Saturday, August 25, 2018

Music Review (Tamil): Adangathey

Music Review (Tamil): Adangathey
Music Composer: GV Prakash Kumar

Composers continue to utilize Arunraja Kamaraj's vocals in a single dimension and Adangathey's title track also strictly follows the tried and tested route. The tune is more like conversational and the jarring vocals of the Arunraja don't help either and Arunraj as a lyricist tries to score points with the Tamil's jingoism.Yaaradi Neril Thondrum's sprawling string sections along with Sathyaprakash's rendition works like charm and one can easily mistake him as GV Prakash if not for the credit list along with the track. Though the tune reminds of GV Prakash's earlier compositions, the soothing melody along with the teasing string solos especially in the interludes make this one an enjoyable track.

Om Shiva Om is strictly background song and the track may work well along with the visuals. GV Prakash kept the arrangements taut and raw especially with the edakka sounds and Vijay Prakash's rustic vocal which resonates similar to ritual chants. The undeniable highlight of this track is a racy sitar solo towards the end.Sindhuri Vishal handles the gorgeous semi- classical Nee indri Naana very well while GV Prakash adorns the track with the gentle Tabla rhythm in the background while mellow strings blend beautifully with the nisa nisa hook. The track turns into much engaging one with the Veena and violin interplay amps up the tune very well.

GV Prakash delivered his best song in the soundtrack to visually challenged Jyothi and the soulful tune is elevated by the singer's powerful vocals. The serene tune is complemented by the wonderful arrangements topped by guitar played with the Carnatic twist in the interludes. Siva Ganga's optimistic lyrics gets recited by the suitable singer makes this one immensely enjoyable even though song lasts for two minutes.Composer makes up for the short Nilavin Niramum Vannam with another blissful two minutes version of the same tune with different lyrics and arrangements. Santosh also croons the song effectually and the inherent beauty of the tune makes one to instantly fall in love with the song. The minimal arrangements with the alluring flute solos in the interlude make this one an instant winner.GV Prakash scores the curiously titled instrumental Celebration of love failure and the song is indeed sounds festive but the track is pretty much pedestrian track which reminds us of the composer's earlier compositions.

Verdict: GV Prakash brings back his mojo as a composer after a long time and the melody tracks in Adangathey comes together beautifully.

My Rating: 7.75/10

Pick of the Album: Nilavin Niramum Vannam/Nilathil Nadakkum, Nee Indri Naana, Yaaradi

P.S You can listen to the songs in Youtube.
 

 

 

Friday, August 24, 2018

Music Review (Tamil): 96

Music Review (Tamil): 96
Music Composer: Govind Vasantha

Anthaathi starts as a breezy note and soon turns into the heady rock mix towards the charanam portions while building up the tranquillizing rhythms in the backdrop of Bhadra Rajin's blissful Carnatic Panjavarna Bootham portions. Loved the manner Govind brought in Kaadhale Kaadhale hook towards the end of the song before C Prem Kumar's poem recital begins. Karthik Netha's lyrics about the immortality of love adds another beautiful layer to the song especially with the exquisitely carved out words like prathyega Kaadhal and ithyadhi Kaadhal. 

The Life of Ram's guitar-laden soundscape and the brilliant bass line is a delight to listen. Pradeep Kumar brilliantly evocates missed out love and once can easily picture Vijay Sethupathi's feelings after meeting his love after a long time. Karthik Netha scores easily with the brilliant lyrics depicting the delayed realisation of love. Govind brings out his best with the violin solos in the interludes. Gowri TP of super singer fame croons the minimally arranged effective haunting short piece Yean and the lead singer along with the strings sections lingers in the listener's mind even after the song ends. The minimal keys and the rousing high pitch portions make this one compelling listen. The minute-long extended prelude where Naveen's nifty bass line and guitar strums pave way for the Chinmayi's splendid rendition of Vasantha Kaalangal. The serene minimal soundscape turns out to be the astounding success for the track and the unconventional tune which Chinmayi aces like a pro. 

In Thaabangale also Mithun Raj's guitar work is the show stopper especially don't miss out the guitar played with the Carnatic twist in the first interlude while Uma Devi's wonderful lyrics interplayed between Chinmayi and Pradeep Kumar in an exceptional manner. The charanam portion instantly takes me back to Kabali's Vaanam Paarthen another song depicting the searching and longing for love coincidentally crooned by unimitable Pradeep Kumar. If Mithun Raj owns the Vasantha Kaalangal and Thaabangale, then Rajesh Vaidya owns the Iravingu Theevai while Govind's Jazz tinged background which reaches crescendo towards the end along with Pradeep Kumar vocals. The pièce de résistance of the soundtrack comes in two versions of Kadhale Kadhale, the atmospheric sounds teleport the listeners in the midst of the forest with Govind's violin to show us the way among the blissful natural soundscape. Kalani Menon's punchy vocals bring out another dimension to this soulful track of the album.

