Why do I call this the half-review? Because I don’t understand Tamil and hence can’t review the lyrics, which to me are as important as the tunes themselves...
Having said that, Virumandi is an album worth buying even if you don’t know Tamil... the melody present throughout the album is exquisite...Illayaraja brings to modern Indian film music what other music directors so often lack - simplicity. No synthesiser laden tunes, no artificially heavy beats, just fine melodies. Yes, I do like ’’modern’’ music, but many a times the heart wishes to listen to something simple...whether calm and soothing or peppy and energetic...either way, simple and natural. And of course, Shreya Ghosal’s voice is always a very attractive add-on. This girl is fabulous...yes, her voice is not very suited for non-melodic songs (those are best left to Sunidhi Chauhan, another very talented youngster), but when it comes to melodies, she is the best new singer in India...and to think until recently I could listen to her voice for free at the annual Durga Puja festivities in our colony (yes, I lived in the same colony as her)...
Another fine, fine album from the genius called Illayaraja.