Review : before I get into the review I have to start by saying I dont know a word of tamil. I had no idea about tamil music except for the link it had with a r rehman (and by then one was familiar with his work in bombay, roja etc etc). I was dragged to see this movie (and despite aishwarya rai and tabu as prominent cast members I was mega reluctant) what followed was one of the most enjoyable indian movies I have ever seen. the movie and the music simply flew beyond language barriers.... and subtitled as the movie was .... I was totally in sync with the movie and the music which was the essence of the film. I read some where that the director had refused to dub the movie in hindi/ english for he feared that the sheer poetry expressed so vividly in tamil would be lost in translation. all I can say is undoubtly though I enjoyed the movie.. if it had been translated... it would have the received the wider audience it so richly deserved. as far as the music goes given my lack of understanding lyrics all I can say is that till today kandukondein remains in my list of top 10 movie soundtracks ever. I dont feel the need to go into raptures about rehman as anyone reading this would know that the guy is beyond words. he is truly india’s new age tansen. my american friends who have heard his album were equally enamoured by the sounds of rehman. now for my favourites .... the ’’tabu in the desert track’’ ie.Enna solla poogiraai is the pick of the lot as it brings with it the mystic of arabia... colour and all the things we love about our larger than life indian cinema. I am not going to rate the songs as I think each number had its own place in every listeners heart. the next number which struck a chord was ’’Enge Enadu Kavidhai’’ where the pathos of lost love brought life to aishwaryas performance. (whoever says shes not a fine actress truly needs to see the movie)... the smaller nuances in the song set it apart such as the chorus, the male solo background for a few seconds as harsh winds blow on screen (sorry guys but for a non tamil speaking person I was relating to sound AND visual). the most contemporary piece in the album in my opinion is ’’Konjum mainakale’’ which had the most amazing beats ever (not the kind you would hear at a night club but the kind you enjoy over a long drive through coastal india... yes.. thats how this is enjoyed best). ’’Kannamuchchi Yenada en Kanna’’ got with it rhythm (damn its difficult to single any number out...) and carnatic music (and even though the song was picturised on aishwarya.. tabu stood out in the background as the epitome of grace). I personally prefer the all woman version. the title track ’’KanduKondain KanduKondain’’ is an amazing blend of east meets west... the use of violons in the background along with horsehoofs makes this song stand apart and places it in the most unique category of indian lyrics in a completely western ensemble. only rehman could pull this off. ’’Smi yai’’ is a song I have heard just so often that its lost its charm for me but please note that I have been hearing off and on since the movie came out so for first time listeners trust me... this one is on your lips for a long time. I know the album has one more song called ’’Suttum vizhi chudar thaan’’ which is the best picturised song in the movie. its set admist thunder, rain and lotuses and is set apart by aishwarya who plays the ’’wide eyed damsel who just found her prince’’ to perfection. unfortunately being a non tamil speaker.... I cannot do full justice to the poetry here. my tamilian friends tell me the lyrics and not the music alone place this song right up there. I know this is a long review but I wanted to let people know that music truly has no boundaries and even if you dont understand the language..... this is one timeless album which is a must have for any music lover. I finally believe my tamil friends who say that rehman’s work in hindi movies (while right up there) is short of the heights he has reached in tamil music. in my eyes rehman was anyway the best music director in decades but post this album... hes permanently etched a place in music lovers hearts.
Pros : the rythms, poetry and rehmans timeless touch
Cons: