Victory Venkatesh attempting comedy elicits flashes of boisterously funny scenes from the now classic Nuvvu Naaku Nachhav and Malliswari in our minds. His impeccable timing despite his trademark grimaces; his sheer nonchalance at jibes aimed at him from other characters in the movie despite being a star hero; come second to none and never fail to evoke guffaws. So, it’s actually good to see Venky reverting to this genre as Chintakayala Ravi (software engineer) after mind numbingly clichéd yet successful movies like Lakshmi and Tulasi. Giving him company for the first time are Anushka and Mamta Mohandas, under the direction of Yogi aka Yogesh, produced by Nallamalupu Srinivas aka Bujji.

We are told that it was Venky that coaxed Vishal – Shekar (VS), the popular music duo of Bollywood known for their eclectic soundtracks with a different sound, to do the music honors here. If you expect to hear some path breaking music in this soundtrack, or if you are hoping that VS may have introduced a new sound to Telugu film music, or least of all, if you expect this to be one hell of an album especially with VS making a foray into Telugu films (you know what they say about first impression being the best impression), then you’ll be in for some disappointment. For others, you’ll be amazed at how easily VS slipped into the Telugu music arena with tunes and orchestration (at most places) that almost pass off as coming from a composer with roots on this side of the Vindhyas. Whether that’s good or bad is left to the discerning listener, but this, by far, is the most unbollywoodish debut by a Bollywood music director/director duo in recent times into Telugu films. (I cannot wait to hear what Shankar Ehsaan Loy would deliver in Siddharth’s new film – Koncham Ishtam Koncham Kashtam).

Chandrabose gets a single card here. While he pens the three melodious numbers with poetic words he goes very easy on the other tracks with liberal usage of Hindi and English words not leaving a chance to coin a new word like machelor to rhyme with bachelor.

1. Bagundey Bagundey
A good melody that has shades of VS’s My dil goes mmm [Salaam Namaste]. Though Vijay Prakash’s somewhat baritone voice doesn’t exactly appeal instantaneously, Hansika’s rendition is admirable replete with perfect pronunciations. Please feel free to correct me when I mention the following, but I believe Hansika is the same lady that sang Shantanu Moitra’s soulful lullaby Chanda Re [Eklavya] with heavenly grace. Chandrabose’s poetic wordplay, in this number, is beautiful.

2. Oh Sunita
Listening to this track, one gets a feeling that VS took a RP Patnaik kinda folk tune and upped the orchestration to make it foot tapping with better sound. A similar song (concept wise), in recent times is the title number from Parugu. Shankar Mahadevan’s lively vocals and Chandrabose’s catchy lyrics are in sync with the mood of the number.

3. Shava Shava Balle Balle
This Shankar Mahadevan, Mahalakshmi Iyer track makes you reach out to the fwd button. If picturized well it may appeal to an extent, but otherwise this is a dreary track.

4. Merupula
Is this really a VS composition? Not that I am accusing them of plagiarism but the reason I say that is, if someone were to play this song to you without giving away the composer’s name you’d probably think it’s a SA Raj Kumar song, who by the way has composed music to a lot of Venkatesh’s movies. With oodles of 90’s kinda melody, lyrics and impressive rendition by both Rajesh and Shreya Goshal, this track exemplifies the aforementioned point of VS debuting into Telugu with good bit of adaptation, with just bits of interludes showing their trademark orchestration.

5. Enduko
This is a classic case of a music director messing up his own good composition with a bad choice of singers. Despite few mispronunciations, Mahalakshmi Iyer makes up, more or less, with her sweet voice but, all Sonu Nigam fans might want to sit down before they read this, its Sonu that kills this song. I am a big fan of this versatile singer but let’s call a spade a spade. If Sonu Nigam’s strained and heavily accented vocals do no good, his high pitches make matters only worse. If VS had to go with a Bollywood singer, why not Shaan? Then again, have they forgotten about Hemachandra or Karunya? Without a second thought, this track has a racy orchestration, good rhythm and nice lyrics (which explains the four star rating) but if only it had a better male singer.

6. Valla Valla Baby
This spunky number sung by KK and Sunidhi Chauhan is infectious especially the valla valla valla baby part and the rap. I wouldn’t call it the ultimate dance floor track by VS but given the paucity of such numbers in Telugu film music; it’s worth moving your body to this track’s rhythmic beat. But what’s with the mispronunciations of city names like Dallas and Miami? For a software engineer living in New York City and dressed in hip designer clothes, such mispronunciations on screen would sound silly.

To cut a long story short, Vishal - Shekar make a good, if not great, foray into Telugu music.

Related Notes:

• Have you listened to Sonu Nigam’s Classically Mild album? If not, it’s worth trying.
• When was the last time you listened to Sunidhi’s two tracks in Keeravani’s Anukokunda Oka Roju?
• Whether is the soulful Khuda Jaane or the catchy Ahista Ahista or the quintessential Punjabi number Jogi Mahi, have you found your favorite track in Vishal Shekar’s Bachna Ae Haseeno?

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audio reviews by Sundeep Reddy
Chintakayala Ravi
Ankith, Pallavi & Friends
Pandurangadu, Bujjigadu, Ninna Nedu Repu & Sangamam
Kantri
Jalsa
Happy Days
Shankar Dada Zindabad
Aata
Jagadam
Sainikudu
Boss
Stalin
Amma Cheppindi
Happy
Chukkallo Chandrudu

audio reviews by Sreya Sunil
Balu
Mass
Shankardada MBBS
Gudumba Shankar
Letha Manasulu
Arjun
Naa Autograph
Pallakilo Pellikoothuru
Gharshana
Sri Anjaneyam
Arya
Naani
Nenunnanu
Anji
Varsham
Andhrawala
Kal Ho Naa Ho
LoC Kargil
Shivamani
Okariki Okaru
Boys
Vasantham
Simhadri
Donga Ramudu & Party
Oka Raju Oka Rani
Nijam
Johnny
Raghavendra
Appudappudu
Gangotri
Okkadu
Manmadhudu
Thottigang
Khagam
Eeswar
Nee Sneham
Bobby
Nuvve Nuvve
Gemini
Chenna Kesava Reddy
Okato Number Kurraadu
Sontham
Baba
Holi
Avunu Valliddaru Ista Paddaru
Allari Ramudu
Indra
Jayam
Sreeram
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Vasu
Santosham