Kannungala chellangala is truly intriguing, and captivating! It also has horrendous vocals by Yuvan, besides Selvaraghavan’s inventive lines like ‘Setha naai mela thaan ethana lorry thaan’. Maalai varum has a...
Continue reading...Sheesh Mahal (Music review), Telugu – Vivek Sagar and Piyush Mishra
That OP Nayyar’ish charm in Piyush Mishra-composed Hota hai carries it beyond his oddly craggy vocals. In Bhola sa too, Piyush sounds equally awkward, but Rahul Ram obviously handles Piyush’s...
Continue reading...Kattappava Kanom (Music review), Tamil – Santhosh Dayanidhi
Sid Sriram starts off in his characteristic style in Hey penne, but Santhosh Dayanidhi tweaks the tune adequately soon and the result is a highly enjoyable mix that includes a...
Continue reading...Kahaani 2 (Music review), Hindi – Clinton Cerejo
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...
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