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DVDfever.co.uk – Slumdog Millionaire: Original Soundtrack CD reviewElly Roberts reviews
Interscope/Polydor Records
- Released: January 2009
- Rating: 10/10+++
- Vote and comment on this album:View Comments
Top film top soundtrack.
At last its in my collection!
If you havent seen the brilliant Oscar nominated Brit-flick Slumdog Millionaire then, get to your local cinema soon. Its been tagged as The Feel-Good Film Of The Decade: you cant argue with that.
Just about everything about it is superb acting, cinematography, and especially the soundtrack, which is up for a BAFTA and Oscar. Its currently #1 on the iTunes soundtrack chart.
From the get-go, the music grabbed me, and unusually, unlike may films, works throughout all the scenes. Of course, its better that youve seen the film first, nevertheless, out of context, its still mightily impressive work.
Many of the tracks are sure to be destined for the dance club scene : some might just get extra tweeking to order, like Riots, beat-heavy Aaj Ki Raat, Millionaire and Jai Ho, though original formats will probably suffice.
This masterly OST captures the often frenetic pace (back street chases in Mumbai), and sublime lulls (river shots, Taj Mahal etc) in the plot which has brought such critical acclaim for the film.
Masterminded by multi-million selling 43 year old Bollywood film composer-songwriter-producer A R Rahman (real name A.S. Dileep Kumar) hes created a patchwork of passion and tenderness that dovetail the highs and lows of this remarkable achievement.
Incredibly, Rahman managed to plan the score over two months and completed it in two weeks. His aim was to mix new India with old India and to that end hes more than surpassed himself, but stressed it isnt about India or Indian culture.
Director Danny Boyle (The Full Monty) insisted on a pulsey score, so he set about creating the music to fit the images, in an audio storyboard, with barely 17 or 18 cues to be inspired from.
Then there was multi-talented Mathangi Maya Arulpragasam aka M.I.A. to consider, who Rahman described as a powerhouse. Her Paper Planes, which also appeared in the trailer for Pineapple Express is one of the major highlights here.
For me, Rahmans jewels in the crown are the quieter moments Dreams On Fire featuring the cultured tones of Suzanne, and again on Latikas Theme, both divine respites. Cleverly, hes fused westernized R&B with indigenous flavours such as Liquid Dance, whereas Ringa Ringa, and Alkas sublime voice, adds some real class amongst the BPMs.
The verdict: A Perfect 10!
Radio: Hear tracks soon on THE PLUGwrexhamfm.com Weblink:slumdogmillionairemovie.co.uk
The full list of tracks included are :
1. O ..Saya
2. Riots
3. Mausam And Escape
4. Paper Planes
5. Paper Planes (DFA remix)
6. Ringa Ringa
7. Liquid Dance
8. Latikas Theme
9. Aaj Ki Raat
10. Millionaire
11. Blues
12. Dreams On Fire
13. Jai HoView the discussion thread.blog comments powered by Disqus= 0) {query += ‘url’ + i + ‘=’ + encodeURIComponent(links[i].href) + ‘&’;}}document.write(”);})();//]]]]>]]>
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.