Miscellaneous Listens

Game of Thrones- S06E10 - Light of the Seven:  Season 6 of the epic fantasy series comes to an end and most of the GOT fans going gaga over the curiosity created by the latest episode. The highlight of the final episode is the background score for the trial scene apart from the awestruck twist in the season finale. The haunting score composed by German- Iranian composer Ramin Djawadi and the score starts with grand piano reaches the crescendo with frenzy goosebump-inducing string sections and lovely chorus. The background score along with the breathtaking Cersei's plot makes this one must experience piece for both GOT lovers and music lovers.

Pakkala Nilabadi : Stumbled upon this delightful Karaharapriya based Thiyagaraja Keerthanai rendered with lovely improvisations bringing out the nuances by Haricharan and Navneeth Sundar on the Keys. Ilayaraja's created some wonderful classics based on this Raaga like Poo Malarndhida in Tic Tic Tic.

Ninnai Saranadaindhen- Bharathi : While listening to Raaga based songs, comes back to another familiar moving piece based on the Pantuvarali Raaga and Ilayaraja's Ninnai Saranadaindhen sticks out in my playlist for a while especially for Bombay Jayashree's vocals. Ilayaraja's orchestration with udukkai, flute and lovely strings is also top notch and set the right mood in sync with the blissful classical tune which gives breath to the Bharathi's lyrics.

Medapoompattum Chutti - Karinkunnam 6S : Rahul Raj continues to produce ultra-short soundtrack in 2016 and in each soundtrack there is at least one enjoyable song. Medapoompattum Chutti is the one in Karinkunnam 6s and the song has an easily accessible tune with Najim Arshad aces the vocal portions. Rahul Raj kept the orchestration simple and likeable with flutes and sweeping string sections.Though the song is of less than 3 minutes duration, the listening experience lingers in our mind after the song ends also. Thanks to the ear-pleasing tune and arrangements.

Miscellaneous listens

Yegiraney Yegiraney - Okka Ammayi Thappa: Abhay Jodhpurkar seems to be regular in Mickey J Meyer compositions recently and the young singer handles the typical ear-pleasing tune fabulously along with Ramya Behara. The tune has the shades of various Mickey's compositions, however, the lilting tune and singers make up for those minor issues.

Halli Srihalli -  Mudhugauv - Though the tune is not great as a standalone, the song turns out to be funky listen especially for the Chinmayi's sensual never heard before rendition  (read rarely - Guru's Naan Mutham thinbaval being the only song I can recollect which is similar to this one in her discography). Rahul raj spruces up the average tune with exciting Nadaswaram bit.

Ankhiyon udeek, - Suno: Shilpa Rao's take on the popular Quawwali Ankhiyon Udeek is insanely addictive, partly due to the charming original tune and dominating rock elements in the song. The icing on the cake along with Shilpa's rendition is breathtakingly beautiful esraj solos throughout the song.

Duma Dum - Suno : Shilpa Rao's Suno has another evergreen classic Duma Dum Mast kalandar and the modern variant is absolutely endearing as original. Thanks to the incredible Shilpa Rao and blissful Sharat Chandra Srivastava's violin lending the singer fantastic support. Loved the way the song ends on the musical high where both singing and instruments reach the crescendo.

P.S - Miscellaneous listen is the column where I'll be sharing my thoughts on the favourite song in the album which is not reviewed in my blog.

Music Review (Telugu) :Paathshala

Music Review (Telugu) :Paathshala
Composer: Rahul Raj

Friendship Anthem, templatized drums and guitar dominated rocky tune adeptly supported by Sooraj Santosh and Don Raja Elvis. Merise Merise starts off similar to Alochane vasthane from Oh My friend, nevertheless instantly likeable melody and Rahul did well in vocals without any malayalam slang. Suryodhayam begins with flute and guitar prelude and Nazim sounds good but tune is lacking wit fails to captivate.Freedom Song is another rocky arrangement with pace alters throughout the song and is comparatively better than Friendhip anthem song. Shoonyamai by Nikhil Mathew is a laid-back tune with soft guitar led arrangement is an interesting listen among the other songs.

Verdict: Rahul Raj seems to be following Mickey J Meyer in this Soundtrack and the album sounds better compared to contemporaries Thaman and DSP.

My Rating:7/10

Pick of the Album: Shoonyamai, Freedom Song

You can listen to the songs here.

Music Review : Kadavul Paadhi Mirugam Paadhi

Music Review (Tamil): Kadavul Paadhi Mirugam Paadhi
Composer: Rahul Raj

Naan Indri Naan dhaana with its groovy guitary tune along with Sooraj Santosh energetic singing makes this song interesting listen. Soundtrack's best comes with the vocals of Gayathri Suresh's Enathu ulagil, an engaging tune well supported by arrangements by Rahul raj especially flute portions in the prelude and first interlude. Rahul Raj got the kuthu elements right along with Suchitra in Meenama Meenama, who usually nails these kind of songs at ease. Only the lyrics irks a lot. Beast rock apt to its name rides high on the rocky tune with sprightly done rap portions by Arjun Sasi is also an engaging listen. The dark Theme is a haunting instrumental piece dominated by strings and Piano with spooky vocals and chorus portions.

Verdict : Malayalam film composer Rahul Raj's  tamil debut is not at its best but surely Enathu ulagil and Naan Indri Naan dhaana stays in the charts for long time.

My rating: 7.5/10

Pick of the album: Enathu ulagil, Naan Indri Naan Dhaana