Tu is tarah se – Aap to aise na the (Hindi – Usha Khanna)
I was looking for something serene to listen to and soak into and this ‘Ghazals from films’ 2 volume set from Sa Re Ga Ma smiled at me. Sometimes, even among very familiar music, one song pops out and remains stuck into your heart and head. These 2 albums are loaded with incredibly familiar and much-loved ghazals from Hindi films, but last week Manhar Udhas’ ‘Tu is tarah se’ etched itself into my head and heart. Nida Fazli’s lyrics are drop-dead gorgeous and that simple, haunting tune, though very similar to Khayyam’s immensely likeable but single-tune music, is thoroughly endearing!
Mathileka pichiga – Shakti (Telugu – Mani Sharma)
Yeah, I know…this is yet another Mani Sharma song and there’s nothing new he attempts. But the man knows how to create an earworm. All the template regulars are in tact – simple, catchy rhythm, excellent vocals by Ranjith and Chinmayi and a super chorus (that has become the hallmark of the composer). And yes, wonderfully apt guitar!
Geleyane & Thara thara – Kempe Gowda (Kannada – Arjun Janya)
Who is Arjun Janya? I assumed, initially, that this film’s music was by the other Arjun (AP Arjun) and even the soundtrack’s sound seemed somewhat like the other Arjun’s. But it looks like Arjun Janya is a debutant and I must add the music, at least in 3 tracks, is fabulous. Geleyane is a lovely, breezy melody, while Thara thara’s vocal rhythm and the choice of Vijay Prakash + Shreya Ghoshal works wonders!
O teri, Percentage, Le ja tu mujhe & Bhoot aaya – F.A.L.T.U (Hindi – Sachin Jigar)
The first 2 are super fun…and funny. Love their take on Tamil and the usual irreverent tone. Atif’s his usual self in Le ja tu mujhe and Lehmber Hussainpuri’s Bhoot aaya is the soundtrack’s cool surprise element!
Kaun hai ajnabi & Mehki mehki – Game (Hindi – Shankar Ehsaan Loy)
Game is an interestingly composed soundtrack from the trio and is perhaps getting a lot of flak that is carried over from the film’s leading man (understandably so!). The sound is stylized and follows the trio’s music template from other Farhan Akhtar productions. I particularly love the mix in Kaun hai ajnabi…very catchy and funky.
Poovin manam & Chinnanchiru idhayathil – Narthaki (Tamil – GV Prakash Kumar)
The 2 songs that stood out for me, in Narthaki. The sound is very Rahman’ish, particularly in the latter. Poovin manam, on the other hand, sees him using a haunting, ambient sound, particularly that interesting ‘Hey’ hum that follows Harini’s opening lines and is used all across the song.
Kot, Aikon baikon, Tumi bhaabisa ki & Doba kobai – Looking Out of the Window (Joi Barua)
A really good debut by Joi Barua and I love the fact that he dares to sing in his mother-tongue despite that reducing the reach of his effort. This is a confident and assured debut and the language barrier really doesn’t deter enjoying the music.
Karuppannasamy & Malayuru nattama – Mambattiyan (Tamil – Thaman)
A largely templatized soundtrack, but for the 2 super catchy dancy numbers. The former is the usual hero-worship intro number, but Thaman whips up a wicked dance rhythm, while the latter has a killer hook in ‘Thottathellaam dhool parakkum’. Listen to it once and you’ll surely keep humming it!
Vennira iravugal & Ithayam pesuthey – Paesu (Tamil – Yuvan Shankar Raja)
The guitar literally makes Vennira Iravugal, along with Yuvan’s now-predictable off-key singing and quirky sounds. Ithayam pesuthey starts on a standard note, but Yuvan rocks with that lovely humming he gives to Reeta, that almost makes up for everything else in the song.
The ENTIRE soundtrack – Tanu Weds Manu (Hindi – Krsna)
One of the most enjoyable and complete soundtracks in recent times, in my opinion. Every song has been played and re-played by me many times. The best thing is that this is by a debutant composer!
Anthi nera, Kannale & Mata aloke (Thiru Thiruda) – Assorted artists
An album that had me hooked for at least 2 weeks. Mata aloke’s remix, in particular is a brilliant effort!
Moolipaattum & Aarutharum – Makeup Man (Malayalam – Vidyasagar)
Vidyasagar continues to deliver his fabulous, sweeping melodies almost exclusively in Malayalam. Moolipaattum’s violin usage and that hum-based tune is brilliant! Arutharum’s water-drops loaded tune is a lovely listen – the tune reminds me of some random Raja song though I’m not able to place it now!
Aasmaan – Dhoom (Call)
Call’s latest album has all of 12 tracks but it has a generic Paki-rock sound that uniformly feels…well, generic! Nothing stands out and nothing stays after the album is over either. Aasmaan (written and composed by Xulfi) is perhaps the only one that made me sit up and take some notice and is the reason why this album features at least in the monthly top recent listens list (and not as a separate album review!).
