10/10 Song Review: M.M. Keeravaani - Dhivara (Sung by Ramya Behara, Deepu)

By Source (WP:NFCC#4), Fair use, Link

10/10 Song Review: M.M. Keeravaani - Dhivara (Sung by Ramya Behara, Aditya)

Yes I know I gave two of my 10/10 songs to Indian songs in a row. But this song is not Bollywood or in Hindi, it is Telugu from Tollywood.

Some may remember the massive phenomenon that was 'Bahubali: The Beginning' back in 2015. Quickly becoming one of the highest grossing Indian films of all time, this south Indian epic movie told a story that, albeit not entirely unique, took Indian culture and applied it to the big screen in epic fashion. Of all the songs in the movie, easily the biggest hit was 'Dhivara', getting versions in various languages (including a half baked English version which could have been produced by EA). This larger than life track was not my initial favorite from the movie (that would be 'Nippulla Swasa Ga'), it has slowly became one of my, if not my, favorite song of all time (It probably is not number one, but definitely in the top 10).

The song opens with an organic and wild instrumentation, this instantly sets the stage for the epic feel of the song. Ramya Behara vocals give a soulful and tempting attempt to beckon the listeners. This shows the confidence long missing in modern music. Then, a brass chord is played, and the chorus hits.

Probably the most massive chorus ever, I have nothing but high regard for Dhivara's chorus. Unlike the female vocals of the verses, the chorus is driven by male chanting, providing excellent contrast. The chorus is melodically chanted in Sanskrit, one of the oldest spoken languages still in existence, dating back thousands of years BCE. Visually in the Music Video, the song is shown in a (epic and must watch) mountain climb. And the sheer strength with which the chorus's is chanted shows this. While only four lines long, it sets the stage for the rest of the drama in this song, which plays out like a mini musical. The instrumental in the chorus chugs forward massively. I think I here guitars, various drums, and violins. I cannot emphasize how much I love this chorus.

The chorus is followed by an instrumental structure, which is one of the most clever usage of percussion in modern music. It switches between a heavy hollow drum with a loud gong sound and a more nimble, tribal synth drum. Though only a few seconds long, this section is unique and acts as a nice bridge so the chorus and verses don't negate each-other.

The second verse follows the basic idea of the first verse, but with a more diverse and ever changing production. The chugging guitar-synth from the chorus is stilled used, but is joined by the Sitar, a vocaloid choir and an orchestra of violins (they sound real, not synths, to me). This is followed by a male singer (Deepu) singing a pre-chorus while the chorus's production accompanies. He gives an intense delivery. The key jewel here is that the production instantly stops before the chorus, making the chorus hit twice as hard. The chorus comes up right after, this time just joined by gong drums to up the intensity.

I have no words for the following break-down. It starts with some good-old rock guitar followed with an electric piano, cementing the larger than life feel. This is followed by the female voice form the beginning of the song and violins. They blend together to create something perfect, something legendary.

The third verse opens exclusively with a piano and Ramya's vocals. This section feels mysterious and a 'calm before to the storm' type. This is followed by a Sanskrit chant (not the chorus) and some traditional Indian percussion with some hidden ad-libs.

This is followed by another by another chant, this one chanted not sung, with Ramya ad-libbing throughout. A flute joins in, continuing the larger than life feel of the song.

The chorus arrives once again, but this time, the production is more subdued, the chanting continues. Then suddenly, the instrumentation fades out, and a marimba or triangle (or both) kicks in. Ramya sings a final melodic line to accompany the chorus, calmly ending the song.

My favorite types of songs play out like an opera. They have a beginning, middle, and end, a story told by song. And Dhivara is one of the best examples of this.

Rating: 10/10

Also, watch the Music Video, despite being part of the movie, it tells its own mini story, though the song is shortened in it. Check it out, it is worth the watch.