Showing posts with label Ilayaraja. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ilayaraja. Show all posts

Thursday, January 08, 2009

Naan Kadavul - Music Review

On hearing the songs of Naan Kadavul for the first time, I sensed the underlying theme in the songs is one of either theism or empathy with the blind and the weak. Let me go one by one:

Om Siva Om Om Siva Om Ruthira
Vijay Prakash

The tone of the song is as given in the title is one of Rudram. This tone is initially set by the blowing of conches and the sounds of Udukkai at the start, which is then brought down by the Om Chants in praise of the Rudra Shiva; the vocal then continues the praise of the Lord. A noticeable fact about the song is that it is entirely composed in Sanskrit (need to confirm this, but lyrics is nowhere in Tamil). When I was thinking the song will keep on increasing its tempo, it slows down to include another 30-40 seconds of slokas. In spite or may be because of this break in the tempo, the song, post the slokas, builds up the tempo quickly in tune with the tone of the song. When the first utterance of 'Aham Brahmaasmi' occurs, the tempo reaches its crescendo and it does make one remember the gems of Thiruvaasagam. I adore this song for the number of Omkaras and the Rudram in it .


Kannil Paarvai pona piragum
Shreya Goshal

After the ferocity in tone of the earlier song, this one is exactly opposite. With a mood of pathos, a nice melodious tune, yearning voice of Shreya Goshal and the simple, powerful lyrics will make one empathize with the plight of blind orphans. The melody in the song is not allowed to flow owing to the strong thumping background beats which probably are conveying the pathos tone of the song. There is one small note in the song which I guess is a direct copy-paste from one of Thiruvaasagam's songs. At some points in the song, I thought Shreya's voice was too high pitched and the words at those moments were not legible as they were in the other segments - which get exposed more so because Ilayaraja sings the same song in his own voice later in the album.


Maatha Un Kovilil Mani Deebam
Madhumitha

Probably the shortest song I have heard - this one runs only for 42 seconds. With hardly a couple of lines of lyrics, the song I must say is really well sung with the tone being slightly more upbeat compared to the earlier song. This song reminds me of the 'good' (good as in good, with absolutely no pun) songs sung in the electric trains of Chennai by blind people, this I say with utmost respect to every one involved in the song and to the blind singers. I say so mainly because of the clarity with which every word of the song is uttered by the playback singer.


Amma Un Pillai Naan
Sadhana Sargam

The tone of the song is one of reverence and self-pity backed up by excellent lyrics. Though the content of the song is such, the tune is more merrier than the earlier songs and hence the mood is light while the lyrics are not so. I wonder what the reason of this mismatch of mood and words could be. The main spoilsport of the song, though, is the playback singer. Sadhana's high pitched voice towards the end of one stanza is appreciable, but the pitch does not come down for the start of the next stanza and the lyrics are not legible in multiple places.


Oru Kaatril Alaiyum Siragu
Ilayaraja

No one can bring life to a song with his/her voice like the maestro. This one is with the same tune of the earlier song "Kannil Paarvai pona piragum", with 90% similar lyrics but this one is much better than the earlier one; every single word of the lyrics is legible unlike the one sung by Shreya Goshal. I somehow get to feel this one is kind of a eulogy to the character singing the earlier song.


Pitchaipaathiram Yenthi Vanthaen
Madhu Balakrishna

This is a purely devotional song praising the almighty and praying for complete surrender. The lyrics of this song are simple and conveying the meaning exquisitely. I must admit I mistook the singer, Madhu Balakrishna, to be someone who is related to the great Balamuralikrishna. It is not the sweetest voice around, but definitely reminds me of another great KJ Yesudoss. To me, this song is the best of the lot.


As a regular listener of Ilayaraja's Thiruvaasagam, I could not resist comparing the present one with His magnum opus and I was able to observe some common notes between the two. This could have been so just because of the similarity in the tone of the songs. Overall, I would say the music album of Naan Kadavul is definitely a must-have, must-listen one. I think the songs with female singers could have been better sung. Ilayaraja, I guess, is still unable to find a replacement for S Janaki. The album has only increased my expectations for the movie, Naan Kadavul.


Snippets of Naan Kadavul lyrics I liked:

Vidhiyenum yezhuthellaam vizhi neeril azhiyumo?

Pengalai silaiyile thozhuginra ulagame, yaen sol?

Kanaavil kooda inbam, kaanaathathu enna jenmam..

Oliyai pole oru thunai, vanthu sendra thunbam yaarkkum undo?

Engengum inbam irunthum, un pangu ponathengey?

Porulukku alainthidum porulattra vaazhkaiyum thurathudhey

Pitchaipaathiram Yenthi Vanthaen
Pindam enum elumbodu sathai narambuthiramum adangiya udambenum
Pitchaipaathiram Yenthi Vanthaen

Monday, May 28, 2007

Cheeni Kum - Maestro's music

I was pleasantly surprised to know the music track of Big B - Tabu starrer Cheeni Kum is composed by Ilayaraja. The tracks are mostly refurbishment of his popular earlier tamil tunes - which is both a positive and a negative. Positive as we get to relive the moments of bliss again in an Inox or a PVR, the negative, of course, is we are not getting any new compositions from the maestro. It is definitely a welcome break for the bollywood fans as they get something different from the largely homogenous work of the other music directors.

