6 spiritual songs by A R Rahman which we HARDLY TALK ABOUT
- dhaval195
- Nov 28, 2021
- 4 min read
When we talk about spiritual songs in the Hindi Film Industry, the one name that pops up is of A R Rahman. The Mozart of Madras has given some incredible spiritual songs which lets us connect to the different realm time and again. One may find spirituality in any song for that matter but generally the songs which come up at the top are Kun Faya Kun from Rockstar, Arziyaan from Delhi-6, Khwaja mere Khwaja from Jodha Akbar, Piya Haji Ali from Fiza. All these are great compositions by the master.
(Note: I am only talking about the spiritual songs by A R Rahman)
When Janaradan from Rockstar looks up in the sky in Kun Faya Kun and when Akbar goes in trance towards the end of Khwaja mere Khwaja you feel something. Two of the most beautiful picturizations.
However, apart from these songs, here is the list of 6 songs which in my opinion are spiritual but are not much talked about.
#1. Tumre Bhavan me/Aarti from Delhi-6
One of the ignored tracks in the awesome list of songs from the film. Sung in chorus by Rekha Bharadwaj, Kishori Gowariker, Shraddha Pandit, Sujata Majumdar. This song immediately gives a soul cleansing feeling with veena, manjira and humming by the singers. Rahman keeps it simple and yet is able to transport us into the zone of spirituality. I wish bhajans in my society and nearby buildings are as soul soothing as this one but we get different versions on the loudspeaker which were soul crushing. Examples of that can be seen in the Delhi-6 movie itself. But again that is the trance which many people enjoy.
#2. Ik Onkar from Rang De Basanti
Another gem from Rakesh mehra’s film Rang de basanti. There are already many versions of this beautiful prayer. I heard it for the first time in the album and this version just stuck with me. It’s like an alaap which you just wish that it keeps on going. Harshdeep Kaur’s calming voice does add the magic touch. My favourite part of the song is “Ke ve sach yaara hoi aye,Ke ve kurhai tutti paal”
#3: Shirdi Sai from 99 Songs
This is another one in the long list of spiritual songs by A R Rahman. I wonder what more he can do the next time and each time I am surprised by what he delivers. This comes from the film 99 songs. I don't think many people have even listened to the complete movie soundtrack of 14 songs. Sung by melodious Bela Shende is perfect when you are feeling low. The repetition of a word/prayer is a common theme in all the spiritual songs and we hear “Sai” so many times and it invokes a different feeling altogether. Additional vocals by the maestro himself gives us out of the world experience.
#4: O Paalanhaare from Lagaan
This song may not transport you anywhere immediately but will definitely help you during adversity like it did to people of champaneer in the film. Sung by Legendary Lata Mangeshkar, Udit Narayan and Anuradha sriram is the least talked about song when it comes to the album or generally about spirituality. The simple yet powerful lyrics and song structure will definitely get you hooked. Rahman uses minimal instruments here as well, just flute, manjira and tabla. The intent of the song is to get strength to fight and survive with lines like “Dukhijan ko dheeraj do”, “Bhakti ko shakti do”. Apart from spirituality, this is also a song for anyone who needs some motivation in life to keep moving forward.
#5: Tu Kuja from Highway
I am sure not many have heard this song from the movie. But this is a gem of a song from a rare combination of Sunidhi Chauhan and A R Rahman. Lyrics and composition compliment each other in this song. You get the celestial feel with the instruments used in the song. I recently bought a bluetooth headset and this was the first song I played and I was transported to the open field with nothingness. This may do the same to you.
#6: Mann Mohanaa from Jodha Akbar
Again by Bela Shende from a 2008 movie Jodha Akbar. This song somehow got lost in the list of songs like Kwaja mere khwaja, jashn-e-bahara from the album. Considered as the weakest song of the album at the time of release. This is the slow poison which ARR produces time and again where you don't like the song at first, then you give it another shot and maybe another one after that and then you give up. But after a few years you pounce upon it and you get hooked on it.
Do let me know if you feel the same while listening to these songs and tell us more songs which should be in this list. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
#ARRahman #BelaShinde #LataMangeshkar #UditNarayan #RekhaBharadwaj #HarshdeepKaur #SunidhiChauhan #ShraddhaPandit #SujataMajumdar