Music Review (Tamil) : 2.0

Music Review (Tamil) : 2.0
Music Composer: A R Rahman

Endhira Logathu Sundariye, as expected highly techno sounds laden track and Rahman's mixing make this one immensely enjoyable as well as the hummable track. Madhan Karky deserves special mention for his imaginative lyrics like Java Roja and invoking every robot parts in the verses. Sid Sriram nails the rendition as usual while Sashaa Tripathi mesmerizes the listener with her whispery brief sound cues.Rajaali Nee Gaali is the techno mass and majestic track for Rajini and Rahman once again ensured that the sounds are groovy enough to clasp the listener's attention. Composer's consistent engaging rhythm structure and the mastery in sound mixing is evident throughout the track. However, the lyrics sound discordant especially with all the grandeur with the sounds. Blaaze, Arjun Chandy and Sid Sriram deliver exceptionally well.

Verdict: Rahman's unique sound mixing and Madhan Karky's imaginative lyrics is sure enough to satiate composer's fans.

My Rating: 8/10

Pick of the album: Endhira Logathu, Rajaali Nee Gaali

Music Review (Malayalam): Chakkaramaavin Kombathu

Music Review (Malayalam): Chakkaramaavin Kombathu
Music Composer: Bijibal

Bijibal delivers simple foot tapping Manjaniyum and the rhyming tune sung effectually by the kids Dev Dutt Bijibal and Sreya Jayadeep. Bijibal brilliantly employed earthy sounds throughout the track. Alanjoriyana brims with the lovely throwback melody which the composer always weaves his magic while the interludes evoke pleasant feeling especially the extensive usage of flute sections. Bijibal aces with his splendid rendition. Bijibal ends the soundtrack with another gorgeous melody backed by Subha's lovely rendition. Loved the way veena and the consistent mesmerizing rhythm employed in the arrangements.

Verdict: Ultrashort soundtrack (less than 10 mins) but immensely likeable work by Bijibal.

My Rating:7.5/10

Pick of the album: Mele Manathu, Alanjoriyana.

Music Review (Telugu): Oxygen

Music Review (Telugu): Oxygen
Music Composer: Yuvan Shankar Raja

Adi Lekka hardly sounds like the Yuvan Shankar Raja music and the composer totally blends with the usual sound cues which are familiar in Thaman or DeviSri Prasad soundtracks. The track, unfortunately, sounds dull and Ramajogayya Sastry's lyrics about the Telugu language being the only highlight in an otherwise boring start to the album.Yuvan easily scores in the synth-dominated melody O Kshanam and Thanks to the lead singers Aishwarya and Deepak for their splendid radiation. Composer kept the rhythm structure simple and though nothing stands out especially in terms of arrangements, neat pleasant melody makes this one listenable till it lasts.

Aakaasam also suffers from the shades of heard before sounds and MLR Karthikeyan's hard-hitting vocals being the highlight of the song while Yuvan splendidly employed the plucked string instruments in the second interlude. Aishwarya provides the splendid support to Karthikeyan and one wish that the tune could have been little more engaging one. Queen of Dhaba as the title and Geetha Madhuri in the credit list easily ticks off everything in the genre of the song one can expect. Yuvan's brass usage aside, the song has little to take away. However, it's a delight to listen Geetha Madhuri's astounding energy level despite the middling tune and hackneyed lyrics by  Srimani. Watch out for danger theme track hardly evokes any interest despite Blaaze in the vocals and the theme track fails to elevate from the mediocre level.

Verdict: Yuvan's much-expected Oxygen turns out to be a downer and the tracks are unremarkable except for the single melody.

My Rating:6.5/10

Pick of the Album: O kshanam, Aakaasam

Music Review (Tamil): Ippadai Vellum

Music Review (Tamil): Ippadai Vellum
Music Composer: Imman

Imman provides the optimistic positive attitude title song for Shreya Goshal and the lady aces it perfectly with minor hiccup during the arousing chorus sections. However, Imman beautifully crafts the background, with the standout Nathan's woodwinds and Saxophone work. Arunraja Kamaraj shines with his aspirational lyrics for this title song. Aadharaa's fangled rendition of Arunraja Kamaraj's verses aside, Godfather Kanmaniye is predictable with very less awe or influencing element in the track. The tune also fails to evoke interest except for the occasional brilliance in the form of Raghavasimhan's solo violin.

Thodra Paakalam verses are tailor-made for Arunraja Kamaraj's vocals but Imman's vocals also work adequately for the pedestrianly composed tune by the composer. Keba Jeremiah's guitar and punchy percussions go well with the energy in the verses but the tune hardly sticks to the listener's mind. The tune reminds some of the Imman's earlier days compositions. Kulebaa Vaa rides mainly on the adequately engaging Kaviraj's Arabian Rhythm and the tune standalone doesn't make quite a cut but still, the overseas singers Kumaresh Kamalakannan and Nalini Krishnan make this one a listenable track till it lasts. One wishes Imman could have done a more imaginative track with this rhythm sound.The theme track is the tweaked upbeat version of the title song with a few intriguing sounds added to get the thrilling effect but makes the lesser impact mainly because of the vocal portions.

Verdict: Imman continues to be pigeonholed with his stock sounds and Ippadai Vellum is not an outlier either.

