Music Review (Telugu): Geetha Govindam
Music Composer: Gopi Sundar
The song Inkem Inkem Kaavale needs no introduction and the song rules all the Telugu charts. Gopi Sundar brings his mettle with the ultra likeable tune and Sid Sriram easily steals our heart with his impeccable singing. The tune and the arrangements come together brilliantly and breathe life to the track and the classical touches with the Biju's Veena in the second interlude and Gopi's rhythm structure and guitar riffs make this one an easy winner in the soundtrack.Chinmayi's association with Gopi Sundar in the past always does wonders and though Yenti Yenti takes its own time to catch up with the listeners, Chinmayi's singing makes one easily fall in love with the song. The track's techno rhythm gives way to the wonderful classical Sargam in the second interlude by an uncredited singer. The surprising title hooks and it's associated crescendo's works well with the track.
Gopi Sundar roped Sid Sriram for another classically inclined song with the Srimani's beautiful lyrics welcoming the bride to the family. Composer expectedly employed the brilliant concoction of Gopi's Nadhaswaram and celebratory percussions. Though Sid Sriram's diction is questionable at few places, Gopi Sundar's tune and arrangements have enough reasons to love.What the life is the only song misplaced in an album where Vijay Devarakonda's heavily processed vocals sound too amateurish and the tune is completely perfunctory and casual one from the composer. The song rides mainly on the Vijay Devarakonda's factor and above average interludes.Gopi Sundar ends the soundtrack with the mandatory melancholy Kanureppala Kaalam and the track is passable without anything extraordinary to offer. Gopi Sundar adequately handles the minimally arranged tune.
Verdict: Gopi Sundar regains his mojo partially with Geetha Govindam and the three solid tracks from the composer topped by Inkem Inkem Kaavale.
My Rating:7.5/10
Pick of the Album: Inkem Inkem Kaavaale, Vachindama, Yenti Yenti
P.S You can listen to the songs in Gaana.
Music Review (Tamil): Annanukku Jey
Music Composer: Arrol Correli
Em Peru Matta's hard rock enthusiastic soundscape easily keeps the listeners on the hook from the prelude to ending while Keba Jeremiah, Stevie and Josh's Electric guitar riffs being the undeniable highlight of this manic track. Emcee Jasz and Stevie ace the singing part retaining the energy of the song throughout, Though the end with Ananukku Jay sounds a little bit jarring, the associated hard rock sounds make one swag.Maane Theney's tune doesn't work much, but the arrangements by the composer are an intriguing mix switching from loung'ish sound to enthusiastic brass sounds topped by MSV Raja's clarinet and Babu's trumpet. Raj Kumar's lyrics are the delight to listen which invokes from Ponds powder to Sticker Pottu while Velmurugan and Lakshmi Pradeep nail the vocals part effortlessly.The soundtrack's best goes to Mayakkuraane, splendid mesmerising jazz track and Andrea Jeremiah's dreamy vocals elevate the song to another level. Arrol Corelli's nifty arrangements come together as a lovely listen especially MSV Raja's sax and clarinet throughout the song. Mohammad Noor's drums have it's rhythm on its own which gels well with the main tune beautifully.
Arrol Correli's Anjaa Nenjane sounds more to be of Santosh's composition where the composer splendidly infuses the jazzy undertone to the main folk tune. Though the tune falls on the flipside, the arrangements make the listeners nod along with the track where the tune is tailor-made for Anthony Daasan.Thaaru Maara is another enticing composition where the tune is questionable but once again composer is top notch with respect to the idea of brilliantly mixing the Gaana with the faux waltzy tune and with Deva behind the vocals, the tune easily transitions to full-fledged Gaana with ample support from the lovely accordion mix throughout.Satti Melam Gaana credited as the traditional gaana composed by Gaana Bala and the song stays true to the genre but the track falls short as a standalone song. Mersal Illai is another song which doesn't work as a song in the soundtrack but may come up more cohesively with visuals. Theme of Ananukku Jey is truly Arrol's musical sense with the haunting tone accompanied by sprawling strings section and the tinge of Jazz drums.
