Milliblog Weeklies – India’s only multilingual, weekly, new music playlist.
Week 315: YouTube | Spotify
(DISCO’s second single, Kaunka, is not yet available on Spotify, but is, in the YouTube playlist)
Jhumka Patola – Yeh Prem Mol Liya (Himesh Reshammiya) – While I wasn’t that impressed with the two earlier songs from this film, Himesh does considerably well in this one, even though he seems to be mashing two of his own earlier songs: ‘O Soniya’ from ‘Ishq Hai Tumse’ and Aaja Bheeg Le Piyaa! But, in Shreya’s stupendous singing, the new song brilliantly comes alive!
Mangal Rang, Judi Jodi – Ramayana (A R Rahman) – Hindi: While I was only amused by the silly (bigoted is a better word) “accusations” of Rahman infusing Qawali into this song, the song itself seemed less interesting that what I was expecting. It’s at best a passable song with excellent singing by both Arijit and Shreya, with the key hook (Rang Hai Rang Hai) reminding me more of Kandukondain Kandukondain’s ‘Sandhana Thendralai’, which was totally avoidable by Rahman, for a project of this scale and heightened attention. Judi Jodi is more like it, though. A slightly more Ramayana’ish melody though this too sounds more like glorified Rajshri Film’s musical template. I’m overall disappointed with what A R Rahman (and Hans Zimmer) have provided for this film (though I believe there are more to release considering the horrendously broken musical release pattern). I’m aware of the gargantuan responsibility and expectations but what I hear now is definitely not befitting either the film or Rahman’s legacy. Plus, the producers have released another song called “Main Ram’ composed by Jam8 and Prateek Walia, so I’m not sure who ‘owns’ the musical approach to this movie at all!
Dard-E-Dil Dard-E-Jigar – Gunmaaster G9 (Himesh Reshammiya) – Hindi: To be honest, I was ready to not like the song as soon as Himesh started singing in his trademark heavy nasal way. But then the ‘Dhadkan ka dhadhakna’ phrase landed and it made me sit up! In Akasa’s voice, that line gets even better (than Himesh’s version in the opening)! Not bad at all!
Kannum Kannum – Hello Kadhal (G.V. Prakash Kumar) – Tamil: A simple, lively, rhythmic song from GV Prakash that doesn’t aim for much but does what it does really well. Good singing by both Kapil Kapilan and Sivaangi.
Kaadhal Kasakuthu – Jolliya Iruntha Oruthan (Yuvan Shankar Raja) – Tamil: Shades of early days of Yuvan’s career (considering his work for director Rajesh M) even though the excessive digital shenanigans in Adithya RK’s voice irks.
Ruku Ruku Rukmini – Alias Rukmini (Vijai Bulganin) – Telugu: With the song’s relentless folk rhythm and Anurag Kulkarni’s endearing vocals, Vijai gets much of the song right. It’s just that the actual tune is less interesting than the sum of the whole song.
Bhaja Govindam – Reality (Bheems Ceciroleo) – Telugu: I was sure Bheems wasn’t reusing or recreating the famous bhajan, but what he does by using just the 2 words as the opening to his song is pretty impressive. Much of that credit should go to his choice of singer, Vaikom Vijayalakshmi, who does a phenomenal song and just goes on to prove how underrated she is.
Bling – Aadarsha Kutumbam AK47 (Thaman S) – Telugu: The only song that I liked from this film’s soundtrack, and Thaman does well bringing Bjorn Surrao to sing this catchy Calypso-styled song.
