Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Rahman's CWG composition receives flak

NOTHING SEEMS to be working well for the Commonwealth Games Organizing Committee. The Organizing Committee lately has been at the centre of the storm for alleged rampaging corruption. Prime minister, Manmohan Singh himself had to take plunge to save the games and the image of the country. Now there is another twist to the sad saga called Commonwealth Games, New Delhi.

The theme song “Oh yaaro, yeh India bula liya” has failed to impress sports lovers and leading personalities across the country.

The theme song for the grand event has been composed by celebrity music maestro, A R Rahman. And according to reliable sources, the maestro took six months to compose the song, government shelled out Rs six crore for it.

Considering Rahman’s stature in the music industry in India and world, he was handpicked by the government without any competition or selection process. Lot was expected from him.

However, the maestro failed to produce a magical composition that aptly sums up Indian culture and heritage. The composition has failed to complement the majestic event, the Commonwealth Games, a once in a four year affair.

People are comparing Rahman’s composition with Shakira’s Waka Waka that was a huge hit during the recently concluded Football World Cup.

BJP’s leading politician, Vijay Kumar Malhotra said "This song has fallen short of expectations. We had expected a better anthem for the Games from a composer of Rahman's status,”. Sports minister, M S Gill too wasn’t seem convinced with the composition, “Many members of the Group of Ministers (GoM) overseeing the Games preparations are not happy with the theme song”, the minister said.      

Eminent photographer, Raghu Rai found the song useless, he said “Rahman is the brightest of the current crop of music directors, but the Commonwealth theme song is just not Indian enough. In India, where there is a different beat for every little nakhra, Rahman’s song is dominated by Western beats and, thus, lacks the Indian spirit it deserved. ” Former sports minister, Shanawaz Hussain termed the song as disappointing.

Leading Adman Piyush Pandey compared the song with waka waka, he said “It, somehow, does not make me want to sit up and take notice. Shakira’s Waka Waka was one of that kind. Maybe it will grow on me later, but for now, it is extremely tepid and lukewarm.”

The composition has failed to attract attention of internet users and general public; people are criticizing the maestro for composing dull song with lukewarm appeal. As has happened with most of Rahman’s hit composition, lets hope it happens with this CWG composition also. Many of Rahman’s numbers pick pace gradually and afterward become huge hit, like Jai Ho.

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