Music Review (Tamil): Pon Manickavel

Music Review (Tamil): Pon Manickavel
Music Composer: Imman

Imman gives a wonderful start to the album with the unusual tune for Uthira Uthira with the shades of Ding Dong Kovil mani. Shreya Goshal and Imman combination hardly goes wrong and Uthira Uthira is no exception. The sensual rendition by Shreya and Imman's tune makes this one an enjoyable listen while Karky impresses with the unique lyrics. Sreekanth Hariharan and Maria Roe Vincent ably support while Prakash Hariharan's mandolin in the interludes deserves special mention. Jittaan Jittaan Jinukku is the dance number while the tune is typical Imman number which rides mainly on the thumping rhythm structure. Shika Prabhakaran's exceptional singing helps the hackneyed tune while GKB's off-putting lyrics are the sore point in an otherwise listenable tune.

Bongu Bongu also rides on the Imman's stock tune and structure dominated by the folk sounds with ample support from Kaviraj's percussion. However, the tune falters despite the gripping lyrics from Kabilan while Thiagaraja Subramaniam's rendition stays true to the spirit of the song as well as lyrics. Magaraasaney tune comes in two versions with slight modifications in Viveka's lyrics about father-daughter bond rendered by Srinivas after a long time for the male version and by Varsha Renjith for the female version. The affecting tune is backed by serene orchestration and Imman employed Devi's veena effectively. Both Srinivas and Varsha aces the calming tune effectually despite the tune doesn't match up to the composer's earlier hit Kannana Kanney.Imman ends the vocal tracks of the album with the motivational number Vizhuvathum Ezhuvathum. Though the tune has nothing remarkable to offer, Ashwin Sharma's rendition and Imman's pleasant arrangements make this one an enjoyable listen till it ends. Pon Manickavel's theme sounds fit to the genre of cop thriller with intrigue and mystery. The track features splendid work on the Electric guitar riffs from Keba Jeremiah and Manoj Kumar's violin despite the voiceovers lacks the punch required for the theme track.

Verdict: Imman strictly adheres to his loyal soundscape with a couple of tracks and superior vocals salvage the album.

My Rating: 7/10

Pick of the album: Uthira Uthira, Magaraasaney

P.S You can listen to the soundtrack in Jiosaavn. The edited version of the review is published in Moviecrow.

Music Review (Tamil): Lakshmi

Music Review (Tamil): Lakshmi
Music Composer: Sam CS

Morakka Matrakka's comes off as a cheerful dance song shines in Uthra Unnikrishnan's vocals and Madhan Karky's smart wordplay. Sam CS engages the song with peppy arrangements and transitioned into local kuthu towards the end seamlessly.Sam CS churns out another easy winner in Aala Aala and it's a delight to listen Saindhavi and GV Prakash Kumar's vocals after a long hiatus. Chennai Strings and Cochin strings orchestra in the backdrop gives the sprawling dreamy soundscape especially when the fabulous string sections reaches crescendo towards the end.

Pappara Pappaa is the standard massy dance song with kuthu flavour and the pedestrian rhythm structure accompanied by tiresome percussions didn't help the song either. Praniti ably delivered the song in the vocal front but the song has very less to offer apart from the nifty work by Keba Jeremiah's in the guitar which gets overridden by the thumping percussions. Dreamy Chellama's Pallavi evokes Raja Rani's chillena but the track suffers from the pretty standard tune and forgettable arrangements. Saindhavi's vocals being the solo highlight of this techno laden track which fails to engage the listener. Nilladhey Nilladhey fares really well despite the soundscape is tailor-made for the motivational song which benefits largely from the Keba Jeremiah's guitar work and Sathyaprakash's superlative singing. The haunting soundscape along with the strains of Middle eastern flavour in the singer's vocals makes this one works.

Iraiva Iraiva is the racy angst track which easily reminds us of the similar type of compositions in Sangamam and Naadodigal. Sam CS's singing being the only takeaway from this standard and the track feels long and droning despite the energetic outlook.The instrumental track Rhythm of dance may work well along with the visuals but the mishmash of rap, techno sounds and Jecin George's guitar riffs comes across as the hodgepodge sound mix which fails to gives the fruitful results.

Verdict: Sam CS's score for the dance musical film works partially and the dance tracks didn't work as expected despite occasional brilliance in terms of arrangements.

My Rating: 7.5/10

Pick of the Album: Ala Ala, Morakka Mattraka, Nilladhey Nilladhey

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