Music label: Sony Music

Rating - 3.5/5

With the multiplex strike still on and no new music releasing in the market; retail stores are stocking their shelves with compilations and non-film music.

Labels are also promoting their compilations and non film albums as there is a dearth of film music in the market. Explains Sony Music Marketing Director Sanujeet Bhujabal, Owing to the lull in the entertainment sector, people will listen to music either from their favourite movies or their favourite artistes in these times. The time is perfect as we feel there is a vacuum of new content and there is an opportunity to create more such thematic compilations....

Sony Music's comprehensive compilation- �A R Rahman-a world of music' (launched before the maestro won his Oscar) is an attempt by the music label to cash in on Rahman's moment of triumph.

The 5 CD + 1 DVD pack is reasonably priced at Rs 399 and boasts of some of Rahman's remarkable hits. Apart from this, Sony Music has also launched smartly priced compilations in different price brackets for Rahman music lovers  We have released the product in various price categories/formats. The idea of this compilation is to present A R Rahman's greatest works done by the legend himself in a delectable pack which is comprehensive and is value for money to the buyer.... The price categories include a cassette for Rs 50, a 3 CD for Rs 199 and a 5 CD set for Rs 399. This will ensure that we get all kinds of consumers in different price brackets....

The 5 CD set tracks Rahman's journey from an entrant in the industry to being the top musician in the music industry. The compilation opens with one of Rahman's all time hits- Dil se, Chitra's and Hema Sardesai's refreshing rendentions in Kehna Hi Kya and Awara Bhanwara and has a mix of his compositions from Rang de basanti, Guru, Lagaan, Meenaxi, Zubeida. The surprise element in the first CD is the track, �Gurus of peace' rendered by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan for Rahman's album �Vande Mataram' and �Ae Nazneen Suno' from Dil Hi Dil Mein.

The second album comprises Tamil tracks by Rahman including Hey Goodbye, the Tamil version of Yuva's �Aye khudahafiz' from Ayithe Ezuthu and �Taxi Taxi' launched by Sony Music in 2008 and �Ye ye enna achu' from Kaadhal Virus delivered in a power packed manner by Vasundhara Das, in a way only she can. The other tracks in the album include the evergreen, �Vande Mataram', �Shakalaka baby' from Bombay Dreams and the surprise piece - Sadhana Sargam's �Warriors in Peace'.

Apart from the great compositions, Rahman's albums are also known for their instrumentals and the third CD has eight of his best versions. The first one, Bombay theme, is a well orchestrated music using violins and flute. It is followed by Lagaan's theme music which starts with humming by Anuradha Sriram followed by grand orchestration with vocal harmony, violin and percussions. The track which stands out in this CD is the �Rangeela theme' composed by Rahman in 1995. Rangeela was Rahman's first Hindi movie with an original score, as the previous ones were dubbed from his Tamil scores. Merely listening to this theme reminds of the energetic dance performance by Urmila Matondkar on the big screen.
The other CDs also have great numbers from Bombay, Rangeela, Sapnay, Dil se, among others.

The DVD is a visual treat as it pictures some of the best Rahman numbers like Vande Mataram, Rang De Basanti, Barso re, Chinamma Chilakama etc and also Rahman performing live at �Guru' Music launch.

Although the compilation doesn't have the latest Rahman titles like Ghajini, Slumdog Millionaire, Jodha Akbar, Jaane tu ya jaane na and older ones like Pukar, Taal, Swades, Yuva, the compilation tracks Rahman's journey from a newcomer in the industry to being one of the highest paid music composer today with many international projects to his credit.

Sony Music is expecting to sell about 100,000 units of this title over a period of time and are in continuous dialogue with various production houses where A R Rahman is composing for acquiring the rights of his music.