It was a cl‘AAS’ apart

If the 13 tracks from 99 Songs (2020) on this blog were arranged in the alphabetical order, Gori Godh Bhari would be the first.

The track, which Navneet Virk penned, was four minutes and 49 seconds long.

It was composed by A R Rahman, and was based on Raga Bageshri.

Alka Yagnik was the most famous of the trio who rendered it.

The others were Anuradha Sriram and Shweta Mohan.

The highlights of the song’s orchestration were the sarod (by Sarang Kulkarni), the sitar (by Asad Khan), the shehnai (by Omkar Dhumal) and the tabla.  

(Arij)It marked Ms Yagnik's comeback

Fortunately, Alka Yagnik, who returned to the playback scene after a brief hiatus, wasn’t just welcomed back, but also got as much appreciation for her rendition as she did in her heyday.

The track in question was Agar Tum Saath Ho from Tamasha (2015), and the man who shared Sing(h)ing credits with her was none other than Arijit.

Irshad Kamil penned the song, which was five minutes and 41 seconds long and was a nominee in the Best Lyricist and Best Female Playback categories at most award ceremonies.

It was composed by A R Rahman.

AYe, Ila rendered a Ring(a)tone

It would not actually have been a surprise if people had set Ringa Ringa, from Slumdog Millionaire, as their ringtones – it was A(l)katchy song.

Rendered by Ms Yagnik and Ila Arun, the song was reminiscent of Choli Ke Peechhe Kya Hai (but it failed to match the popularity that cult classic achieved).

In fact, it wouldn’t be incorrect to state that with this composition, A R Rahman gave the film’s soundtrack, which was eclectic, a tadka of Hindi film music.

It was four minutes and 15 seconds long.

The track was penned by Raqeeb Alam.

Ms Yagnik rendered Alikable song

Tu Muskura, the song from Yuvvraaj, was high on the emotional quotient.

Of the three songs from the film on this blog, it was the shortest – it was five minutes and 37 seconds long.

The pair of legends who collaborated on it – lyricist Gulzar and composer A R Rahman – could not have given the listeners a more perfect message – “Tu muskura jahan bhi hai tu muskura” (which can be translated to, “Smile, wherever you are”).

The song was rendered by the one and only Alka Yagnik.

She was joined behind the microphone by Javed Ali.

As Al(ka)ways, Hariharan was dependable

Given A R Rahman’s exacting standards of perfection, it would not be incorrect to state that the soundtrack of Guru (2007) wasn’t his best. But fortunately, even its passable tracks were memorable.

Of course, Aye Hairathe, which Gulzar penned, didn’t disappoint.

That was attributable to the fact that it was rendered by Hariharan and Alka Yagnik, who are among the pet singers of the composer, who was, incidentally, credited as the third crooner.

Of the four songs from the film on this blog, it was the longest – it was six minutes and nine seconds long.

Mr Sami rendered Al(i)kable track

Yuva was the Hindi version of a bilingual film, whose Tamil version was titled Aaytha Ezhuthu. They simultaneously released in 2004.

Baadal was the longest of the six songs in the former. It was five minutes and 25 seconds long.

Although the film’s soundtrack wasn’t mind-blowing, it was memorable.

Therefore, contrary to its title, the song, penned by Mehboob, was the proverbial silver lining.

Rendered by Sami (Adn)and Alka Yagnik, it took a long time to grow on the listeners, as have most of A R Rahman's compositions. However, it was pleasing to the ears.

Yagnik (Al)kame, sang and mesmerised

Saanwariya Saanwariya was the shortest of the five tracks from Swades on this blog – it was five minutes and 17 seconds long.

In fact, Alka Yagnik's rendition was the highlight of the song, and it wouldn’t be incorrect to state that it was because of her that it was appreciated by the listeners.

By no means does that imply that the one who penned it (Javed Akhtar) or the (Rah)man who composed it (A R) haven’t done a satisfactory job, because at the end of the day, an outstanding song is the result of teamwork.

This track had A(l)kasual vibe

Mehndi Hai Rachnewali, the track from Zubeidaa, was perhaps a tad too casual for the liking of Hindi film music buffs.

Although it was about the pre-wedding ritual, by no means could it be called a winner hands down.

