Dil padosi hai (Haan mere gham) & Jhoothe tere nain – Dil Padosi Hai (Non-film – RD Burman, Asha Bhonsle and Gulzar)
Honestly, I had no idea about the existence of this 1987 album. I wouldn’t plead guilty either – while I love Pancham’s music, I’m not fanatic enough to go after everything he has ever composed or buying the new book on his life and music. I may perhaps do it for only one composer (Ilayaraja), but that is a different topic altogether. So, when I acquired this private album recently, I had limited expectations. But this album completely blew me off! It is almost like a time warp where I am listening to a fresh new, 80s Pancham soundtrack! While I love the entire album, these two songs stood out brilliantly – the former is a lovely filmy ghazal in a mode that Pancham was composing back then that reminded me of music from Sunny. The other song is my personal favorite! It has that unusual rhythm that only Pancham can conjure – one that sits uncomfortably the first time, but becomes mesmerizing soon after. Gulzar’s words all through this album is bloody inventive, needless to add!
Chembaavu – Salt ‘n Pepper (Malayalam – Bijibal)
I listen to almost everything that is released across the four southern languages and Hindi (and try to add Bengali too, occasionally). I may not have the time to write a review about *all* of them, but started taking advantage of this monthly list to mention the ones that stood out! This is one such track! Listen to it yourself – cool mix of the new and the traditional!
Neen ira bekkittli – Tuglak (Kannada – Arjun)
If I hadn’t mentioned the name of the composer, you could be pardoned for assuming it is by Harris Jeyaraj. Good song by one of the most promising composers in Kannada, however.
Maula maula & Saathiya – Singham (Hindi – Ajay-Atul)
Technically, as I had mentioned in my review too, this soundtrack, with just 3 tracks, is faultless. I have listened to these 2 tracks many, many times in most of my travel all through last month…and, I love them both! That said, given the composing duo’s legacy in Marathi, I do expect a LOT more from their next Hindi projects.
Little light of love – Éric Serra (The Fifth Element Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
If you ask me which film I have seen maximum times, it would be The Fifth Element. I’m a HUGE fan of French director Luc Besson’s body of work and this happens to be my favorite film of his. When I got this soundtrack recently, I could almost picturize the tracks against each scene and I was left wondering why I did not buy this album sooner! The eclectic nature of generes adopted in this soundtrack is breathtaking and while most tracks may need the film’s context to appreciate them fully, this song by Besson’s long-time collaborator is a wonderful listen!
Doodaa, Nadhiyile, Kaiya thoda veenaam & Oru naal vidumurai – Doo (Tamil – Abhishek-Lawrence)
Even as we start meme after meme on T.Rajendar, the man silently (or noisily, if you go by this song) blazes ahead in his inimitable style. The title song works for his street smart vocals and funky lyrics. Nadhiyile and Oru naal vidumurai are fabulous photocopies of the Yuvan Shankar Raja style of music and are mighty enjoyable! Kaiya thoda venaam grew on me – simple, catchy tune; V J Dhivya’s vocals is a big asset! Good debut by this duo!
Chatte batte – Chillar Party (Hindi – Amit Trivedi)
The only track that stood out for me in THE Amit Trivedi’s latest soundtrack.
Haal-e-dil & Title song – Bbuddah Hoga Terra Baap (Hindi – Vishal Shekhar)
While the former is a brilliant, ambient composition, the title song works for its sheer ingenuity. What started as a gimmick actually scores!
Kaalangathale & Yenna solla – Vengai (Tamil – Devi Sri Prasad)
Kaalangathale is Karthik’s safe zone and he seldom goes wrong in such solos. Yenna solla is a typical DSP number and MLR Karthikeyan gets a crackling hook here!
Velava, Meene vinmeene, Puraavaai & Kambi mathappu – Sevarkkodi (Tamil – C Sathya)
One of the most impressive recent debut soundtracks in Tamil. I see a spark in Sathya and these four songs stand testimony to it. Interestingly, I got an email about a possible source for Velava…though, I have to say that tune-wise both seem massively different, but in feel and spirit, there is a connection. So, listen to Sevarkkodi’s Velava and then this, featuring Susheela Raman and Kovai Kamala. Incidentally, some of the comments on this video are hilarious. My favorite is, “WTF happened to this people?? are they mental?” and if you see the video, the spirit is what Indians sometimes call ‘Ganja music’!
Ik junoon, Khaabon ke parindey & Sooraj ki baahon – Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (Hindi – Shankar Ehsaan Loy)
A wonderful soundtrack by the trio with eclectic sounds! Khaabon ke parindey is my personal favorite!
Mahaganapatim, Nagumomu & Brocheva – Music I Like (Non-film – Karthik and Sai Madhukar)
Brilliant and much-needed effort in Tamil Nadu. Karthik’s voice adds a rich layer to the kind of fusion attempted here.
Kanna katti kaathula – Markandeyan (Tamil – Sundar C Babu)
Sundar C Babu’s stock is running low and very quickly. He has, for some reason, despite being Veenai Chittibabu’s son, become the flagbearer of a kind of frenzied, modern kuthu track. It sometimes works, like it did for his debut score in Mysskin’s Chitiram Pesuthadi. This song from Markandeyan is nothign new at all, but that manic energy is captivating!
Chakkara maavin – Bombay March 12 (Malayalam – Afzal Yusuff)
Is this Sonu Nigam’s debut in Malayalam? Lovely song, beautifully sung by Sonu and Ganesh Sundaram.
