- Anusha

Mazhaiyil Kulitha Malarvanam: Karthik, Anwesha

A grand start reminiscent of the kind played at award ceremonies! But suddenly, two sweet voices emerge and they take over the song completely. Only if you keenly hear can you make out that its Anwesha who is singing and not Shreya Ghoshal.

Imaithuthane: Chinmayi

A melancholic track. Chinmayi sounds different while searching for the spy with her song. The background music is sublime and her voice is lost.

Neeya Neeya: Tippu

Reminds me of the song Suttum Sudarvizhi from the movie Siraichalai. Tippu has tried to take on a serious tone in the song. Wonderful violins in the interludes.

Oru Nila Oru Kulam: Karthik, Shreya Ghoshal

Seems like Karthik has become the current favorite of Vidyasagar. A nice breezy romantic song. Less of orchestral effects in this song gives our ears some rest. Excellent usage of strings in between. The words and the tune blend very well.

Thozha Vaanam Dhooram Illai: Hariharan

You can almost imagine the hero riding on horseback as the visuals when you hear this song for the first time! An airy and brilliant message song. Wonderfully sung by Hariharan and the chorus.

Vidyasagar seems to be on a hit spree! This album has a grandeur associated to it.. Sounds more like a period film’s music, a genre not seen a lot in Tamil film music of the present times. Probably because the story writer is the CM of TN????

My favs: Thozha Vaanam Dhooram Illai, Mazhaiyil Kulitha Malarvanam, Oru Nila Oru Kulam

Rated 8/10

Yaaradhu: Karthik, Suchitra

A peppy melody with Vidyasagar’s stamp all over. Karthik suits the flow of the song and the drums that come in between with Suchitra’s humming gives the song a good old 80′s-ish feel.

Pattamboochi: KK, Rita

After a long time one gets to hear KK’s voice. This is more dancey, though with a melodic base. Both the singers have done their part nicely. The shehnai portions remind of some of the latest Hindi hits.

Sada Sada: Karthik

A fast and racy rendition by Karthik. This song mixes the best of the 80s and the 2000′s, in classic Vidyasagar fashion. Will definitely stay in the charts for sometime.

Step Step: Benny Dayal, Megha

Salsa and Vijay. Need I say more??!! Lets wait for the video to come out. This song will stay on top of the songs for weeks surely.

Vinnai Kaapan: Tippu, Swetha

Finally a message song!! But a pretty racy one at that. And extensive usage of drums has enhanced the impact of the song. Once again the arrangement invokes VS’s older songs like En Ragasiya (Alai) and Vennakkallil (Pattalom – Malayalam). There is a set of lines in between where Tippu seems to miss the beat. But way the singer carries it off subsequently proves that it is supposed to be sung that way. Kudos to Tippu!!

Once again Vidyasagar has proved that he is Mr. Dependable. After a completely subdued soundtrack for Mandhira Punnagai, he creates another out-and-out commercial score in Kaavalan. A sureshot musical hit for Vijay!!

I give it an 8/10!!

My picks [necessarily in the same order ]: Step Step, Yaaradhu, Sada Sada, Vinnai Kaapan

For the first time, I have noticed a song for its music AND ALSO ITS LYRICS. The song starts with tongue twister lyrics. But after 0:42, the song is completely Karthik’s and Shweta’s. Their diction is the backbone for the song. The lyrics are simple but very different. Have not heard such good music in the recent times in Tamil. Vidyasagar has done justice to Arivumathi’s words. There is a set of beats that keep coming through out the song which are pleasing to hear and gives you a feeling that you are traveling some where.. And also the chorus for certain words have matched the feeling of the song.

Some of the lines that I enjoyed:

இந்தக் காதலை நான் அடைய எத்தனை காமம் கடந்து வந்தேன்…
இந்த மௌனத்தை நான் உணர எத்தனை வார்த்தைகள் கடந்து வந்தேன்..
ஊஞ்சல் கேட்டேன் நான் தானே தோள்கள் தந்தாய் நீ தானே..
இந்த உயிரை நான் அடைய எத்தனை உடல்களை கடந்து வந்தேன்..

The song…
Satta Sada Sada – Mandhira Punnagai

The first time I heard, airtel super singer junior participant Oviya sing this song. I loved it, the composition, with a ghazal touch to it. I hunted down and got it from my mom that it was from the yesteryear’s hit Rosappu Ravikkaikaari. Based on Dharmavathi (thanks to a friend for identifyin it!!!), the song is soulful and good to hear when your all by yourself.

Here is the song for you and its video as well:

Listen:
En Ullil Engo

See ‘n’ Hear:

After a long time… M back again… To start again… I choose to review the post-Oscar release of ARR in Tamil… ‘Vinnai Thaandi Varuvaaya’….

Lets go thru each of the song now directly… as much has already spoken about the movie in various forums….

Anbil Avan – Devan Ekambaram, Chinmayi:

A good peppy number by Devan and Chinmayi. Good to hear Devan’s voice after a very long time; he has still not lost his accent. Chinmayi was her usual in the song. At first hearing reminded me of the title song of ‘New’. But on hearing further lost the resemblance.

Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa – Karthik:

The start made me think if ARR got the tune actually right??? Sounded a bit out of the way… As the music builds, everything falls into place. Sounded like a bar song where you can sit quietly in a cozy corner and listen to someone singing to you. Reminded me of yesteryears Maniratnam movies which had such songs for the title cards. All in all nothing special for a Title song!!! I expected something more powerful since the song bore the movie’s name in it……

Kannukkul Kannai – Naresh Iyer:

Tell me what is the instrument that is used in the start of the song? I was baffled when I heard it. Sounded like a cello. The song had a fast pick-up. Yes no denying that. But when you listen to it keenly you can observe that the tune is so much similar to ‘Kannai Katti Kolladhey’ from Iruvar. But slowly moves into a series of known songs to us. Need to take time to list them down though!!!

Omana Penne – Benny Dayal, Kalyani Menon:

Simple and sweet. Will definitely stay in the charts awhile. And to all those boys who have a malayalee girl friend, learn the song, it might be handy!!! Benny rocks with his humming skills. Love the electronically placed Kalyani Menon’s voice and the nadhaswaram that plays alongwith her.

Hosanna – Vijay Prakash, Suzanne, Blaaze

This song has already been review so many times now because of its early release. But still I would like to contribute my views here. Ok I admit it. This song is currently my favorite. Reminds me of Yuvraaj songs everytime I hear it. But then the song surprised me by going forth and back in its beats. Especially Blaaze’s entry is too good and the ‘Hello’ behind is too cute. Suzanne sounds like she is singing out to God!!! So gentle and sweet, her voice!!! The violins building up and the bell in the end are just awesome!!!! My ringtone now…. I hope Gautham has done justice to the picture as well.

Aaoromale – Alphonse:

Ok what am I listening to???? A westernized malayalam song!!!! Man sounded like some typical album artist song…. Good change in the album. I liked it besides it eerie effect in the beginning. And after hearing only classical songs from the land of Kerala, this song was quite a change. The violin usage in between was too good alongwith the guitar strings!!! His humming in the end is soul stirring and gives goosebumps on first hear!!!

Mannipaaya – AR Rahman, Shreya Ghoshal:

Back with Shreya is ARR!!! Lady, its high time you learn the pronunciations better!! The song is so beautifully done, with a pleading tone for pardon!!! Especially the part where he asks ‘Unnai enni eengum idhayathai enna seiven’. Ok surprise element in the song!!!! Listen keenly in the beginning of the second para…. Very soon childern at school will know the 3 (or 2) thirukurals used in the song. Good usage of them!!! ARR made us learn Thiruppavai and now Thirukural!!! A good attempt, but still lacks the magic of ‘Munbe Vaa’.

Overall…. ARR has done his best after the Oscars…. But now he has moved into another circle of music. So his fans tend to expect more. As he agrees in his interviews, he has kept that in mind and given this album. Out of the 7, I loved 3 the best, in the order as below:
1. Omane Penne
2. Hosanna
3. Aaoromale

I also liked the rest, but my pick is the above. Anyways good luck ARR for 2010!!!! Waiting to listen more from you….

Music Director: Ilayaraja

Singers: S.P.Shailaja, K.J.Yesudas

A very delightful movie and this song is no exception in it. Both Kamal and Sridevi look so good together. Everytime I hear this song I have a feeling that the song was written by Mahakavi Bharathiyaar, though its not him. A very classically melodious song…. I love the part in which S.P.Shailaja forgets the lyrics of the song and K.J.Yesudas starts in such a tone thats actually changes the mood of the song from its shy start. The video has Kamal doing some comical acts which go hand in hand with the situation. Any gal would want the guy who comes to see her to render a song like this to her!!!

The video of the song:

Music Director: M.S.Viswanathan

Singers: T.M.Soundararajan, P.B.Sreenivas

A subtle melody sung by two complemetary voices of the yester decades. An amazing blend of their tones, can never be surpassed any male duets in years to come. A slight hint of abheri if I am not mistaken is present in the song. But yes, a definetly evening mood creator, this song of MSV’s!!!

Here is the link to the song….
Pon Ondru Kanden

Music Director: Ilayaraja

Singer: Janaki

Such songs always go unnoticed. Andaal’s imagination of getting married to Lord Krishna is what the song is all about. Janaki in her shrill, but sweet voice has done justice to the words of the song. Based on the Raagamaalika raagam (I failed in my task of identifying each raagam in it!!!), the song explains Andaal’s wish of getting married in a grandeur manner.

Imagine!!! Having a hundred elephants beside the girl, while she walks gracefully towards the aisle to get married to her guy…. Poor guy!!!

On a serious note, a great song for the correct moment…

Here is the link to the song…

VaaranamAayiram_Raagamaalika

Music Director: Maragadhamani

Singers: S.P.Balasubrahmanyan, Sandhya

Kreem, yesteryear’s Maragadhamani has aptly chosen the raagam, Kaapi to suit the mood of the situation. The picturisation is a very nice and subtle one in which Mamooty and Banu Priya spend the whole night on the phone talking to each other (which is very common for lovers these days!!!). The song is like a conversation between two people. Veteran singer SPB alongwith Sandhya (whose voice sounds like P.Susheela!!!) has given the perfect emotions. To mark the end of THEIR day (actually the start of the day…), the Doordarshan theme is clubbed to the song. The rhythm of the song puts you off to a sound sleep. A must hear for all those tired souls…….

The song…

SangeethaSwarangal