Nice review Gayatri.... well written.
On Fri, Jan 15, 2010 at 2:56 PM, Gayathri Chandrakasan < gayathri_c...@yahoo.com> wrote: > > > Though it has just been two days since I bought the cd, nevertheless > for some reasons, I feel as if I've been having an age old "relationship" > with the album. To tell the truth, when I first heard the songs, I did like > the album for the overall presentation. However, as the songs kept playing > in my cd player, I noticed that there was something extra special about this > album. The more I listened to it, the more I'm engrossed with it. And the > more I'm engrossed with it, the more I'm unwilling to part from it. In fact, > I happen to come across a mail written by our fellow friend who claimed that > he now takes a longer route back home in order to have some time alone with > the soundtracks. The moment I read it, I just couldn't help but > smile...because that's exactly how I felt when listening to the album > myself...to spend some time alone with the album and to uncover the truth of > what's making it so spellbinding! > > The followings are merely my thoughts on my "new-found friendship" with > VTV. I'm not a professional commentator nor do I have a profound knowledge > as far as music is concerned, thus kindly pardon me if there's any > inaccuracy or mistake in the expressions and words used below. > > > *1. Omana Penne* > > Omana Penne starts on a blissful tune coupled with the soothing voice of > *Benny > Dayal. *I've always preferred Benny in soft melodies rather than in fast > beats or folk numbers. And as expected, Benny has done a wonderful job > here. The first saranam was given an "under-water-singing" effect which > reminds me of Blue*,* nevertheless* *the similarities ends there. > > > The Kerala portion on the other hand, has a heavenly rhythm which leaves > you asking for more. It's always a privilege to hear ARR's usage of ethnic > music, even if it's only for a few seconds and he has done an excellent job > here as well. And needless to say, *Kalyani Menon *was the perfect choice > for this. On a further note, the nadaswaram used throughout the song was > just mind blowing. Initially I had my doubts if the real nadaswaram was used > for this particular number nevertheless clarifications given by fellow > friends and a quick check with ARR's official website cleared my doubts. > Kudos to ARR and Natarajan for churning out an essentially ethnic and yet > modern tune. Omana Penne is definitely here to stay! > > > > *2. Anbil Avan* > > The techno sound at the prelude seems to have traces of Santhipoma of Enaku > 20 Unaku 18. To tell the truth, I didn't find this song to be particularly > astounding at first. However, repeated hearing has made me to change my > mind. Trust me, this song is "highly addictive".* Devan *did a great job, > needless to say. I couldn't think of any other singer who would have given > the song the same level of energy that Devan accomplishes. Nevertheless, I > must say that *Chinmayi* was a revelation. I've always had difficulties > identifying Chinmayi's voice as she has the talent of modulating her voice > texture and style according to the mood of each and every song of hers. > While she was soulful in Oru Deivam (Kannathil Muthammittal) and angelic in > En Uyir Thozhiye (Kangalal Kaithu Sei), here she seems to present a > western-based singing. In fact, when I heard this song for the first time, I > had mistaken Chinmayi's voice to Vasundhara Das'. A check on the credits > revealed the truth. She sounds amazing! > > > Coming back to the music arrangements, ARR has again surprised everyone > with his choice of genre for a song such as this. The song basically > expresses the lovers' dreams of their marriage. While most would have > settled for a melody for such a situation, ARR decided to grant a peppy, > foot-tapping number. And what an apposite choice that was. He effectively > brought out the elation felt by the lovers in a vivacious manner, while the > inclusion of the marriage tunes at the interludes provided a wonderful, > jubilant feel to it. > > > > *3. Vinnaithandi Varuvaya * > > I was pleasantly surprised that ARR used *Karthik* instead of Hariharan > for this soothing number. This would have been a cake-walk for Hariharan > who's a master in playing with the ragas. Nevertheless, I must say that > Karthik has done a commendable job. In fact, full credits goes to ARR for > using Karthik's voice in a very unconventional manner to such great effect. > Instead of opting for the open-throat singing (which I believe is Karthik's > plus point), ARR has brought out a rather