MUMBAI:Music maestro A R Rahman's latest endeavour 'Mohenjo Daro', created in association with director Ashutosh Gowariker and veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar, was a much-awaited music album. Rahman and Gowariker have given fantastic soundtracks from ‘Lagaan’, ‘Swades’ and ‘Jodhaa Akbar’ in the past. A Hrithik Roshan and Pooja Hegde starter film was actually exciting when the great composer, director and lyricist came together for this period film. However let’s accept that Rahman’s music doesn't inevitably ‘grow’ over a number of listens this time.

Radioandmusic.com did a quick review of the whole album. Read on to know more.

Song: Mohenjo Mohenjo

Singer: AR. Rahman, Arijit Singh, Bela Shende, Sanah Moidutty

Music: AR. Rahman

Lyrics: Javed Akhtar

Mohenjo Mohenjo: This is the title track and sung by A R Rahman, Arijit Singh, Bela Shende, and Sanah Moidutty. As the movie’s core focus is larger than life; the theme song needs to be really majestic. The elaborately structured chorus, put together by Rahman, achieves this at the very outset in the title track ‘Mohenjo Mohenjo’.

The track is immersed in several tribal tunes and drumbeats. No one knows what kind of music was played during the Indus valley civilisation. But, for us, tribal music was not the correct substitute. Javed Akhtar didn’t impress us with very average composition either. Apart from Arijit Singh’s wonderful singing, the song is lacklustre, laboured and way too lengthy.

Song: Sindhu Ma

Singer: A.R. Rahman, Sanah Moidutty

Music: A.R. Rahman

Lyrics: Javed Akhtar

Sindhu Ma

The track is all about Sindhu Nadi (the Indus River) and in a little while blends with the romantic melody of the song. ‘Sindhu Ma’ can be a bit of help when heard for the first beat. The sound of the song is pleasant but, definitely not Rahman’s one of the best songs.

He has experimented a lot with the beats, tribal sounds but that tribal section could have been avoided. And we didn’t understand the language Rahman was singing in a few stanzas. However, the female singer Sanah Moidutty’s voice is soulful and fantastic. The lyrics by Javed Akhtar have lost the magic.

The instrumental version ‘The Shimmer of Sindhu’ with Keba Jeremiah on guitar and Kareem Kamalakar on the flute is however, most mesmerising and this melody is perfect for rainy evenings. We recommend, strongly.

Song: Sarsariya

Singer: Shashwat Singh, Shashaa Tirupati

Music: AR. Rahman

Lyrics: Javed Akhtar

Sarsariya: Sung by Shashwat Singh and Shashaa Tirupati, the song ‘Sarsariya’ has a crisp tune and provides fine domain to both vocalists. The usage of unfamiliar languages and strange sounds is a little bit disconcerted, though. When it comes to lyrics, there is nothing extra ordinary.

The instrumental version of this song is on the album which is called ‘Lakh Lakh Thora’.

Song: Tu Hai

Singer: AR. Rahman, Sanah Moidutty

Music: AR. Rahman

Lyrics: Javed Akhtar

Tu Hai

‘Tu Hai’ is the romantic reprised version of ‘Sindhu Ma’. The composition is mediocre and Rahman’s singing is just run of the mill. Sanah Moidutty is certainly a great singer to look out for.The blasted tribal sounds don’t go with contemporary tunes. ‘Tu Hai’ is just a good romantic passable song.

‘Whispers of the Mind’ and ‘Whispers of the Heart’ echo magnificently. The orchestral structures of these two songs are magnificent. No-one can do that as well as the Oscar-winning composer. Both tracks are instrumental, full of character with bits of vocals by Arjun Chandy and excellent beats. It gives you a haunting appeal which is fairly definite to the film's plot.

Our Verdict:

Overall, we think that ‘Mohenjo Daro’ is more of an instrumental album . The rhythmic endeavour of Rahman might work for the film with all those tribal, folk sounds, beats and melodies. The elements of melody are not really commercial and the album needs a lot of patience. In association with T-series, Mohenjo Daro’s album is quite interesting, but not adequately magical.

Check out the jukebox of the album: