The soundtrack for Peddi, composed by the legendary A.R. Rahman, offers a decidedly mixed bag for listeners. While parts of the album shine with regional authenticity, other tracks succumb to distracting external influences.
Chikiri Chikiri stands out as a total winner. Sung beautifully by Mohit Chauhan with lyrics by Balaji, the track captures a pure, vibrant energy. Similarly, Rai Rai Raa Raa is a cool, engaging listen. This particular song is elevated by Rahman himself behind the microphone, alongside lyrics by Anantha Sriram. Crucially, both of these tracks come with minimal non-Telugu influences. They retain a grounded charm that honors the local cinematic flavor.
In stark contrast, Hellallallo delivers a major thumbs-down experience. Despite a massive star lineup featuring Ram Charan, Janhvi Kapoor, and Shruthi Haasan, the song falls flat. Sung by Rakshita Suresh, the tragedy of this track is its derivative nature. It sounds remarkably like a generic Hindi movie item song. The heavy Bollywood scent strips it of any distinct cultural identity.
The track Massa Massa presents a curious case for listeners. Sung by Vishal Mishra, the song features a great and deeply addictive hook that lingers in the mind. However, the rest of the composition creates a stylistic conflict. Rahman seems to imbue the narrative parts of the track with his signature Bollywood-esque musical choices. This stylistic detour dampens the momentum built by its fantastic hook.
Peddi will make its theatrical debut with the night paid premieres on June 3.
