ஜில்லா விட்டு வந்த கதை - ஈசன் படப்பாடல்

இந்த வலைப்பூவிற்கு கிட்டதட்ட பூட்டு போட வேண்டிய நிலமைக்கு தள்ளப்பட்டுவிட்டிருந்தேன். மந்திரப்புன்னகை, எங்கேயும் காதல் படப்பாடல்கள் வெகுவாக கவர்ந்தாலும், விமர்சனம் எழுதமுடியவில்லை. இனியும் எழுத முடியுமா என்பதும் சந்தேகம் தான்.

ஈசன் படப்பாடல்களை கேட்க நேர்ந்தது. ஒரு ஆல்பமாக ஈர்க்கத் தவறினாலும், இதில் உள்ள 'ஜில்லா விட்டு' பாடல் என்னை மிகவும் கவர்ந்துவிட்டது. உடனே எழுத வேண்டும் என்று தோன்றியது. அதான்.. வந்துட்டேன் :)

'வந்தனம் வந்தனம்' என்று பாடல் தொடங்கும்போதே, ஆட்டம் போட வைக்கும் 'ஊரோரம் புளியமரம்' போன்றொரு பாடலுக்கு தயாரகிவிட்டேன். 'கைகள் தாளம் போடனும், விசில் ராகம் பாடனும்' னு வரிகளைக் கடந்தவுடன் முடிவும் செய்துவிட்டேன். ஆனால் ஏமாற்றம். மறுகனமே 'சுகத்த விக்கும் பொண்ணுக்கும் மனசிருக்கும் கேளுங்க' னு வரிகள் கவர்ந்தன. வித்தியாசமான பாடலுக்கு தயாரானேன்.

8வது பெண்ணாக பிறந்து, துப்பில்லாதவனுக்கு வாக்கப்பட்டு, வயிற்றைக் கழுவ தன் உடலை விற்று பிழைப்பு நடத்தும் ஒரு பெண், தன் கதையை பாடலில் சொல்வது போல் அமைந்துள்ளது இந்த பாடல்.

அருமை... மோஹனின் பாடல் வரிகள், பாடிய தஞ்சை செல்வியின் உருக்கமான குரல் என பாடல் என்னை மிகவும் கவர்ந்திழுத்தது. சில வரிகள் இங்கே...

காய்ச்சலுக்கு காடு வித்தேன்,
இருமலுக்கு நிலம் வித்தேன்...
வித்ததெல்லாம் போக, எச்ச்மாக நானுமே..
அட மிச்சமாக நானுமே...

என்று பாடும்போதே, அடுத்த வரிகளை நம்மால் யூகிக்க முடிகிறது...

உசிர விட மானம் பெரிசு,
புத்திக்க்குத்தான் தெரிஞ்சிச்சு...
வயிறு எங்கே கேட்டிச்சு...

போன்ற வரிகள் ஒரு தாக்கத்தை ஏற்படுத்தின.

கண்டிப்பாக கேட்க வேண்டிய பாடல். மிஸ் பண்ணிடாதீங்க.... அதிரடியான, காதைப்பிளக்கும் இசை, புரியாத வரிகள், அர்த்தமில்லாத வரிகள் என்றிருக்கும் பாடல்களுக்கு நடுவில், இது ஒரு வித்தியாசமான அனுபவம் தான்.


பி.கு: படத்தில் இந்த பாடலை எப்படி பயன்படுத்தி இருக்கிறார்கள் என்று தெரியவில்லை. சம்பந்தமில்லாமல் வரும் திருவிழாப் பாடலாகவா அல்லது, ஒரு கதாப்பாத்திரம் தன் கதையை சொல்வது போல் வருகிறாதா என்று தெரியவில்லை. கதாப்பாத்திரம் எனில், அதன் பாதிப்பு அதிகமாக இருக்கும் என்பது மட்டும் நிச்சயம்.

விநித்...

Tags: Music Reviews, Song Reviews, jilla vittu vandha kadhai, eesan, easan song review, james vasanthan, thanjai selvi folk song, village song.

Va Quarter Cutting - Music Review

Thediye thediye (though reported to be a lifted one here) is the pick of the album. It has a tune that sits comfortably in your ears and takes you with it so beautifully. More than the tune and orchestration, it is the lyrics that blew me away. Special mention to Kumararaja (Director of yet-to-be released ‘Aaranya Kaandam’). Andrea Jermiah has sung it well except for 'ல' ,'ள' massacre. The beauty of the song lies in its structure and the theme of it. The song has no regular Pallavi-Charanam structure. It has two parts, first half followed by an interlude which is followed by the second half. First half expresses the disappointments faced by the girl in searching her destination (a boy friend??) while the second half expresses the happiness as the search ends positively. I’m quoting a sample of the lyrics in this song.

First half disappointment:

வந்தும் வராமல் போகும்,

இரண்டாம் தும்மல், - போல் ஏய்த்திடும்,

என் Luck-உம் ஏமாற்றியே போகும்

Second half happiness:

கண்ணால் கண்டாலே போதும், கொட்டாவி போலே,

ஒட்டிக் கொள்ளும், என் ஆனந்தம் தொற்றிக்கொள்ளும்

Isn’t that so beautiful?? I loved it.

Unnai Kan theduthe that starts like a remix soon gets its own form. The orchestration is superb and the lyrics are very funny.

Saarpu saarpu ji is a song that stands out mainly for the ROTFL type lyrics and the rendition. If this song rings a bell when you listen to it, then it should be the Hindi song ‘emosanal atyachar’ from Dev D. Yes, the song does resemble this hindi number in some places.

‘Saudi Baasha’ is the only song that scores low marks in this album. There is nothing great that could impress me. May be I should give it some time.

G V Prakash Kumar scores a distinction for Va Quarter Cutting album. An entertaining album that is close to perfect.

Regards,

Vinith....

Tags: Va quarter cutting music review, album review, songs review, va 1-4 cutting, va 1/3 cutting songs, gv prakash kumar.

Yuvan's Boss engira Baskaran - Music review

Just before we could finish enjoying the songs of Naan Mahan Alla, we have got the next album from Yuvan. Oh man! He is like a machine. Churning out album after album. So quick and fast. Way to go yuvan! His latest album Boss Engira Bhaskaran is however a mediocre album.

