It was Aug 15th, 1992. I came to know that there are some special programs in TV.Anyway, it is a school holiday for me.So I decided to spend my time watching TV.It was ’’Oliyum Oliyum’’ which had some songs from the new films released that day.After 2 or 3 uninteresting songs, there was this song by Prabhudeva which rocked.The dance steps were really good..His body is made of rubber or what?The song ended and I thought it was the end of the program..No..it was not..there was yet another song...It started very well..The picturisation was very good..the lyrics were out of the world..By the end of the song, I realised that I had watched a song which was going to be a big hit..The song ended but the tune was still in my memory.Is it Ilayaraja?No..it was not like a Ilayaraja song.The song was from a movie called Roja by Manirathnam..Hey..I remember him ..This is the guy who directed Thalapathi...But who is the music director? The next thing I did was head straight to a music shop.
The guy in the music shop was playing the same song.I was listening to it when that guy said ’’Super song, Saar!’’..Yes, I agreed and I bought the cassette for that film..It was an impulsive buy..Aha..35 Rs..but then, that cassette changed my perception of how film music should be.The song was ’’Chinna Chinna Aasai’’ -.It was A R Rahman’s first film.
I still maintain that Roja is one of the best albums that ARR has made.I feel that it is so complete.There are songs that talk about nature, patriotism, romance....Here are my thoughts about the songs in detail.Since lyrics played a very important role in these songs, I would be commenting about it too..
This song by Minmini was supposed to have been sung by Chitra.But since she had some problems in coming to studio, it seems the chance went to the track singer, Minmini.She has done full justice to the song.The ’’Elelo’’ bit by ARR is simply superb.Vairamuthu is known for his songs about nature. ’’Ponmaalai Pozhuthu’’ from Nizhalgal which was his first song had lots of descriptions about it.This time, he goes ballistic. Sometimes , you wonder how he could have thought about it.In this film, this song is sung by a simple village girl.And it is very imaginative.
Some samples are :
’’Vaanavillai Konjam Uduthi Kolla Aasai’’ . (I would like to wear the rainbow as my dress) . Some wishes seem to be absurd but then all poets have this poetic license to be absurd sometimes.
My favourite song that has been picturised very well..Arvindsami in a red sweater in a dilapidated house surrounded by greenery..He is thinking about his wife..and he misses her a lot..Vairumuthu conveys his emotions very well..The humming in the beginning of the song by Sujatha is just out of the world.
My favourite line is ’’Mullodu Thaan Muthangala(’’Should I be kissing only the thorns forever?’’) . The hero says that he is reminded of his sweetheart wherever he goes and whatever he sees.Even the flowers and the wind that touches him reminds some aspect of their relationship...In the end , he raises a question about whether he is destined forever to kiss only the thorns , that is, stay here forever...Even a short time seems to very long when his wife is not there near him..Lovely imagination, I thought
’’Tamizha Tamizha’’ has simple https://lyrics..but the background is very good.This song comes in the background in the scene when ArvindSami tries to extinguish the fire on the Indian flag. It oozes patriotism.
My favourite line is ’’Vidiyum Vidiyum Ullam Mayangathe ’’ which means that we shouldnt be discouraged and there would come a day when our efforts would bear fruit.On a personal note, I can never forget this song because a friend of mine who sang this song in our school culturals died in a road accident the next day.He won the first prize for that song.....
vairamuthu sometimes goes overboard with his lyrics in this songs..This song is one of them .He could have toned down the https://lyrics...But just check out the music by ARR. It gives you a feeling of as if you are on top of a mountain..and it is filled with snow..
I was not very much impressed by this song except that it was sung by SPB. The lyrics are vulgar ..but the music was good particularly the way he ends the song.
Overall, I think this album can be better appreciated if we can listen to it more than once. The lyrics except for one or two songs add to the quality of the song .It would certainly be in the list of my top 5 favourite tamil albums.