husky side of Karthik here. Truly > amazing! > > > ARR has used minimum instruments here, letting the string arrangements to > do the wonders. And wonders they did! I was instantly attracted to it from > the first moment I heard it. In fact, I must say that I was amazed with the > whole presentation of this song. Definitely one of my favourites! > > > > *4. Hosanna* > > *Vijay Prakash* is back after the amazing job rendered in Fiqrana. Among > all the songs, Hosanna attracted me from the moment I first heard it. The > song started on as a slow melody but ARR quickly transformed it to a > fast tempo at the pallavi. Vijay sounds refreshing and he seemed completely > at ease with the high notes. I especially loved the way he presented the > "idhayam" portion which comes at the beginning and at the end of the song. > Absolutely delightful! > > > By the way, who said* Blaaze* sounded repetitive?? I don't usually like > rap and I was never a big fan of Blaaze, but I dare say that he was great > here! He seems to have adopted a more "Caribbean" feel this time which > sounded cool to the ears. *Suzanne* on the other hand has added charm to > the song with her blissful humming and chanting of "Hosanna". A highly > lovable number, I must say! > > > > *5. Kannukul Kannai* > > The song started with great violin score coupled with the usage of > percussion at the right places. The beautiful string arrangements at the > interlude needs to be specifically mentioned here as I felt ARR has done a > wonderful job with them. *Naresh Iyer* was truly amazing! The > boyish-sounding Naresh is now back with a matured and well-developed voice > and he handled the fast-pacy number gracefully. I admit that the lyrics of > the song have yet to grow on me but the amazing harmony of sounds projected > here is too extraordinary to give this a miss. Definitely has potentials to > hit the chartbusters! > > > > *6. Manipaya* > > The moment *Shreya Ghosal* rendered the first line, I knew that this is > going to be a special number. But nothing prepared me for the surprise I was > about to face. The whole experience of listening to this song just left me > speechless. So much so that the moment the song ended, I had the urge to > play it again and again. Shreya was just amazing. She totally connected with > the song. Not only had she improve her pronunciation to perfection but the > emotions she conveyed through her voice was so intense that you can't help > but feel the pain and grief she executes soulfully. And *ARR*...what can I > say about him? He just took the song to a higher level with his emotive > singing. Truly, this song is just made for them. > > > The lyrics didn't particularly sound poetic, nevertheless, they spelt out > the characters' feelings exceedingly well. The girl seeking forgiveness for > failing her lover, and the guy responding by attributing each and every > success of his to her was expressed poignantly here. In fact, the whole song > has a pathos feel lingering around it that eventually leaves you emotionally > drained. ARR has created a whole new dimensions to his music by not only > evading the usual pallavi-saranam-pallavi sequence, but by giving each and > every stanzas a life of its own. And adding to the magical effect is the > inclusion of the wonderfully crafted and meaningful Thirukural. What more > can you ask? > > I would whole-heartedly agree that this song is definitely the best of the > lot! Face it, "beautiful" is just too lame a word to define this song! > > > > *7. Aaromale* > > When Rahman infused rap into folk numbers, everyone was left awed by the > final product. So how would you respond now that he blends rock with ethnic > music? You can't respond, of course. You're just left flabbergasted with the > sheer brilliance of ARR. Alphonse was an apt choice for this number. His > powerful , solid voice suited the mood and style of the song marvelously. I > loved the slokas-like tunes which gives the song a native touch and ARR > inserts them well with the excellent support of percussion. If there's > anyone who can blend rock and ethnic music exceedingly well, then it has to > be ARR. The more I hear this number, the more I'm drawn to it. Phenomenal! > > > > Overall, Vinnai Thandi Varuvaya left me feeling completely contented and > excited. ARR has never failed to surprise me with each new projects he > ventures. This time around, I was not only elated, but I was thoroughly > absorbed and captivated with the final product. God bless ARR for triggering > a special feelings in our hearts through his magical music once again! > > > > > -- regards, Vithur
