MUSIC REVIEW : SATYAMEV JAYATE

So finally one of the most talked about shows comes to an end. Love him, or hate him, Aamir khan certainly took people by storm, at times due to his topics, at times due to his fees (allegedly 3 crore per episode), and also due to his supposedly genuine emotional outbursts on the show.

He brought up topics which we all were aware of. But then India is a funny country. People prefer to listen to Aamir khan rather than Anoop Soni.

Among all these controversies, one man silently gradually carved some of his best works. I’m talking about Ram Sampath. For a man who has been in this industry since more than 15 years, who gave us the lovely KHAKEE and the recent DELHI BELLY, this show has escalated him to new heights.

For every episode Ram Sampath roped in different lyricists and singers to produce some really good tracks. And now that the show is over, here’s the exclusive music review of “SATYAMEV JAYATE – THE ALBUM”, something I’ve been waiting to do since a long long time.

For all videos and lyrics click HERE 

TITLE TRACK

Singers – Keerti Sagathia, Ram Sampath

Lyricist – Prasoon Joshi

This was the first song of the season which was aired as a promotional video prior to the show’s starting. The video featured aamir khan riding bikes wearing helmets and going to schools painted in the colors of the Indian flag, and ultimately writing “SATYAMEV JAYATE” in the sand on the sea shore.

With beautiful guitar opening the song, Keerti Sagathia and Ram Sampath sing this song beautifully. Keerti was a contestant of the music show “Fame Gurukul” and later “X – factor”. He has sung some very popular songs like Beera (Raavan), Nakkadwaley disco (Delhi belly), A.R Rahman’s lovely Swarnim Gujarat track “Jai jai garvi Gujarat ” and the recent Bharat mata ki jai (Shanghai).

Alongwith him is composer Ram Sampath whose singing abilities we’ve already seen and loved in Delhi belly (the romantic Tere siva) accompanies keerthi. When the lyricist is Prasoon joshi, you have to be sure it will be something awesome. And it is.

The song fell into controversies when palash sen alleged Ram of lifting up the chorus of the tune from his song. While the allegation were totally baseless, the song went on to become a hit. A perfect title song.

EPISODE 1

THEME – FEMALE FOETICIDE

Song – O Ri Chiraiya

Lyricist and Singer - Swanand Kirkire
Guitars - Sanjoy Das & Ram Sampath
Do-Tara - Tapas Roy
Arranged by - Ram Sampath

Since no one knew what exactly would be the format, people across India watched teary – eyed as aamir khan won their sympathy for 90 minutes. Finally in the end, Ram Sampath with his guitar and Swanand kirkire sat on the steps and sang this song.

Beautiful guitar and swanand’s mesmerizing voice make you fall in love with this song instantly. The lyrics by swanand himself are beautiful and perfect, as they describe a female baby who could never see the light of this world. This is one of the best songs in the album and one of my favorite songs too.

EPISODE 2

THEME – CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE

SONG – DHEERE DHEERE HAULE HAULE

Lyricist - Svati Chakravarty
Singer - Ram Sampath
Guitars - Sanjoy Das
Arranged by - Ram Sampath

For the theme of child sexual abuse, Ram Sampath himself came behind the mike. With a lone guitar and no other instruments, this almost – unplugged song is touching. The lyrics by svati chakravarty are brilliant, describing the agony of a sexually abused child and how it disrupted his world forever.

EPISODE 3

THEME – MARRIAGE OR MARKETPLACE?

SONG – RUPAIYA

Singer – Sona Mohapatra

Lyricist – Swanand kirkire

Additional arrangements – Shon pinto

This is undoubtedly the BEST SONG OF THE ALBUM. The theme was on dowry, and what could have been better than getting a female singer to sing the song? Sona Mohapatra (Remember her superb album Sona, and the recent bedardi raja from delhi belly?) sings this song and she ROCKS. The additional instruments and the mini band create a very lively effect, aided by the audience joining in by clapping – the effect was heavenly.

Swanand kirkire gives us the best lyrics of the season. A special mention to the following lines, which gave me goosebumps –

Aise saajan ki mujhko zaroorat nahi,

Na kehne ka sunlo muhurat nahi…

I can listen to this song again and again and again...

EPISODE 4

THEME – DOES HEALTHCARE NEED HEALING?

SONG – MAASOOM SI NAAV / ZINDAGI ZINDAGI

Lyricist: Suresh Bhatia
Singer: Ram Sampath
Guitars: Deeral
Flute: Krishna Marathe

The very controversial episode had a very beautiful song. Once again, Ram Sampath himself sings this song. Right from the opening guitars by Deeral, this song got me hooked. Ram Sampath’s singing is really good, as he goes high in the antara, but does it brilliantly. The flute portions in between are nicely done too. He ought to sing more.

EPISODE 5

THEME – IS LOVE A CRIME?

SONG – GHAR YAAD AATA HAI MUHE

Singers – Sona Mohapatra and Ram Sampath
Lyrics – Suresh Bhatia and Svati chakravarty

Guitars – Nyzel D’Lima

Backing vocals – Krishna marathe

Finally we have the piano playing in the background as Sona mohapatra sings her second song in the season. ram joins sona after the beginning lines. Together they create melody and magic. The lyrics are very good, as they describe the agony of a couple who have eloped due to family pressures, and now yearn for their parents’ blessings. They ask their parents what wrong they did. Was their love a crime?

Overall, it is a good song, but not another “Rupaiya”.

EPISODE 6

THEME – PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES: WE CAN FLY

SONG – CHANDA PE DANCE

Dancers – From “ABILITY UNLIMITED” (Wheelchair dance)

Singer – Sona mohapatra, Shadab faridi
Lyrics – Munna Dhiman
Percussions – Atur Soni

Now this was a visual treat. The episode being on disabled people, we saw a breathtaking dance from disabled people belonging to a group called “ability unlimited.”

