swatkat: knight - er, morgana - in shining underwear (cuddy)
[personal profile] swatkat
For [livejournal.com profile] hihoplastic, and anyone else who may have been impressed by the Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack and wanted to hear more of A.R. Rahman's work. This is a very random and eclectic little collection that I've put together in a very hasty manner, depending on what I have in my computer. This also means that it's limited to his work in Hindi, because I have very little of his work in other languages. I have very cleverly uploaded mostly instrumental tracks, to avoid the problem of translation (yes, I speak and understand Hindi - doesn't mean I can also *translate*).



Bombay Theme: If you're taking just one track from here, it should be this. The Bombay theme. The flute in the beginning is haunting. The entire thing is haunting.

Swades Theme: Salim's ringtone in Slumdog Millionaire. I love the beat.

Again from Swades, the instrumental version of Yeh Jo Des Hain Tera (which vaguely translates into something like 'this country of yours'). What I enjoy about this version is the use of the shehnai, which is a kind of a flute. And while we're at it also have the non-instrumental version of the song, in which Rahman sings himself. He has an unconventional, highly pitched voice which some people (like my father) don't enjoy, but I like it and I wish he'd sing more. And if you have seen the movie? SRK'S FACE in that scene! I just... *flappy hands*

Also from Swades, the instrumental version of Pal Pal Hain Bhaari. There was a time when Rahman was accused of not knowing his Indian music, but then he started writing things like this. Tabla and the flute - you can't go wrong with that combination.

And this is the Durga puja theme from Bose, which I adore for the use of the dhaak, a drum-like instrument from my part of the country. He takes great liberties with the traditional beat, but then he got Sivamani to play it, and it's awesome.

More instrumental! Theme from 1947 (aka. Earth in the English version).

And some vocals: Tere Bina ('without you') from the Guru OST. A rather sappy romantic song, but it's also melodious and beautiful, and I *adore* the way he juxtaposes his own high-pitched voice with Mrinmoyee's husky tones.

Ay Ajnabi from Dil Se. Sung by Udit Narain, it's a very, very haunting song, though I suppose it won't make any sense without the lyrics which are along the lines of 'o stranger, raise your voice from somewhere/here i am living in fragments and you are somewhere else, living in fragments..', etc. Originally I thought of uploading Chhaiya Chhaiya, aka. the Song in Which SRK and Malaika Arora Dance on a Train, but then I realised that it has to be *seen*, so: Youtube link to video. (Don't ask me *why* they're dancing on the train - they just are.)

Kabhi Neem Neem from Yuva. I'd originally uploaded this for a friend; I love the way this song adapts the folk-y baul tune.

Vande Mataram. Rahman did this is a collaboration project with Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, in one of his last projects. It adapts the patriotic (and highly contested and immensely problematic) slogan 'Vande Mataram' ('I bow to you, mother' - referring to the mother land) and weaves an epic song out of it.


* If you enjoy them, drop me a line.

Date: 2009-01-04 05:04 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] leiascully.livejournal.com
I love AR Rahman! Delightful.

Date: 2009-01-04 06:56 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jaybee65.livejournal.com
Ooooooh. *Downloads*

Date: 2009-01-04 07:01 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hihoplastic.livejournal.com
Oh, thank you so much! This is wonderful. I can't wait to download all these and listen.

Hee, I was actually going to ask you if you could translate any of the lyrics. ^^ (Because I am a very immature person, I get such a kick out of the "transliteration" vids on youtube from Bollywood films, where people have subtitled the scenes with what the words sound like.)(I love the music even though I can't understand what they're saying, though.)

I think I actually have a song that's a Massive Attack remix of a Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan song. It's very strange and awesome.

Thanks again!

Date: 2009-01-04 08:53 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] phinnia.livejournal.com
those look AMAZING. thankyou!

Date: 2009-01-04 09:35 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lyras.livejournal.com
Ooh, I love that first track! I first came across it one one of the Cafe del Mar albums. May well come back and try out some of these others when I have some time - thank you.

Date: 2009-01-05 07:08 am (UTC)
ext_7700: (Default)
From: [identity profile] swatkat24.livejournal.com
He's *awesome*. I ♥ him.

Date: 2009-01-05 07:08 am (UTC)
ext_7700: (Default)
From: [identity profile] swatkat24.livejournal.com
That's one of my eternal favourites. I hope enjoy the rest as well. *g*

Date: 2009-01-05 07:10 am (UTC)

Date: 2009-01-05 07:11 am (UTC)
ext_7700: (Default)
From: [identity profile] swatkat24.livejournal.com
Hee, I was actually going to ask you if you could translate any of the lyrics. ^^

Um. I can try. It won't be very pretty, though. *facepalm*

Date: 2009-01-05 07:11 am (UTC)

Profile

swatkat: knight - er, morgana - in shining underwear (Default)
swatkat

October 2019

S M T W T F S
   12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  

Most Popular Tags

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags
Page generated Feb. 14th, 2026 11:06 pm
Powered by Dreamwidth Studios