Music Review: Godhi Banna Sadharna Mykattu (Kannada)

Composer(s): Charan Raj
Listen to the songs online here: YouTube (GBSM)

Naa E Sanjege is wonderfully jazzy and a delightfully laid-back listen, set amidst a profusion of sitar and tabla, with singers Siddhanth and Sharanya Gopinath lending pitch-perfect vocal support in their respective versions. The classical-alt-rock fusion that's Komala Henne is impressively arranged, its guitar-sarangi blend working wonders for the gorgeous melody, even as singer Job Kurian pulls off a soulful rendition. Ranga Bhoomiya ups the melodic ante further with its fantastic waltzy semi-classical orchestration (that veena!) and Haricharan Seshadri's superlative singing, while singers Arun Kamath and Sparsha R. K. unleash their vocal magic in the dulcet classical melody Katheyondu Shuruvaagide, that's as much a showcase for Charan Raj's dexterous arrangements as it's for Aneesh Violin Vidyashankar's violins and Balesh's shehnai.

Ayomaya, sung by Inchara Rao and Siddhanth, goes for an ambient, synthy arrangement that's utterly arresting and serene, and aided spectacularly by Prashanth Mathias's guitars, whose impressive wizardry with the instrument comes to the fore yet again in the stunning techno-laced hip-hop melody Mouna Mouna. Sooraj Santhosh pulls off a fabulous job of singing the lilting classical melody Aley Moodathe that sees a fitting accompaniment in Prakash Hegde's enchanting flute, and aptly complemented by a lovely assortment of brass instruments, guitars (Mathias at it once again) and veena (Narendra H. N.) is the intriguing and moody Gassi Gumma. Superbly mellifluous and terrific, Charan Raj spellbinds with an eclectic and mesmersing soundtrack in Godhi Banna Sadharna Mykattu; it's easily the best soundtrack I have heard thus far this year.

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