Verdict: Arrol Correli confidently delivered the full-fledged delightful soundtrack for a political comedy and the classy jazz undertone to the compositions makes one love the album more.
My Rating:7.5/10
Pick of the Album: Mayakkuraane, Em Peru Matta, Anjaa Nenjane
P.S You can listen to the songs in Saavn.
Music Review (Tamil): Saamy Square
Music Composer: DeviSri Prasad
Athiroobaney is the more mellowed version of DSP's usual tune with the tinge of Harris to the proceedings especially in the interludes strings section by Chennai Strings which gives a nod to Ival Ulaga Azhagiya. Nevertheless, the song is a beautiful and enjoyable listen in the vocals of M M Manasi and Viveka's lyrics. Punya Srinivas owns the second interlude with the lovely Veena solo caressed by Nathan's sax in the Charanam. Molagapodiye is a passable folk song but the catchiness factor is missing despite the effectual vocals by Sanjith Hegde and Rita. The undeniable highlight in the song is the usage of Banjo in the second interlude which gives the much necessary high to the song which otherwise is a perfunctory casual song fails to reach the high of Kalyanam thaan from the Saamy.
Darnaka with its absurd lyrics in the prelude doesn't start off in a promising note and the song further descends into highly annoying templated song combined with the silly lyrics doesn't help the song in any manner. Anthony Daasan and Benny Dayal's energetic rendition alone cannot salvage this kuthu track.The lyrics get much worse with the Puthu metro Rail and the DSP's stock tune continues to be an appalling listen. DSP made auto tuned Vikram and Keerthy Suresh's vocals presentable but the song fails to elevate from the mediocre level especially because of the passable lyrics and perfunctory tune. The soundtrack ends on a positive note with the melancholy number Amma Amma which works considerably better than the other songs in the soundtrack. The tune gets benefit from the serene minimal composition and earnest rendition by ever-reliable Karthik. DSP kept the arrangements neat and simple to accentuate the tone of the song.
Verdict: DSP scores in two melodies and the remaining tracks are completely forgettable affair from the composer. The soundtrack falls light year away from the memorable hit soundtrack provided by Harris for its prequel.
My Rating: 6.5/10
Pick of the Album: Adhiroobaney, Amma Amma
P.S You can listen to the songs in Saavn.
Music Review (Telugu) : Srinivasa Kalyanam
Music Composer: Mickey J Meyer
Kalyana Vaibhogam has Mickey J Meyer's stamp all over it and the song is filled with serene blissful semi classical tinge associated with it. The track is in the lines of the composer's hit songs in Seethama Vaakitlo and many other songs. The tune is a cakewalk for the veteran S P Balasubramaniam and the singer aces the classical song in a splendid manner. The climax version of the song is essentially the same one with different lyrics indicating the protagonist joins hands with his lover. Ekkada Nuvvunte is a typical Telugu with a load of DSP flavour to it and the song mainly rides on the energetic rendition of Dhanunjay. Ithadena benefits largely from the saccharine filled vocals of Shreya Goshal and Mickey J Meyer ably churn out the pleasant ear-friendly tune although the track has very little to offer in terms of novelty and catchy factor. Modalaudham is easily the catchy song in the album and the peppy outlook of the tune along with Sunitha and Anurag Kulkarni's fabulous vocals makes this one an enjoyable track till it lasts. Mickey J Meyer churned out another lively jazz track, Something Something ga loaded with the buoyant arrangements and superbly sung by Anurag Kulkarni and Shravana Bharghavi. Though the dhol mix and the percussion-laden second interlude is a minor blip in an otherwise enjoyable track from Mickey J Meyer. Vinavamma Toorupu Chukka is another trademark Mickey's song which reminds me of the composer's score in Brahmotsavam. Nevertheless, the mesmerising folk tune is a lovely listen in Sunitha's vocals.
Verdict: Mickey J Meyer delivers another enjoyable set of melodies for Vegesna Satish after Sathamanam Bhavati. Though consistently confined towards the composer's predictable soundscape, the tracks are enjoyable.
