Music Review (Tamil): Mr.Chandramouli
Music Composer: Sam CS
Kallooliye instantly reminds of the composer's underrated album Kadalai and Sam CS's vocal processing further cements the similarity to Kannukulla Vandhu from Kadalai. However composer makes up for that with the trendy and cool arrangements in the background with ample support from Swagatha Krishna in the second half. Kandapadi is an intriguing and imaginative musical concoction where rustic vocals of Guna meets the Jazzy world. Apart from the free-flowing tune structure, there is a lot to like in the arrangements starting from brilliant Nathan's clarinet solos in the prelude to playful keys and violin solos in the interludes.
Yedhedho Aanene takes time to sink in the minds of the listeners especially with the Pallavi and the unsettling soundscape, but Sam CS makes it work with the stunning Ilayaraja'esque charanam portions. Though Sam CS's does a decent job with respect to vocals, Chinmayi steals the show with her pitch-perfect rendition and the arrangements by the composer continuous to be captivating one especially the Carnatic guitar strums in the first interlude.Sam CS ensures that the most pedestrian track in the album also has few interesting elements to it and Raajadhi Raja falls into the category. The tune starts with interesting playful tone but turns out to be awkward hodge-podge tune bits which fail to turn into an enjoyable song. Ranjith's vocals being the only highlight in an otherwise passable song.Theeradho Vali's piece de Resistance is absolutely Manonmani's Sarangi solos which sounds almost as another singer along with Haricharan. Sam CS sets the haunting soundscape for the melancholy and the lead singer sounds fabulous and it's a delight to hear the singer's improvisations along with the Sarangi bits.Mr.Chandramouli's waltzy soundscape is gorgeous and the composer adorns the tune with the beautiful strings section by Chennai Strings orchestra and the Kamalakhar's melodica in the prelude. Brinda Sivakumar, Sister of Surya debuts as a singer and does the decent job with respect to vocals supported by the composer himself.
Verdict: Sam CS is on a roll and though Mr.Chandramouli lacks an instant appealing tracks, the composer's tunes and arrangements are definitely intriguing and enjoyable.
My Rating: 8/10
Pick of the Album: Yedhedho Aanene, Kandapadi, Theeradho Vali.
P.S You can listen to the songs in Saavn.
Music Review (Telugu): Naa Peru Surya Naa Illu India
Music Composer: Vishal-Shekhar
Sainika treads on the path as expected with Vishal Dadlani handling the vocals and Ramajogayya's jingoistic lyrics to prod the hero introduction song. The song may work well with the visuals but unfortunately, the tune is strictly average one with few nifty guitar solos by Meghdeep Bose in the interludes. Lover also Fighter also is another decent track with Shekar Ravjiani's questionable Telugu dictions irks consistently. The tune is marginally better and the title hook sounds absurd with the auto tuning in the lead vocals. Tapas roy's strokes in the first interlude are the only takeaway from the passable track.
Beautiful love is the breezy track which works easily despite sounding more like a Hindi song may be because of Armaan Malik involvement and the tune flow. However, Armaan Malik and Chitra Ambadipudi ace the romantic ballad effectually while composer duo's gentle arrangements backed by Meghdeep Bose's guitar work to its favour. Arijit Singh gets featured in Telugu song for another Bollywood composer other than Sunny MR and the tune is tailor-made for the lead singer vocals.The folksy chorus sounds to be the bit dissonant with the main tune, however, Ramya Behara makes those portions easy to sail through. Vishal- Shekhar adorns the arrangements with an impressive usage of Kazoos and string sections.Yenniyello is the song stays true to the native soundscape without any Bollywood flavour and Malavika aces the singing portions effectively with ample support from the chorus.Iraga Iraga is another mandatory mass number and the track sounds to be straight out of DSP's stock tune.Rahul Sipligunj and Mohana Bhogaraju's sprightly singing being the solo highlight in an otherwise perfunctory song from the composer duo.
Verdict: Vishal- Shekhar's return to Telugu cinema after Chintakayala Ravi is strictly average one and the album lacks the native touch despite occasional sparks in the arrangements.
My Rating:6.5/10
Pick of the Album: Beautiful love, Yenniyello, Maya
P.S You can listen to the songs in Saavn.
Music Review (Hindi): Raazi
Music Composer: Shankar Ehsaan Loy
Ae Watan has an undeniable Mirzya vibe in the chorus portions and the serene blissful tune sung wonderfully by Arijit Singh. SEL did a commendable job with respect to arrangements especially the soaring string portions accompanied by punctuating consistent percussions. The highlight of Dilbaro is tapas Roy's Rabab and uncredited Sarangi solos while Harshdeep Kaur delivers the folk tune with her impeccable vocals supported by ever reliable Shankar Mahadevan in the second half. After Binte dil, Arijit get similar vocal range track song in the title track Raazi and the singer aces it while SEL adorns the background with ample support from Tapas Roy and Arshad Khan's Esraj. Composer uses the Agar Dil phrase to create the tripping effect throughout the song and the under played esraj solos towards the end is a nice touch from the composer trio. The serene tone of Ae Watan's male version is replaced by much buoyant Sunidhi Chauhan version with Shankar Mahadevan Academy's chorus portions. Once again composer's extract the best from Tapas Roy in terms of arrangements.
