What You Need to Know: Danny Boyle is a director who does not neglect the power of music in his films. With "Slumdog Millionaire," many of the rave reviews cite the energetic visuals and lively music as two of the key factor's to the film's success. Had the music not been in line with the pacing of the movie, than this independent gem would have fallen short and the rave reviews would not have been as common.
A.R. Rahman does a great job in conveying the mood and the energies of "Slumdog" in his score. There is indeed a lively flow to his material and it translates quite well to the stand alone listening experience. That the songs match up well with his material is a bonus. This cohesion can directly be attributed to Rahman's deep involvement with the project, to the point where he actually served as a performer on some of the song tracks. Imagine how many wonderful song/score albums we could enjoy if only every director turned the reigns over to the composer like Boyle does here. For one thing, there would be a consistency to such work and the music will often have more depth.
For me, what I appreciated most about the music of 'Slumdog' is how well it captured the pulse of the big city and the opportunities it presents. While it's not the type of soundtrack that makes one think 'underdog,' it is a score that enables the listener to tap into the moods, emotions, and action that is taking place. Since there is a very specific setting where this story has to be told, the local flavor also adds to the authenticity. The listener will know for sure that this tale takes place in India, thus the score is not vague in the style that it is presented in.
While I really enjoyed listening to this album, my favorite track is the song "Paper Planes" by MIA. Fans of the film "Pineapple Express" will remember hearing it in that trailer. For some reason, this song just fit in really well in the context of this album, which is perhaps due to its skewed, funky, melody. While the remixed version of this song also appears on the album (on the following track, at that!), it's the original cut that I enjoyed most. And as mentioned earlier, the rest of the songs on this release also make for a vibrant listen. Indeed, it's an exciting musical trek through the world of "Slumdog Millionaire."