Sona mohapatra’s initial aalaap is awesome. He is joined by Shadab faridi (He sang two songs in Jodi Breakers and was a contestant on the show “Music ka maha muqabla”). The song is good, but I would rather prefer seeing the video along with it. As a lone audio song, I didn’t love it very much, inspite of the superb singing.

EPISODE 7

THEME – DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: DANGER AT HOME ?

SONG – SAKHI

Singer: Meenal Jain
Lyrics: Swanand Kirkire

Indian idol contestant Meenal Jain sings this lovely song. The lyrics by Swanand Kirkire are perfect, as they describe the plight of a woman suffering from domestic violence. She tells her friend (sakhi) that now she will stand up against the atrocities. A very positive song, meenal sings it very nicely. Like many of the songs of this season, this one too is low on instruments and it only amplifies meenal’s brilliant singing.

EPISODE 8

THEME – TOXIC FOOD – POISON ON OUR PLATE

SONG – MITTI BOLE MAATI BOLE

Singer: Krishna Beura
Lyrics: Prasoon Joshi

Finally Prasoon Joshi makes a re-entry. The lyrics here are nothing short of brilliant. The mother earth asks us humans that why did such a thing occur? Why do you use pesticides? It is you who is responsible for the food toxicity. Krishna Beura who is well known for songs like Main jahaan rahoon (Namastey London) and Maula mere le le meri jaan (Chak de India) sings this one in his usual style. A very haunting melody composed by Ram Sampath, the singer and the lyricist ensure that this song is made a gem.

EPISODE 9

THEME – ALCOHOL ABUSE – THINK BEFORE YOU DRINK

SONG – AYE ZINDAGI

Singer: Ram Sampath
Lyrics: Munna Dhiman

One more beautifully sung song by Ram Sampath. The lyrics by Munna Dhiman are beautiful and describe an alcoholic who is lamenting and regretting the damage alcohol has caused in his life – economically and socially. The guitar background is nice. Overall, this is one of the best songs of the season.

EPISODE 10

THEME – UNTOUCHABILITY: DIGNITY FOR ALL

SONG – KABIR VANI

Singer: Keerti Sagathia
Lyrics: Munna Dhiman

I was waiting expectantly since episode 1 for keerti sagathia to make an entry. I’ve always been a fan of his songs. Finally, after singing in the title track, Ram brings him back. Basically a kabir Doha, and lyrically modified by Munna Dhiman, this song is minimal on instrumentation. The lyrics are superb. The way the gap between the higher caste and the untouchables has been penned, is commendable. Keerti’s singing is top notch, with him singing in his usual high scale. A very commendable effort by keerti this one.

EPISODE 11

THEME – OLD AGE: SUNSET YEARS, SUNSHINE LIFE

SONG – BAHUT YAAD AATE HO TUM

Singer: Jaswinder Singh
Lyrics: Munna Dhiman

Ram Sampath ropes in ghazal singer Jaswinder singh, who is the son of music composer Kuldip singh who composed very famous ghazals like “Tumko dekha toh ye khayaal aaya” and “Itni shakti humein de na daata”.

Coming back to this song, it describes a son remembering his parents (or maybe only the mother) who are no longer with him, but in an old age home. He is regretting, and missing them.

After taare zameen par’s “Maa”, this is probably the most touching and sensitive song based on parents. Full marks to Munna Dhiman for making this a teary – eyed song. Jaswinder singh’s soothing voice only enhances the effect. Make your parents hear this song. I bet they will get choked up listening to it.

EPISODE 12

THEME – WATER: EVERY DROP COUNTS

SONG – JAL NA JAAYE JAL

Singer: Sukhwinder Singh
Lyrics: Munna Dhiman

When was the last time you heard JALTARANG in a song?

The song begins with the sound of that very instrument (Which I believe is one of the most beautiful instruments EVER) and then sukhwinder singh takes over. Munna Dhiman’s lyrics, again are very apt, as they tell us the importance of water in our life. A song based on raag Todi, this is one of the best sung songs of the season. Kudos to Ram and sukhwinder for creating such a lilting melody.

EPISODE 13

THEME – THE IDEA OF INDIA: THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSION

Song – NIKAL PADO

Singer – Bonnie chakraborty

Lyricist – Munna Dhiman

Ever heard this singer’s name? Well, he has sung in some famous songs like Azeem o shan shahenshah (Jodha Akbar), Rasiya (Mangal Pandey), emosional atyachar rock version (Dev D) and Aali re (No one killed Jessica).

The song of the finale episode is sung by this singer. With Munna Dhiman penning the most inspirational and positive lyrics of the season, this song is a moderately paced one, sung amazingly by Bonnie. A song whose beats resemble “Ekla chalo re” (Kahaani), this one is elevated to further heights when Aamir led the audience to clap alongwith. There couldn’t have been a better way to end season 1. The song is one of the best songs from the entire album.

OVERALL, two people deserve a standing ovation for making this album such a fantastic one – Ram Sampath and Munna Dhiman. It is extremely difficult to create and write songs based on a theme. Also, these songs were being performed live. That makes it even more difficult as you don’t have too much of a choice as far as instruments are concerned. But looking back, I didn’t find even a single song out of place. Every song created a mood of its own, summarizing the entire episode’s theme in less than 3 minutes.

Munna Dhiman

 Aamir is certainly giving Ram Sampath his much awaited due. After delhi belly, satyamev jayate and the forthcoming Talaash, Ram Sampath has finally arrived. For good.

MY TOP 5 PICKS – RUPAIYA, O RI CHIRAIYA, NIKAL PADO, KABIR VANI, AYE ZINDAGI