 Home
> News > News Archives |
|
 |
| |
DALER
MEHNDI NEW ALBUM 'SHAA RA RA RA' RELEASEd
 He
will rock you!..........
It was an outdoor
video shoot this week. And it was raining
cats and dogs. The city was witnessing its worst and
longest-ever rains in recent times. God was dancing his own dance
from above the clouds. On mother earth (read Filmcity Studios, Mumbai),
defiant Daler Mehndi
decided to go ahead with his planned shoot for the title track of
his forthcoming album ‘Shaa
Ra Ra Ra’. In fact, he opined, “God must
have wished it this way. He throws such challenges to make us stronger.”
 “You
might not find one like him ever again,” someone remarked,
while this Mr Unstoppable
swayed everyonearound, of course, including his sensuous video co-star
Rashmi Nigam (the
girl who is soon to debut in Bollywood with ‘Popcorn Khao…
Mast Ho Jaao’) with his trademark energetic bhangra.
By the end of it all, the Sardar smiled and quipped, “All
is well that ends well”.
Dressed in the heavily ornamented fuchsia colored
Choga, following intently the instructions from ace-choreographer
Ahmed Khan, director
the video, Daler said, “Hun Rab Di Mehr Naal Waqt Badal Gya
Hai, Ab Mujhe Koi Rok Nahi Sakta” (“By the grace of
God, time has changed for the better and nothing’s gonna stop
me now!”).
This new album which will be released by his own
music company DM Music
in the first week of September, has been recorded at Sound City,
Empire Studio, Mumbai, with nine songs written, composed and performed
by Daler Mehndi. It showcases traditional music, fused with western
instruments. For the videos, maverick Mehndi has redesigned his
signature Maharaja robes combined with a ‘remix
dhoti’ (a concoction of the traditional dhoti,
Patiala salwar and trousers).
Says Ahmed Khan, “The USP of Dalerbhai’s
music is that it is ‘happy
music’. It is the energy in his voice combined
with the powerful rhythm that is infectious. Watch out for our video.
He will rock you!”
The “Shaa Ra Ra Ra” song has been written
and composed by Daler where he uses words such as guddi (in Punjabi)
and patang (in Hindi) metaphorically to describe his ladylove. Bass
guitar has been effectively used in the otherwise simple composition.
Another high point of the song is the intro, where Daler has sung
a couplet at a very high octave, showcasing his effortless switch
from classical to pop. Immaculate use of difficult notes of Raag
Jog packaged with a clear timber, is hard to ignore.
Prior to shooting this video, Daler also shot for
a video of another song in this album “Humne Pakad Li Hai”
last week. This song too, was directed by Ahmed Khan, who, since
his stint with the film ‘Lakeer’, is shooting music-videos
after a gap of three years.
On the sets of this shoot at NSE Grounds in Mumbai,
one witnessed similar energy bursts in Daler Mehndi, to Ahmed Khan,
to the 300 dancers including 10 foreign ones, to 24 make-up dadas,
to the spot boys, to any and everyone present on the sets. The colossal
production, resounding with electrifying Mahrashtrian
beats with the Sardar’s charged-up vocals,
was no less than a celebration.
The “Humne Pakad Li Hai” video has another USP –
it has been shot in High Definition (HD) format, making it the first
music video of its kind in India. So, apart from an elephant
(yes, this is there too), there is technology debuting with this
Daler video.
Others who are a part of this promising nine-track
album, are recordists Shakeel and Amir, Ravi Pawar who has co-directed
few tracks with Daler Mehndi, Raju Lalwani who has arranged the
music, ace-drummer Shivamani who has given rhythm to the song “Hauli
Hauli”, veteran Nida Fazli who has helped Daler in finishing
the ballad track “Shaam Se Maine Puchha”, and last but
not the least, power-pitched Suzanne who has penned and rendered
melodious vocals for a few tracks and the dance floor stomper “No.1
Papa” featuring Bobby on backing vocals.
So get ready for the King of Bhangra before he invades your senses
and TV screens all over again!! |
