Monday, April 5, 2010
RAHMAN'S MAGICAL TREAT
The news that Harris Jeyaraj had to make way for ARR in Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa sent shock waves across many music lovers, some unhappy, some happy and some anxious. When I heard the news I was confused. I have never been a great aficionado of Gautham’s works and not a big enthusiast of Harris Jayaraj either. I got to admit though that I got hooked to Vaaranam Aayiram songs. I wondered what would this GM+Th+ARR combo give that would better VA. VA was definitely not a path breaking album, but when I played the album I never used the forward option, a privilege I accord only to ARR’s albums. Thamarai blossoms the best with HJ. Her lyrics always found better roots in HJ’s music to bloom and smile with pride, more so in the romantic songs. So the shock element doubled when Gautham Menon chose ARR for VTV which was a love story. We all know ARR tag can shoulder any movie to transcend boundaries and get a better reach in terms of visibility. Brand ARR adds greater value to your product. Was it more for marketing his movie at a grand scale? The best thing about music in a movie based on love story is the opportunity to sing along the song from the movie holding the hand of your beloved or just a glance at your partner when the song is played in your car. So what did this new combo offer us??
Omana Penne
Singers: Benny Dayal, Kalyani Menon
Malayalam Lyrics: Kalyani Menon
Starts strange but cute and then translates into a rhythm song because of the simple percussion beats that’s candy floss to the ears. Benny Dayal deserves compliments for his easy singing so natural to him. The beginning words of the songs are so unconventional and yet Benny makes it sound very endearing. The “hey” hey” chorus too blends harmoniously…. the nadhaswaram slithers into the background with the violin bit that adds that extra zing to the “nee dhaan” and both the instruments fade off so uncharacteristically. Everything about the song is cute, the singer, the rhythm, the instruments. The song format is again so different. The nadhaswaram intrudes surprise you all through the song. If you thought this was the pattern, wait till the last pallavi when the nadhaswaram makes a comeback and takes lead with violins to support and carries on towards the end of the song. Simple yet very pleasing… Rahman tricks….
Anbil Avan
Singers: Devan Ekambaram, Chinmayi
It’s a breezy song, instantly catchy with the arrangements, a tad loud that drowns Thamarai lyrics. You have to strain to listen to the lyrics. Singers do their job. The best part in the song is the fusion of cello and the nadhaswaram. The song is so quick that it’s gone before you begin to enjoy it. Was that the reason I pressed the forward button. Catchy… Rahman tricks…
Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa
Singers: Karthik
Haunting guitar score starts this song… Karthik is as good as he can be.. The music goes on to be predictable and you suddenly feel uneasy with Karthik trying to match the loudness and the shrillness of the instruments played and again the lyrics sinks in them. Haunting but no soul…. Rahman??
Hosanna
Singers: Vijay Prakash, Suzanne, Blaaze
English Rap Lyrics: Blaaze
By now it is clear that all the songs have catchy starts. Very unusual of Rahman, not the songs that take time to descend, beautiful lyrics start this song. At last I get to listen to Thamarai., starts as a lovely ballad. Special mention of the female chorus amazingly sweet with the violins striking a perfect match. Vijay is wonderful.. Blaaze is as Blaaze, very competent…A very peaceful song.. Has a very calming effect.. listen to the violins create magic as Rahman crafts them layer by layer…. Don’t miss the soft strumming of the guitars throughout and the flute just before the violins take over just before the end of the song… The last stanza the violins try to outdo each other bringing the magic to end…. A superb team effort.. Rahman magic.!
Kannukkul Kannai
Singers: Naresh Iyer
If the “Hosanna” just emptied my mind and filled in it sweetness, this song jolted me out of my senses. Outstanding violin piece shocks you…the beats are standard matching the lead singer.. “Aye” chorus has a tremendous effect on the song. Naresh Iyer is brilliant. The violin pieces dazzle in this song which otherwise could have been an easy miss. Thamarai does her best.. Again the music, arrangement and instrumentation is so overpowering.... you realize why Rahman is so crafty.. Rahman tricks.
Mannipaaya
Singers: A.R.Rahman, Shreya Ghoshal
No different from the rest. Again a nice start. Shreya to boot and Rahman for company. You start to soak in this beautiful melody, minimal orchestration and Thamarai takes charge with her soulful lyrics. You can visualize Rahman playing the keyboard singing the song. Again the violin bits are very pleasing, it’s the charanam that takes a back seat, something goes missing, you almost feel the flow lost somewhere… more so after the chorus… full credit to Shreya and Thamarai…Rahman?
Aaoromale
Singers: Alphonse
Malayalam Lyrics: Kaithapram
You straight away know that you are in for something special… Powerful guitar strings opens up this song.. a very western start with some stupendous singing by Alphonse.. You feel it couldn’t have sounded better in any language but Malayalam… and suddenly creeps in the chorus, listen to the violin let the guitar take lead in major part of the song and yet command respect and a few parts before closing the violin takes a surge, backs off and then returns again once more in great grandeur.. Absolutely brilliant composition.. Everything in this song is in perfect harmony.. A near perfect song with some amazing singing… The best of the lot…. Intoxicating…Repeat it.. Rahman magic !!!
I have always wondered what is it in Rahman’s songs that transcend boundaries and make someone who don’t understand the language of the song appreciate the song. Its his strong music sense.. his orchestration.. his crafty use of instruments that simply hypnotize you and you just ignore the words.. It’s not only that, it’s also the tunes that he crafts, which in itself is so magical that any word would weave in perfectly. It could be his shortcoming too.. “Mundhinam Parthene” from Vaaranam Aayiram sounded so good with the music gently caressing the words. Perhaps that’s why a non tamil wouldn’t make much of the song. ARR is so good in his craft that it would take something more than good to arrest his music…That’s why he is the best in this arena….
VTV in totality is a good album.. definitely not one of the best from ARR.. It sure has its magical parts.. Yet the soul was missing that you usually associate with a love story. No song to hold your partners hand and look at. Aaromale gratifies the thirst for the deserving more, Hosanna and Omana penne are decent for ARR standards and the others are sheer Rahman tricks..
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