Originally published in The Hindu.
Aviyal – Aviyal (Tamil – Raghu Dixit)
Raghu Dixit has done Indipop, has composed for Kannada and Hindi films, and has also sung in Telugu more recently. Though he did have a Tamil song (‘Amma’, written by Madhan Karky no less) in his most recent pop album, Jag Changa, he makes his Tamil film composing debut with the title song of Aviyal. It is something that sounds perfect for his own vocal range, but he ropes in the wonderfully dependent Antony Dasan to sing this joyous outburst of a tune, layered with some whimsical vocal effects and nadaswaram. It flows so well, rhythmically.
Drive – Yanni (Album: Sensuous Chill)
The man with the flowing mane, known as much for his concert venues as his unique brand of new-age music is back. But it’s a rather awkward comeback of sorts, given that as many as 7 songs from the new album are reused from some of his earlier albums like Truth of Touch and Voices. The trademark Yanni touch is easily evident in the album’s best, Drive, but that could also be explained by the fact that it is a modernized, ‘busier’ version of his own song, Looking Glass, from the 1986 album, Keys To Imagination.
Kadhal kolluthadi – Ennul Aayiram (Tamil – Gopi Sundar)
Gopi Sundar extends his fantastic form to this relatively unheard film and his music props the films easily. Kadhal kolluthadi is the pick of the soundtrack with an incredible melody that seems to be using the same raaga as Ilayaraja’s iconic Telugu song from Maharshi, ‘Sumam prati sumam’; Gopi handles it in a punchy modern package. He also gets Najim Arshad and Mridula Warrier to deliver it to perfection and even adds his own unique nuances like the way he starts the anupallavi and charanam.
Sogasu sogasu anuraga – Game (Kannada – Ilayaraja)
The Kannada film Game that also has a Tamil version (titled Oru Melliya Kodu) has music by the veteran and this soundtrack is out before the Tamil version could release. The best of the soundtrack is surprisingly also the shortest – Sogasu sogasu anuraga. Raja chooses to sing this himself and it is one trippy affair with incredibly cool rock guitar. The sound is mighty understated with Raja’s languid vocals powering it, along with the fantastic bass.
Nenjorathil – Pichaikkaran (Tamil – Vijay Antony)
Tamil film industry must be the only one with the highest incidence of music composers turning heroes, with composers like GV Prakash Kumar and Vijay Antony assuming dual responsibilities. Vijay always demonstrated a unique sound and tunes, akin to composer Bharadwaj, that usually defies categorization. For his latest film, in which he both stars and composes, he has Supriya Joshi for a spritely melody Nenjorathil, that comes alive with the lively Hindustani-style rhythm.
