Of the five gaana-style songs, Sandhanatha and Goindhammavaala get significantly spruced up sounds. The former is incredibly rhythmic, sung with giddy enthusiasm by Ka Ka Balachander, while the latter is aided beautifully by the chorus, even as the music is simple and foot-tapping, to match Dhanush’s appropriately raw vocals. Between the other three, Arivu’s Mathiya […]

Karuppi is a searing hip-hop melody that Santhosh sings with intensity. The tune and the rap, along with the ending, offer a haunting, modern oppaari (elegy) of sorts! Vanakkam Vanakkamunga is authentic, austere Tamil folk with no shade of anything cinematic. In comparison, Engum Pugazh Thuvanga fares better with its authentic folk sound and lyrics, […]

Seema Weightu extends Veera Thurandhara, with a similar Ilayarajaesque swag, but adding some Mumbaiya mix too, along with Dopeadelicz and Arunraja Kamaraj’s rap. Katravai Patravai is the soul-twin of Neruppu Da, Keba’s electric guitar replacing Jhanu Chantar’s. Instead of Neruppa Da’s searing appeal, when Yogi B roars, “Unnayum maNNayum vendru vaa Thee (Thee)raatha or thevaiyai […]

Anabelle Pei is Santhosh riffing on familiar gaana couplets, but Ka.Ka.Bala’s Area gaana mixes Villuppaattu-style with gaana’s raw energy impressively. S.Madhu is a funky TASMAC song espousing everything about S.Madhu, including her address! Rathina katti is interesting despite its Irudhi Sutru hangover, thanks to Dhee’s vocals. Santhosh’s best is Meghamo, with a splendid melody that […]

Move over Ji, here comes Bro! Easy listen – cool techno-pop done well. Vivek’s inspirational verse works in Nirkadhey, but the song, despite that catchy vocalized rhythm, doesn’t come together cohesively. Kannaal modhadhey is quite a rocker! Funky synth by Naveen and Satt Richard, coupled with Babu’s trumpet and Sid Sriram’s flamboyant vocals. The 4 […]

Varlaam varlaam vaa is Vijay’s own Neruppu daa! The swagger is intact, and the lyrics aptly eulogises the star. Nillayo layers the breezy hook onto the very-Santhosh strings, though Vairamuthu’s ‘silicon silayo’ could mean entirely something else. Barring the foot-tapping kuthu in Papa papa, and interestingly bluesy notes in Pattaya kelappu (where Vairamuthu alludes to […]

Dhikku dhikku has a flamboyant and flashy sound, with some 80s funk thrown in for good measure. Lalithanand invokes everything from Twitter trends, Nayakan’s iconic dialog to Periyar! The booming sound continues in Jagadhammaa that Ananthu delivers with amazing impact. The song is obviously visual-led, with a pulsating edakkai sound accompanying it constantly. Thakida thakida, […]

The most interesting aspect of Sirukki vaasam is the retro-pop backgrounds that is almost Serge Gainsbourg’ish! The tune is less engaging, in comparison, though the mid-way Kozhayiren turn is very interesting. The title song sounds like Veera thurandhara’s sequel, while Vetta pottu has director Hari’s stamp, more than Santhosh’s. There’s a distinct Hamsanadam Neetimati-raaga invocation […]

Ananthu, Santhosh and Gana Bala are at their harmonious best in the bombastic opener, Ulagam oruvanukka! Roshan Jamrock’s rap verses around Kabali Swag add to the pulsating number’s impact. Gana Bala headlines Veera thurandhara in a way that is very unlike his usual style! It is a curiously alluring mix of Vikram’s title song (!) […]

Onnu rendu, with a languorous Chandrababu-twang and perfunctory singing by S.J.Surya, has intoxication written all over it, including that morning-indication ending. Kadhal kappal gets its mojo in its alluring anupallavi that Santhosh carries with panache. The wedding-reception-style Ilayaraja ode, Solla thudikkuthu, made of Tamil film titles is utterly awkward. Anthony Daasan handles Othayilla with his […]