CineGoer.com - Audio Reviews

First-Timers Do Not Disappoint

APK | October 12, 2007

Rating: *** (***** Very Good, **** Good, *** Fair, ** Average, * Bad)

Click here to listen to the songs

Charmme and Shivaji star in Mantra, directed by debutant Tulasiram. Anand debuts as the music composer of Mantra. Oohallona, Theme Mantra and Dole Dil Dole are worth pressing the rewind button for. Hip Hop and Techno are the predominant influences in Anand's music as far as Mantra's music is concerned. The newbie director and composer combination has worked in the favor of the music except for one overdone copy. Whether the movie works is a query time will tell.

Maha Maha Welcome to the Telugu Hip-hop culture. Unfortunately, it's a copy. Black Eyed Peas' song 'My Humps' has been copied to a T, along with the chorus and has some Telugu lyrics thrown in. Basically, it's a Telugu translation of Black Eyed Peas' hit number. It sounds good, because the original number is good. But to rate it high would be cheating-it's too obvious and blatant a copy. Madhumita and Noelsean do a good job with the vocals though. **1/2

Charmme

Oohallona Suchitra and Nani sing this melodious and romantic duet. The soft chorus is used beautifully. This is one of those songs that grow on you as you listen. A lovely song, and possibly the pick of the album. ***1/2

Theme Mantra This is a very good soundtrack, very western in its appeal and very engaging. It is mysterious, haunting and the chorus is interesting (reminds you of a Church choir). Themes like wind, sleet and sea can be identified. This is Enigma meets Elements (Hari Prasad Chaurasia). ***1/2

Reena Reena Keeravani once quoted in an interview that all musicians wish to sing, so they remain in the limelight. This must be true, because the debutant music composer has also grabbed the microphone to display his vocal talent. Reena Reena…Nee Andaniki Aipoindi Dil Deewana…is a hummable, catchy number. Anand is accompanied by Kartik and they have interesting voices and this lends a 'different' touch to the vocals, and therefore the entire song. **.75

Dole Dil Dole Geetamadhuri's husky and commanding vocals hold the song together. With lots of techno beats and mixing in the song, it sounds like a disco/dance number. This has some Hindi lyrics chipped in for good measure, so you get the picture. **.75

Charmme

Remix Maha A techno remix of the original's copy's copy. Harshika lends in the vocals for this version. **1/2

Last Word The new musician has given a good debut, except for the strum-to-strum copy Maha Maha. Even Mickey J. Meyer used Coldplay in the 'Happy Days' title track, but only the guitar strums before the track starts and nothing more. So this crazy copy makes you squirm in your seat, if you heard/like Black Eyed Peas.

Well, apart from that, the rest of the songs in Mantra are better, with two songs that are both catchy and grow on you as you listen. Lot of techno, western influence and Hindi/English lyrics can be heard in the album. Six songs, with one remix and a theme song (instrumental)-overall, an interesting album and another new find in the Telugu music galaxy.