My Rating: 7.5/10
Pick of the album: Kalyanam Vaibhogam, Vinavamma Toorupu Chukka, Modalaudham
P.S You can listen to the songs in Saavn.
Music Review (Tamil): Peranbu
Music Composer: Yuvan Shankar Raja
Dhooramai, guitar laden track with the minimal caressing orchestration adorned by Vairamuthu's lovely optimistic poetic verses makes one fall in love with this song even more. Yuvan Shankar Raja aces in the arrangemnets and the stunning guitar riffs makes this one an absolute delight to listen. Vijay Yesudas lifts the song to another level with his earnest rendition. Anbe Anbin's claps and the slightly buoyant arrangements with the intriguing haunting undertone is typical Ram number. Karthik aces the singing part crooning Sumathi Ram's verses. The song of the soundtrack, Vaan Thooral goes to Sriram Parthasarathy who crooned Anandha Yaazhai from Ram's Thanga meenkal. The consistent thrumming rhythm accompanied by the sobering tune and Yuvan beautifully transition to classical tabla bit followed by Sriram's wonderful sargams. Though Sriram's vocals didn't work completely, Vairamuthu's lyrics and a beautiful semi-classical tune from Yuvan makes this one an easily best song in the soundtrack. The tenderness in the Sethu Pochu manasu's composition reminds me of the Ilayaraja's Bharathi soundtrack and once again Yuvan unweilded a gorgeous arrangemnets featuring lovely veena interludes and ghatam rhythm. The minimal arrangements highlight the Madhu Iyer's effectual vocals in a splendid manner.
Verdict: Peranbu is a neat soundtrack filled with lovable tunes where the minimal arrangements and the poetic verses elevate the overall mood of the soundtrack. Ram continues to extract the best work from Yuvan.
My Rating: 8.5/10
Pick of the Album: Vaan Thooral, Dhooramai, Sethu Pochu Manasu
P>S you can listen to the songs in Youtube.
Music Review (Tamil): Kolamaavu Kokila
Music Composer: Anirudh Ravichander
Edhuvaraiyo benefits largely from the throaty vocals of Sean Roldan and Anirudh aces the loungi'sh trippy synth-laden arrangements. The laidback arrangements and the Gautham Vasudev Menon's voice over makes this track immensely lovable and the anupallavi portion in the Sean Roldan's vocals is a lovely stuff from the composer. Anirudh returns to his forte in Kalyana Vayasau, an immensely catchy, conversational song which becomes a rage for the visuals. Sivakarthikeyan's relatable lyrics and the Anirudh's arrangements do wonders for the song. The track features brilliant sound mixing and the synth sounds especially in the interludes.
Orey Oru, guitar-laden minimally arranged melody sung effectually by Anirudh and the composer brilliantly overlaid the dreamy vocals of Jonita Gandhi and his own vocals. Composer kept the arrangements simple and dominated by Keba Jeremiah's guitar work while the charanam portions have an uncanny resemblance to the composer's best work Naanum Rowdy thaan. Anirudh unleashes his imaginative crazy mix in Kabiskabaa Coco which starts off with the 80's synth prelude but soon dwells into an arresting mix of gibberish sounds in Arunraja Kamaraj's vocals.Khaarem Kamlakhar's flute portions and brilliant sound mixing makes this one an highly engaging and brilliantly done track in recent times.Thittam Poda Theriyala suffers from the overdose of Anirudh's vocals all over the album but tune wise the track reminds us of the composer's Telugu debut Agnyathavaasi's Gaali Vaaluga. Apart from the engaging tune, the track features the solid Kishore's Sitar interlude. Vijay Yesudas joins with Arunraja Kamaraj in an another insanely done mix Gun in Kadhal and the track's upbeat outlook makes this short track easily accessible.
Verdict: Anirudh Ravichander's knack for delivering catchy and immensely enjoyable tracks continue in Kolamaavu Kokila.
My Rating: 8.5/10
Pick of the album: Kalyana Vayasu, Edhuvaraiyo, Kabiskabaa Coco, Orey Oru
P.S You can listen to the songs in Saavn.
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.