'Yaar indha pen thaan' is the pick of the album. A scintillating melody with lovely interludes and feel good lyrics by Na. Muthukumar. Haricharan gives the best when it comes to this kind of romantic melodies. He does it again. Tamil audience may get ready for another 'Thuli thuli'.

'Thathi thavum paper' is a song which Yuvan usually reserves for himself. This time, he has handed over the job to talented Karthi, who has done a good job. Despite the impeccable orchestration with lovely sax interludes, the song fails to instantly catch you, coz of the weak lyrics. Lyrics are pretty average and dud.

Ayile ayile (ilo iloo) is just another passable track while the other two tracks 'Mama mama' and the title song 'ada boss bossu' are of run-of-the-mill standard.

Overall, I personally rate Boss Enkira Baskaran above the team's last album "Siva Manasula Sakthi". Yar intha pen is enough to fight against all the songs in SMS. ;-)

Regards,
Vinith

Boss engira baskaran songs review, album review, arya, raajesh, rajesh, nayan, nayanthara, music review, yar andha ponnu song.

Kalavaani - Movie review

It is really a tough job for a debutant director to make an impressing movie with less popular star-cast, average music. Director Sarkkunam (Sargunam), does it well in his Kalavaani. Kalavani is a clean entertainer that can be enjoyed with whole family.

The script is all about a guy who falls in love with a girl from the next village. Both villages suffer from age-old enmity. Even we have seen this story umpteen times, what makes it worthy is the treatment and characterization.

Treatment: Crisp, clean, not dragging.

Characterization:

Making a village story (that too two villages) with limited characters is not an easy job. Most of Tamil Villages stories revolve around so many characters such as uncles, great grandparents, cousins, etc etc. Kalavaani forgoes that. I should give full marks for the director for using limited no of characters.

Saranya gets 200 Marks for her performance as sweet, innocent mom, which she usually does it with perfection. Saranya is indispensable when it comes to Mother roles. It is highly impossible to imagine someone else in her role.

Secondly, heroine's brother (New face?). He impresses with a unique body language and dialogue delivery which is quite natural. He gets 100 Marks.

Vimal, as Arikki @ Arivazhagan, has done his part well. Only thing is, few dialogues reminded me of Paruthiveeran. Oviya, has done a fabulous job. Her acting as a girl hailing from a village is so apt.

Then Kanja Karuppu as Mr. Panchayathu, who gets trapped in the plans of Vimal gang. Noteworthy performance from Ganja Karuppu after a long time.

Friends of Arivazhagan have pulled off an excellent performance. One scene that had the whole theater in splits is "Arivazhagan. Mr. Arivazhagan". OMG!

Cinematography: Excellent. Green Paddy fields have been shot so beautifully.

Music: SS Kumaran has done a better job in Background score in first half while songs are big miss. Oru Murai song works because of the picturization and "dumma dumma" hook!

Overall: A perfect movie for family audience. Do not miss it.

Regards,
Vinith...

Keywords: Kalavaani movie review, kalavani vimal, sargunam, sarkunam, oviyaa, saranya ponvannan, ilavarasu, ganja karuppu.

Nan Mahan Alla by Yuvan

One of the much awaited albums of the year. Nan Mahan Alla. Karthi-Yuvan, the magical combo of "Paiya" is back

There are only four songs in the album, plus a second version of Va Va nilava, which is as same as the first version.

Hyper catchy "Va Va Nilva" will go well with the audience. A nice song with poetic lyrics and flute interludes. Can't wait to see the picturization. Kids' chorus add a special charm at the end.

Even though parts of orchestration in "Oru Maalai neram" is inspired from Masakkali (Delhi 6, AR Rahman), the song doesn't fail to impress you. A lovable duet, grows better after few listens. Javed Ali and Shilpa being the wrong choices especially Shilpa's rendition is soulless.

Yuvan's innovation comes to the fore with "Iragai Pole". A trendy song with thumping orchestration. It's high time Yuvan stops using the "Auto Tune" which plays the spoilsport.

Madhu Balakrishnan replaces Ilaiyaraja in "Theivam illai" who is Yuvan's regular choice to sing pathos. A passable track with noteworthy lyrics by Yuga Barathi.

Overall, Yuvan never ceases to surprise us with trendy music. Last time it was "Oh Shala" in Kadhal solla vandhen and this time it is "Iragai Pole". Three out of four songs get distinction marks. Nan Mahan Alla is said to be an intense thriller. Songs will gel well with the script.

Regards

Vinith...

Tags: Naan mahaan alla music, songs review, nan mahan alla music review, yuvan shankar raja, karthi, suseendhran, vennila kabadi kuzhu, susindhran, nan mahaan alla album.

Playlist: Jan - Jun 2010; Preview : July-Dec 2010

is the list of songs and albums that impressed me in the past six months.

Most listened songs:

> Elelu Thalaimurai, Idhu Varai - Goa, Yuvan Shankar Raja. Yuvan doing an Ilaiyaraja in the former. Idhu Varai, a mind blowing melody with excellent acoustic drums.

> Happy, Sirikkiren - Bale Pandiya, Devan Egambaram. Happy, A Capella song, is a novel attempt. Sirikkiren is a roller coaster ride.

> Missing Something, Un uyirai - Aridhu Aridhu, S Thaman. Thaman songs for this 'terrorism' based movie, prove show his mettle.

> Usure pogudhe, Kaatu sirikki - Rahman is genius. Usure Poguthey is an extraordinary song in the recent times. Brilliant rendition by Karthik. He sure deserves an award for this song.

> Hosanna, Mannippaaya - Vinnai Thandi Varuvaya. Rahman again. Hosanna a peppy number. Mannippaya, though sounded boring initially, picked up later and became one of my favorite songs of 2010. Poetic lyrics by Thamarai.

> Oh Shala, Anbulla Sandhya - Kadhal Solla Vanthen, Yuvan Shankar Raja. Oh Shala is one of the best songs of the year. I prefer this song mainly for the rhythm part of it. Yuvan in decent form.

> Kan thaakudhe, Oru paithiyam pidikkudhu - Baana Kaathadi, Yuvan Shankar Raja. If you see Yuvan's name in the "Singers" section, then go for it. That should be the best song of the album. Here, Kan thakkudhe is.

