The title song makes up in energy what it fails to do with nativity despite singing about ‘Gowdru’ hotel! Ondhe jeevana is good old Yuvan! The template is all there to hear and enjoy; catchy and highly listenable. Kshanvu kooda is no different – vintage Yuvan dance number that Sanjana Kalmanje aces, barring the occasional […]

Early morning could have easily been an Arjun Janya song; passably catchy song with absolutely nothing to indicate Charan Raj’s involvement. Gunu gunuguva too is so very Arjun, where he seeks dollops of Harris Jayaraj inspiration! Sanjith Hegde’s Sid Sriram’ish rendition keeps it likeable. Wah re wah‘s catchy rhythm helps it sail through, while Yaarige […]

Ba baro‘s energetic rhythm and Vyasa Raj’s enthusiastic singing keeps it in good stead, though the tune is standard-issue. In Sanje hothu, Arjun infuses Thyagaraja’s Swara raaga sudha in Sankarabharanam-raaga seamlessly to create a lovely melody handled fabulously by Indu Nagraj. Besides Armaan Malik and Shreya Ghoshal’s presence, Mathadu nee also has a very-Bollywood sound […]

The highly listenable Roopasi and the title song perfectly fit the Sonu-Mano Murthy-Mungaru Male template, while Kere yeri has a simple, equally charming sound. Roopasi’s Shreya version, Kannadi illada oorinali is a lovely listen as well, while Shreya rocks the wonderfully pleasant melody of Ninna snehadinda, with a gorgeous Hindustani base. Vijay Prakash’s spirited vocals […]

The title song is a heady, foot-tapping number, stringing together Rajkumar and Vishnuvardhan film titles! Vijay Prakash is expectedly fantastic. Arjun infuses manic energy in Dhool‘s rhythm, though the actual tune is more gimmicky. Tea angadi munde is typical Arjun Janya; an intentionally corny tune riding on a foot-tapping, faux-classical base… Vyasaraj does the honors […]

Janaganamana‘s easily catchy pop sound is significantly spruced up by Raghu Dixit’s endearing vocals. Rapper Chandan Shetty’s digitally processed version does a darn good job in Baramma baare‘s electro swing vibe, while Haricharan gets an easy winner in Mula mula, a wonderfully lush melody with a strong whiff of Charukesi raaga. Pi pi pi‘s highly […]

Chanda avalu starts, and retains, a lovely vaudevillian sound, even as it progresses to a beautiful high, with a phenomenal first interlude that seems to be modeled on raaga Keeravani (shades of Minsara Kanavu’s Vennilave vennilave?). Midhun is so good with the vocals! In Nennillade, Midhun hands over the reigns of the feathery melody to […]

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 vocals that holds the song together. The song’s EDM mix is atrocious. Somebody say is a complete u-turn in tone! The song, sung by rapper […]

South Indian film music’s current North Indian darling, Armaan Malik earns his standing singing Aalisu baa exceptionally well. His singing perfectly syncs with the song’s three layers, the other two being a slightly retro-reminiscent percussion and a brilliant layer of strings. Belakendare ups the ante significantly! In what seems like Hamsanadham raaga (Bantureethi kolu!), Arjun […]

Yaarivanu hilariously compares Puneeth Rajkumar to ‘loaded gun’ and ‘Kohinoor gem’ in a corny tune that seems completely incapable of any hero worship, its intended objective. Appu Dance is far worse, repeating the ‘Twinkle twinkle little star’ phrase amidst stunningly pointless music. Puneeth himself fares much better singing the Jackson-ode pop in Yaakingagidhe. The title […]