The album of 'Mahanubhavudu', composed by Thaman, has been rendered by Armaan Malik, Nakash Aziz, Geetha Madhuri, MM Manasi, Thaman, Manisha Eerabathini, Rahul Nambiar and Swetha Pandit, has the lyrics by Krishna Kanth in the main. Sirivennela and Bhaskarabhatla write a song each.
Rendu Kallu
Singer: Armaan Malik
Lyrics: Krishna Kanth
Thaman seems to change his style with respect to this romantic number. There are no usual fillers of the kind we see in his songs. It becomes a melody somewhere in the middle. The influence of the 90s' era Rahman can't be ruled out. Armaan Malik makes for a singer whose vocals are sharp and impactful. Krishnakanth's lyrics are playful and don't scrap the surface merely. Imagine the two eyes of the girl stopping his breath. Sharwanand surely has a winner of a romantic duet on hand.
Mahanubhavudu
Singers: Geetha Madhuri, MM Manasi
Lyrics: Krishna Kanth
Just as the title 'Bhale Bhale Mogadivoy' had a ring of its heroine hailing her hero, so also this song, which is meant to elevate the male lead's character through a song rendered by the female lead.
SS Thaman goes in for a mix of the Classical and the folk, bearing Maruthi's preferences all through. The use of the instruments is adept, as is the music director's style. The snippets, in places, are Western. The lyrics first refer to the boy's Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in good measure. Nevertheless, he is spotless ('Maccha asale lenodu').
Kiss Me Baby
Singers: Thaman S, Manisha Eerabathini
Lyrics: Krishna Kanth
What happens when the OCD-afflicted lover boy is pining for a kiss, even though he seems to abhor the dirty aspect of it? The lyrics bring this out imaginatively. The joy of the first kiss, the use of English-language words and phrases like 'Drives me crazy' are all there. Thaman's vocals are at their usual best. Manisha chips in for a brief time. The use of the electric guitar is nimble.
My Love is Back
Singer: Rahul Nambiar
Lyrics: Krishna Kanth
Thaman has a way of composing for love duets shot in exotic locations. The very music smells of the bounties of Nature. Somewhere in the middle, the song has a 'Kick' hangover. With the right kind of choreography, this should turn out to be a big visual hit. Rahul Nambiar's voice has a celebratory tinge about it. Sameera Bharadwaj chips in with humming. Krishna Kanth's lyrics are at their best for this number. The poetry can't be missed, especially if you are a victim of 'Gilli kajjalu'.
Bhamalu Bhamalu
Singer: Nakash Aziz
Lyrics: Bhasakarabhatla
The song is a feminist's nightmare, compared as the women are by the frustrated males with mosquitos and those ants. In the second stanza, though, Bhaskarabhatla provides a respite, impressing upon the male victims that our existence would mean nothing without women. Nakash Aziz has the ability to sound convincing in even those songs with a lot of native flavour. In this folk-sounding number, Aziz comes out with flying colours. Thaman uses the right instruments to evoke the right feelings in the listener.
Eppudinna
Singer: Swetha Pandit
Lyrics: Seetharama Sastry
Thaman deploys the ghatam, flute and violin, among others, for the album's most melodious song. There is a sense of deja vu. Swetha Pandit's mellifluous vocals are terrific. Thaman gets to compose a melody (his favourite genre for romantic movies) and he gets able vocal and lyrical supplementation. Sirivennela Sitarama Shastry's profound lyrics are touching. The hero here becomes the 'Mahanubhavudu' that he is. The Telugu-only lyrics are a treat.
Verdict:
The album is more romantic than the title would have suggested. Krishnakanth, Sirivennela and Bhaskarabhatla deliver the goods in their own right. Swetha Pandit and Nakash Aziz are brilliant.
Rating: 3.25/5