> Pookal Pookum tharunam - Madharasapattinam, GV Prakash Kumar. Pookkal pookkum is such a killer song. Roop Kumar's is probably the only minus. Any Tamil singer could have been a better choice.

> Haq Se - Striker - Yuvan Shankar Raja. A hindi song by Yuvan, rendered by himself along with Siddharth. No doubt. The song has all the elements to make it worth listening.

> Kodi Kodi aasaigal - Kavalar Kudiyiruppu, James Vasanthan. A killer song. James Vasanth proves that he is not a one-hit wonder. The first interlude in this song is noteworthy.

Albums of the Six months:

> Goa
> Raavanan
> Aridhu Arudhu

No doubt. The first half of 2010, has been really good and very much satisfying. The second half is even more promising with interesting albums lined up. I'm giving the list of albums that I'm looking forward to, in the coming months.

Upcoming, much awaited albums:

1. Nan Mahan Alla, Yuvan Shankar Raja. Expectations have gone sky high after Yuvan tweeted "Iragu pole in NMA is a killer song".

2. Enthiran - AR Rahman-Shankar-Rajni. Three guns of Tamil Film industry. Terrific trio.

3. Aaranya Kaandam - Yuvan Shankar Raja. The promo stills, the cover story about this film in a popular website, and more importantly, the one minute promising teaser trailer have made me look forward to this album. We may get to hear some instrumentals in this album, like Pudhupettai.

4. Aadhi Bagwan - Yuvan Shankar Raja. Ameer is back with a love story. Should we even bother about the music of Yuvan? Wouldn't that be in par with Mounam Pesiyadhe?

5. Selvaraghavan - GV Prakash combo movie. Yeah, it will take time.

Share your thoughts....

Regards,
Vinith...

Thillalangadi - Yuvan Shankar Raja, Thaman

Thillalangadi tracks are out. Has 7 tracks in total. There were news doing rounds that Thaman has done two songs. I thought that was a rumor. But it is true. 2 out of 7 songs are composed by Thaman, who did original Kick songs.

"Sol pechu" sung by Chitra, Shreya and Yuvan is perhaps the only good song in the album. A song that reflects two different attitude of a girl who is about to fall in love. Chithra sings for the attitude that says NO to love while Shreya sings the attitude that says YES to love. Fabulous vocals by both of them. This song will be a chart buster once the movie releases.

"Ding Ding", sung by talented Vijay Prakash and Naveen is very much saved by the Kids' lovely chorus. Drum beats in the second interlude is noteworthy. "Memory loss", is a funny song, in the line of Sirikkiren (Bale Pandiya, music by Devan Egambaram). Khailas Kher's singing adds an extra layer of fun. This song may not be remembered for a long time.

"Pattu pattampoochi" sung by Simbu & Manasi Scott is insipid while "Thothu ponen", by Shankar Mahadevan is an obsolete, tune wise, orchestration wise, lyrics wise.

Thaman reuses two of his songs in Kick (Original version of Thillalangadi). "Pootta pathadhum" sung by Suchitra and "Idhayam Karaigiradhu" bu Vardhini are both mundane. The latter is slightly works better because of its tune.

Overall, Thillalangadi turns out to be an average album overall. Don't worry. Yuvan will compensate and satisfy us in Nan Mahan Alla, which is hitting the stores in other few days. Get ready!

Regards,

Vinith

Keywords: Thillalangadi, thillaalangady, music review, songs review, jeyam raja, jayam ravi, thamanna, yuvan shankar raja, thillalangadi 2010, thaman songs, album, kick remake, kick songs reused.

Yuvan is on Twitter

Finally, Yuvan is on twitter. I was waiting for this :) Now, we can get some reliable updates.

Here is the address:

http://twitter.com/Raja_Yuvan

Join Twitter. Follow Yuvan!

Here are few updates from Yuvan and his friends on Twitter:

Yuvan's first tweet: Hi guys I'm new to this!!! Working on naan mahan alla now!!

Siddharth says: He's here..my favourite music director, my friend, and the son of my god ilaiyaraja, @Raja_Yuvan..the one & only yuvan shankar raja!!cheers!

Siddharth says: Yuvan is here after lots of coaxing and threatening by @arvindkrsna and me:) show him lots of love people...all Oy! music lovers, "seheri"!!

Itwofs Karthik says: Yuvan Shankar Raja is on Twitter. Follow him - he's Da Star!! @Raja_Yuvan

ArvindKrishna says: PLEASE WELCOME my BEST FRIEND,a PRODIGY n one of the highlyTALENTED musik directors we hv 2day!The Most wanted Yuvanshankar Raja @Raja_Yuvan

Last but not least, I said: Man... You made my day. Hav been waiting to see you here. Welcome :) We love you :)

@Raja_Yuvan Hey Yuvan. I'm ur 1st follower. Wow... So happy and proud:):)

And Yuvan replied: @vovinith hi thanks!!!!

Ha ha.... I'm so happy :) Come on, Join and follow this youth icon! :)

Regards,
Vinith...

Keywords: Yuvan shankar tweets, twitter account.

Aridhu Aridhu - Music by S Thaman

His Eeram did not impress me much. His Mundhinam Parthene did only to some extent. When everybody went ga-ga over Munthinam Paarthene songs, I felt a little awkward and suspected if the music sense in me was fading! LOL. I still could not enjoy the songs thoroughly. Now, composer S Thaman arrives with Aridhu Aridhu which kindles me to revisit his earlier albums.

Here is my take on his Aridhu Aridhu.

Un Uyirai kollum, sung by talented Karthik is very Rahman-ish in terms of orchestration. The beats that start at the part 'seyalgaL valikkiradhu.......' affirms that. The high point of the track is however, Karthik's soulful rendition and meaningful lyrics, "ஏர்க்கலப்பைகள் ஏங்குதடா...." for instance.

"Missing Something", a seducing melody, seductively sung by Reeta. The overall feel of the song resembles Savage Garden's "Truly Madly Deeply". More of English verses and less of tamil verses, almost make it an English song.

