Always, first I must mention my gratitude to risingabove for a great concept. Very few would be able to run such a game in a fashion as elegant and organised as yours... So as always, I'll start with a big 'thank you' to you!
I must start my part in this game with the singer who has the most resonance and meaning for me which in this lineup of contestants is the inimitable Kavita Subramaniam.
As risingabove mentioned in the IF's Indian Idol intro thread, she is part of the very small elite of female singers to have sung for the great RD Burman - certainly the only singer of her generation to be part of this elite. 'Pyar Hua Chupke Se' is one such RD-Kavita collaboration and you can hear Kavita carrying on the baton of the Lata school of singing into the 1990's - which were otherwise dominated by simple melodies designed to be hummable by the aam junta. But her rendition is far from aam...
Why do I call this Lata-like? Because the tonal quality of the voice is pristine and clear - in fact it is one with the sur. The voice is not singing the song - the voice is the song. Just like a Lata song cannot be sung by anyone else, because the voice is as much a part of the song as the tune or the lyrics, a Kavita song is nothing without that rich honey voice of hers. Kavita's voice never struggles, whether with the high notes or the harkats which is what makes the song seem to flow through her, unabated.
The use of expression is very measured and apt - from the first line, sung in a whispering tone, to the couple of giggles placed at the right spots to create an air of innocence. But there is emotion in her every sur and even in the transitions between notes. This level of involvement, only enhanced by the perfect diction and emphasis of the lyric, is also very Lata-like.
Where singers fail to do justice to a song is by not being able to carry of the highs, lows, twists and turns of the song effortlessly, or by not filling it with character. Legends have the ability to not only carry off a tune, but to do so with grace and then add an extra touch. I hope all the listeners do give this song a few listens to enjoy every word of it. As always my marks will be a score on the level of difficulty allowed by the song (the 'scope') rather than the rendering (which was perfect). Lack of difficult low note sections, little beatwork and now 'wow' sections means this performance gets a solid 8 from me!
Anupamaa
