Billo Rani is crowd-pleasing alright, but is also a tad too hackneyed techno-qawali. Neeraj Shridhar however scores big time in the very rhythmic and groovy, Pritam-trademark, Ish ka kalma. Hey...
Continue reading...Dus Kahaniyaan (Hindi – Gourov Dasgupta, Bappa Lahiri, Shafqat Ali Khan & Anand Raaj Anand)
Dus and Jaaniya are loaded with sloppy, uninspiring techno sounds. Gourov Dasgupta does better in the ballad-style Aaja Soniye, with interesting vocals by Sudhanshu Pandey. Mika’s Nachle Soniye is pedestrian,...
Continue reading...Rameswaram (Tamil – Niru)
Naan tharai nila is refreshingly fresh and pleasing, accentuated well by Svetha Mohan’s vocals and some scintillating violin pieces. Alaigalin osaigal ups the ante even further – one brilliant package...
Continue reading...Machakkaran (Tamil – Yuvan Shankar Raja)
Jigiruthanda has a curious confluence of sounds and a rather cheesy, hummable tune! Nellayile mannedutha starts off like a dated village track, but goes on to be a groovy, techno...
Continue reading...Azhagiya Tamizh Magan (Tamil – A R Rahman)
Ellaa pugazhum has stock rhythms but the tune, lyrics and grand interludes make it up, while Ponmagal vandhaal remix rocks, especially the imaginatively handled anupallavi. Nee marlyn is terribly abstract...
Continue reading...Aaja nachle (Hindi – Salim Sulaiman)
The jhumka’s missing in Bareily’s bazaar again, in Aaja nachle, but its constant rhythm change and zingy folk mix is delightful – Sunidhi in top form! Ishq hua and Is...
Continue reading...Vel (Tamil – Yuvan Shankar Raja)
Indha ooril has some juvenile lyrics and an assortment of sounds which will put Kothavaalsaavadi to shame. Kovakkaara kiliye is terribly routine with the same ‘ol chords and hooks, barring...
Continue reading...Pazhaniyappa Kalloori (Tamil – RP Patnaik)
Pattaam poochi and Vaa endraal are at least 20 years old and stale. Vayasu pasangala continues the dated feel but is at least rhythmically catchy with some existential rambling on...
Continue reading...Johnny Gaddaar (Sriram Raghavan)
With a truckload of interesting references, Johnny Gaddaar proves that audiences need not be treated as dumb asses looking for juvenile fun and that they do not mind getting sucked...
Continue reading...No Smoking (Hindi – Vishal Bhardwaj)
Adnan Sami’s effortless rendition of the jazz-toned Jab bhi ciggaret (!) is mesmerizing. The trance version pumps up the pace to manic speeds, sacrificing the nuances, but Sunidhi steps in...
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