CokeStudio @ MTV after two successful seasons is back! With a promise of bringing together popular music producers and artists from different parts of the country, this season has Academy & Grammy Award-winner AR
Following highly successful seasons in Pakistan , Coca Cola’s critically acclaimed music franchise finally came to India two years back in 2011. Dubbed Coke Studio @ MTV, the Indian edition’s first season saw ex-Colonial Cousin Lesli Lewis take on the role of producer and mentor for over 30 artists. Personally I loved Season 2 as compared to Season 1 which was quite dissatisfying as compared to the expectation of Indian fans of Coke Studio (Read my earlier review). The second season saw eight producers create music for an episode each, and resulted in some awesome music. The season saw episodes that featured Amit Trivedi, Nitin Sawhney, Clinton Cerejo, Shantanu Moitra, Eshaan Noorani & Loy Mendonsa, Karsh Kale and Hitesh Sonik. For example, in Season 2, Clinton Cerejo strived to create something different from the material he’s normally known for in the advertising & film realm, while Amit Trivedi used Punjabi and Rajasthani folk elements to bring out his uniqueness. Remember Cerejo’s ‘Madari’, ‘Saathi Salam’ & Trivedi’s ‘Chaudhary’ & ‘Bari Bari’? Simply amazing!! Although I expected much from one of my favorite music producer Nitin Sawhney, but he couldn’t deliver. Apart from these the surprise were, songs like ‘Husna’ by Piyush Mishra, ‘Lagi Lagi’ from Shantanu Moitra featuring classical talent like Kaushiki Chakraborty.
This year, the show, which is scheduled to start airing this Saturday on 17th August, follows the same format with eight producers each producing original music for an episode of the season. Each producer working on the show brings radically different visions and sounds to the table. Giving the audience a glimpse into what they can expect in the upcoming season, the launch of Coke Studio @ MTV - Season 3 saw the unveiling of the happiness song - ‘Zariya’ - composed by A R Rahman, with lyrics by Prasoon Joshi. The song hopefully is the answer to all the seasons of Coke Studio (both India & Pakistan ).
After his super melodious love song Nenjukulle (from Kadal) that he released on MTV Unplugged in November last year, AR Rahman has composed and produced a fusion number, titled Zariya, for Coke Studio @ MTV - Season 3.
Based around the theme of motherhood and compassion, this track gives a whole new spin to the term ‘World Music’. The song gives a spiritual high where Rahman teams up with Farah Siraj, a Jordanian singer, and Ani Choying Drolma, a Nepalese Buddhist nun, to create a spell. While Drolma’s chant works like magic and adds to the rhythm, the backing vocals throughout work wonderfully. Siraj comes in at the right time with her harmonious Arabic notes that work like an Indian alap. Master percussionist Sivamani soon takes over. Though we have seen many more fusion by lesser known musicians in past, in this one, Rahman merges Sivamani’s funky beats with the otherwise spiritual content of the song. The song culminates in a crescendo. Siraj, known as the Musical Ambassadress of Jordan, has played in India before. She floors you with her vocals. For me the highlight of the song was, when the maestro puts in his bit on the keys of continuum keyboard and the cross when the child prodigy on bass guitar Mohini Dey takes on. The backing vocals with Prasoon Joshi’s Hindi lyrics are bliss to ears !
As far as my knowledge & passion about music is concerned, I feel the sound is bit noisy at the end when the tempo speeds up. May be, the arrangement and mastering needed a check. It completely proves my point when you listen to the soundtrack without the video. Nevertheless, 'Zariya' is sure going to be a viral hit globally. Listen in and tell us if the Rahman magic works for you this time !
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