Mayya

"Mayya"
Song by A. R. Rahman (composer) and Maryem Toller, Chinmayee, Keerthi (singers) from the album Guru
Released	November 18, 2006
Recorded	2006 Panchathan Record Inn
Genre	Feature film soundtrack
Length	6:02
Label	Sony Music
Writer	A. R. Rahman (music), Gulzar (lyrics)
Producer	A. R. Rahman
Guru track listing
"Ek Lo Ek Muft (3) "Mayya" (4) "Ay Hairathe" (5)

"Mayya" is a popular Hindi song from the 2007 Hindi film Guru. It was composed by A. R. Rahman, performed by Maryem Toller, Chinmayee, Keerthi Sagathia and written by Gulzar. Apart from the film's soundtrack, it also appeared in the compilation album, A. R. Rahman – A World of Music released in 2009.

Development

Rahman personally trained Egyptian singer Maryem Tollar to sing "Mayya", a song which Rahman wrote while on Hajj in Makkah. After he heard a man near a river who was continually repeating "maya maya maya" (water in Arabic), he told Gulzar to incorporate the word into the tune he had created while touring in Toronto, Canada.^[1] Mayya was the first song recorded for the film.^[2]

Reception

The song received excellent critical reviews, most of them hailing the international appeal of the song. A review on Planetbollywood said, "Mayya is an internationally intoxicating number. Credit must be given to Maryem Toller who brings her vocally rooted renditions to play with Rahman’s Egyptian influenced composition that is everything but controlled! Chinmayee picks up where she had left off earlier, oozing into the piece seamlessly. Keerthi’s invigorating vocal interludes match the power of the composition itself. Gulzar’s words are somewhat along the ‘Beedi’ lines, filled with passion and power. This is a prime example of how good a pan-global sound can make you feel!"^[3] The song, along with its entire soundtrack album has proved a success, staying at the number one spot thirteen weeks after its release.^[4]

Music video

Mallika Sherawat in the music video for "Mayya".

The video was filmed as a seductive item dance by Mallika Sherawat.^[5] This was after a long time that Mallika did such an exotic dance performance in a music video.^[5]

Cover version

The track Mayya was sampled by Serbian artist Jelena Karleuša in her 2008 album JK Revolution. The track "Mala" and its Teatro Mix were credited to Rahman.

See also

Guru (soundtrack)

References

1. ^ "Rahman on how the music of Guru was born". The Telegraph. http://www.telegraphindia.com/1061222/asp/etc/story_7144101.asp. Retrieved 18 February 2007. 
2. ^ http://www.screenindia.com/fullstory.php?content_id=18770
3. ^ http://www.planetbollywood.com/displayReview.php?id=111706093710
4. ^ "Top Ten albums for the week". IndiaFM. http://www.indiafm.com/features/2007/02/16/2259/index.html. Retrieved 18 February 2007. 
5. ^ ^{a b} http://www.naachgaana.com/2006/12/10/mayya-mayya-song-from-guru/