Originally Posted by
Sunil_M88
Rockstar
Read at your own leisure as I’ve tried to express my feeling here. This is not a review of the album.
Who am I to decide which song is better or how to rate a particular song? Every time I hear each song, it feels like a new experience all together.
The quality in all songs is so exuberant to say the least and even with an average pair of headphones as a listener I don’t need to decipher what sound is being put fourth thanks to the mastering and re-recording. Rahman ji and his team certainly knock socks off as usual, but the sound quality this time round is tremendously glaring. Even though it depends on each listener’s own audible skills, I believe with Rockstar everyone can generally hear every nuance placed forward in the songs and Dear H. Sridhar sir must be smiling down upon his brother and our Rahman ji as I feel post his dismissal this album has one of the finest sound engineering ever to be delivered out of Rahman ji’s discography.
As far as I’m aware I think the biggest gadget buff in the Indian film industry is our Rahman ji, critics often complain about his overuse of synthetic instruments and special effects and how the overall effect of the song has been killed. I’d like to stress who are they to know what Rahman ji’s intention is during the mastering and engineering process. All though many people are behind his creative team, it’s probably Rahman ji who always decides when to take the final cut so obviously whatever the outcome is, to an extent it is his conscious one.
Technology is always improving and Rahman ji has near enough always been at the helm with these updates and this has been evident even before he joined the industry thanks to his respected dad, the late R.K. Shekhar. He hasn’t used any synth effects in this album however there is certainly no lack of technological creativity possessed by this album. I read the reason for the delay behind the audio release was due to the audio mastering. But over the years as a Rahman ji bhagat the “patience is a virtue” line is truly apt for this situation and as always the result here is one that I suppose you can cherish for a life time. He has proved that not only musically does he have a parallel but even with respect to musical appliances, musical gadgets etc. no one can reach his level of calibre. He must have a dozen synthesizers in his studios but he always uses them within his limits but more importantly to enhance the beauty of his songs.
Apologies if you felt I stated the obvious above but the most vital thing I need to get out of my system is that I seriously can’t remember the last time I heard an album with my eyes open and be transported to the core of a song. Usually what happens is we close our eyes and then only realise the real beauty of the song but to cut a long story short, is it me or does everyone feel as if their sitting at a dargah when hearing Kun Faaya Kun, standing out in an open field watching the concert performance of Saadda haq, at the front row in an indoor stadium listening to Jo Bhi Mein/Naadaan Parindey, having fun at a carnival in Punjab (Kateya Karoon), in a studio during the recording of Shehar Mein, being invited to anglo-Indian wedding (The Dichotomy of Fame) or in a Latin country watching a street storyteller singing Hava Hava. I haven’t mentioned other songs but this doesn’t mean I have a lesser liking for them but the point I’m trying to put across is Rahman ji has certainly leaped on to a new territory with Rockstar as over the years he has proved his mastery over melody, he was one of the pivots to incorporate expansive audio effects i.e. surround sound, panning, stereo effects etc. and with respect to his former output here he delivers an experience which not only captivates your mind but your soul too with the output of his sound/quality reaching a new platform all together.
Lastly, but not the slightest of the being the least, hats off to Imtiaz Ali for extracting the bestest of tunes and most importantly Irshad Kamil as lyrically this album has already leaped to high position in my list of Rahman ji’s Hindi albums.
Finally, I really see myself always enjoying this album no matter what time it is, what the weather is like or whether I’m in lazing, at the gym, revising, eating dinner or in a car.
I don’t know if others feel the same and apologies if anyone takes offence at my post. I respect everyone’s opinion.
Sunil Malhotra
