AUDIOSCAN
Break from the mould
Taare Zameen Par (T Series)

Let’s not concern ourselves with the qualitative aspect at the moment. Instead, just focus on the sheer courage to come up with this kind of music which is entirely different from the assembly-line stuff. The music is completely in sync with the theme of the film. It may not set the popularity charts on fire but is remarkable in its distinction.

The film produced and directed by Aamir Khan tells the story of a child who can be called special—or a retarded one. All playback is devoted to this theme. Perhaps this should be the first album which does not contain even one "love" song.

The title song is typical Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy creation—low key, sweet and sentimental. Shankar Mahadevan himself renders it along with Dominique Cerejo and Vivienne Pocha.

The most touching song of the set, Tujhe sab hai pata, hai na maa, has also been sung by Shankar.

In Bum Bum Bhole, Aamir Khan shares the mike with Shaan. Raman Mahadevan does wonderful things to one song that he gets to render here, Kholo kholo.

The distress of a young child at having to face scolding and advice from every side is well presented through Bheja Kum in which the full impact is achieved by combining the voices of a large number of people, including Shankar Mahadevan, Bugs Bhargava, Shankar Sachdev, Raaj Gopal Iyer, Ravi Khanwilker, Loy Mendonsa, Amole Gupte, Kiran Rao, Aamir Khan and Ram Madhvani.

In fact, relative newcomers rule the roost throughout the album.

The three composers, Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy, also present Ishaan’s Theme.

Lyrics are by Prasoon Joshi.

The album also includes Mera Jahan sung by Adnan Sami and others under the baton of Shailendra Barve.

Nara-e-Mastana, Chhap tilak sab chheeni, Mast Kalandar, Naina Milayike, Peeya se and Halka are the kind of classic Sufi songs one has grown up listening and admiring. They have a particular feel which has seeped into our minds.

In comes Sameer, a Delhi-based singer and guitarist who has improvised and modified these to give them a modern touch. If you are not the kind who thinks that any such experimentation is sacrilege, you will enjoy the youthful album.

Actively involved with the band Karma, Sameer has been mainly performing at college fests and other shows. He lent music to the title song of the movie Sarhad Paar ( nitt khair mangan). — ASC

HOME