The Music of Pukar by A. R. Rehman

It’s the onset of summers but not yet. The breeze still carries the fragance of spring in the morning… and the evenings. Its dry and warm. The sun has already set.

There is a kind of familiarity in the breeze. Its been years. It feels changed but the breeze is still the same. I listen to the music of Pukar. I’ve listened to Pukar since it’s release.

The music is from A. R. Rehman and is arguably one of the best from Rehman. Lately though he has been experimenting with different sounds which sound well… awkward at first. Its not easy to understand the music of Rehman at the first play. It takes time to come to terms with the melody contained within. And sometimes there’s no melody at all.

Pukar was released when I was graduating in college. I hadn’t seen the movie yet but the music was the best available. Pukar has some of my most favorite songs. Yes you tend to have many favourites if you have a musical soul. Some of the remarkable renditions include “Sunta hai mera khudah”, “Ek tu hi bharosa” in Lata’s celestial voice and “Kismat se tum hamko mile ho” in the magical voice of Sonu Nigam and Anuradha Paudwal. Pukar is another gem in my collection, but not just another.

Kismat se tum hamko mile ho

I come to the melody of the music later. I’d first like to mention something notable about the singing in this masterpiece. When I was in a call center, my trainer used to say “One can always feel your smile at the other end of the phone”. The same goes for singing. Greats like Rafi, Talat Mehmood have had a distinct orgasmic pleasure in their renditions. To quote an example try listening to “Deewana hua badal” from the movie “Kasmir Ki Kali”. One can feel the smile. Sonu Nigam has used the same smile at one or two places after the first stanza. Also Sonu has attempted reaching some highest notes in the upper octave while he stays husky and casts a spell in the lower notes earlier in the song.

The song is rich in lyrics and Rehman has matched it with his amazing music. The song makes a deep impact. As the lyrics set one thinking, the music carries the emotions right into the heart and across.

The lyrics in the song has a lovely and thoughtful theme. Its about a couple realizing the value of their (breaking) relationship and their promise to not let go… reminscing and fantasising about the intricate romantic anecdotes and their resolving to be together once again through thick and thin.

Ek tu hi bharosa

Lata never fails to surprise. Combined with the subtle musical effect by Rehman, the song creates a celestial, heavenly musical ambiance. The clarity, accuracy of rendering brings a lot of definition to the song.

The song is basically a prayer for the good of all. Not sure if its a piano… it carries an impression of water drops falling into a pond. Rehman has used this in many songs in the past. the music naturally (and amazingly) carries a sense of peace. Thanks to the well defined and slow rhythm.

Sunta hai mera khudah

There is a distinct…, very distinct pleasure in ease and slowly progressing music. Don’t get me? Listen to this number. Udit Narayan has enriched the slow pace of the song with the finesse and nuances of his trained voice in classical music.

Time to plug in the headphones. Its 11pm. I tend to write about music once in a while. And hopefully the next time I’ll touch upon another great by A. R. Rehman - “Humse hai mukabla”.