Every film has a character. And that specific quality gets amplified in its songs.
But if you are looking for that in Leela Mahal Centre then you are in for a disappointment.
To be sure, a couple of numbers sound okay on the ears but on the whole the album lacks the feel and life that is required to classify it a hit. Much of the blame for this should fall on music director S A.Rajkumar who has a history of repeating himself.
Rajkumar's, orchestration not the best in the business even when he is inspirational, is tepid and is bereft of the zeal and zest that is so required for the modern-day generation. And the listener also can feel short-changed when two songs, Chitti Chilakamma and Aa Thummeda Rekkalanadugu, are played on both sides of the cassette. In these days of value-for-money, this is totally unacceptable (repeating one song is passable).
It doesn't matter who sings what, under the baton of Rajkumar, they all come across the same. Even S P Balasubramaniam and Chitra lose track in Chitti Chilakamma (remember the old Telugu poem?). The song lacks character as it begins in one style and ends up as another. And so does Balamanemmo Balamaneemmo.
Incidentally, the latter also has shades of a popular tune of old vintage. Sirimalle Puvvalle (even the lyrics are from old songs) is fast but not lively. O Hampi Bomma is peppy and may end up as the popular number of the album along with Aa Thummeda Rekkalanadugu which is soft-paced melody.
Leela Mahal Centre, long delayed for various reasons, surely deserved better than what Rajkumar has dished out.