Sunday, October 29, 2006

Madai thiranthu - a Tamil Rap

I got the link to this video from one of my friends in orkut. I thought it was some virus till I saw the domain name - youtube. I was really surprised to see an Ilayaraja song mixed well with rap (I dont know the differences between rock, pop and rap and I am arbitrarily using the terms). The lyrics, at places where I could decipher the words, is also interesting. Though copying is bad, copying well isn't - as long as it is not plagiarized.


Courtesy: YouTube

Thanks to Sivakumar, I got the lyrics for the same...
Yogi B Natchtiram "madai thriandhu" Rap Lyrics

makkalukku ne eduthu sollu

dam it's going to blow
thaavum nadhiyalai naan
baby u should know
koovum siru kuyil naan
isai kalaingan en aasaigaL aayiram
ninaithathu paliththadhu

dam it's going to blow
thaavum nadhiyalai naan
baby u should know
koovum siru kuyil naan
isai kalaingan en aasaigaL aayiram
ninaithathu paliththadhu

en urai thuvangu mun nalla ullangalukku nanri
nanri thaaye ~ nee idu~thangi thandhai neeyo ~sumaithangi
pasi kodumai nadai pathayil urakam
aasai kidathayil~kaaranam iraivanin irakam
ethanai emaatram anu dhinam avamaanam
edhaiyum thangum ullam thodarum isai payanam
tholaivu vaanam poda vendom natchatiram
thodarndhu poradum kaliganin manam

thotakal thulaikathu anu gundu thagarkkadhu
avamaanam en uyirey alikkadhu
adi karam en kanavai thadukkadhu
karuppina sol isai maidham kidakkatum
sethapin soli isai | selvanthan | pirakkattum
rekkai koondil viruppangal ini nigalum
brahmikavaikkum paatey ini thodarum
pudiya parimaana padai eduppom
natchathirangalin jananamathai mudivu eduppom

dam it's going to blow ----- (2)

angara thanduvom matmajothil~adaiyum neram
aay thiru mugam sen nirumbulee kondu garbam
andha sarasaram adangee alambel vaaai thalam.
sutham nilavaadhu adiga budiga natpu nelabey kolabey sedhapey badhbey sedhabey sumandhu thenna maram aaka naanga neeka
vidabey vidabey vidabey vidabey un karunai kalaivaaney
isai thaayey kalai arul thaa nee
ullai needhi indha rap paaatathil aaga mothatthil
pasuthoppol theeya puli anaindhavanukku unna
we lie vallavn manadhil aasai kottai katti pozhuludupokku avan ivan paathu vetti peychu
peychukku ennada peychu pasangala ippo ennada aachu vandha nasaikkal kai kodi serthadhu
varumo theriyadhu vallavanin maru pagudhi annaney pugal keetu padam vidum thodangumey idhu voru

netren arangile nizhalgaLin naadagam
indren yedhirile nijangaLin dharisanam
varungaalam vasantha kaalam
naaLum mangalam
varungaalam vasantha kaalam
naaLum mangalam
isaikkena isaikindra rasigargaL raajjiyam
yenake dhaan

Evanukkumey theiryadhu, onakku sonnal puriyadhu
now to take you back flashback when i was just little
My senti couple next to a corny temple.
i was a inga gundu paiya...enga appa appa chellam
ottagam maari ponom.ennai malai vandha vellum.
pudhiya palaiya ulagugal maara ..
angilamum tamilum kalacharangal modha
kandu pudichenada indha hip hop
andru mudhal inru varai market dont stop
market dont quit sodhanai vedhanai en kanner thudaikka appam thumbikkai en nambikkai
Kola lumpur ho....chennai london tamilan mc mudhalvan vallavan rap isai kalai vidhiin sambrathayam
madai thirandhu nadi alai puli ka pol nee thaavum


As an after-thought, I am including the video of the original song also. For the lyrics of the original song, scroll down...

Courtesy: YouTube

The lyrics of the original song:
madai thirandhu thaavum nadhiyalai naan
manam thirandhu koovum siru kuyil naan
isai kalaingan en aasaigaL aayiram
ninaithathu paliththadhu ho
Nanananna thananananna nananana

hey ho papappaaa (well sung by SPB)

kaalam kanindhadhu kadhavugaL thirandhadhu
gnanam viLaindhadhu nallisai pirandhadhu
pudhu raagam padaippadhaale naanum iraivane

pudhu raagam padaippadhaale naanum iraivane

viralilum kuralilum swarangalin naattiyam
amaithen naan

madai thirandhu thaavum nadhiyalai naan
manam thirandhu koovum siru kuyil naan
isai kalaingan en aasaigaL aayiram
ninaithathu paliththadhu ho

netren arangile nizhalgaLin naadagam
indren yedhirile nijangaLin dharisanam
varungaalam vasantha kaalam
naaLum mangalam

varungaalam vasantha kaalam
naaLum mangalam

isaikkena isaikindra rasigargaL raajjiyam
yenake dhaan

madai thirandhu thaavum nadhiyalai naan
manam thirandhu koovum siru kuyil naan
isai kalaingan en aasaigaL aayiram
ninaithathu paliththadhu ho

I would be happy to see more music videos like this....