Verdict: 96 is a musical masterpiece by Govind Vasantha of  Thaikkudam bridge fame and the composer brings out the beautiful uncoventional tunes with the help of  two exceptional singers crooning the beautiful lyrics by Uma devi and Karthik Netha. 

My Rating: 9/10

Pick of the Album: Whole Soundtrack!!

P.S You can listen to the soundtrack in Saavn.

 

Thursday, August 23, 2018

Music Review (Tamil): Kanaa

Music Review (Tamil): Kanaa
Music Composer: Dhibu Ninan Thomas


Sivakarthikeyan's daughter Aaradhana debut as a singer along with him in Vaayadi Petha Pulla and he sounds surprisingly brilliant. The highlight of the song is undeniably Vaikom Vijayalakshmi's singing and the singer aces especially the improvisations in the charanam portions while Vishnu Vijay's flute plays along as another singer throughout the song.Dhibu Ninan Thomas churned out a winner in Oonjala Oonjala with the anthemic hard rock soundscape mixed with the semi classical twist to the tune. Sid Sriram displayed his prowess especially with the improvisations and the singer aces the high pitch portions effortlessly as usual while Niranjana Ramanan lends a fabulous support with her brilliant sargams interplayed smoothly along with Sid's vocals.

Kanna En Kannazhage's serene tune and the atmospheric sound created by the composer makes it a worthy listen. The tune prods along the Santosh Narayanan territory and though the tune is less effective, the arrangements by the composer are top notch. Saroja's Dilruba and the underplayed Macedonian Symphonic Orchestra's string section is a delight to listen.Othayadi Paathayila's tune doesn't come across as an instant catchy one despite backed by Anirudh Ravichander. However, the anu Pallavi portions and Vishnu Vijay's flute especially towards the end along with Pandit S Ballesh's Shenai's portions make this song to sail through.Savaal is another alluringly done package especially the composer provides the gloomy soundscape to the song with the haunting rhythm and Ganapathi excellent Kanjira and Edakka mix. Though Arunraja Kamaraj's rap portions are middling one, composer scores in the vocal parts especially the improvisations and the catchy Savaal hook.

Verdict: Dhibu Ninan Thomas ups his ante in his sophomore album with the excellent mix of songs where the composer's arrangements are top notch throughout the album.

My Rating: 7.5/10

Pick of the Album:  Oonjala Oonjala, Kanne En Kannazhage, Savaal 

P.S You can listen to the songs in Saavn.


 

Monday, August 20, 2018

Music Review (Tamil): 60 Vayadhu Maaniram

Music Review (Tamil): 60 Vayadhu Maaniram
Music Composer: Ilayaraja


Iraivanai Thedi is essentially Raja song where the haunting strings in the arrangements and Ilayaraja's vocals works effortlessly mainly because of the beautiful tune accompanied by wonderful interludes. In Thedi Thedi, Raja once again weilds his magic with the synth dominated arrangements while Vibhavari debuts in Tamil after brilliant two songs for Ilayaraja in the Telugu album Abbayitho Ammayi and she aces the tune effectually. The interludes are vintage Raja sounds which soothes the listeners. Naalum Naalum is the album's weakest one where Monali Thakur's questionable diction distracts the listener despite the buoyant soundscape given by Raja with the chorus and guitar strums.

Verdict: Ilayaraja's music for 60 Vayadhu Maaniram works sufficiently but Charan Raj's Kannada version of the album sounds much better.

My Rating:7.5/10

Pick of the Album: IraivanaiThedi, Thedi Thedi. 

P.S You can listen to the songs in Youtube.

Music Review (Telugu): Shailaja Reddy Alludu

Music Review (Telugu): Shailaja Reddy Alludu
Music Composer: Gopi Sundar


Anu baby is a passable song where Krishna Kanth's lyrics sound to be misfit one for the tune especially 'Anu bomb', Magishasura marthini hook. However, Gopi Sundar keeps the song afloat with huge support from Suresh Parameshwar's guitar work. Gopi Sundar reuses his Koyikode tribute to the title song with more punchy Sathyavathi (Mangli) vocals and the buoyant tune is an easy winner. Gopi Sundar adorned the song with an engaging foot-tapping arrangements. In Egiregire, Sid Sriram's vocals continuous to be out of place especially his diction and the tune is not Inkem Inkem Kaavale to overcome these minor grouses in the lead singer's vocals. However, Gopi turns the arrangements into an awesome one with the atmospheric breezy flavour accentuated by Josy Alapy's flute solos which instantly makes the listener also to fly along with lyrics. Pelli Pandhiri is another easy winner from Gopi and the composer beautifully segues the title song musical cues in the prelude and interludes and also in Charanam portions. The traditional Chenda rhythm and Vijay Yesudas's brilliant vocals work to its song's favour. Thanu Vethukini is a listenable melody in Satya Yamini's vocals and despite the pleasant tune, composer's arrangements with flute and Francis Xavier's violin solo in the second interludes steals the show. Gold Rangu Pilla (surprisingly released only in Saavn) is a typical Telugu commercial movie friendly mass track which doesn't work as a standalone track.