Verdict: After a hiatus in 2017, Shankar Ehsaan Roy delivers their best to Meghna Gulzar's Raazi and the melodies are enchanting and makes me go back to their Mirzya soundtrack.
My Rating: 8.5/10
Pick of the Album: Raazi, Ae watan(both versions)
P.S You can listen to the songs in Saavn.
Music Review (Malayalam): Aravindante Athidikal
Music Composer: Shaan Rahman
Kanne Thaai Malare is trademark Shaan Rahman melody aced by the whispery vocals of Vineeth Srinivasan. Composer layers the melody with the minimal arrangements dominated by keys and the soundscape instantly takes the listeners back to his Thattathin Marayathu days. Rasathi's ARR'esque melody accompanied by Josy Alappuzha's flute and Cochin strings arrangements makes it a pleasant listen. Liya Susan Varghese's sargams and native percussion elements are enchanting and the Rasathi loop is an instant catchy one despite Vineeth Srinivasan's edgy vocals especially in high pitch portions. Anne Amie gets another brilliant song Anandhame for Shaan Rahman after Edhu Meghamaari in Kochava Paulo Ayyappa Coelho and the singer's pitch-perfect rendition makes this an enchanting listen. She is becoming my recent favourite singer in Malayalam industry especially after Kilivathilin from Pullikkaran Staraa. One wishes that composer could have churned this one as the full-fledged song instead of less than two minutes one. Endhe Kanna's exotic sounding arrangements and Megha Josekutty's mellifluous vocals is another undisputable winner from the composer. Shaan Rahman ends the melodious soundtrack with the fast pacing melody (and also devotional one I think going by the lyric, though not sure) Kripaakari Devi sung by mithun Jayaraj and the chenda rhythm is the nice touch by the composer despite sounds to be the synthesised one.
Verdict: Shaan Rahman once again proves his mettle with the melodious soundtrack of Aravindante Athidikal.
My Rating: 8/10
Pick of the album: Anandhame, Rasathi, Endhe Kanna
P.S You can listen to the songs on Saavn.
Music Review(Malayalam): Kammara Sambavam
Music Composer: Gopi Sundar
Njano Raavo's melodic punch and the violin solos are irresistible with Ilayarajae'sque soundscape in the interludes. Haricharan Seshadri aces the rendition while Divya S Menon gets the finest Kannane tune intermittently and the lady aces it like pro. Azhikullil has more mod outlook compared to the period in which the film is set and the jingoistic tune is strictly average except for the buoyant usage of trumpet and brass band. Karthik and Divya S Menon did adequate job in terms of vocals. Anjaandu Bharikkan is another pedestrian sprightly tune prodded by Murali Gopi's energetic rendition and foot tapping arrangements.
Verdict: Njano Raavo is an undeniable highlight of the short soundtrack from Gopi Sundar.
My Rating:7/10
Pick of the Album: Njano Raavo
P.S You can listen to the songs in Youtube.
Music Review(Telugu): Bharat Ane Nenu
Music Composer: Devi Sri Prasad
Bharat Ane Nenu's consistent rhythm in the background takes me back to Sunny MR's Okkariki Okkaram from Dochay and surprisingly the song didn't turn anthemic. It's a great respite that the song of this genre stays relatively low and the modest techno beat sounds along with the David Simon's vocals makes this one an engaging listen.Farhan Akhtar's terrible vocals aside, I don't know's tune strictly resides in the Devisriprasad's territory and the composer relegated the singing to Farhan Akhtar and the tune sounds tailor-made for the composer itself. The only solace being the easy-going buoyant trumpet and brass sounds adorned generously throughout the track.
Vachaadaayo Saami is the most generic template song which he usually reserves for Kailash Kher and Divya Kumar. The tune is hardly interesting and sounds highly pedestrian track from the composer and the background is filled with the terribly outdated mix of varied percussions and chorus.Andrea Jeremiah owns the Ide Kalala Vunnadhe and the singer aces the rendition in an impressive manner. Devi Sri Prasad throws engaging synth dominated rock sound throughout the album while the singer takes care of the rest to elevate the song with her stylized vocals. O Vasumathi's Pallavi portions bear the composer tag completely, however, the song turns better towards the charanam portions despite the rap being the complete letdown. Yazin Nizar and Rita able to make this passable song bearable.
Verdict: After an impressive Rangasthalam, DeviSriPrasad sticks to tried and tested tunes for Bharat Ane Nenu and the tracks are strictly average one from the composer.
My Rating:6.5/10
Pick of the Album: Ide Kalala Vunnadhe, Bharat Ane Nenu
P.S you can listen to the songs in Saavn.
