English and Hindi tracks jazz up Malayalam films

In 1998, when music maestro AR Rahman weaved Malayalam lyrics into his Hindi track, Jiya Jale (Dil Se), it became an instant hit. After years, Tamil music composer Bharathwaj also did the same for the movie Autograph and soon the trend became a rage. Now, the Malayalam film industry too has warmed up to the trend and is increasingly including English and Hindi songs in films.The reasons cited are situational demands, experimentation or just to please a cosmopolitan crowd.
However, music director Gopi Sundar is of the opinion that music has a universal language and hence it doesn’t matter whether it is in English, Malayalam or Hindi. “A song should entertain listeners, and that is all what matters,” he says.
Kochi Times takes a look at some of the English and Hindi tracks from some of the latest Malayalam films that topped the music charts.
I want to fly (Bangalore Days) The romantic English song used in the flashback story of Shiva and Natasha in Bangalore Days could evoke a sense of nostalgia in viewers. Its music composer Gopi Sundar says the situation demanded such a track. “It was written and sung by Anna Catherine Vayalil and we felt that an English background score would give the shots a pristine feel and it worked,” he says.
Allahu Akbar (Gangster) Aashiq Abu’s latest outing, Gangster, was a box office dud. But the single song that featured in the movie, a Sufi track, was lapped up by the audience. Composed by Deepak Dev and penned by Raqueeb Aalam, the song opens with soft chants Allahu Akbar. It aptly depicts the mental agony of protagonist Akbar Ali Khan, played by Mammootty, who is seeking redemption in Ajmer Dargah. The steady paced interlude with tabla beats alongside Javed Ali’s vocals gave the soulful Sufi strains a distinctive flavour and transcended language barriers.
Nodi Bhora Devu (Masala Republic) The Bengali folk song used in the animated title track of Masala Republic presents the story of migrant labourers. Though the film, helmed by debutant G S Visakh, evoked a mixed response, the song captivated the attention of one and all. Interestingly, for better understanding, the makers had also given a scroll with the meaning of the lyrics.
Rabba Muje kya ho gaya (Ohm Shanthi Oshana) The mellifluous track, Maunam Cherum, from the movie Ohm Shanthi Oshana had Hindi lyrics, Rabba Muje Kya Ho Gaya, Rabba Mera Dil Kho Gaya, as a prelude. Sung by Rinu Razak and Hasham, the song topped the charts for weeks. Another song from the same movie, Ee Mazha Megham, also starts with Hindi lines, O Re Sawariya. What’s more, the tracks were inarguably romantic and beyond language constraints.
Zindagi Ki Raho Mein (Angry Babies in Love ) The songs from Anoop Menon-Bhavana starrer Angry Babies in Love are quite popular even before the release of the movie. The Hindi track, Zindagi Ki Raho Mein, zestfully rendered by Soumya and Yasim, comes with an added flavour of love and longing and is a definite hit. According to director Saji Surendran, they used the Hindi track to go with the narrative. “The complete story is set against the backdrop of Mumbai city and hence the song was not out of place,” says Saji.
Khuda O Khuda (Mr Fraud) B Unnikrishnan’s controversial film, Mr Fraud, did not rake the moolah at the box-office, but most of its songs made heads turn. It was Khuda O Khuda, the song with Hindi lyrics, that went viral owing to its unique composition and awe-inspiring violin music. The song featured music composer Gopi Sundar, violinist Balabhaskar and Mohanlal. Many even opined that the song was the only saving grace in the movie!