Water - Music Review

By: Joginder Tuteja, IndiaFM
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Deepa Mehta's Water finally sees the light of the day. As an opening film of the 30th annual Toronto International Film, it has been back in news after it was stopped from being shot in India years back. Third in the trilogy after Fire and Earth, Water is director Deepa Mehta's long cherished dream that has finally been realized after a wait for number of years. Produced by David Hamilton, Water was secretly shot in Sri Lanka and stars John Abraham, Lisa Ray, Seema Biswas, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Waheeda Rehman, Raghuvir Yadav and Baby Sarala in principal roles. Just like Fire and Earth, A.R. Rehman gives music for Water as well.

Sukhwinder Singh begins 'Aayo Re Sakhi' in his trademark semi-classical rendition and just when you start thinking that the track would pump up its tempo, Rehman throws a surprise by keeping the pace consistent. There are very limited musical instruments in the background that makes 'Aayo Re Sakhi' a kind of number that deserves to be heard with more attention. A soothing rhythmic track with a strong classical base to it, it has a female singer joining Sukhwinder after the song is about half way through. Lyrics are poetic that convey the message of love, happiness, celebration and above all - freedom.

A song with a Radha-Krishan background, 'Bangri Marorii' has a rather strong classical base with again vocals doing all the talking (literally) with little or no music playing in the background. And this is where Rehman wins in creating a much desired effect by composing 'Bangri Marorii' in a manner that would be identifiable by people with strong understanding of music belonging to this genre. This is a kind of track that has a maximum impact when one wants to relax in dark isolation!

By the time 'Naina Neer Bahai' begins, you are well aware about the style of music that Deepa Mehta and Rehman have chosen for Water. This number too is totally subtle in nature and has references to Meera-Krishna love. With great lyrics and some excellent singing, this slow moving song about selfless love and admiration is an even better composition when compared to the earlier too and is a must for the lovers of classical/semi-classical music. Ditto for 'Piya Ho' that moves at even leisurely pace and is a duet where Sukhwinder Singh comes in towards the end.

'Bhang', 'nasha' and 'masti' are the key elements of the celebration song 'Sham Rang Mei' that appears to be a 'holi' song. Beautiful is the way to describe this duet that has an innocent feel to it. Lyrics too are different from numerous 'holi' tracks that have been composed over all these years and has a 'pure' feel to it. The album ends with one of the most popular 'bhajans' 'Vaishnava Jana To' that is known to one and all.

One can almost sense Rehman's enjoyment over composing for Water where he is not bound by commercial boundaries and has just let himself be free. He is completely uninhibited in his approach and comes up with a musical score that can be described in three words - 'Pure', 'Honest' and 'True'! Will the music of Water turn out to be a commercial success? Well, this is not the kind of an album that requires a verdict on such grounds as it belongs to a class that is over and beyond commercial diktats.