshi
Vocalists: M.M.Keeravani, Sharath Santhosh, Mohana Bhogaraju, Kaala Bhairava &Sreenidhi
Lyricists: Shiva Datta, Dr.Ramakrishna & M.M.KeeravaniSloka: Adishankara Jagadguru
Rating: 5/5
This is again one more title song for the second part - 'Mahanayakudu'. This song highlights the whole outline of the film, like a theme song. Here the lyrics play a pivotal role, hats off to all the lyricists over there . It's like listening to a native orthodox Telugu song, it's been a quite long time listening to this type of songs. They have used a slokam from Adishankara Jagadguru's shatakam- Shivam, which synchronized very well with the song. Keeravani showcases the pain & struggle underwent by the great legend during his political career with a melancholic orchestration. Percussion & couple of beats make a perfect background. All the vocalists sounded stupendous, that intense feel was carried out neatly. Santhosh gets a major pie, but he didn't sound that comfortable here. Kaala Bhairava wasn't heard at all, he got mixed with the chorus. Sreenidhi & Keeravani as usually did their parts too well. But Mohana Bhogaraju overruled everyone there,her voice has some magic , especially these intense songs sound too good in her voice. But there's an intensity in song & that lacks with male vocalists here, especially when the phrase 'ఋషివొ మనిషివొ' is rendered it lacks life & sounds dumb irrespective of who sang it. Overall really a great song .
Comments