A good director is one who brings the best out of his artistes and technicians. Krishna Vamsi is doubtlessly one. He is a hard taskmaster and is not satisfied that easily. In this album, he seems to have pushed Chakri to new limits. Though the output is nothing sensational, you have to be happy that at least there are people in the industry who are trying to be different.
1. Jagamanta Kutumbam
It is yesterday once again. It is almost to a throw back to the era when you could hear the lyrics not drowned in mindless music. The beats, the tunes everything is old-fashioned. But rather than boring, it makes you nostalgic for the time lost by. Singer Sri, though not in the best of forms, manages to whip up the right sombre mood. The lyrics of Sitha Rama Shasthry are also evocative. But it also makes you worry how such a song would have been filmed in the movie.
2. Koncham Karamga
Can you imagine a smooth flowing rivulet amidst the dense greenery of a forest? That is the imagery that comes to mind when you hear Kousalya caress this soft and sensitive number. If you are looking for razzmatazz, this is not your song. But hold a glass of something cheery in your hand, with rain on your windows, listen to this number with extra bass to amplify the violin bits, it is what heaven is. Chakri has stuck to the basics and that works. Nothing sensational. But quite good.
3. Naa Peru Chakram
This seemingly theme song, starts with a bewildering mix of voices (a kid speaks, a dog barks and a cat meows) and notes and then there is the usual beat. After that the singer Sri takes over singing some funny lyrics. It is sung to a kid, so the lyrics are at that level. The tune is not the most original and for a theme song it is a bit disappointing and unimaginative, ending with the national song beats.
4. Oke Oka Mata
Chakri goes behind the mike and seems slightly constricted at the start. Surely he does not seem to possess the kind of cultured tone that such soft numbers require. But he tries, sometime too hard for his own good. The interludes, though predictable, are acceptable. Chakri's pronounced nasal twang takes time to get used to. A soft number that you will love after listening to.
5. Rangoli Holi
The beats are Punjabi and loud. The voice, of Shankar Mahadevan, is heavy. It is a full-spirited song that you like when going in a bus or slurping a tea at a tea stall. But when you are driving alone or having a romantic outing, try something else. A good song for fun and frolic.
6. Sony Cellphone
It is very difficult to seriously get involved in a song whose starting words are 'Sony Cellophone'. The song is true to type with inane lyrics and rhythm pad outputs. The lead guitar also works over time. This is the only duet in the album. And that too, only sort of.
Chakri, save for the last number, has by and large stayed away from his usual stuff. In that sense, Krishna Vamsi seems to have extracted what he wanted. But how listeners react is a moot point. For, if you are looking for your regular kind of songs and beats, forget this. But full marks for Chakri for giving it a try.