Mehram is almost entirely powered by Arijit Singh’s impactful singing. Clinton’s music is aptly restrained, letting the smooth melody reign with Arijit leading it, and it taking on an anthemic,...
Continue reading...Hitman – November 19, 2016
Originally published in The Hindu. Nee uravaaga – Paambhu Sattai (Tamil – Ajesh) Ajesh Ashok was the toast of Tamil Nadu in 2009 when he won the Airtel Super Singer...
Continue reading...Vallavanukkum Vallavan (Music review), Tamil – Raghu Dixit, Ajesh
Ajesh’s lone composition, Oorumona orathula is a lyrical oddity, with Anthonydasan claiming that Che Guevera will join his next political rally. Raghu Dixit opens his account with Karakudike rani, a...
Continue reading...Sundaranga Jaana (Music review), Kannada – Ajaneesh Loknath
Ajaneesh opens Kalkond bitte with what sounds like (African/Saharan) Tuareg guitar and hands over the song’s reign to Haricharan. Hari, for his part, is in blistering form, seamlessly moving from...
Continue reading...Dear Zindagi (Music review), Hindi – Amit Trivedi and Ilayaraja
Love you zindagi has an ebullient tune, but is too steeped in predictably—including Jasleen’s now-familiar woman-child voice—Amit Trivedi’ish sound (the club mix, featuring Alia, has more spunk). Ditto with Vishal...
Continue reading...Hitman – November 12, 2016
Originally published in The Hindu. Kadavule vidai – Rum (Tamil – Anirudh) While Rum has a globe-trotting mix of genres (including hiphop and reggaeton!), the most interesting and addictive song...
Continue reading...Paambhu Sattai (Music review), Tamil – Ajesh
Neeyum naanum has a lovely, easy-on-the-ears lilt. That it’s also mighty short, with just one pallavi and charanam, and the faint echo of Rahman’s Indira number Odakkaara Maarimuthu makes it...
Continue reading...Maaveeran Kittu (Music review), Tamil – D.Imman
Pooja’s singing and Imman’s claps-led orchestration work beautifully over Elanthaari‘s enticing melody. The reprise offers a lovely variant, with Sniti Mishra’s mighty unique vocals and a fresh background. Pradeep Kumar’s...
Continue reading...Hitman – November 5, 2016
Originally published in The Hindu. Ae dil hai mushkil – Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (Hindi – Pritam) When you listen to the title song of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, you...
Continue reading...Force 2 (Music review), Hindi – Gourov-Roshin and Amaal Mallik
Beyond the jingoistic ode to the Indian Army, Rang laal has nothing going for it, given it is a loosely strung set of dialogs and occasional outbursts of so-called tune....
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