Oh la la li - A peppy number brilliantly rendered by Suchithra. I have never been a fan of her voice in any of her earlier songs. I liked her voice in Pesum Poove (Mundhinam Parthene). Now, I have fallen in love with her voice in this song. A rocking number with thumping music arrangement. Lyrics are my only concern here.

Azhagaai Sirithayada, sung by the film's director Mathivanan, gives a mysterious feel. Mathivanan's singing is not convincing. The song would have reached greater heights if Thaman had roped in a different singer.

Despite the powerful orchestration (Excellent layer works which is more common in Yuvan songs) Kanavugal edhuvarai failed to impress me. and Saturday girlOdu is perhaps the weakest song in this album.

Overall a fantastic album. Go for it.

Regards,

Vinith...

Keywords: Thaman, taman, Arithu arithu songs review, music review, album review, aridhu aridhu, madhivanan,

செம்மொழியான தமிழ் மொழியாம் - எனது கருத்துக்கள்

செம்மொழியான தமிழ்மொழியாம் - உலகத் தமிழ் மாநாட்டிற்காக ஏ ஆர் ரஹ்மான் உருவாக்கி இருக்கும் பாடல்.

தமிழ் மொழியின் சிறப்பினையும், பழம்பெருமையையும் எடுத்துரைக்கும் "செம்மொழி கீதம்" (Semmozhi Anthem) என்று அழைக்கப்படும் இப்பாடல் எப்படி இருந்திருக்க வேண்டும்? ஆனால் எப்படி வந்திருக்கிறது?

'பிறப்பொக்கும் எல்லா உயிர்க்கும்' என TM Soundarajan அட்டகாசமாய் துவக்கி வைக்க, அடுத்த வினாடியே 'யாதும் ஊரே, யாவரும் கேலிர் ('கேளிர்' என்பதே சரி) என பிழையாக உச்சரித்து அதிர்ச்சியளிக்கிறார் ரஹ்மான்.

கார்த்திக், சின்மயி, ஹரிணி, விஜய் ஏசுதாஸ், சுசீலா, என ரம்மியமான குரல்களுடன் பாதி பாடல் பயணிக்க, தவில், நாதஸ்வரம் இணைந்து நம்மைப் பரவசமூட்டும் அந்த தருணத்தில் தான், பெரும் அதிர்ச்சி. மேற்கத்திய Rap இசையுடன் களமிறங்குகிறார் ப்ளாசே (Rap singer Blaze). 'எம்மதமும் ஏற்றுப் புகல்கின்ற (புகழ்கின்ற)' என்று அவர் பாடி நிறுத்த, 'செம்மொலயான தமில்மொலியாம்' என்று ஒரு CHORUS பாடி முடிக்கிறது. அங்கு தடம் மாறி, தடுமாற ஆரம்பிக்கும் தமிழ்மொழி கீதம், கிட்டதட்ட கடைசி வரைக்கும் தடுமாறுகிறது எனபது வேதனை.

தமிழ் மொழியின் பழமையைப் பற்றி பேசும் பாடலின் இசை எவ்வாறு இருந்திருக்கலாம் என்ற எனது கருத்துக்கள்.

> மேற்கத்திய இசை வரும் பகுதி இடைச்செருகல் போல தோன்றுகிறது. தமிழைப் பற்றிய பாடலில், மேற்கத்திய இசையை எதற்கு? தவிர்த்திருக்கலாம்.
> கர்னாடக இசையை வைத்தே முழு பாடலயும் செதுக்கி இருக்கலாம்.
> தமிழ் மொழி உச்சரிப்பில் சிறிது மெனக்கட்டிருக்கலாம்.
> வயலின், வீணை, யாழ், மிருதங்கம் போன்ற இசைக்கருவிகளைப் பயன்படுத்தி, பாடலை அலங்கரித்திருக்கலாம்.

> SP Balasubramaniam, S Janaki, KJ Yesudoss போன்றவர்கள் பாடாதது எனக்கு மிகப்பெரிய குறையாகவே தோன்றுகிறது.

இறுதியாக, பாடல் கேட்டு முடிக்கும்போது, ஏற்படவேண்டிய 'என் தமிழ் மொழி' எனும் உணர்வு, ஏற்படாமலே போய்விடுவது ஏமாற்றம்.

ஆக, செம்மொழி கீதம் என்னைக் கவரவில்லை. ரஹ்மானிடம் எதிர்ப்பார்த்தது இது அல்ல. பெரும் எதிர்ப்பார்ப்புடன் இருந்த எனக்கு, ஏமாற்றமே மிஞ்சியது :-(

இத்தனையும் தாண்டி இதனை ரசிக்க வைக்கும் சில அம்சங்கள்:

> 30 பாடகர்கள், இசை அமைப்பாளர்களின் அணிவகுப்பு .

> தமிழகத்தின் பெருமை வாய்ந்த இடங்களை அழகாய் படம் பிடித்திருக்கும் ஒளிப்பதிவு.

> கௌதம் மேனனின் இயக்கம்.

இசையை பற்றி மட்டுமே பேச விழைந்ததால், காட்சியமைப்பைப் பற்றி அதிகம் எழுதவில்லை.

அன்புடன்,
விநித்...

Kadhal Solla Vanthen - Music by Yuvan Shankar Raja

Kadhal Solla Vandhen, is an upcoming movie directed by Bhoopathy Pandiyan that has Balaji of Kana Kaanum Kalangal in the lead. The film was earlier titled Naan Avalai sandhitha pozhudhu.

There are totally five tracks.

"Oh Shala" song is the best in this album. A scintillating song with foot tapping beats. Lyrics by Saradhi (newbie?), seamlessly blend with the tune. Yuvan's rendition enhances the charm of the song. If picturized well, the song can become a massive hit among the audience. The song is simple with three basic notes in the pallavi. Yuvan has beautifully shuffled the tunes to form Charanam. First interlude is noteworthy.

Enna Enna aagiren sung by Vijay Yesudoss is an excellent melody with nice lyrics. "Kadhal Silai ondru........." part in Enna aagiren song is awesome. The song has the potential to become super hit. Oru Vanavillin a passable track is completely spoiled by Udit.

Charanam parts in "Anbulla Sandhiya" more than compensate for it's lackluster start in Pallavi. This song is supposed to give a haunting feel to the listeners, but fails miserably.

Experimental track of this album arrives with "saami varugdhu kadhal samy varugudhu", a thiruvizha kind of song (not exactly of this genre) sung by poosari. The song reminds us of various Iyappan songs that we get to hear in during the season. Make no mistake. Only the use of Udukkai makes you feel so. This song has ultimately funny lyrics. Selecting a real Poosari to render this song is a good move. The song can rock B and C center audience.

Yuvan's score for this less popular movie is excellent. Two great songs. Worth going for!

Tags: nan avalai sandhithabodhu, naan avalai sandhitha pozhuthu, kaadhal solla vanthen, kathal solla vandhen, yuvan shankar raja, oh shalla, bhupathy pandian, boopathi pandiyan, balaji.

Vasanthabalan's Angadi Theru - A must visit street

Angadi Theru, the descriptive title says it all. Yes, it is the tale of a couple who works for a famous Textile Store in T Nagar.

Story:

Jothilingam (Akhil), a guy who hails from a village ‘Ittamozhi’, comes to Chennai to work in a Textile Store as a salesman. That owes to the sudden demise of his father in an accident. There he meets the floor supervisor Kani (cho chweet ‘Anjali’). Their meet starts with a fight and soon turns into love. Love blossoms between the couple. Another couple in the same store, who loved each other, faces a tragic end. Will the lead couple, who are terrorized by this incident, unite?

As far as the story and screenplay are considered, this is certainly a feather in director Vasantha Balan’s crown. The screenplay in the first half works so beautifully while the sequences in the second half are quite predictable.

The first scene of this movie is symbolic. But it has been shown in a way that audiences realize it only as they reach the end. Well done Vasanthabalan. There are so many brilliant, poetic, emotional scenes in the movie. For instance, the scene where younger sister of Akhil, who is longing to see his brother, asks for the ‘Senthil Murugan Stores’ labeled bag from a lady, in her village. Brilliant. The love between Akil and Anjali has been portrayed so beautifully, especially in the songs.

Talking about the performance, everybody has done their parts well that includes the lead pair, Akhil’s friend who provides the comic part and his girlfriend, the floor in-charge Karungali. However, the best of these performances is undoubtedly from Anjali, who stuns the audience with her realistic performance. With her expressive eyes and girl next door look, she has done a fabulous job in acting. Akhil, though, has done his part well, needs a little improvement in facial expressions.

Songs are excellent. GV Prakash’s ‘Un perai sollumbodhe’, Vijay Antony’s “Aval appadi ondrum” are soothing to ears and the songshave been picturized beautifully. However, the background score is not effective. Cinematography is excellent.

Of course, this cannot be called a flawless movie. The movie has its minus points. To quote a few,

The second half is predictable. Though the friend of Akhil provides a comic relief, we have seen such characters in of movies. The tragic second half is supposed to create a shock in audience. But it doesn’t really.

Overall: The impact of the lighter first half is more than the impact of the tragic second half. I’m not a big fan of Vasantha balan’s Veyil. I thought he was overrated. He proves me wrong with his Angadi Theru. Looking forward to his next venture.

Regards,

Vinith...

Tags: Vasanthabalan, angadi theru movie review, saravana stores, senthil murugan stores, akhil, anjali, gv prakash kumar, vijay antony

Baana - Yuvan Shankar Raja

A Yuvan album after a long time!

'Thaakudhe kan thakkudhe' sung by Yuvan himself, is peppy song with very good music. This is not Yuvan's usual way of singing. He has tried something different here. Lyrics by Vaali deserves a special mention.

The best song in the album is "Paithiyam pudikkudhu penne". A lovely melody with beautiful lyrics. However, the feel of the song is completely spoiled by the use of 'auto tune'. The CD Cover says that the song is sung by Karthik. But one can hardly recognize his voice. Singer Karthik is known for the 'feel' adds to melodies. That's completely missing here. The Piano bits in the prelude, interlude and postlude is awesome.

'En nenjil', sung by Sadhana Sargam is just an ordinary song. The tune isn't really Yuvan'ish. Though Sadhana has done her part well, I personally feel, Shreya Goshal would have been a better choice for this song.

Kuppathu rajakkal is very average and that reminds you of Goa title track. The insane lyrics in the item number 'Ullara poondhu paaru', sung by Roshini, can easily turn you off.

Overall: Not a convincing album. I'm disappointed. Yuvan could have done it better.

Regards,
Vinith...

Keywords, tags: Bana kathadi, baana kaathadi, kaathaadi, yuvan shanker raja, album, songs review, music review, album review, paithiyam pidikkudhe, oru naal.

Ravanan - AR Rahman's Musical

Hindi Ravan songs are out. Ravan turns out to be a stunning album from our Academy Award Winner! Simply out-of-the-world compositions with several new instruments and sounds. Rahman is genius.

Behene de muje, Katta Katta, Khile Re and Ranja Ranjha are my hot favorites. Addicted to these songs. I'm very much looking forward to the Tamil version 'Ravanan'. Just cannot wait to hear Shreya Goshal's voice in "Khili Re". I bet. This song will be more beautiful in Tamil. Such a melody it is.

I'm trying my best to avoid listening to the Hindi version as I'm more interested in it's Tamil version. Listening to Hindi version first will naturally put Tamil version one step below. Nah... I don't want this to happen.

Eagerly waiting for 'Raavanan'!

Vinith...

Keywords: Ravan, Raavan, ravanan, hindi, tamil version, rahman, mani ratnam, maniratnam, songs, album review, hindi ravan review.

Love you Sachin.....

I thought I should write an article about my love for ‘Lord’ Sachin Tendulkar when he hit 200 to raise the bar high. The right time is here now.

First of all, Congratulations Dhoni and Team for winning the trophy!

Ever since IPL began in 2008, I have been a full-time supporter for Mumbai Indians only for the ‘Sachin’ factor. Though he’d disappointed me in first two seasons, he has more than compensated in third season. He was on the roll since the first match. There has not been a single match where he got out without a boundary. Every match had moments that raised my eyebrows to express awe.

I have been a Sachin admirer, ever since the day I came to know about this genius. The admiration has never gone down, rather, increased day by day. Though I love watching Indian cricket matches, I’m confined to sachin’s game that no of minutes I sit and fix my eyes on TV is equal to the no of minutes Sachin stays on the crease.

