Venkata in Sankata Music Review

Music Review by Suchitra Preetham

After ‘Accident’- the accident that went by with a flutter, Ricky Kej, the blue-eyed boy with strong western influences pitched into the ‘Venkata in Sankata’ camp. Who’s complaining anyway, ‘Venkata in Sankata’ comes as a fresh breath of cool air in an era of suffocative Sandal-music. Overall, the album makes you wonder if this could be the new-genre fusion music that is coming our way. Take a closer look (I mean keep your ear closer to the speaker) you are bound to find out that it is not mere fusion but a pretty good serving of global infusions. Don’t say we did not warn you about Ricky’s globetrotting times!

Venkata (Singer: Avinash Chebbi): Ricky Kej’s fusion credentials are put to test in this title track. The track is feet-tappily groovy and demonstrates some fine rapping. Avinash Chebbi sounds accomplished. Namma ea Venkata always in Sankata lends the feel of the movie- hilarious and comical.

Venkata – English version (Singer: Avinash Chebbi): You are the one who makes me smile, Venkata-the English version is a fun number. Ricky plays it safe and drew in more than just inspiration from the ting ting-frog number which overplays Ricky’s tunes. The line of inspiration gets blurred especially with the metallic notes and marching beats. The lyrics are cool, thanks to Devan (anyone knows him).

Koogi Kuniyona (Singers: Avinash Chebbi & Chitra HG): Fusion or infusion, am still wondering; Koogi Kuniyona opens with a distinct background chorus about ‘hands up in the air’. So from ting frog, Rickey got some inspiration from ‘Om Shanti Om’. But then if you ignore the opening of the song, the rest of Koogi Kuniyona has nothing to jump up for or have fun about.

Nodutha (Singers: Naresh Iyer & Chitra HG): Another fusion number. This time it is a Kannada-English fusion! The Nodutha lyrics are ‘faithfully’ Kaikini lines and the tunes are ‘truly ‘ Ricky-style. Again, I do not refer to a niche slot of music, but Ricky’s style of putting in jingles he hopes we have not heard before!

Yedeya Olage (Singers: Pallavi & Arun): ‘Chitaa Patta Male Haniyu’ of ‘Yedeya Olagu’ marches past like a horse parade. What a waste of Kaviraj’s thoughtful lines!