- Sreya Sunil

After a musical hit in the form of Manasantha Nuvve, the successful team of VN Aditya - RP Patnaik - Uday Kiran return with their latest offering 'Sreeram'. Given the melodious music of their first movie together, expectations from the music of this movie are high. Added to that, all the movies of RP - Uday Kiran combination (Chitram, Nuvvu-Nenu and Manasantha Nuvve) had brilliant musical scores. Naturally, that soars our expectations to greater heights. But, except two melodious songs the others are all just about ordinary fares. The album could have been too good but ended being contented with two good numbers.

1. Pedavulapai Pepsicola(Listen)
RP Patnaik sings this yet another hero introduction song which has the beats of Queen's 'We will, we will rock you' and barks of Baha Men's 'Who the let dogs out?' Fast paced yes, pumping beats yes, but haven't we heard such songs before? Yes indeed! I could not digest the fact that Sirivennela has penned the lyrics for this song. Sir, may be you are tired of writing some serious stuff and may be you wanted a change. Or may be writing goodie goodie lyrics at times can be boring but please don't go the Veturi way for we don't wish to see you become like that anyday.

2. Chinna Chiru Navvuthoti (Listen)
I love the song 'Ninna ee kalavarintha ledu le' from Padmavyuham which has a mystic tune by AR Rahman but that doesn't stop me from liking this song. Agreed it doesn't sound original but at least it's not as trite as some of the other songs in this album. What makes this song a winner is a soulful rendition by SP Charan and Usha. Lyrics by Kula Sekhar aptly describe the feelings of two people in love. SP Charan has all the potential of becoming another SPB. Way to go Charan!

3. Mamare Mazaare (Listen)
This song sounds like a celebration song with a fleet of dancers celebrating the 'mazaa' of the arrival of their Sreeramudu. Going by the way such songs are usually picturized, we could very well see a hoard of dancers dressed alike, dancing to glory in a village, giving good company to hero and heroine. RP sings this song in his usual style (that is in the same tone offering no variety whatsoever) accompanied by Kousalya who, for some strange reason, sounds so much like Usha. Lyrics by Chandrabose are lost amidst the loud chorus and equally loud music.

4. Tiyateeyani Kalalanu (Listen)
Ah! There comes Bombay Jayashree again. After a haunting rendition of 'Manohara' in Cheli, she returns with a heavenly singing of this beautiful composition. Her husky voice oozes passion as never heard before in recent times. Music by RP is melodious and lyrics by Kula Sekhar and RP talking about longing for love are a delight. This song surely is a gem in this album and stands out as one of the best songs of RP.

5. Monalisa (Listen)
Telugu lyricists have been using Leonardo da Vinci's world famous painting Monalisa as a yardstick to measure the beauty of a girl, since time immemorial. Chandrabose repeats that act here in dishing out some wonderful lyrics where he makes the hero croon lines like Dhanyamayyanu le ni choopu taakaga, Janmanethanu le ni prema pondaga. SP Charan is again at his best here and in fact it is his voice that makes this otherwise ordinary song worth listening to.

6. Bulli Bulli (Listen)
If RP is the music director and if there is a scope (forget how big or small the scope is) for a folk song then RP, I guess, gleefully comes up with and instant folk tune. But of late, his graph of folk songs has been stooping downwards and this song adds to the descent of the graph. Neither the lyrics by Kula Sekhar nor the singing of RP and Usha add any spice to this bland song.

Uday Kiran, in a bid to shy away from a lover boy image is acting in an author-backed action oriented role for the first time in Sreeram. He has high hopes pinned on this movie after a moderate run of Kalusukovalani. Going by the music, looks like Uday's Sreeram, before becoming the king of Andhra box-office, has to face all the troubles that Lord Sree Rama had to face before becoming the king of Ayodhya. But you never know. If the movie is well made and successful, then music might definitely become a rage like in the case of Santosham. Also, Sreeram is not exactly a love story, where typically music determines the success of the movie. So, no surprises if the music picks up after the release of the movie.

Sreeram is a remake of last year's biggest Tamil hit Dhill, which in turn is a remake of Mohanlal's Malayalam superhit Kireedam. Kireedam won Mohanlal a National award. Vikram became an overnight star with the success of Dhill. Will Sreeram work such wonders for Uday Kiran? For time being, lets leave the answers to time and enjoy the vocals of Charan and Bombay Jayashree gliding in sweet dreams and smiles.

Sreya's Picks: Tiyateeyani Kalalanu, Chinna Chiru Navvuthoti.

Click here to read the other articles by Sreya Sunil

click here for other audio reviews - Kanulu Moosina Neevaye, Vasu & Santosham

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