Telugu Inti PeLLI...

I happened to catch the teaser of Allu Arjun's 'Varudu' meaning 'Bride Groom' yesterday. I have been hooked to the song "Aidhurojula PeLLi" ever since.

It goes something like this..

"Aidurojula peLLi, ammanti peLLi,
Tolichoopu lee leeni teluginti peLLi!
Varudu korina peLLi raamayya peLLi
Vadhuvu evaro kaadu seethamma talli"

There are 2 versions to this song. One runs for over 8 minutes and the other one is close to 5 mins. The latter is the one I am listening to as I am typing this one. Composed by Mani Sharma and sung by Hemachandra and Malavika, this song glorifies a traditional telugu wedding. I didn't understand most of the lyrics and will look to my 'sundhara telungu' speaking friends to help me here.

But irrespective of the language barrier, this song, I think, is a winner from Mani Sharma. The other version incidentally also has yesteryear singer Jamuna Rani crooning alongwith the aforementioned and a host of other singers.

Check this one out guys, its a pleasure to listen to this one!

For starters, here is the trailer video..

Rettachuzhi-Music Review

Rettachuzhi has generated quite a bit of hype coz of the unusual casting. K.Balachander and Bharathiraja will be seen together on the big screen for the first time in this flick directed by Thaamira and produced by director Shankar's S Pictures.

To add to it, the audio was released last week by Aishwarya Rai Bachchan!

Its always good to see someone like Karthik Raaja's name on the album. I liked his work in Achchamundu Achchamundu last year, especially the RR proved why he is considered by many to be supremely talented. Being talented is one thing and to convert the form into a big one when it matters is another (are you listening Mr.Yusuf Pathan?).

Karthik Raaja's talent was quite evident right from the days he shared credits with his illustrious dad in Ponnumani and Pandiyan (Ei Vanjikkodi and Pandiyanin Raajiyathil respectively). His Kaasumelae (Kaadhala Kaadhala) was no less than a trend setter. He followed it up with some brilliant work in Dumm Dumm Dumm and shone in bits and pieces in Kudaikkul Mazhai (who can forget the haunting Adiyae Kiliyae in the Maestro's voice), before fading into oblivion. As they say you are as good as your last hit in the big bad world of cinema! A few mediocre works here and there didn't help his cause either.

So Achchamundu Achchamundu was a comeback of sorts for this talented composer and hence the inninngs to follow obviously raises expectations, specially when the team he is playing with is an all star (atleast most of them) team.

On to the songs..

'Poochaandi Kannazhagi' has 2 versions one by Belly Raj (Kangal Irandaal fame) and Rita and another by Hariharan and Shreya Ghoshal. Quite a let down this one! The lyrics are quite unimaginative and pedestrian (erukkam poo mookkazhaga!! what?!). Belly Raj sounds so Ilaiyaraaja-ish in his rendition. Maybe Karthik wanted his dad to sing this version.

'Ada Bumm Bumm' is where the album gets a little interesting. Reminds one of the composers Ullaasam days. Very pleasant listen with neat arrangements. Rita and Violin Padma do a good job of the vocals. The violin interludes are the high point of this track.

Rahul Nambiar and Deepa Mariam (again of Kangal Irandaal fame) breeze through 'Para ParakiLi'. You get to see the talent of the composer in the fresh arrangements. The violin pitching in with a classical melody bit in the second charanam is so typical of Karthik Raaja. Watch out for the 'naarara reerara' from Deepa. Beautiful! Welcome back Karthik!

'Pattaalam Paarada' begins on a interesting note with the child chorus. A minute later you feel the tune meanders aimlessly and gets a touch noisy. The interludes are pretty well arranged, but that doesn't save the track and you end up hitting the 'next track' button sooner than later.

The pick of the track of course is the melodious 'Naan Endru Sol'. Again, there are 2 versions to this haunting track. One by Hariharan and the other where he is joined by Haricharan and Sriram Parthasarathy. This pathos track(s) has some beautiful moments with crystal clear rendition by the singers.

The beautiful usage of violins and arrangements, so typical of his dad proves yet again that there is quite a lot left in this talented composer, if only, he uses the opportunities effectively. But there is still something missing for this one to set the charts on fire. Reminds me of Yusuf Pathan's blazing 37 ball ton that went in vain. How I wish he finished it off himself without leaving it for the others?! Yeah! he was run out! wasn't he?

God is Merciful and Kind..

Of course he is! If not for his mercy and benevolence I am quite sure that I would be nowhere near all this great music that I am listening to right now, leave alone appreciating or talking about it.

When the songs of My Name is Khan were out, 'Sajda' sung by the Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Richa Sharma was the one that caught my attention right away, thanks to the promos. Sajda has some brilliant moments and owes its success to Richa Sharma's great vocals. I was bowled over by the piece where Rahat sings 'Palkon mein chupaaloon' supported by a brilliant chorus that sings 'Tera Sajda Karoon'. I was addicted to it for a few days before Noor-e-Khuda took over.

Noor-e-Khuda's beauty to me essentially lies in the part where Shreya makes her grand entry. A brief alaap and some swaras followed by some lilting moments make this a out and out winner from Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy.

'Tere Naina' didn't really hit me the first time. But this song is another roller coaster ride. Check out the Qawwali styled second part. Superb vocals by Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan! (This combo's 'Mitwa' from 'Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna' is one of my all time favorites)

But in all this I missed something scintillating, that I realised a little late. The piece-de-resistance according to me in this album is the Rashid Khan rendered 'Allah hi Rahem, Maula hi Rahem'. What a song!

