Sunday, July 28, 2019

Music Review (Tamil): Kennedy Club

Music Review (Tamil): Kennedy Club
Music Composer: Imman


Though Kabbadi Kabbadi screams on the face that Imman is behind the score, the track works largely thanks to Resmi Sateesh who sang the powerful song in the Malayalam film Urumi earlier. Suriya Badrinath and Srinidhi ably support her. The arrangements are typical Imman forte where the punching rhythm which reminds of the composer's earlier songs. The male version of the song is largely the same except for the Deepak's vocal and Viveka's lyrics. Comparatively, the female version works much better because of the superlative singing. Unnaale Unnaaley Mudiyadhendral's is significantly different from the usual tone one can hear for the motivational track if one goes by the lyrics of Viveka. Vijay Yesudas's earnest singing and the splendid usage of Seenu's stringed instruments in the second interlude are the highlights in an otherwise prosaic tune churned out by Imman.

Imman brings in another North Indian singer Keerthi Sagathia to Kollywood for Mattakku Mattakku and he manages to deliver the tune with the occasional slip up in the diction. The tune is largely pedestrian one rides mainly on the vigorous fast rhythm. The arrangements are overdone which comes across as the loud song and the title hook is so Hindi'ish for the Tamil song. Vaaraan  unna Vachiseyya Poraan is another garish track with the band of singers Santosh Hariharan, Shenbagaraj, Vignesh Narayanan and Deepak. Manoj's solo violin bits got wasted amidst the cacophonous soundscape and Viveka's equally threatening lyrics especially Mavane Mavane part. Imman ends the soundtrack with another motivational track Vali Thaangidum Vaazhkai crooned by Keerthi Sagathia. The short duration of the track and the pretty much functional arrangements doesn't work to its favour.

Verdict: Imman's latest soundtrack is unwarrantedly loud and filled with largely flashy motivational tracks without any finesse in the tunes.

My Rating: 6.5/10

Pick of the Album: Kabaddi Kabaddi (Female version)

P.S The edited version of the review is published in Moviecrow.

Friday, July 26, 2019

Music Review (Tamil/Telugu): Dear Comrade

Music Review (Tamil/Telugu): Dear Comrade
Music Composer: Justin Prabhakaran

Comrade Anthem rides mainly on the effective chorus and the rap portions but the soundscape treads the familiar territory. Vijay Sethupathi aces the rendition while In Telugu Vijay Devarakonda himself renders the portion which works much better. Azhaipaaya written and sung by the composer itself sounds more like Justin streamlines his inner Rahman in his vocals. The off-colour singing in the high pitch portions is made up by the effective thematic soundscape adorned with the hypnotic rhythms and wonderful Esraj solos by Seenu.  In Telugu, Kaala Bairava does wonders with his brilliant rendition.

The song of the soundtrack and undeniably one of the best song of the year is Pularaadha and the magical lyrics of tender love is conveyed brilliantly by Karthick Netha especially the lyrics goes as Nanaiyaadha Nizhalai Pole Yengum Kaadhale. Sid Sriram complements the lyrics with his spellbinding rendition and the improvisations by the singer in the Charanam portions are a delight to listen. The atmospheric sounds linger even after the song ends especially the Pularaadha hook and Aishwarya Ravichandran shines in the second half. Justin extends the mood of the Pularaadha to Aagaasa Veedu kattum with once again backed by Karthick Netha's poetic lyrics. Justin's minimal arrangements dominated by guitar strums and the lovely jathi undertones. Overall the arrangements are remarkable especially when it enhances the beauty of the lyrics multi-fold.

Naan Varuven's gloomy backdrop is heralded by the wonderfully done Sebastian's keys in the prelude and the rest is taken care by Sathya Prakash. Despite the cheerless start, the tune beautifully turns around in the first interlude with the wonderful usage of ukulele and Pipa. Aishwarya Ravichandran delivers the catchy Va Vaa hook in Tamil whereas Chinmayi aces in all the other languages. Justin blends the charming Malayalam verses in the second interlude. Naresh Iyer croons the celebratory Dosthe Takkaru it's a delight to listen to his vocals after a long time. Viveka throws in few nostalgic funny lyrics in this pleasing track. Justin conceives much interesting marriage song Gira Gira and the track benefits largely from the Mohana Bhogaraju/Yamini Ghantasala's unique vocals. Once again Karthik Netha surprises the listeners with his lyrics especially the lines Thorattiya Pottu Nelava Pudikka Paakura while Justin owns the track with the melange of sounds layered in the background from Seenu's mandolin to Balu's Tavil.  Justin ends the soundtrack with the canteen song which starts more like Tasakku Tasakku from Vikram Vedha. Nivas K Prasanna croons the fun song and Justin lyrics effectively captures the scenes in the college canteen.

Verdict: Dear Comrade is unarguably the best of Justin Prabhakaran and the composer impresses largely with the range of songs in the soundtrack. The lyrics and tune gel beautifully throughout the soundtrack and Karthik Netha's work deserves special mention.

My Rating: 9/10

Pick of the Album: Complete album. Start with Pularaadha and Gira Gira, you won't be disappointed.



Sunday, July 21, 2019

Music Review (Tamil): Kaappaan

Music Review (Tamil): Kaappaan
Music Composer: Harris Jayaraj


Sirikki is a faux folk Harris Jayaraj kuthu song which touches upon the composer's earlier kuthu songs from Venaam Machan to Anjala. Despite the hackneyed tune, Senthil Ganesh's vocals backed up by Ramani Ammal works to its favour and the hummable tune makes this one listenable till it lasts. On the arrangements front, Devi's veenai solos stand out.Harris Jayaraj reserved his best to his daughter Nikitha Harris who is making playback debut with the Vinnil Vinmeen. Vairamuthu's lyrics which speaks about the unity in diversity is complemented by the classically inclined serene arrangements topped up by Seenu's stringed instruments and manonmani's magnificent Sarangi solos. Composer employed the kid's choir effectively amidst the effective Nikitha's vocals.

Hey Amigo sounds more like the composer's take on Luis Fonsi's despacito and the feel is further accentuated by Joseph Vijay's acoustic guitar solos accompanied by Hey Amigo title hook. However, the track is catchy stuff from the composer despite the borrowed template. The song turns interesting especially with the entry of Jonita Gandhi and she aces the tune which goes as 'vetti pechi pesi penmai nirayaadhu'.Machan Inga Vandhira's overloaded synth and techno sounds throw off the listeners enthusiasm after an interesting title hook. The processed vocals of Kharesma Ravichandran, Nikhita Gandhi and Shabnam doesn't help either and they too sound off colour in some places. Harris Jayaraj ends the soundtrack with the mediocre Kurilae Kurilae and it sounds like Anegan's Roja Kadalae with the debatable choice of singers. The heavily processed vocals of Darshana takes some time to seep in while Javed Ali's questionable diction irks off at some places. Harris throws generously his usual gibberish sounds and the tune barely manages to impress.

Verdict: Harris Jayaraj manages to score easily in a couple of tracks for KV Anand despite the usual grouse of reuse/inspiration factor which one can associate with the composer.

My Rating: 7/10

Pick of the Album: Vinnil Vinmeen, Hey AMigo, Sirikki