Movie: PAA
Starring Amitabh Bacchan , Abhishek Bacchan, Vidya Balan
Director : R.Balkrishnan (Balki)
Music - Illayaraja

Big B , the legend of Bollwood teams up with the south Indian musical genius Illayaraja in a movie that focuses its attention on  a child with mental disability.Titled PAA , Big B has donned a peculiar bald look to play the role of a child character suffering from "progeria" or premature aging syndrome.  Illyaraja showed his prowess in a couple of melodious numbers in Chenni Kum which also was Big B film.  So what does PAA have to offer musically?        
 
I would say  that it is beautiful. The perfect communion of Carnatic and western music -- notably jazz -- the fat grooves with bold keyboard, guitar and bass lines and a minimalist arrangement, it is a sound that is not often heard.

Mudhi Mudhi Ittefaq Se, voiced by Shilpa Rao, is an emotionally upbeat song about a happy-go-lucky, free spirited girl. Illaiyaraja's composition is synchronized to perfection with violin notes, guitar riffs camouflaging appreciably with jazz elements, percussions to sensitize out demure romantic sentiments. It is a rather short but very charming number to begin the album with. Udhi Udhi Ittefaq Se is an even shorter variant of the same song, with Shilpa Rao lending her voice once again.The tune perfectly matches Swanand Kirkire's lyrics


Shaan sings out deeply the third version "Gali Mudhi Ittefaq Se, a mellowed one with minimal orchestral works emoting out with soothing undertones of innocent love. All three versions carry romantic heart to make waves in narrative twists and adding to the love quotient of this kid-friendly unconventional saga.


"Gumm Summ Gumm", a delectably paced melody coming in format of nursery rhyme brings out orchestral genius of Ilaiyaraja with innocent vocals mixing well in tandem. It is a number about being and staying happy. Ilayaraja’s daughter Bavatharini lends her voice to this one. A song that makes the listener feel a little more cheerful almost instantly.

The next track Hichki Hichki has a typical south Indian flavor to it. Sunidhi Chauhan sings this expressive song quite well. But after a few listens, one gets a feeling this is a kind of melody which Asha Bhosle is known to pull off!

Halke Se Bole is sung by what sounds like a chorus of children. An optimistic sounding number about the future, with very little music in the background, but with the children’s voices more than making up for it.


The piece de resistance of Paa is the track Mere Paa, sung by Amitabh Bachchan. In his effort to sound like a young boy suffering from a debilitating disease, Bachchan gets the intonation, expression and emotion chillingly real. It is a heart-rending composition that is not about the music or arrangement, but flows like a narrative. It is a loving, poignant picture of a mother by the boy as he attempts to croon to his father. Brilliant job by Kirkire and of course, Bachchan. The Paa Theme is an instantly catchy tune. A music piece involving a violin, it has a fairy tale-like feel to it.


Illayaraja has had several masterpieces to his credit.While this may not be his absolute best it certainly is very good and certainly head above many current tracks. It is certainly worth a listen.

 

 

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