Verdict: Maruthi Dasari's reunion with Gopi Sundar in Shailaja Reddy Alludu is rewarding enough, although the tracks didn't reach the Bhale Bhale Magadivoy's high.

My Rating: 8/10

Pick of the Album: Shailaja Reddy Alludu, Pelli Pandhiri, Egiregire 

P.S You can listen to the songs in Saavn
 

Friday, August 10, 2018

Music Review (Tamil): Aan Devathai

Music Review (Tamil): Aan Devathai
Music Composer: Ghibran

NigaraThan Nigara is easily identifiable as Ghibran's musical with the wonderful layering in the arrangements and the haunting ode to fatherhood makes this one an instantly lovable song. The sprawling interludes with wonderful Subramanium's veenai solos along with Vineeth Srinivasan's brilliant rendition easily come as the best song in the soundtrack. In Malarin Narumananm, Ghibran plays along with his well known Muslim song rhythm and though the tune has the very familiar vibe, the track is a soothing listen from the composer. Riyaz, Yazin Nizar and Aravind Srinivas excel in crooning the Kaviko Abdul Rahman's verses about communal harmony.  Ghibran easily churned out another winner in Pesugindren Pesugindren and once again the composer steals the show with his stunning arrangements. The mild techno rhythms tags along with Balaji's soulful violin bits in the interludes. On top of all the awesomeness in the track, Chaitra Ambadipudi debuts in her first Tamil track and she aces the rendition as always. The only track which sounds like a misplaced one in the album is Rottu Kadai Party where Ghibran tries his luck with kuthu but the track is hardly an engaging one despite the adequate vocals by Gold Devaraj and Jacqueline Mary. Ghibran ends the soundtrack with the soulful theme track where Balaji's violin evocates the emotions perfectly and the niche touch in the ending makes one hit the repeat button.

Verdict: Aan Devathai is another short soundtrack from Ghibran but the composer continues to showcase his brilliance and churns out another winner irrespective of the scope for the music in the movie.

My Rating: 8/10

Pick of the Album: Nigara Than Nigara, Pesugindren Pesugindren, Theme track

P.S You can listen to the songs in Saavn


Saturday, August 4, 2018

Music Review (Tamil): Seemaraja

Music Review (Tamil): Seemaraja
Music Composer: Imman

Vaaren Vaaren Seemaraja is Imman's trademark regular high octane folk song with loud percussions as the rhythm drives the song and mass-friendly lyrics thrown to give Sivakarthikeyan huge opening number. The tune wise, the track is the strictly perfunctory number which Imman repeating tirelessly while Diwakar's lively singing matches the song's tone.OnnaVitta Yaarum Yenakilla duet comes in two versions crooned by Sathyaprakash and Sean Roldan while Imman retains Shreya in both. The tune and rhythm flash Imman name from start till end, however, the the breezy melody works well despite the familiarity. The undeniable highlight apart from the singers in perfect form is Punya Srinivas's violin solos competing with konnokol chants in the second interlude.

A Late night Walk with Veena takes me instantly to Kumki's Lady and the violin. OnnaVitta Yaarum Yenakilla's instrumental veena version works much better than the vocals version and it is a great delight to listen to Punya Srinivas dazzling show.Varum Aana Varaathu joins into the list of Imman's another slightly tweaked version of his own songs with average lyrics. The charanam portions work well more than the bland Pallavi portions and also Imman spruces up the proceedings with the interesting arrangements dominated by brass sections and oboe in the interludes and the only grouse is being just Vandana Srinivasan relegated to a minor bit.Paraak Paraak sarts with the grand magnificent orchestration and soon treads into Imman's percussion show. Imman introduced the Vijay TV Super Singer title winner Senthil Ganesh to the mainstream music. The tune is typical Imman's and the track has very little to offer with respect to novelty or catchiness factor.Machakanni's elegant melody works great and Imman's arrangements are top notch especially with the classical touch in the interludes. Though the tabla rhythm is the tried and tested one, Imman's beautiful tune and the arrangements come together as a neat listenable song.Imman ends the soundtrack with the Seemaraja swag which is mass friendly and may work well with the visuals rather than as a song in the soundtrack.

Verdict: Imman stays safe by playing to the gallery, the tried and tested tunes by Imman works sufficiently and serves the purpose.

My Rating:7/10

Pick of the Album: A late night walk with Veena, Machakanni, Onnavitta Yaarum Enakilla

P>S you can liten to the songs in Saavn