Meenal's Mehram Music Review

Mehram - Meenal Jain

While Indian Idol 1 finalist Prajakta Shukre just released her album 'Dhakka', it is now the turn of Indian Idol 2 finalist Meenal Jain to do the same by coming up with 'Mehram - In Search Of Love'. The album is touted to belong to sufi genre with Harpreet Singh at the helm of composition and lyrics. Any newcomer would gereally opt for a safe outing by churning out a regular Indi-pop album but Meenal shows courage by going unconventional in her debut album. Let's play on the album to see if her effort pays off!

Title track 'Mehram' has guest lyricist R.S. Sangha at the helm of affairs. A peaceful number with a cool breeze effect to it, 'Mehram' is a free spirited love song. Moving at a slow pace and taking you along the journey of the singer who is engrossed in all the love that she has in her heart, 'Mehram' may not be your quintessential love song but sets the pace for a unique outing in the offering. Harpreet's musical arrangements are apt as they give a young and contemporary feel in spite of the song's theme being 'sufi'.

Mood of the album stays on to be consistent as the arrangements stay on to be in the same mould for 'Mai Na Chutda'. A number about being unable to let off the feeling of love, the song moves at a similar pace as that of 'Mehram'. One has to credit composer Harpreet Singh for the way he fuses the mood of sufi with his light western arrangements that result in a good listening experience. One is impressed with Meenal Jain by the time the song gets over and is led to believe that the young woman would be enjoying a long innings ahead.

Remember the beats of ever-so-popular 'Tu Cheez Badi Hai Mast Mast' [Mohra]? The same traditional beats that have been played on for ages in the world of sufi music are heard yet again in 'Jogan' that makes it three in a row for the album 'Mehram'. In terms of sheer entertainment value, 'Jogan' is the best of the lot since it relies on rhythm and is catchy in the very first go.

From rhythm, the mood shifts back to melody with 'Sanwariya' that belongs to the true blue Indi-pop variety. Nevertheless, here too the song doesn't get trapped into the world of mediocrity and instead tries to bring in a certain freshness to the proceedings. Harpreet Singh does quite well in maintaining a consistent mood through his light-weight arrangements that turns out to be his very good strength. When the entire world of music is going 'beat one-beat two', here is one musician who is still relying on the old world school of sheer melody through minimal instruments. Good job here!

It's time to tap your feet at the arrival of 'Tere Bin', a number where Meenal remarkably modulates her vocals. If this song was not a part of the album, it would have been difficult to imagine the same singer singing 'Tere Bin' apart from the other numbers in 'Mehram'. Though there is a male singer accompanying Meenal as well, he is for some reasons not credited. A number which is again based on sufi theme, 'Tere Bin' is entertaining with a feel-good effect to it.

R.S. Sangha returns to writing with 'Tum Sang Laagi' that breezes through as a melody while being aided by light ear pleasing rhythmic beats. A number that could be interpreted as a love song or a devotional number, 'Tum Sang Laagi' comes at a point when one is sure that 'Mehram' is an album that deserves much better promotion since it has some truly different songs in current scenario of music.

The mood shifts slightly to the folk music of North-West India with the arrival of 'Ghumar'. Still, it's not the case of something drastically different happening in the audio as even though folk is the flavor of the song, it doesn't turn caricatured and instead sticks to the basic without going ballistic with an idea of doing something similar to what used to happen to most of the Bollywood numbers with folk flavor years back.

'Mehram' comes to a perfect ending with 'Saanwal' that is beautiful number to conclude the album. A slow paced number with a haunting setting, 'Saanwal' is yet another song that showcases Meenal's singing prowess.

Meenal Jain has all in her to go places if her talent is recognized by those in the industry who matter most. Almost flawless in the way she sings and boasting of supreme talent, Meenal gives a good account of her in 'Mehram' and comes up with a superlative effort.

A must hear for those fond of good quality soulful music and rendition.

Rating: ****