Pukar was the last successful album by
A.R. Rahman before he entered into a relatively hushed five-year time period in Bollywood, to emerge again with
Meenaxi. During this time,
Rahman reinvented his music, which relied on fixed routines and rituals and above all, solidified his presence on the international stage through various tours around the world, a soundtrack for the Chinese movie Warriors of Heaven and Earth, and composing for the stage productions like
Bombay Dreams and The Lord of the Rings. Interestingly,
Rahman had a prodigious year in 1999 with other hits like
Taal and Takshak. Along with
Pukar, the three soundtracks form the biggest successes of the year in Bollywood music.
Udit Narayan and
Kavita Krishnamurthy deliver the album highlight with "Sunta Hai Mera Khuda." A soulful love ballad with signature
Rahman beats, "Sunta Hai Mera Khuda" reminds listeners of this duo singing earlier for
Rahman on "Kuchchi Kuchchi Rakkamma" in Bombay.
Shankar Mahadevan sings again for
Rahman after "Jumbilika" in Takshak, on the feet tapping and delightful "Kay Sera Sera." There's a prescribed amount of all genres imbibed on one album, as is eminent with
Rahman, be it the rhythmic "Humrahi Jab Ho Mastana," the seductive "Hai Jaana," the soft romantic track "Kismat Se Tum Humko," or the devotional/patriotic "Ek Tu Hi Bharosa."
Pukar falls into a full-bodied, conventional Bollywood album, rich of all the flavors that one expects from a Bollywood soundtrack yet devoid of any tinge of sheer brilliance.