- Sreya Sunil

The magic of Teja - RP Patnaik combination, after casting a mesmerizing spell in Chitram and Nuvvu - Nenu, is conspicuously amiss in their latest much hyped venture Jayam. RP Patnaik is undoubtedly the most sought after music director in Tollywood today. But given his numerous assignments on hand, RP is dumping quality for quantity, which is quite obtrusive in the music of Jayam.

With RP at the helm of music, Teja masterminding a violent love story, and a handsome hunk Nitin debuting as hero, the amount of hype associated with this movie is totally palpable. Added to that, the astronomical price at which the audio was sold, shot the expectations right through the roof. But everything that goes up comes down. Only that, the coming down part has not been so gentle in this case. Rather, I must say that the soared expectations had thumped down fizzing out the eagerness of listening to the songs like the soda that fizzes out of a cola.

Before you start reading further, a little note to help myself avoid being repetitive - Kula Sekhar penned the lyrics for all the songs and RP Patnaik sinks err sings all the songs unless otherwise mentioned. And do I have to mention that Usha is the female singer? Well, lets not start complaining right away. First lets take the plunge.

1. Veeri Veeri (Listen)
Going by the way the title song of Nuvvu-Nenu was picturized, this most likely could be the song that would be played in the background when the titles of the movie are shown. A nice composition comparing love to a much cherished childhood game hide 'n' seek.

2. Sabbasi (Listen)
This song talks about a 'railubandi' and hence naturally has all the sounds that a 'railubandi' makes. As far as my knowledge of Telugu songs goes, I guess this is the first time where an entire song is based on a 'railubandi'. Ravi Verma and Balaji aid RP, who has a major share of singing this song, in infusing some enthusiasm into this supposedly racy song. Watch out for some funny lyrics about the condition and length of 'railubandi' by Kula Sekhar.

3. Enduko (Listen)
This song has two versions - one by RP (song 3) and the other by Usha (song 8). It talks about the 'alajadi', 'allari' and 'araatam' that crop up when in love for the first time. It has a very good usage of violin throughout the song. Though the female version reminds us of 'Ela Ela' song from Nuvvu Leka Nenu Lenu, this is the only melodious song in this album. The song goes 'Andamaina manasulo intha alajadenduko, Enduko Enduko Enduko!' After listening to the song you start wondering - 'Why is RP copying himself? Enduko Enduko Enduko!'

4. Evaru Emanna (Listen)
After watching Nuvvu-Nenu, I wondered why one of best songs in its album - 'Gunnamaami Kommameeda' was not shown in the movie. Now I have an answer. With new lyrics tugged in, this song is entirely based on the tune of 'Gunnamavi Kommameeda'. If you already know the lyrics of 'Gunnamavi Kommameeda' song by heart like me, then you would be in a state of absolute confusion humming this song. I derive fun singing the telugu versions when hindi versions of some of Rahman's popular songs in Bharateeyudu, Prema Desam, Oke Okkadu are played and vice versa. I thought that was the most challenging part of humming songs, not getting carried away by the language in which the song is being played especially when you are trying to sing it in another familiar language. But believe me this song calls in for a totally new challenge with two sets of lyrics in same language.

5. Nestama (Listen)
This one's a situational bit song that can neither be our musical 'nestam' nor can be sung for our very own 'nestam'. It talks about two lovers longing to meet each other.

6. Priyatama (Listen)
If at all there's something good, which this song does to us, then it is making us nostalgic for not just one but at least three reasons. Firstly, it makes us recollect how melodious RP's songs once were. Secondly, it makes us appreciate the 'Priyatama' song of Nuvvu-Nenu all the more and finally, a bit of 'takita tadimi' song of Sangara Sangamam inserted in this song reminds us of the melodious era of Ilayaraja.

7. Prema O Prema (Listen)
KK is back to what he is best at - crying in songs and in turn making us cry (ahem, let me not get into the point of how and why he makes us cry). Now, is RP so impressed with the sorrow filled tone of KK that he has handed over this one song to him or is it that RP having realized that he makes us enough sad by singing regular happy songs did not want to intensify the effect by singing an actual sad song?

9. Jayam (Listen)
It's a loud theme probably coming in before the climax of the movie to boost up the confidence of the hero. The way the chorus shouts 'Jayam Nischayam! Ne Jayam Nischayam!!' scares us sounding more like fear factor than morale factor. If the opponent is scared away with such boisterous thunders then surely Jayam would be that of hero's.

10. Raanu Raanu (Listen)
Are you wondering how come there has been no mention of a folk song so far in this RP album? Wait! Don't let loose the veins of your horses. After hitting it big with 'Gajuwaka Pilla', RP since then has been trying hard to surpass the sky-high threshold he has set with that song but alas in vain. This one doesn't impress at all. His other folk songs are much better than this one.

The main ground on which this album falters is that it has a high dose of RP in it. Too much of anything isn't good. RP better realize this. Singing one song is okay, two songs would be tolerable, but three songs and more would be terrible and need I say more? He sings 8 songs in this album. Now that's too much of too much. Music and instrumentation wise this album offers no variety whatsoever. Its time RP concentrated more on his musical scores than his vocal chords.

Sreya's Picks: Enduko

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