Then:
1) An unknown director called Sankar, an unsuccessful hero Arjun, a sensation in the making, AR Rehman, a winning film Gentleman.
SubNote: Chiku bukku catches the nation’s dance floor, En veetu thottathil catches the melody lover’s heart.
2) A one time hit director Sankar, a dancing sensation as hero, a superstar MD in the making AR Rehman, a winning commercial success called ’’Kadhalan’’
Whole nation said in one voice ’’Mukkabla’’
3) A ’’will he be lucky 3rd time’’ Sankar, a legend Kamalhassan, a wizzard ARRehman, a critically acclaimed and box office hit, Indian.
Every girl’s smile in the country started resembling ’’Telephone voice’’ as the song becomes a huge hit.
4) A winning director, a world beauty, a master composer, an average success film. Still ’’Haira Haira’’ and 7 wonders instantly reminded the country of Ash’s beauty.
5) A known success and most awaited director, story initially penned for Rajinikanth but finally done by Arjun. Result: a moderately successful commercial hit but made people claim ARRehman reserves his best for Sankar.
6) A ’’what is he going to do next’’ director, 5 new faces, ever trusted ARRehman, a box office bomb but every college student sings ’’Enaku oru girlfriend venumda’’ and makes Adnan sami synonomous with ’’Boom Boom’’ in the south.
Now : A ’’please redeem yourself’’ Sankar, a maestro ...er ... wait ... no ...... Harris ’’is it him??’’ Jeyraj for music !! with the national award winner Vikram. The result ...... ?!?!?!?!?!
Moral of history
Never fix anything until it is broken.
This american philosophy must have meant a great advice to Sankar, had it been given early.
Verdict
If you expect a kind of music that will blow you out of the world, one single song that will justify the film shot for 2 years, one musical bit that shows the extraordinary promise revealed in harris Jeyaraj’s Kakha Kakha, then please feel free to be disappointed.
This film, probably bears a lot of expectation not only because it is a Sankar’s film but also because he has broken the successful winning combination with ARR and naturally anyone with half a brain size of laloo, would expect an equal class of ARR.
The reason why I mentioned all of Sankar’s previous films was for the musical richness given by ARR. Sankar owes his success as much to ARR as to his direction and production costs. It was ARR’s music that prompted the people to see the good films in the first place. I have personally waited in a Q at Landmark to buy Kadhalan album merely knowing that it is a Sankar film. I pity people buying this album with even half the enthusiasm.
ARR’s superfluous musical donation has stopped. ARR is to Sankar what Ilayaraja was to actor Mohan’s films, the life giver.
Songs
Kadhal Yaanai : This was the first song I heard and I thought this one as a prelude to other great numbers to follow. But this is probably as racy as it gets. A fully techno number, it is very catchy. As always a generous mix of english words (Dr.Ramdoss, are you listening?). It has a great sound mixing. Should be a super number to hear on a car driving fast.
My Verdict : Hit among techno loving youth. Rural people would find this crap.
Stranger in BLACK : A musical piece that starts somewhere similar to ’’Thoodhu varuma’’ from Kakha Kakha but deviates immediately. Has a ’’I know what you did last summer and Gothika’’ feel to it. Chorus and strings are mixed beautifully. Should serve as a great piece to enhance the mood of the film. But having heard greater theme musics from IR and ARR, I did not find it out of the world.
My Verdict: Feels nice, not a music that I would cherish
Iyengar Veetu Azhagae Starts with Saint Thyagaraja’s pancharatna keertan ’’jagadha nandha’’. Set in raag Naatai this number sung by Hariharan and harini goes on pure classical way. One good point to mention is that the MD has done full justice to the raag by keeping it in its pure form. Hariharan’s voice speaks volumes of his classical training, but would this song prompt even a class audience buy the album?? Answer is no. Decent lyrics and the recording makes the lyrics clearly comprehensible, which is a very good trend coming.
My verdict: Pleasing to the ears, but selling point of the song ???
Kannum kannum Nokia Another techno western number, with the usual vaali styled lyrics like ’’nokia, mafia’’. For me this number is very ordinary and kindles no passion to write about.
My verdict: Ordinary lyrics, ordinary musical value, ordinary song.
Andankaka Starts with an unusual and almost irritating gibberish sound formed by an epilepsy of tongue. But thank God, it sounds a little more pleasing as it progress. Sung by Tippu, Jessie Gift, KK?? and host of others, this racy number has a catchy beat and some nice interludes. But again this is the most generous comment. Not at all a Sankar movie’s number.
My verdict : Should sound great with the visuals but music value ?????
Kumari Another classical number set in raag Sama, this is another good work by harris Jeyraj. Starting with a mock aalap this song is probably the best classical melody. Sung by Sankar mahadevan, harris makes full use of this brilliant classical singer. This song amply suggests the importance of pronunciation in any language. The second interludes escape to a more western way of expression with sax and piano but still maintain the classical flavour.
My verdict : Good classical number but again will it sell???
Overall this is a huge letdown by Harris jeyeraj and Sankar’s standards. I am disappointed.