I should admit that I’m admiring the Lord now, more than ever. His form in this IPL and his unparalleled 200* are the main reasons ;) From a ‘Fan’, I have moved to the next level ‘Devotee’. His form in this IPL has been wonderful. He has not only been a captain in this series. He has been a good leader. He has led the team to Finals. He has been a good motivator. His motivation has helped youngsters like Rayudu, Tiwari, Pollard to come up with match winning performances. Atop all these, he has scored 618 runs in only 15 innings that shows that he is the Best Batsman in this series. In all the ways, Sachin has raised the bar high and set example for others.

His commitment and dedication were on full display when he played a fantastic innings (48 runs) with stitches and plasters in two fingers. That says it all. He is the BEST.

Sachin, you may have lost the game. But you have won our hearts. We love you forever….forever…


Tons of love,
Vinith...

Bale Pandiya - Devan Ekambaram's impressive debut!

Devan Ekambaram, who has been a singer and occasional actor (Parthiban Kanavu, Unnale unnale), makes his debut as a music director in Bale Pandiya, an impressive album with some addictive numbers.

The pick of the album for me is "Happy", a capella song. The interesting aspects of this song are, the song has no music in the background, sung by 20 singers and the lyrics by Thamarai. A good amount of innovation has gone in. As the title implies, this song is sure to make listeners 'Happy' ;-) ;-)

'Sirikkiren', instrumental (Violin) version is a rocking stuff while the actual song is quite a fun to listen. Aaradha kobamillai and Kangale Kamalalayam are neat melodies with mild orchestration, excellently rendered by Raman Mahadevan and Mahalakshmi Iyer (Oh. We missed you) in the former and Unnikrishnan and Mrinalini in the latter.

The other two songs Ivan Thedal and the Title track 'Bale Paandiya' did not appeal to me in first few listens.

Overall, a very nice album. Considering that this is his debut, Devan Ekambaram has done an excellent job. Strongly recommended.

Tags: Bale pandiya songs review, bale paandiya music review, new bale pandiya, bale pandiya 2010 music, album, devan egambaram, piya, vishnu

Madharasapattinam - Music by GV Prakash

Madharasapattinam, is a period film that is set in the backdrop of pre-independence India. Considering the fact that period films are rare in Tamil Industry, the expectations for this album was really high. Here's my take on this album.

'Vamma Duraiamma' sung by Udit Narayanan, Cochin Hanifa (late), is a hilarious song where Udit explains an English woman (Amy Jackson), the tradition, practices, and kindness of Tamilnadu and Tamilians, while Haneefa (sounds like a tourist guide) takes care of translating it to Amy. The highlight of this song is clearly the 'literal' translation of Haneefa. Thoroughly enjoyable. This song should rock once the movie releases. We miss you Hanifa sir :-(

With a lengthy flute interlude and impeccable orchestration, lovely melody 'Pookkal Pookum tharunam', easily becomes the pick of the album. Roopkumar, though gives an excellent feel, is yet to get his diction fully right. OTOH, Harini rocks. The sudden shift to English verse (sung by Andrea) is noteworthy. 'Thaana thom thanana' piece is the highlight of this song.

'Kaatrile katrile', sung by Hariharan fails to impress despite the neat fusion of (old) 'Vandhe matram' in the interlude. The choice of singers in 'Megame Meghame' (sung by MSV, Vikram & Nasser) evokes an interest but the song falls flat.

Aaruyire Aaruyire is yet another beautiful melody with soulful rendition from Sonu Nigam and Saindhavi. The orchestration reminds me of some ARR works (though, there is nothing direct).

The 'Dance Theme', with the strains of "pookkal pookum' is likable while the other theme 'Feel of Love' is simply mesmerizing.

Talking about the Lyrics department, Na. Muthukumar (one of my favorite lyricists) has penned all the songs. Not outstanding. There are hardly any new lyrics in the songs. How many times are we gonna hear 'nee illaiyel nan illaiyE, nee pOgum anbe, nAn saagiren' kind of lyrics. Wake up Muthu ;) You can do better. I know ;) .

Verdict: A decent soundtrack. GV Prakash Kumar, could have worked more to make it a memorable album. Period film gives a wonderful opportunity to experiment and explore. GVP has not used this opportunity to the full extent.

Regards,
Vinith....

Keyword: Madharasapattinam songs review, madarasapattinam music, madharaspattinam album review, songs review, gv prakash kumar, madraspattinam review.

Paiya by Lingusamy - An Entertaining Cliche!

Paiya is a very good entertainer with good amount of romance, action, humor, excellent songs.

Plot:
Karthi, a job seeker, sees Tamanna in Bangalore and falls in love with her. One day, he takes the car to railway station to pick up his friend (the owner of the car). There, he happens to meet Thamanna again with a villain. Thinking that Karthi is a taxi driver, the villain calls him for a trip to Chennai. On the way, when Villain gets out of the car in a petrol bunk, Tamannah asks Karthi to drive away before the Villain returns. There begins the lovable journey. The couple go on for a journey from Bangalore to Mumbai. The obstacles they face in the journey form the crux.

Performance:
Karthi delivers a superb, lovable performance. Some of his expressions give us a feel that he is still stuck with Paruthiveeran. The complete transformation hasn't come yet. However, he does this role with ease. Thamannah as Charu looks gorgeous on screen and does her role perfectly. The girl in Karthi's friends gang catches our attention.

It was reported that Milind Soman has a vital role in this movie. What's that. LOL. He comes hardly for few scenes. Delivers some hindi dialogues and gets beaten by Karthi at the end. He has been wasted.

Villains usually shout in high decibel that tortures our hears. That is completely missing in Paiya which is indeed a good relief.

Technically:

Brilliant music by Yuvan, takes the movie to next level and makes it more entertaining. His songs have been placed aptly. We could hear a huge screaming, whistles from the audience for every single song. Kudos to Yuvan Shankar Raja. Suthudhe suthudhe song has been picturized with beautiful set by Art Director Rajeevan. Cinematography is okay.

Minuses:
There are many. To quote a few, same old story, predictable second half, too much of heroism. There is a scene near toll gate. Karthi and Tamahha on one side of the Toll gate, the villain gang is on the other side. The way Karthi escapes from the sight of the gang is ridiculous and damn silly. There are quite a few such scenes.

