Audio Review: Nagarjuna's Ragada

The audio of Nagarjuna’s next movie Ragada was released yesterday in style. The teasers of all the songs caught everyone’s attention, obviously giving positive vibes about music director S.S.Thaman’s work for this album. The movie is expected to be a so called ‘mass film’, and it will be interesting to see how Thaman kept this feel throughout the album.

1.Meesamunna Manmadhuda
Singers : Shankar Mahadevan, Rita, Himabindu, Geetha Madhuri

Thaman is a good drummer, and he proves it, right at the beginning of the first number. Add a catchy lyric, supported by guitars this one is a real fast dance number. The only problem is that this one reminds us of Thaman’s earlier work Dil Khalaase from his biggest hit Kick. Shankar Mahadevan sings it with energy, and the girls support him well. The best part of the song is the number of variations it has. The graph goes ‘up, up and away’ never tiring. A good start for the album.

2. Shirisha Shirisha
Singers : Hariharan, Sri Vardhini Thaman

Shirisha Shirisha is a straight reminder of Go Re Go Go Re from Kick. However, this one is good to listen, thanks to experienced Hariharan leading Sri Vardhini Thaman. The second stanza touches classical notes, and is saved from boredom by the soothing harmony going on in the background. Lyrics are teasing, quite suitable for Nagarjuna’s onscreen image! Another good thing about Thaman is he knows how to end his songs.

3.Bolo Ashta Lakshmi
Singers : Karthik, Geetha Madhuri

For the way it starts Bolo Ashta Lakshmi is much better song, mostly thanks to its lyrics, and good work from singers Karthik and Geetha Madhuri. Thaman tries to give this one a feel of Aye Raja from Brindaavanam. However, this one is different as it is more localized, and got more traditional drums, on some well synced English lyrics.

4.Okkadante Okkade
Singers : Ramya N.S, Suchitra

Ah an original sounding tune atlast from Thaman. Quite western (was this shot at Petra, Jordan?) Thaman mixes silences, with a combo of drums and some well written lyrics in English. The lead singer does a terrific job.

5. Ragada Ragada
Singers : Baba Sehgal, Chitra, Rita

Ragada Ragada is a typical Telugu song where two heroines sandwich the hero. What makes this one different is the mix of interesting percussion with a middle-eastern kind of a flute sound. Baba Sehgal brings his usual energetic performance while Rita adds sensuality. Chitra sounds a touch misfit, but that more of our minds’ limitation, than hers. Ramajogayya makes funs with the lyrics so does Thaman by using Harmonium like sound. Interesting this one!

6. Em Pillo E pillo
Singers : Karthik, Anuradha Sriram

Karthik, who is known for his soothing songs, tries to break free from being type cast thanks to Thaman. Problem is Karthik’s voice is too smooth for this one, of course that doesn’t stop anyone from enjoying this folk based song. This one is yet another mass song, with Anuradha’s Sriram voice fitting the song quite well. The lyrics are a bit hurried.

The audio of Ragada is aimed to keep your feet tapping, and it succeeds to do that. There are hardly any slow numbers, and Ramajogayya matches his words to the tunes most of the time. That doesn’t mean that Thaman has completely given away melody. The way he uses his instruments has been good right from the beginning of his career, and this one is no exception. The only problem could be that he doesn’t seem to get over the influence of few of his earlier songs. What’s good to see is that the lines in the stanzas don’t end when you expect them to and most songs end unconventionally. This keeps the listener entertained. Ragada is a decent buy.