Vinnaithaandi Varuvaya (VTV) Music - A Review

Much awaited from ARR after Sakkarakatti and his Oscar, Vinnaithaandi Varuvaya's music held high hopes way ahead of its release. And when it came, it amazed everyone. According to me, this is one of ARR's most quirky and experimental albums in recent times. The songs have a completely different approach and do not follow any standard patterns. And that is exactly what gives the album a raw and exotic appeal which doesn't conform to usual mass standards.

Omana Penne: Benny Dayal, Kalyani Menon
Much was said earlier about Naresh Iyer being the next Karthik and Benny Dayal being the next Naresh Iyer. But with all 3 in the album in their comfortable home zones, its difficult to decide who is the best. Benny Dayal has proved his mettle yet again with this genre. The very unusual usage of classical instruments like the violin and nadaswaram in the background bolster the contemporary rhythm remarkably. This one seems to have left quite an impression on the man by the Mallu lass. Looks like we are going to hear a lot of Omana Penne in fusion music competitions in India.

Kannukul Kannai: Naresh Iyer
Pacing faster than the rest of the songs in the album, this one has some funky techno beats and involves a lot of added sound mixing. Would someone clarify if the opening is a violin or a cello ? If it really is just a violin; only ARR can make it sound that way. We've heard better from Naresh Iyer, but this is definitely not the best of the lot. The persistent hero is not going to let it go easy. The woman has to submit.

Anbil Avan: Devan Ekambaram, Chinmayee
I have almost begun to expect Chinmayee to sound different in every album. How does she manage to do it ? Its a delight to listen to Devan too, his voice just eases you out. Personally I love his voice in the last 20 seconds of the song. Celebrations are in the air. Church music, a disappointed Jeyaraj at his loss for not doing what he has always done and the white vision might just be complete with this track. The girl can't fathom anything beyond our man.

Aaromale: Alphons Joseph
Rock Band aspirants - here is your anthem. Take it and vanish. Yes yes, the strings are very Pink Floyd and Nirvana-ish; we all know that. But shut up and listen to what follows- then go jump. Where did this man come from ? I can almost imagine the crowd going crazy in concerts when this song comes up. Swasthi swasthi sumuhurtham could just be the next chant. There's a strange intensity juxtaposing the softness in the song and more violins, dear lord - have mercy. Aaromale is bound to get you high. No exaggerations! Best of the lot and my pick of the album for endless loop listening sessions.

Hosanna: Vijay Prakash, Suzanne, Blaaze
One minute into the song and you think - ok, so this is going to be the haunting soothing melody, but this serpentines into a foot-tapping, jive-worthy pop. Suzanne's crooning is a like a breeze on a sultry day, you are left with wanting more. Blaaze's rap gives us some hip to hop. Our man is calling out to the girl and he even offers his other heart for her to shatter. And she says Hosanna!!

Mannipaya: Shreya Ghoshal, AR Rahman
Ok, here's your haunting soothing melody. Please don't brand this as the next Munbe vaa. The woman is asking for forgiveness in her honeydew voice and even the most cruel person in the world would oblige her. She seems to have gone the extra mile to get the pronunciation right. Every time Shreya Ghoshal utters Mannipaya (3:45 - 3:57) - it is sheer musical magic. Can some tell me what raga this is? How can I not say something about THE man in this track. Rahman's nasal wheezy high toned voice is unmatchable in this song. He sounds slightly different from what he does usually, that's probably because of the nasal undertone. Lesser said, the better. Just close your eyes and sway!

Vinnathaandi Varuvaya: Karthik
When did we last listen to Karthik sing for ARR ? I could not relate to this song instantly. The unconventional approach is a little hard to take in at first. But it is like tasting beer for the first time, you don't like it at all - but still keep drinking. Beautifully unplugged and very queer.

Vinnaithaandi Varuvaya with its February release, perfectly sets in the mood for Valentine's Day. The Rahman-Gautham combination seems to have sparked a curiosity already. Let's see if the attraction surpasses the Harris-Gautham partnership. But overall, VTV as an album is a delight !

Delhi 6 - Music Review

AR Rahman sure knows how to live up to his name and fame. I can go on writing about this album, but somehow I find myself comparing it to the charm that Alaipayuthey/Saathiya created. It makes you feel happy about yourself.

The album opens with a devotional song, that does not really invoke a prayerful instinct as Ik Onkaar or O Paalanhare or Pal pal hai bhaari. But somehow this seems more like a wedding song than a prayer. Maybe its because of the all women playback and the dholaks.

Arziyan:
My respect for Javed Ali has increased multifold with this Sufi qawwali. Teaming with Kailash Kher, the song has a divine feeling to it. The jugalbandi in the second antara and the opening by Javed Ali is hair raising. The Islamic side to Delhi(ala Jama masjid, Red Fort et al) is brought out beautifully in this song.

Bhor Bhaye:
A complete-full-fledged-classical-thumri. A woman with a honey coated voice and a legend who has literally stripped every swara in music. A delight for every person who appreciates classical music. Winding, complex alaaps and big expectations from Shreya, and I bet she's lived upto it.

Delhi 6:
Wild ! Insanely brilliant stuff. Brings out the true spirit of the capital in a hip-hoppish style. Total upbeat score.

Dil Gira Dafatan:
Ash King is a popular British singer. But somehow his singing doesn't appeal to me. But what leaves me curious is the usage of the word "Dafatan". How many times have you heard it really ? It means, "suddenly". Chinmayi has 4 lines to herself and breezes through like a zephyr. Serene, yet rustles and refuses to settle down.

Genda Phool:
Think of a wedding'ish folk with someone like Rekha Bharadwaj of "Namak ishq ka" fame. And now think of techno beats along with her nasal undertone. Throw in a little raucous cuckoo'ing. Hard to imagine? Listen to this track.
Fusion at its best and the man has to be lauded for only he can pull off such a thing without making it sound awkward.

Hey kaala bandar:
This reminds me of some mocking song as well, but I can't quite place it right now. I'm probably high on music. Quite funky and I'm raising eyebrows at Srinivas in such a song. After Zindagi from Yuvvraaj, I'd lost hope on him to sing fast paced numbers, leave alone be part of one. This song has familiar bits from Dil ka rishta (Yuvvraaj)

Masakalli:
Before you ask me what on earth it means, its named after the type of dove that you see sitting on Sonam Kapoor's head in the video. The song has a casual attitude to itself and is very easy going. You feel yourself being carried away by Mohit Chauhan in the mataks. :P

Noor:
A poem. Solemn. Heartful. Period.

Rehna Tu:
The opening reminded me of Rangeela for a moment. Somehow I am not able to describe what I feel about this song. The arrangement and usage of vivid instruments that one can't distinguish, its a treat to any hard-core music lover.

Quoting Prasoon Joshi's line from one of the songs -
Gali hai deewano ki Dilli 6 !