However, Thamanna and Yuvan make it worth watching. 80% of the movie happens in traveling that adds a special charm.

Overall: Go for it! First half is a high-way ride while second half has 'men at work. go slow' board at times. Good journey overall.

Keyword: Paiya, paiyaa, payya, karthi, thamannah, yuvan shankar raja, movie review, paiya music, background score, milind soman, linguswamy.

Vinnai thaandi Varuvaaya by Goutham Menon

Summary:
A feel good movie with nice twist in the climax. Technically this is again a typical Gautham Vasudev Menon movie, with stunning visuals, cool picturization of songs and scintillating songs and background score. Slick and stylish overall.

Plot:
Simbu falls in love with Trisha, who is from an orthodox Malayalam Christian family. Simbu is passionate about directing and movie and joins as Asst. Director to K S Ravikumar (Guest role). Trisha's family opposes her love (No prize for guessing this :-p ). Simbu goes on pursuing his director career. Does the couple unite? Go watch it!

Performance:
Simbu surprisingly delivers a fabulous performance. His performance is something we'd been missing for years. Trisha is neither a plus nor a minus. She does her role perfectly but that isn't a show stealer. Ganesh, who comes as a helping friend for Simbu made a good effort in terms of realistic performance. However, I feel, Santhanam or Vivek would have been an apt choice for that kind of role. No offense.

Treatment:
There is nothing new in the story of Vinnai thandi varuvayaa. Screenplay could have been faster and dialogues were not so intense. Disappointing. First half is boring and second half is much better than first half. Climax is out-of-the-world. Too many songs that affect the pace of the movie.

Technically:
Yup. You guessed it right. AR Rahman is the real hero of the movie. His background score in first half simply elevates the movie and enthralls the audience. Songs have already become super hits. Picturization of song is good and is typical GVM stuff. Nothing new. I get a feel that he's getting monotonous in terms of song picturization. Cinematography is absolutely delightful. Kudos to the technical crew.

Overall:
A satisfying movie. The last 20 mins made me sit up and the twist was really unexpected. Many said that they were bowled over and the movie had a big impact on them. Hmmm. I did not feel any such impact. I liked it. I was not blown away. Vinnai thandi varuvaya is certainly not a 'movie to be avoided'.

Final Verdict: Not a disappointing movie. You can go for it.

Regards,
Vini...

Tag: Vinnaithandi varuvaaya, vinnai thaandi varuvayaa, vinnai thandi varuvaaya, ar rahman, background music, background score, goutham, gowtam, gautam vasudev menon, simbhu, thrisha, trisha, silambarasan.

யாரோடு யாரோ

நூறு முறைக்கு மேல் கேட்ட ஒரு பாடலை, ஒரு குறிப்பிட்டத் தருனத்தில் தருணத்தில் கேட்க நேரிடும். அதற்கு முன் தராத பரவசத்தை அந்த பாடல் அந்த தருனத்தில் தருணத்தில் தரக்கூடும். அந்த தருனம் தருணம் ஒரு மழை நாளாகவோ, பயணத்தின் ஒரு நிமிடமாகவோ, அந்தி மாலையாகவோ, அமைதியான நள்ளிரவாகவோ இருக்கலாம். தினமும் பார்க்கும் காதலி திடிரென ஒரு நாள் மிக அழகாய் தோன்றுவாளே, அது போல தான்.

அப்படி ஒரு பாடலைப் பற்றி தான் இங்கு பேச இருக்கிறேன். 'யாரோடு யாரொ' என்று தொடங்கும் யோகி படப்பாடல் தான் அது. இந்த பாடலை, சுமார் 100 முறைக்கு மேல் கேட்டிருந்தாலும், அதற்கு முன் கிடைக்காத ஒரு தனி சுகத்தை ஓரிரவு அனுபவிக்க முடிந்தது. நேர்த்தியான இசை, மயிலறகாய் வருடும் பாடல் வரிகள், பாடல் முழுவதும் இழையும் சாரங்கியின் ஒலி, என பரவசமூட்டுகிறது இப்பாடல்.

'வஞ்சம் கொண்ட நெஞ்சம் உருகுது கொஞ்சம்' என்ற வரிகளுடன் அமர்க்களமாய் பயணிக்கத் துவங்கும் சாரங்கி, பல்லவியின் முடிவில் வரும் Chorus-ஐ இருக்கி இறுக்கி அணைத்துக்கொள்கிறது. பல்லவிக்கும், முதல் சரணத்திற்கும் இடையில் வரும் Interlude -இல் இழையும் சாரங்கி, இதயத்தை துளைத்து எடுக்கின்றது. விவரிக்க முடியாத இன்பம் அது. இவை அனைத்திற்கும் பக்கபலமாக, உஸ்தாத் சுல்தானின் ஆலாபனை.

'முதலும் இல்லாமல், முடிவும் இல்லாமல்' என high-scale-இல் எடுத்து, அடுத்த வினாடியே, 'காலம் புதிர்களை போடுதே' என இறங்கும் இடத்தில், யுவன், தன்னால் ஒரு மெலடியை எப்படி எல்லாம் கையாள முடியும் என்பதை நிரூபிக்கிறார்.

யுவனின் குரலையும், பாடும் விதத்தையும் தவிர்த்துப் பார்த்தால், இந்த பாடல், ஒரு 'மிகச்சிறந்த பாடல்' என்பதில் ஐயம் இல்லை.

//என் தமிழில் பிழை இருந்தால், மன்னிக்கவும்! எடுத்து சொல்லுங்கள். கண்டிப்பாக திருத்திக்கொள்கிறேன். //

--விநித்

Keywords: Yuvan yaarodu yaaro song, saarangi, sarangi theme, yuvan shankar raja usthad sulthan vocals, yogi yarodu yaro song sung by yuvan.

Vinnai Thandi Varuvaaya - Music by AR Rahman

Sorry for the delay writing this. Few songs took time to grow. I was initially very much disappointed. But now, I'm feeling much better though I feel that the album is not very addictive as I expected it to be.

