Mani Sharma, hasn’t had a big success of late. That doesn’t seem to worry producer Ashwini Dutt, who is making the costliest movie made so far in Telugu film industry - Shakti. With a commercial director like Meher Ramesh leading the production and an action-dancing talent like Jr.NTR in the movie, the music of the film, better be good.
1. Thaliya Thaliya
Singer: Ranjith
Lyrics: Ramajogayya
 The album starts in a complete Rajasthani style– soulful Sarangi and Hindi lyrics to match it up. Just when you think it is an interesting start for a Telugu film song, Mani Sharma shows gives it a complete Telugu film feel. The song is a true blue ‘Massy’ number, though it has been given a very Northern style. It sounds like a typical Hero introduction song with Ramajogayya’s lyrics penned to appeal to the front benchers. The words – nela classey naa base raa will just tell you how the song is like!
2. Prema Desam
Singers: Hemachandra, Saindhavi
Lyrics: Ramajogayya
 Prema Desam starts more like an old Telugu film song. Coming from the combination of Jr.NTR – Meher Ramesh – Mani Sharma together, who also gave a hit like Vayassunami Vachenandi, this one isn’t a big surprise. While the ‘oldy-goldy’ feel lingers throughout the song, Mani gets into the groove with some interesting percussion and his favorites – stringed instruments, especially guitars. Hemachandra’s voice along with Saindhavi’s makes it a completely sensuous one. Ramajogayya after a mass number impresses with this slow one, giving it thoroughly rhyming and rhythmic Telugu words.
3.Mathileka Pichiga
Singers: Ranjith, Chinmayee
Lyrics: Jonnavithula
 Mathileka Pichiga sounds like many other Mani Sharma’s numbers. He uses English words very nicely and depends on the guitars to add to its variety. Chinmayee’s voice is husky and the additional mixing done to Ranjith’s voice gives it very spicy flavor. Jonnavithula’s lyrics do make you give out a wry smile when he uses the words – sunna nadumu daana (is that for Ileana?). The surprise element of the song is the way Mani ups the ante in the second half of the song, with eclectic mix of electric guitars, and small drums coming up with a very Mexican style.
4. Maha Rudra Shakti
Singers: Ranjith, Muralidhar, Rita, Vardhini, Saindhavi, Hanumantha Rao, Hemachandra, Malavika
Lyrics: Jonnavithula
 Maha Rudra Shakti is a heavy group song with loud trombones, cymbals and drums to match it. The start is so powerful that it might sound like you are listening to a Hollywood Sound Track. It is not often that Telugu film songs offer ‘Roudram’ as a feel to our talented music directors and it seems Mani Sharma was waiting to prove it. He goes a step ahead from how he evoked similar emotion in the film Baanam and pumps lot of energy to this song. The bunch of singers keeps the momentum of Jonnavithula’s exceptionally written song. If you aren’t filled with a high dose of energy after listening to this song, you must be deaf!
5.Surro Surra
Singers: Javed Ali, Suchitra
Lyrics: Ramajogayya
 For a song so beautifully composed Surro Surra has a few embarrassing words from Ramajogayya. Singers Javed Ali and Suchitra are interestingly juxtaposed with each other. While Javed’s voice manages to lessen the loudness of the emotions expressed in the lyrics, Suchitra’s huskiness makes the expression too evident for our own good. Sarangi, Veena, Guitars etc. feature heavily in this sexy song. Listen to it only with your internal censor board switched on!
6.Yamaga Unde
Singers: Karunya, Malavika
Lyrics: Ramajogayya
 TJust when you praise Mani Sharma for showcasing his talent, here comes a song which depends heavily on the nationwide famous item number Munni Badnaam Huyi . No matter how much you use Karunya’s smooth voice, this one is definitely aimed at the front benchers again. Unlike its inspiration, this song doesn’t have the authenticity of a ‘region’, but will carry off as a dance number.
7.Mahishasura Mardhini (Traditional)
Singers: Srivardhini, Sharath
 Trying to remix an old song, especially a sacred traditional song like Mahishasura Mardhini is a risky prospect. Mani Sharma takes the risk, and comes out with some respect. The best part is that he adds very few instruments to the original tune, making this otherwise intense song Mahishasura Mardhini into a complete devotional song, probably with a touch of drama towards the end. It is here that Mani Sharma sounds like Illayaraja from Gitanjali!
Note : Many would compare this remix of Mani with that of A.R.Rahman’s (from an album called Chaturbhujam). While Rahman’s version is the celebration of the mighty powerful divine feminine, Mani Sharma’s remix remains very much Telugu film song.
The music of Shakti may not sound right for the costliest Telugu film, but it has all the ingredients that a Telugu film album is expected to have and some more too. In addition to the mass numbers, and duets the Maha Rudra Shakti and Mahishasura Mardini remix bring a lot of variety to the album.
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