Akka maga is Deva 2.0 gaana, with a significantly more modern sound. Gana Vinoth’s blistering rendition outplays S.P.Raja Sethupathi’s vocals in the other version, Kannu Rekha. Uravey is absolutely gorgeous,...
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Maayavan (Music review), Tamil – Ghibran
Mella mella has all the hallmark of a Ghibran song – multi-layered orchestration, excellent vocal harmonies that beautifully lift the anupallavi and interludes and a saccharine-sweet melody perfectly handled by...
Continue reading...Preethiya Raayabhari (Music review), Kannada – Arjun Janya
Nangu beka makes apt use of Puneeth Rajkumar’s vocals in a simple, catchy tune. Ammi ammi is predictably outdated, though with a passable enough rhythm, though it is Vijay Prakash’s...
Continue reading...Sakhavu (Music review), Malayalam – Prashant Pillai
Madhumatiye is quite an earworm, with its reggae-meets-retro charm, and sung particularly well by Shreekumar Vakkiyil, with a distinct nasal twang that amps up the old-worldly feel, and Preeti Pillai....
Continue reading...Thondan (Music review), Tamil – Justin Prabhakaran
The title song is yet-another generic high-pitched call for some cause. Chellakutti joraa, like Justin’s Ethithu veetu kaliflowere (Raja Mandhiri) has a gently playful and retro’ish touch, with a particularly...
Continue reading...Neruppuda (Music review), Tamil – Sean Roldan
Aalangiliye is incredibly pleasant and so very likeable across the melody, the interludes, the singing, with a more-than-generous dollop of early Rahman, particularly Aathangara marame. The gentle, lilting kuthu Karukku...
Continue reading...Begum Jaan (Music review), Hindi – Anu Malik
Asha Bhonsle adds gravitas to the ghazal’ish Prem mein tohre, but age-related strains are evident in her vocals. But compared to Kavita Seth’s oddly detached rendition, Asha’s version seems more...
Continue reading...Georgettan’s Pooram (Music review), Malayalam – Gopi Sundar
Joleem kooleem‘s reetigowlai raaga base is its clear and absolute highlight. Within that gorgeously likeable raaga, Gopi and his chorus have an easy winner. Interestingly, even Omal chiriyo seems to...
Continue reading...8 Thottakkal (Music review), Tamil – Sundaramurthy KS
The profusion of keys and violin that starts Nee illai endraal paves way to the soft melody so very well, even as Haricharan and Vandana Srinivasan converse in perfect sync....
Continue reading...Mister (Music review), Telugu – Mickey J Meyer
A dash of 80s synth pop. Almost Harris Jayaresque bare essential sound. But Mickey layers them on a lovely melody in Edho edho bagunde, with fantastic long phrases sung beautifully...
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