Thiruda Thiruda by Mani Ratnam, with P.C.Sriram and music by A.R.Rahman. It was one of those movies that had no logic and was purely entertainment movie. It was rumored to be entirely re-shot after MR did not like the outcome of the first rush. It was a big time flop at the box-office but had some of the best music and amazing camera work.
Rasaathi - Shahul Hameed & Co
A totally new voice was creating waves with the release of Thiruda Thiruda & Gentleman. Shahul Hameed it was !. Very different and pleasant at the same time, he was an instant hit with the audience.
It opens with Raasathi, and you can immediately bet your life, that you have never heard of such ’sounding’ song before in your life !. Pallavi is simple and awesome. especially, the lines ’nee pona en’. Vocal harmony is all you get for any musical backing or interludes.
Every single line gets a vocal harmony which nicely complements the line. Listen to porava ponava dhaan at 1.13 - 1.17. The stanza is finished with a nice hum by the lead with harmony continuing.
It conveys the emotion of sadness caused by separation, excellently well.
Rating 4.6 out of 5
Kannum Kannum - Mano & Company
Yet again, the song starts with vocal harmony. The first time I heard it, don’t know what hit you !. It was such a ’never-before-heard’ in Indian Film Music type opening. You can replay from 0.00 till 00.23 and it will never disappoint you.
Trend-setter, pathbreaking rock song - and appropriately rocks !
Rating 4.7 out of 5
Konjum Nilavu - Anupama & Chorus
What can one say about this song ? About the husky vocals, the awesome programming, jaw-dropping rhythm or the tune itself !. This truly was a master-piece song from ARR’s stable.
The end kinda wakes you up from the high-tech trance the song caused you to enter into :-) Only ARR !
Rating 4.7 out of 5
Putham Pudhu - Mano & Chitra
Sounds of thunder & rain greet you in this sweet melodious song wonderfully picturised in lush green background. PC Sriram and MR combo at its best ! Notes played by ’Bell’ signifying rain drops (ARR does that often). Flute chirps away as if birds are dancing to the tune of nature, when beautiful run through of piano happens. I can still remember, how my friends (AP & AS) and I were excited to place our head right in-between in the two speakers of his boombox and see how the piano-roll would travel between one speaker and the other !. Chorus singing, violins and flute form the rest part of intro for 1.05 minutes into the song, before the actual pallavi starts.
Very melodious, sweet, simple and wonderful song.
Rating 4.7 out of 5
Thee Thee - Carolene
Starting at 2.55, Tte second interlude IMHO is the best part in the entire song. The guitar plays amazing swaras from bahudhari. And you can keepo the inimicable Naveen on the flute away can you ?. Till you reach 3.30, the song maintains the racy tempo with fusion ambience produced via the rendition of Bahudhariraga. Listen to 3.27 - 3.28, how wonderfully Naveen executes that piece !!!!!!
Wonderful ! Watch out the bass riffs throughout the song ! nice one !. Fusion at its best. Even though western, carnatic style are in the race, in the end, the listener is the winner :-)
Rating 4.7 out of 5
Veerapandi Kotayile - Mano, Unni Menon, Chitra
Chitra (?) opens the song with a hum with immediately, a very innovative rhythm pattern sets in. If I remember correctly, it was played with rings (worn on fingers) tapped against (something like) cocunut shell. The thumping of rotosets the pace for the song.
Suddenly the song seems to take a turn for the ’softie’ in you with ’rettai suriyan’. The pieces at 3.32 -3.36 distinctly brings a western classic touch to the song. ARR has used similar arrangements in Melissai (a very good song from ’Mr.Romeo’) and couple of other songs (that I forget now). The instrument combo of flute, violin and strings bring that effect I presume :-)
The second interlude is really string in its bass’est mode (if there is a term like that ;) ). I can’t seem to describe all the bends of the song in this section, but anyway within a brief period of 20 seconds, you get back on track with a normal theme and our now familiar ohh ohh and finally the chorus finishes off the song.
Pure and bold experimentation that gave us a brilliant song to like instantly. Sheer genius !
Rating 4.7 out of 5
The Album for many years was rated as the best every by ARR - I would still like to think, it was one among his bests with his combined variety of melody, fast paced, fusion and experimental music. There has not been many such bold attempts at defying trend and setting new trends. For that very reason this album, IMHO gets a rating that is higher than the highest of any individual song :-)
Overall Rating 4.8 out of 5 ; if you don’t have the album, go get it ! :-)