Ithino Aadame, Kaunka – DISCO (Manikandan Ayyappa) – Malayalam: I believe the original is a famous Malayalam Christian folk song (Naadaan Paattu) and I recall hearing this piece in a much older Malayalam film – Ee Naadu (1982) with music by Shyam, in the song, ‘Ambili Manavatti’. The way the original appears in that song is quite interesting – it starts off as a Kerala Muslim folk song being sung for the wedding of a Hindu couple, and then a drunkard starts singing his Christian folk song, and so on! In Manikandan Ayyappa’s skillful hands, the folk song transforms into a pulsating techno song that rocks the dance floor! The transformation reminded me of how Vishnu Vijay transformed a Mappila Paattu in Sulaikha Manzil’s Jil Jil Jil. With Kaunka, Manikandan proves that Ithino was isolated experience! This one too is incredibly catchy, with its frenetic Afro beats and energetic singing by rapper Veno Miss (Ameekha Liyana Ansar).
Peruth Nanni – 40 Days of House Party (Bibin Ashok) – Malayalam: Another hybrid fusion after DISCO’s Ithino Aadame! This one places what seems like a Malabar-area Muslim folk tune into a modern package and the ‘Peruth Nanni… Poo Mone’ hook lands after the opening one minute prelude brilliantly! Dabzee carries the song wonderfully with this impactful vocals.
Parakkum Thennale – Many Many Happy Returns (Govind Vasantha) – Malayalam: A very unlike-Govind Vasantha melody but I love it! It’s in the song’s many melodic and rhythm changes that I notice Govind’s musical fingerprint! That ‘Minnal Kathunne’ change in melody is a lovely touch, and the way it leads to the ‘Thaaraniramizhiye’ phrase, and eventually to the beginning of the song… delightful medley! Solid singing by both Zeba Tommy and Crishna.
A Kapuskoondya, Thodi Tu Jaga De – Kapuskoonda (AV Prafullachandra) – Marathi: I never miss any of AV Prafullachandra’s work because, much like Charanraj MR in Kannada, he always has something up his sleeve worth observing. And in my opinion, AV Prafullachandra is one of the best in India right now who makes stupendous use of multiple voices and chorus elements in superb harmony. The title song, A Kapuskoondya, is a stellar example! While Avadhoot Gupte is absolutely outstanding with the singing, with him even bringing a multitude of accents and voices all in service of the song’s feel, observe how Prafullachandra builds the song!! It opens as a mild conversation, progresses to a rhythmic folk tune of sorts, and steadily builds to the infectious vocal chorus (by Devu Mathew, Fathima Henna, Alisha Mathew Thayil, Nidhi Saraogi, Velmurugan, Aravind Annest, Shibi Srinivasan and Aswath Ajith). And Thodi Tu Jaga De is the extreme opposite! A soulful, modern pop sound impeccably sung by Padmanabh Gaikwad, with excellent guitar by Keba Jeremiah! Observe the interlude that leads to the operatic vocal section… goosebumps inducing! I can’t wait for AV Prafullachandra exploring/getting to explore other language films… no, not Hindi, but Kannada, Malayalam or Tamil films, if it happens to him! I really wish he gets such opportunities.
Nee Thanne – Jubair Muhammed, ft. Hanan Shaah (Malayalam/Indipop): Jubair’s melody is lovely and Hanan does justice to it with his involved singing. The ‘Nee Thanne’ opening lands after an extended intro, and even Durwin D’Souza’s guitar interlude makes a great impact.
Karupp – Aksomaniac (Malayalam/Indipop): Yet another winner from Aksomaniac after Amsham, earlier this year! I really wish the music video has English subtitles instead of, or in addition to Malayalam (though you can enable it in YouTube and I highly recommend that you do) given the importance of what he singing – on skin color! It’s a searing and touching ode to the theme, with beautiful lines like, ‘En ahambhaaavangalum, Neettalum, Paapangalum, Irul aazhangalum, athum adambharam…’ (My arrogance, my sorrow, my sins, even my darkest crevices… seem ornamental today)! Musically, it’s a tantalizingly slow melody, with startling use of silence at the 1:30 mark, with only a clock’s tick-tock and a distant background music playing… till 1:52! Of course, I couldn’t help tracing ‘Ki Inka Aashiq, Main Ban Gaya Hoon’ from Mithoon’s ‘Maula Mere’ (Anwar, 2007) at places.