My Rating:6.5/10

Pick of the Album: Ippadai Vellum Nichayame, Kulebaa Vaa

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

Music Review (Tamil/Malayalam) : Solo

Music Review (Tamil/Malayalam) : Solo
Music Composer: Assorted Composers

Roshomon's buoyant and lively tune has the Russian folk music flavour and Alok Kulkarni's jaunty guitar is undeniably star of the song. The underlying programming by Sreerag Saji brings out the accordion sounds quite effectually. Overall, Prashant Pillai opens this multi-composer soundtrack with a highly infectious stunning track crooned by the string of singers led by Ashwin Gopakumar. Filter coffee selects Jog Raag based classical song Sajan More Ghar Aaye and builds the fantastic atmosphere around it with Swarupa Ananth's brilliant Konnakol and Jhanvi Srimankar's splendid rendition. The unconventional musical structure accompanied by Govind's solo violin cues make this one an engaging song till it lasts. Sooraj S Kurup of Valleem Thetti Pulleem Thetti fame delivers the song of the soundtrack in this multi-composer soundtrack. The classical song crooned in a splendid manner by Renuka Arun after Endaro in Telugu and she aces the classical rendition brilliantly. Hope composers utilize her vocals frequently. Sooraj's minimal sounds in the background accentuate the reverberating vocals.

World of Siva opens up with Masala Coffee's Aal Ayaal and the track is synchronous with the band's signature sounds rooted in Malayalam folk. Sooraj Santosh aces the vocals part as usual while adorning the track with magnificent arrangements topped by Krishnaraj's violin and awesome bass guitar work by Paul Joseph. The song's reprise version is done in a more stylish manner with much emphasis on Preeth P S's guitar strums and Sooraj's vocals. Thaikkudam Bridge reproduced the famous Aigiri Nandini and gave the haunting treatment to the track and the Govind's gloomy rendition and vocal texture gel perfectly with the arrangements. The arrangements turned towards the expected rock genre but the violin and guitar solos make this one easily works despite the overall familiar sound. The track has predominantly the sound of Thaikkudam bridge's latest brilliant album Navarasam. Govind presents his another adapted classical track Shiv Taandav composed by Raghini Bhagwat and the energetic arrangements sung in an effectual manner by Saylee Talwalkar works seamlessly. The drums rhythm and the singer's vocals amalgamate well and make this one wonderful listen.

Madras Kuthu meets the rap in Singa Kutty in the track composed by Sez on the beat. Though the track is less intriguing compared to other tracks in the album, Chinna Ponnu's vocals and Balasubramani's Nadhaswaram keeps the song afloat amidst other sounds.Thoovanam is the conventional mainstream sound in the album composed by Abhinav Bansal and the tune is a cakewalk for Vijay Yesudas. The tune didn't work for me except for the brilliance of the lead singer. Harish Sivaramakrishnan effectually recreated their hit boat song and the pulsating rock fusion easily works and the thittithara is the highlight in this highly effectual song while Agam brilliantly infuses the serene version of boat song in Uyiraagi especially the way Thittithara is incorporated. Shashaa Tripathi gives life to the song with her mellifluous vocals.

Separation is led by Ashitha Ajit's brilliant vocals and Gaurav Godkindi's serene arrangements topped by solo violin intermittently.Karaiyaadhe is another sing-along soft rock song crooned by Siddharth Basrur splendidly. The arrangements are dominated by typical English pop sound but work beautifully till it lasts. You is an English version of Karaiyaadhe and Siddharth owns the song with his pitch-perfect vocals.

Verdict: Extraordinary soundtrack for an anthology film and Bejoy Nambiar extracted another brilliant album from the multiple composers after David.

My Rating:9/10

Pick of the Album: Just listen to the whole Album and you won't regret.

Music Review (Tamil): Nenjil Thunivirunthal

Music Review (Tamil): Nenjil Thunivirunthal
Music Composer: Imman

Yechacha Yechacha  starts with famous Muthu dialogue which has been added solely to justify the title but soon spiral towards typical Imman tune which usually composer reserve for himself but handed over to Jithin Raj in this track. The track has the busy arrangements in the background but nothing sticks out except for the enticing usage of trumpets in the second interlude amidst the gibberish sounds. The mild awkward imitation of rail sound aside, Rail Aaraaro is a neat listen dominated by guitar-laden arrangements and brilliant singing by Shreya Goshal along with current favorite Pradeep Kumar and the improvisations by the singer is phenomenal. Imman kept the interludes also engaging along with the brilliant show by the lead singers.

Imman roped Hariharan to croon the classical tinged track Aram Seyya Virumbu and it's always delight to listen Hariharan's singing. Though the tune lacks instant appeal, the sitar cues throughout the track and the lead singer makes this track enjoyable. Madhan Karky's trendy lyrics and equally fangled rendition by Aditya Rao and Sharanya Gopinath aside, Sophia has very little to offer. The interludes are hardly interesting one while Sharanya Gopinath's thunderous vocals and Karky's lyrics makes this song listenable till it lasts. Aei Arakka's middle Eastern rhythm structure has been heard umpteen number of times and Benny Dayal is able to infuse life to the song with his energetic vocals. The singer able to do justice for both the lyrics and busy orchestration by the composer. Dark Rooster has an intriguing atmospheric soundscape created around it and the theme should go well along with the visuals rather than as the standalone track. Badass Theme music fails to make an impact with the sonorous chant packed in less than one minute and the track has the shades of earlier Suseenthiran films. 

Verdict: Nenjil Thunivirundhal is the weakest album from the composer-director combination and it's high time that Imman should reinvent himself.

My Rating :6/10

Pick of the Album: Rail Aaraaro, Aram Seyya Virumbu