Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman launched Jiyo Utho Badho Jeeto, the theme song for the Commonwealth Games, in Gurgaon on Saturday.
The song, however, has received mixed reviews from music lovers. While a lot of young singers felt it was average, music composers opined that though it didn’t impress immediately, it might grow on listeners.
Interestingly, a lot of youngsters were surprised about Rahman’s statement that his song could not be compared with Shakira’s Waka Waka, used for the Fifa world cup.
On Saturday, Rahman sang the song for around five minutes in front of a gathering that included Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit, Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda and CWG Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi.
“I feel honoured to have got the opportunity to compose the theme song for the mega-event. It was not an easy task. I had started composing it six months ago and finished just last night,” Rahman said.
“I usually like Rahman’s songs. I heard him sing the song and it was like any other song. I guess he is slowly losing his flavour. Shakira has her own sex appeal and Waka Waka was catchy. Of late, people are liking whatever he does for the brand he is rather than the music he composes,” said Raghu, an upcoming playback singer.
“I had lots of expectations from his CWG composition. I just heard a bit of it and it is just average. I felt I had heard similar songs before. I don’t know if he is
overworked or saturated, but Rahman’s touch is waning,” said a senior music composer on condition of anonymity.
Music director Radhakrishna, who had not liked a couple of the songs composed by Rahman in his last Telugu film Em Maya Chesave, said, “He is singing this song and surely knows he will get a lot of publicity out of this event. The song will be downloaded and played by the media several times. Even if it is not that great, people will start liking it as TV and radio stations will play it again and again. Rahman’s show in the city was a flop when he came here. It’s not that everything he composes is great.”
Singer Anuj Gurwara, who heard the song online, said it would be some time before people took to the song. “It is a typical Rahman number and will take time to grow on you. Initially people might think it is just an average composition but I will still wait for a few more weeks to see the public reaction,” he said.
Avid music buffs too felt that it was Rahman’s image that made people like whatever he composed rather than the music. “His songs of late are not what they were and the CWG one is no exception. I felt his song for CWG was so similar to what he did before. Comparing himself to Shakira is a joke. She is a stage performer with energy and sex appeal. I guess his stardom is getting on his head now,” said Mr Srikanth N, an engineering student learning classical music.
However, Kollywood, Rahman’s home industry, backed him up saying the music is very typical of Rahman.
However, Kollywood, Rahman’s home industry, backed him up saying the music is very typical of the singer’s compositions.
“Ramya, popular DJ and TV anchor, said, “Most ARR compositions would be a bit unusual and difficult to understand in the beginning; only by repeated listening will we start liking them. That’s what happened even with his latest Enthiran music. Nobody liked the music on the first day of the CD release but now people are going gaga over it.”
But, software professional Vikram Mohan, 28, however, said that the score did not strike a chord with him. “The tune was not catchy and seems eminently forgettable. Compared to Shakira’s Waka Waka and other sports anthems, Rahman’s composition falls flat,” he said.