Audio Review - Kantri

Name: Kantri (2008)
Cast: NTR & Hansika Motwani
Director: Mehar Ramesh
Music: Mani Sharma
Lyrics: Sirivennela, Anant Sreeram, Rama Joagaiah Sastry, Mehar Ramesh
Producer: C Aswini Dutt
Kantri - Variety

Mehar Ramesh’s only claim to fame is that he has remade two Telugu movies [Okkadu and Andhrawala] into Kannada. Now, that by itself doesn’t speak much about him who is debuting in Telugu as a director with Kantri. But when I read that the Kannada version of Andhrawala – Veera Kannadiga – turned out to be a hit, I nearly fell off my chair. What his guru [Puru Jagan] couldn’t achieve, this sishya nailed it down with such aplomb and success and that too with such a tacky script, says something about his talent. Little wonder then that Aswini Dutt gives him a chance to resurrect lost glory of Vyjayanthi Movies banner, reeling under a series of flops [Subhash Chandra Bose, Balu, Jai Chiranjeeva, Sainikudu etc], by roping in NTR and Hansika Motwani.

Mani Sharma, a regular with Aswini Dutt and NTR, expectedly has been asked to compose music for this album, which, surprisingly, was released into the market without any fanfare. endukalaa... manakendukanDi? elaavundO maTTtuku manaki ok kadanDi! So, without further adoo -

1. 123 Nenoka Kantri halfnil
This high energy hero worshipping number has a racy rhythm and a slight rock tinge to it. While Naveen and Karunya sing the hero worshipping lines, NTR himself croons the lines declaring ‘123 nEnoka kantiri... by birthE undi timmiri’. If picturized well, something like the hero introduction song of Vivek Oberoi’s Dum, this will be lapped up in a big way and why not when it starts off with lines – maasullO veeDE pedda maasugaaDu lErO, classullo veeDE mahaa naatugadu lErO. Mehar Ramesh takes it upon himself to give the required zing to the worshipping aspect in the lyrics.

2. Ammaha halfnil
Though we’ve heard better melody numbers from Mani, this one’s a medium paced melody number written by Sirivennela, basking in the glorious vocals of Karthik and Chitra. Not exactly a haunting number but impressive nonetheless. You may not play it many times but like the chorus in the song, you will want to definitely play it ‘one more time’.

3. Vayasunamy nil
Mani Sharma reuses his popular Vasantha Mullai song from Tamil Pokkiri here and after listening to the song; you can’t help but appreciate his decision. While the Tamil version was sung by Rahul Nambiar, Hema Chandra and Sunitha sing the Telugu version, penned by Veturi. Inspite of ‘heard before’ beats in the interludes, this one works big time because of a spirited rendition by the singers and an instantly appealing 50’s feel to the orchestration.

4. I go crazy halfnil
An interesting composition by Mani. Even in his massest of mass songs (if there is a phrase like that), Mani made his singers take the ever pleasing gamakaalu but here he goes full throttle in coming up with a fusion of semi western and classical music not just in vocals but also in the orchestration. Even if Anantha Sriram’s lyrics don’t make much sense, let that not deter you from trying this one. This one’s a novel composition by Mani and he has managed to make it extremely catchy. Rahul Nambiar and Jey’s animated rendition is another asset to the track.

5. Janthar Manthar fullfullfullnilnil
Good beats, nice chorus and entertaining in parts is how I’d sum up this song. If you beg to differ, go ahead. Either Ranjith and Rita’s vocals or Anantha Sriram’s janthar manthar lyrics may work their charm on you but I am spared and am not complaining much.

6. Raamaare fullfullhalfnilnil
Have you heard the phrase ‘method to one’s madness’? When a music director is given a contrived situation of a festival song and is demanded a kickekkinche mass number with a whole lot of drum beats, there is really very little the poor composer can do. With a just about okay tune, the only way he can bring in some novelty is by roping in popular Bollywood singers. That my friends, is a method to Mani’s madness here. So despite seasoned singers like Shankar Mahadevan and Sunidhi Chauhan lending their vocals, this song meanders in the troughs trying desperately to rise atleast till midway of a crest but sadly doesn’t succeed much and Ramajogayya Sastry’s words don’t offer much help either.

Kantri’s music is like thaali meals. After trying everything on the thaali, you know what you’ve liked the most and end up devouring only that. Mani’s compositions while offering a lot of variety sound like they are composed primarily for NTR to showcase his brilliant agility as a dancer. Variety is good but what if it works in a limited manner?

final verdit:To cut a long story short, Kantri offers variety.