Govind Menon offsets Peethambaran Menon’s mildly strained vocals in the title song, a pleasant-enough song with lovely violin phrases. Vaikom Vijayalakshmi headlines Neeyo njano, an enthusiastic song that seems to...
Continue reading...Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada (Music review), Tamil – A R Rahman
There’s a whiff of MS Viswanathan in the simple and sweet melody of Avalum naanum! Vijay Yesudas rocks this solo, recalling his dad’s prowess more than once. But that this...
Continue reading...Run Antony (Music review), Kannada – Manikanth Kadri
Jhanak jhanak is a cleverly obvious and catchy take on and Puneeth handles it perfectly. Marula is a lovely duet, made better by Soham Chakraborthy and Supriya Lohith’s singing, and...
Continue reading...Hitman – June 11, 2016
Originally published in The Hindu. Pona usuru – Thodari (Tamil – D.Imman) Prabhu Solomon, who resuscitated Imman’s career with Mynaa, is back with another film, with his favorite composer in...
Continue reading...Kabali (Music review), Tamil – Santhosh Narayanan
Ananthu, Santhosh and Gana Bala are at their harmonious best in the bombastic opener, Ulagam oruvanukka! Roshan Jamrock’s rap verses around Kabali Swag add to the pulsating number’s impact. Gana...
Continue reading...Hai Apna Dil Toh Awara (Music review), Hindi – Ajay Singha, Pervez Quadir and Subhash Pradhan
Chu liya, Bhool saari baat and Dil ke rahi are the kind the songs that made Indipop tolerable in the 90s and 00s! Easy-on-the-ears, guitar’y pleasantness and well sung (Papon...
Continue reading...Niruttara (Music review), Kannada – Niladri Kumar
Niladri creates a heavily stylized rock variant of the evergreen hymn in Aigiri Nandini. Hoo mele hani, featuring Junne Banerji and Savani Mudgal, is an immersive melody that showcases Niladri’s...
Continue reading...Amma Kanakku (Music review), Tamil – Ilayaraja
It may be unfair to compare Maths tough with its Hindi equivalent in the same situation (), but on its own too, with Srinisha’s constipated vocals and an awkwardly jumpy...
Continue reading...Thodari (Music review), Tamil – D.Imman
Adadaa ithuyenna, with a profusion of violins and impeccable singing by Haricharan and Vandana is easily likeable. Oorellam kekkude is that spritely tune that Imman reserves for Shreya and it,...
Continue reading...Most promising Indian music composers – version 3, 2016
The last time I did this list, it was (and , before that). It’s time there’s another list like this. Except Hindi film music, where multi-composer albums are almost the...
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