Pious, soulful, mellifluous, lilting and what not! Rashid Khan breathes life into each and every word written by Niranjan Iyengar and possibly every note.

What a welcome change from the repetitive and mundane tunes and lyrics that the so called composers keep churning out! Its also quite different and refreshing from what the trio have been offering lately, after the success of Rock On.

"Kaise ishq se sajh gayi (meri) raahein
Jab se dekhi hai teri nigaahein.. ya khuda
Main to tera ho gaya"

God is merciful and kind, isn't he?

Listen to 'Allah hi Rahem' here..

Vinnaithaandi Varuvaaya Movie Review

"ViNNaiththaandi Varuvaaya" directed by Gautham Vasudev Menon starring Silambarasan and Trisha and is touted to be the first film that Rahman signed after his twin Oscars is about a aspiring assistant director played by Simbu (Karthik) falling in love (at first sight of course!) with Jessie, his house owners (good to Babu Anthony after quite sometime) daughter who live in the first floor. The rest of the film is all about how he woos her and whether she reciprocates or not. Did I hear some one exclaiming "Old wine"?

Not really.What sets this film apart is the narrative and all credit to Gautham for the script that keeps us engaged most of the times. Yes it is a slow paced movie, and drags a little in the second half. But you can't ignore the freshness in the screenplay and the narration.

Simbu is a revelation and this, without an iota of doubt is his best performance till date. There was never a doubt about the talent (atleast to me) and kudos to Gautham for having brought the best out of him. In a recent TV show Gautham had thanked Simbu for enacting Karthik's character beautifully. True. He is so apt and plays his part to perfection especially the subtle expressions in some of the montage shots are superb.

Trisha looks beautiful and is adequate. Her chemistry with Simbu is quite good. Ganesh playing Simbu's friend has some really good moments and one liners.

But this movie well and truly belongs to A.R.Rahman. His music is the heart and soul of this film, though I thought the rocking 'Aaromale' could have been used in a better way and in some places montage instead of lip sync would have been a better option. Nevertheless, Gautham's ability to extract the best from his music directors is proved yet again.

I personally believe that this soundtrack is arguably Rahman's best works in recent times. Lyricist Thaamarai's lines are simple and straight and also quite different from her previous works. This could be her turning point to the next level.

Manoj Paramahamsa's cinematography is pleasing to the eyes as each location is captured in a picture perfect way.

Final word: Albeit being a simple love story this is quite engaging barring a few moments in the second half. If you like the music of this film you will enjoy it.

I am humming "Swasthi Swasthi Sumuhurtham, Sumangali Bhava MaNavaatti...."

Addiction...on its way!

An addiction according to the english lexicon can either be positive or negative. A positive addiction is one that enables a beneficial habit, that outweighs the cost involved.

Music to me is a positive addiction. 'Addiction' because invariably there is something or the other playing in my system or in my 'system'. The positivity aspect is something that every music fan can relate to and I believe needs no elaboration. Trust me, this habit invariably outweighs the cost involved.

Language has never been a barrier to me when it comes to choice of music. I enjoy anything and everything, whether it is MalayaLam, Goan, Telugu or Kannada, as far as there is 'music' in there. As a matter of fact, I never knew a word of Hindi, leave alone Urdu, when I first got addicted to the music of 'Shahenshah-e-Qawwali' Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Sa'ab.

Of late I have been exploring a lot of MalayaLam film music. MFM has been a favorite ground for Maestro ILaiyaraaja and more often than not he has been in swashbuckling form here (a la VVS Laxman at the Eden Gardens). The song I plan to share today is as magnificient as VVS' 281, one that is quite classy and stylish too.

Guru (1997) directed by Rajeev Anchal, starring Mohanlal and Kaveri, had some amazing compositions from the Maestro viz., Aruna Kirana Deepam and Deva Sangeetham Neeyalle, which are immensely popular too. For a long time I believed that these are the only 2 songs in that album (I have not seen the film yet) until, in 2007 I chanced upon a collection of Raaja's MalayaLam compositions titled 'Deva Sangeetham' (how apt!) that contained all the songs from this film.

"Minnaaram Maanaththu Mazhavillodinjallo" sung by Sujatha is an irresistible piece of work that triggered another round of the now familiar positive addiction. This song is not so popular even among the hardcore MalayaLam music followers that I have met.

It all starts with the guitar in the prelude that leads to a refreshing Santoor bit. The rhythm section make a seamless entry and the violins playout a scintillating melody before a brief rhythmic pause. What ensues is a spell binding treat in Sujatha's honey fresh voice ably supported by a equally vocal bass guitar. I suggest you grab your headphones to make the most of this bass guitar marvel.

The first interlude is melody personified with the violins and the flute. From the lyrics (as much as I can understand) it appears to be a song glorifying mother nature and its pristine beauty. Watch out towards the end of the charanam. Is that the bass guitar that plays that Mandolin like sound? Awesome!

The Veena and the violins engage in a conversation mediated by the guitar in the second interlude before the flute passes the baton back to Sujatha and the bass guitar... and the feast continues.

I have read somewhere Sujatha stating that this is her favourite song. I am not surprised!

The addiction begins here...



I am not sure if this song was picturized as I have never seen a video of this song anywhere. If you know of one, please pass it on.
Got the answer..
Here is the video link to Minnaaram Maanaththu….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaET21Mv1IY&feature=related
Cheers!