Director: Rajiv S Ruia
Producer: Koffee Break Pictures Ltd
Year: 2007

Cast: Ahsaas Channa, Kiran Janjani, Shital Shah, Mushtaq Khan, Modi Sheri, Lalitesh
Anil Nagrath, Aroon Bakshi, Upasna Singh

Lyricists: Vijay Akela, Sudhakar Sharma, Vijay Pandit, Ravi Jain, Sumit Acharya
Sunil Jhangir
Music Directors: Laxmi-Vasant, R Roy, Nirmal-Shekhar, Sameer Phaterpekar
Ahsan Ahmed

My friend Ganesha is a recently released film which incorporates animation within the feature film. The film is about a young boy’s friendship with Lord Ganesh and has 7 songs with music composed by Ahsan Ahmed, R.Roy, Sameer Phaterpekar, Nirmal-Shekar and Laxmi-Vasant. The songs are varying in style and while some are enjoyable, some of them sound typically like some already released and popular Ganesh songs and bhajans. The songs are sung by both well known and new and some very young singers who have put a lot of effort and emotion into the songs. Lyricists have done a great job  intertwining familiar and powerful Sanskrit verses with the Hindi lyrics.

Aarthi kare Jai Ganeshji and Dekho Re Dekho are penned by Vijay Akela and set to music by Ahsan Ahmed. Aarthi kare is sung by Roop Kumar Rathod and is a typical filmi bhajan and appeals mainly because of the bhakti-filled rendition of Rathod.

Dekho Re Dekho is a brisk and fun song delivered by Shaan with lively abandon– the song is supported by efficient back up vocals. The westernized rendition of the refrain Ganesha, Ganesha adds a curious charm to the song which is otherwise very Indian and rustic in its rhythm and feel.

Jaidev Jaidev Aarthi is a song that brings to mind the same song from the recent album Vishwa Vinayaka. The song is sung by Pritha Majumdar – her alaap portions in the song are well rendered. The song blends both Indian and Western styles and the vocal harmonizing is good. Sumit Acharya has penned the lyrics and music is by Roy.

My friend Ganesha written by Sudhakar Sharma and composed by Sameer Phaterpekar is the title song of the film sung by Master Shravan Suresh who also recently sang a song from Tara Rum Pum. So well sung by one so young with such a lovely and clear voice. The music director has used children’s voices for the back up support and it is refreshing that a song picturized on children is actually sung by children and not an adult voice masquerading as a child!

Shael sutha ke ankhon features Shaan, Zuben and Sneha Pant. The song starts off with chants on Ganesha and then meanders into a mix of filmy bhajan , semi classical and rock! This composition by Music Director team of Nirmal-Shekar with lyrics by Ravi Verma is not without merit – the synthesis is well blended with competent orchestration and singing! Ravi Verma must be complimented on working his lyrics around wonderful Sanskrit verses.

Teri Deewani Duniya Sari, sung by Javed with lyrics by Sunil Jangir and music by Laxmi-Vasant is a lively song with the refrain Ganapathi bapa moriya – a typical Ganesh festival song ideal for group dancing. Not a remarkable song – but sustains a lively tempo throughout.

Vignaharta Aarti with vocals by Pamela Jain and Roop Kumar Rathod is a song that is straight out of the numerous devotional albums that are being churned out regularly! However, the back up chanting and chorus support in the refrain are harmonious and make the song worth a listen. Ravi Jain is the lyricist with music by Laxmi-Vasant.

To put it in a nutshell, a musical offering that will surely satisfy Lord Ganesha and his devotees!

Happy Vinayak Chaturthi!

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