What ARR has done in Vinnai Thandi Varuvaya is, he has gone beyond the boundary of regular Tamil albums and has given us some fresh sounds and music. Or I can even say that there are some new genre of music. This is not a run-of-the-mill romantic album which we expect from Goutham Menon movies. This is something different.

Delightful Hosanna with catchy rap bits from Blaze and fantastic rendition by Vijay Prakash (Man, he will head towards a great success if utilized properly by Tamil composers), peppy Omana penne with magical Nadaswaram sound in the background that showcases ARR's creativity and the adorable chorus which is quite usual in all ARR albums, are certainly treat to ears.

The magical Aromale which is sung by Alphonse is yet another unusual song with Malayalam lyrics written by Kaithapram. This one seems to be a marriage song. So get ready for a visual treat when it comes on the screen. The chorus "Swasthi swathi" has the stamp of AR Rehman.

It is Shreya's divinely voice that impressed me first in Mannippaya song. Rahman, beautifully incorporates couple of Thirukkural in this song. However, the way they've been tuned isn't completely satisfying. I would say that ARR has not sung his parts well. This is certainly a stunner.

Anbil Avan is good with the traditional while Kannukkul sounds average to me except the catchy chorus that chips in. Vinnai thandi varuvaya, the title track sung by Karthi is the only song that did not impress me even after multiple listening. Felt like the song was merely dragging even though Karthi has sung it soulfully.

Every song has some magic in it which is sure to attract the audience.

Overall - I'm very much confused whether to call it an outstanding album or an above average album. Torn between.

Regards,
Vinith...

Keyword: vinnai thaandi varuvaaya, vinnai thandi varuvaya music, arr, gvm, goutam menon, gowtham vasudev menon, ar rahman, rehman, vtv songs review, music review, simbu, trisha, harris,

Venkat Prabhu's Goa - A Boring holiday trip

Chennai 28 gave us a fresh feel. People loved it. Saroja's screenplay was very much entertaining even though there was nothing new in terms of story. Premgi, Shiva were excellent in Saroja. But in goa, everything fails miserably. Poor screenplay, same old mokkai, dud jokes, same face expression from Premgi, repeating the same style of using Ilayaraja's song when guys meet their girls. Oh my god! Give me a break! Cannot tolerate this anymore!

The story that progresses aimlessly, boring screenplay that lacks continuity, made this trip a forgettable one.

Solace of the movie:
> Sampath's role was good and he'd done it really well.
> Jai's English - In one scene where guys decide to speak only in English, Vaibhav asks Jai for a towel. He asks in English "Towel Come" for which Jai looks at the towel and says "Towel Go"! ROTFL. But sad that there were only few such scenes that evoked laughter.
> Yuvan's music
> Sakthi's Cinematography.

Boring Factors:
> Premgi's mokkais
> Three heroines - Hardly 20 mins for each. Though they did their parts well, there was no scope at all.
> Too many songs. Imagine 8 songs in a already boring screenplay.
> Almost 90 minutes of the movie were aimlessly shot. Filled with too much of meaningless mokkais.
> Using Ilayaraja's song frequently. :banghead:

Overall - A trip that should not be remembered. Very sorry Ms. Soundharya Rajnikanth!

Regards
Vinith

Keywords: Goa movie review, Venkat prabhu, venkat prabu, yuvan, Premgi, premji, vaibhav, jai, piya, melani, melanie, sneha, soundharya, soundarya rajnikanth,

Yuvan's debut in Bollywood is interesting

Finally, our Yuvan Shankar Raja makes his debut in Bollywood. He has composed one song for the Siddharth starrer "Striker". The movie has 6 composers tuning the songs including the most happening composers like Amit Trivedi, Preetam, Blaaze. Though his debut is not big, he makes a good use of the opportunity provided.

"Haq Se" is the song composed by Yuvan. Yuvan himself has sung it along with Siddharth. The song has a peppy feel to it with interesting beats in the background. Yuvan has tuned it very carefully that the song doesn't carry a South Indian flavor. Just my opinion. Job well done!

Give it a listen and share your thought!

I cannot comment much on this song or the rendition as I'm devoid of Hindi Film Music! Musically this is a good song!

Hope Yuvan makes it big in Bolly with this song!

Regards
Vinith...

Keywords: Yuvan hindi music review, haq se review, yuvan bollywood debut, siddharth, striker, amit trivedi, preetam

Gorgeous, Overwhelming, Astonishing 'Goa' - Music by Yuvan Shankar Raja

One of the most awaited soundtracks is out. Yuvan-Venkat Prabhu combo is back with a bang.

The breezy duet "Idhu Varai" has a gorgeous tune to it, superbly sung by Andrea and Ajeesh, the winner of Airtel Super Singer 2009. A striking melody with a mind-blowing orchestration and scintillating interludes, that showcase Yuvan's versatility.

"Kadhal endral" sung by composer himself is a shorter version of "idhu varai". Yuvan, the king of bit songs, proves it again here. This song has an interesting Violin prelude and has soothing keyboard in the background. The peppy title track "Goa" has youthful feel to it with a flawless music arrangement. The club mix version is equally appealing, however, i did not listen to the club mix version as I'm addicted to the original version.

"Ezhezhu Thalamurai", the village, folk'ish track is overwhelming. Yuvan has done an Ilayaraja in this song. The foot tapping thiruvizha song "adida naiyandi" is another IR'ish track with lively orchestration that adds charm. SPB Charan and Yugendhiran have done their part well in this song. The pathos song "Ooru nalla ooru" sung by Ilayaraja isn't that appealing except for the orchestration and the flute interlude that make it worth listening.

Creative hunger Yuvan arrives with the astonishing "Idai Vazhi", one of the most experimental tracks in recent times. A fast paced erotic song with incredibly brilliant orchestration and excellent vocals by Mamta Mohandas and Benny Dayal. The former does it with perfection.

Thanks to Yuvan for bringing the veterans SPB, IR and Chitra together in the peppy song "Valiba va va". The song so beautifully switches to classical music in the second half. The "na na na na" humming that comes in between is hyper-catchy.

Verdict: What an album to start the year! Yuvan starts 2010 with an extraordinary note. Looking forward to more and more.

Regards,
Vinith...

Keywords: Goa songs review, goa music review, yuvan shankar raja, venkat prabhu, ilayaraja, karthik raja, premgi amaren, goa album.