So while ARdent fans of Rahman would claim that the marriage of melody and lyrics wasn’t bad, they would probably not listen to the song, which was penned by Javed Akhtar, on loop.

Would it be incorrect to say that it was salvaged by Alka Yagnik? Probably not. And, as usual, she did a great job.

It waS(hank)arun-of-the-mill, but (Al)katchy song

Rukhi Sukhi Roti wasn’t just a song from Nayak: The Real Hero, but also a lesson that many young couples in love must learn – there’s nothing wrong with being ambitious, but it’s absolutely important to stay grounded and be there for your partner, even if all you can do is share a dry roti and thanda thanda paani (cold water).

Having said that, this track, which was penned by Anand Bakshi and composed by A R Rahman, could, at best, be described as an average song.

It was rendered by Shankar Mahadevan and Alka Yagnik.

It wasn’t A VUnderful song

It wouldn’t be incorrect to say that O Ri Chhori, which was five minutes and 59 seconds long, was the weakest song on the soundtrack of Lagaan.

And it is possible that the listeners would have skipped it if the English portion of the track, which was rendered by Vasundhara Das, weren’t understandable.

Its Hindi portion was sung by Mr Narayan and Alka Yagnik.

Undoubtedly, the credit for ensuring that even the least impressive track is etched in the listeners’ memories, goes to A R Rahman, who composed it.

It was penned by Javed Akhtar.

It wAS an oUtStanding track

To paraphrase the opening lines of the song from Lagaan, “Har fan kahe, critic kahe, punch aur melody hain jinke compositions mein, loop pe geet unhi ki baje.”

The longest track in the film, (M)itwas six minutes and 47 seconds long.

The opening lines of this post were written for none other than A R Rahman, who bagged the National Award and the Filmfare Award for Best Music Director in 2001 and 2002, respectively.

The song was penned by Javed Akhtar.

(Ud)It was rendered by four Sing(h)ers, namely Mr Narayan, Alka Yagnik, Sukhwinder and Srinivas.

This song was SUng KlASSily

Agriculture is the mainstay of the Indian economy. That’s why Rain, rain, go away cannot, and will not, hold water in this country.

Only an invocation of the rain gods – like Ghanan Ghanan, which was from Lagaan and the desi antithesis of the aforementioned nursery rhyme – will.

The song was rendered by Alka Yagnik, Kishori Gowariker*, Shaan, Shankar Mahadevan, Sukhwinder Singh and Udit Narayan.

It was six minutes and 11 seconds long.

Javed Akhtar penned the track, which was composed by A R Rahman.

(*Note: She is the mother of Ashutosh Gowariker, the film’s director.)

Udit and Alka stood Ta(a)l(l)

By no means was (Ud)it a surprise that Mr Narayan and Alka Yagnik rendered the title track of Taal.

After all, they had been milaoing taal se taal since their breakthrough at the end of the previous decade.

In fact, it earned the latter the Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback.

The track, which was six minutes and 18 seconds long, was penned by Anand Bakshi.

It was composed by A R Rahman.

The Western version of the song was rendered by Sukhwinder Singh. It was just a couple of minutes and 34 seconds long.

Alka joined the (Jo)gifted Sukhwinder

Sukhi isn’t just Sukhwinder Singh’s nickname, but also what he invariably gives his fans a reason to be.

And that is precisely what they felt when he rendered Ramta Jogi from Taal.

The one who shared singing credits with him was Alka Yagnik.

It would be unfair to compare this track with the other number sung by the pair in the film.

However, it must be stated that it was a shorter track – it was six minutes and 17 seconds long.

The song, which was penned by Anand Bakshi, was composed by A R Rahman.

Suniye, because the Sing(h)ers rocked

Apart from the fact that Kariye Na, from Taal, also began with the letter K, it had another thing in common with Kahin Aag Lage – it was also seven minutes and 15 seconds long.

Of course, the two tracks had a couple of other similarities – they were penned by Anand Bakshi and composed by A R Rahman.

Sukhwinder Singh and Alka Yagnik rendered a couple of songs in the film, and this was the longer of those.

By no means would it be incorrect to say that they gave everyone a reason to be Sukhi.