Lots of Music

The past few weeks have been pretty hectic in terms of buying music albums. Just thought I would give my quick thoughts on them.

Movie: Aamir
Composer: Amit Trivedi
Language: Hindi
For a first-timer, the album is really amazing! Shades of God in a few of the songs. The best tracks are Haara (sung by the composer himself) and Ek Lau (Shilpa Rao, Amitabh).

Movie: Ada
Composer: A R Rahman
Language: Hindi
Ten tracks! That was my first thought! A God album with this many tracks is an absolute windfall. And tracks that remind you of a Rahman of the early 2000s. Took me a long time to actually figure out my favourite. Eventually, I had to go with my usual “escape-route” – went with the one sung by Him - Meherbaan. Rashid Ali, the guitarist, does a great job in Ishq Ada, while Parul Mishra impresses even more in the female version of the same track. Nostalgic to listen to Jayachandran (or for that matter, Alka Yagnik) in Milo Wahan Wahan. Udit in Hai Dard is a treat as well. Well, I could just go on and on … great stuff!

Movie: Chakravyuham
Composer: Karthik Raaja
Language: Tamil
Karthik Raaja (KR) just hasn’t been as prolific as his younger brother (or father (duh!)), but this album has its high moments. Bela Shende is very good in the duet with KR in Idhayaththai Kaanom. Though I am not a fan of KR’s voice, I still enjoyed the other duet with Saindhavi (more on her in a few moments) in Yei Unnidam. The half song-half oration Neeraadiduvom rocks … and all the more with Karthik’s immense range. And of course, the lines of “vaazhaikkaai bajji, vengaaya bajji, thottukka chutney, konduvaa machi!”.

Movie: Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na
Composer: A R Rahman
Language: Hindi
Two back-to-back God albums. Wow! Iruvar-Minsara Kanavu. Alaipayuthey-Kandukondaen Kandukondaen. And Ada-JTYJN comes along the same illustrious lines. Rashid Ali (again) totally flows in Kabhi Kabhi Aditi, Runa sings achingly in Jaane Tu Mera Kya Hai. Blaaze and a huge group of Rahman current regulars rock with Pappu Can’t Dance!

Movie: Kaalai Pani
Composer: Sathish Ramalingam
Language: Tamil
A huge huge thanks to f@rt who introduced me to this album. Everything about this album is so low-key, because of which I am tempted to write reams and reams on this. Let’s start with Sulaba in Ennamma Thozhi. Best song of this year! The initial days of listening to this song resulted in tears. Every single time. Then comes Thottuvidum Dhoorathil, the male version sung by Vedanth, and the female version sung by Reshmi. Such amazing singing! The tune is the same, but yet it sounds and feels so different. Vedanth (who has sung all the male tracks in this album) again does a great job in Kandaene Naan. Just as if to prove that melody isn’t the only thing he excels at, the composer gives us Albania Pookkal which is peppy and simple at the same time. Actually, I would call this the best album of the year. It impresses so much. And the effect is compounded when it hits you from nowhere. Truly great!

Movie: Psycho
Composer: Raghu Dixit
Language: Kannada
The beauty of radio is that some songs just get you hooked on immediately, and the search and pain you go through to track the album, composer, etc. adds to the experience. Long before this album released, there were two tracks that had me really intrigued – Neene Nagu and Ninna Poojage Bande. They sounded different, and with a bit of extended search, I found out that they were the songs from the album Psycho (source of this information was from Raghu Dixit’s blog). So, after days of pestering the Planet M close to my office, when I finally got the album, my expectations (already sky-high) were met so easily and overthrown. It is that good! Let’s start with Raghu Dixit in the anthemic Preethiyaa Manashanthiyaa. Speaks about the greatness of Karnataka in such beautiful words and notes. Then Ee Tanuvu (the one I had christened Neene Nagu) … the best part is at the 3:18 mark. Everything stops, and a violin plays around with your emotions for a few seconds, and then it’s back to rock. Ninna Poojage Bande is a devotional song sung on dope, and is filled with so much angst, spirit … stunning! Saindhavi excels in the classical Mussanje Rangalli. Raghu Dixit exudes melancholy and nothing else in Yaeno Idhe. Haricharan (the Joshua Sridhar favourite) and Saindhavi are so damn good in Beladingalanthe Minu Minugutha. If Mungaaru Male caused a revolution in Kannada music, Psycho should definitely usher in another one. Kudos to Raghu Dixit.

Movie: Subramaniyapuram
Composer: James Vasanthan
Language: Tamil
Probably, the songs of this album impressed me a bit more as the composer was (or maybe still is) a presenter in Sun TV. Probably, I was a bit amazed by his multiple talents. But, truthfully, the album is good because it’s good. Simple. Belly Raj and Deepa Miriam do a great job in the best track Kangal Irandaal. Madura Kulunga appeals to my soft corner for folk music. A very decent effort.

Let me conclude by saying, please please listen to Kaalai Pani. Sorry … just not able to help it!