Nallani kanulalo and Ye piduguki both start with whistling but they turn into dramatically different songs. The former moves on to a neat Russian-folk like prelude, to eventually a lilting...
Continue reading...ilayaraja
Raja’ish!
Today is April 1. You have noticed me referring to some songs as Raja’ish. That word is not going to fool hardcore Ilayaraja fans, but, for the average music listener,...
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...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...Nil Battey Sannata (Music review), Hindi – Rohan & Vinayak
Murabba is poor man’s Amit Trivedi; Bombay Talkies song title, contemplative guitar-led tune… though Neuman Pinto’s singing seems flat. Maula is more Amit, but Nandini Srikar’s accomplished singing holds it...
Continue reading...Oyee (Music review), Tamil – Ilayaraja
It’s difficult to decide what is more cringe-worthy in Eden Garden – Raja’s music or the bizarre lyrics that perhaps wanted to refer to Garden of Eden, but ends up...
Continue reading...Thaarai Thappattai (Music review), Tamil – Ilayaraja
The earthy Hero intro theme brings back the heydays of Karakattakaran. In Vathana vathana, Kavitha Gopi and Priyadarshini’s full-throated singing and the captivating tune evoke pleasant memories of Veetukku veetukku....
Continue reading...Abbayitho Ammayi (Music review), Telugu – Ilayaraja
Reena mecareena‘s Smooth Criminal (Michael Jackson) origins are really hard to ignore, and a bit strange, given this is by Ilayaraja! Still, it’s a catchy, easily likeable song, sung with...
Continue reading...Kida Poosari Magudi (Music review), Tamil – Ilayaraja
Nee aattukkutty and Oru kaalathula have all the standard tropes of an Ilayaraja song, but no matter how much the backgrounds try, the tunes are incredibly outdated. But despite Prasanna’s...
Continue reading...Rudramadevi (Music review), Telugu – Ilayaraja
Mathagajame has the grandeur befitting a historical’s intro song, but eventually turns into a melange. Chusukovoy‘s rhythm and tune is perfect for… 1985. Now, it sounds bizarre. Ditto with Allakallolamai...
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