Heavy Rotation: A. R. Rahman (Part VI)
Yes, more of A. R. Rahman! It doesn't help that there are too many good songs out there, although to be honest I have run out of fancy adjectives to describe his music!
Kulirudhu Kulirudhu (Taj Mahal) - I am at a loss as to what's the best aspect of the song. Is it Unnikrishnan and Swarnalatha's accomplished singing? Or is it that ektara, or the flute, or the santoor? I guess it's a bit of everything! On a side note, is it just me or is there a likeness to One 2 Ka 4's Khamoshiyan Gungunane Lagi?
Uyirum Neeye, Azhagu Nilave, Sevvaanam Chinna Pen (Pavithra) - Poetic ode to a mother-son relationship from lyricist Vairamuthu, and strikingly beautiful music from Rahman.
Punnagaye (24) - Rahman crafts a lilting standout in Punnagaye. The melody, like with O Kadhal Kanmani's phenomenal Naane Varugiraen, puts Shashaa Tirupati's saccharine-sweet vocals to ample use, and she, for her part, delivers it effortlessly.
Tere Bina (Guru) - A love ballad composed in sufi style, the entrancing melody is an ode to famous Pakistani qawwali singer Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. And it can't get better than that!
Dil Gira Dafatan (Delhi-6) - An utterly spell-binding composition and Ash King is just wow!
Kandukondain Kandukondain (Kandukondain Kandukondain) - Noted vocalist Charulatha Mani in her explorations of Carnatic music in Indian film music speaks of Nalinakanti as a "pleasant raga" that "ushers in happiness," an aspect best exemplified by Ilaiyaraaja's Endhan Nenjil. Also worthy of note are Rahman's beautifully-arranged Kandukondain... and Sonnalum, and Deva's Manam Virumbuthae.
Swasame Swasame (Thenali) - S.P.B. and Sadhana Sargam in one song, and how can you not like it!
Kurukku Chiruththavale (Mudhalvan) - More of that lovely ektara in this melodious ditty from A. R. Rahman, but what I love about it is the beautiful lyrics from Vairamuthu. Sheer poetry!
Maya Machindra, Akadanu Naanga (Indian) - Telephone Manipol is melodious in typical Rahman fashion, but in Maya Machindra and Akadanu Naanga, he hits the bull's eye, thanks to their lively orchestration, and S.P.B. and Swarnalatha's impeccable rendition.
Thenmerku Paruva Kaatru (Karuthamma) - An ethereal sounding classic from A. R. Rahman, fabulously sung by Chithra and Unnikrishnan.
Ishq Bina, Taal Se Taal, Nahin Samne (Taal), Kadhal Yogi (Thaalam) - The crushingly beautiful Ishq Bina is a truly great song on an album of great songs. But I would be remiss if I didn't mention Swarnalatha, who is gob-smackingly good in Kadhal Yogi!
Kismat Se Tum (Pukar) - A gorgeous semi-classical piece, expertly harnessing Sonu Nigam and Anuradha Paudwal's vocals over a hypnotic blend of strings, mridangam and tabla.
Zariya (Coke Studio @ MTV Season 3: Episode 1) - A Buddhist-Jordanian composition sung by Ani Choying Drolma and Farah Siraj that gives a whole new spin to the word 'fusion.'
Mental Manadhil (Female version) (O Kadhal Kanmani) - I may be in the minority here, but I love the female version of Mental Manadhil to bits. It's impossibly catchy, wild and to top it all, Jonita Gandhi spellbinds with her stupendous rendition of the techno-laced melody.
Kelamal Kaiyile (Azhagiya Tamil Magan) - ATM's music is an arresting assortment of eclectic sounds. There's the grand Ellappugazhum, the Carnatic-folk fusion pieces Valayapatti and Maduraikku Pogathadee, the spiffy Ponmagal Vandaal and Nee Marilyn Monroe, and then you have this instantly likeable techno-rocker Kelamal sung by Sriram Parthasarathy and Saindhavi.
Aaj Dil Gustakh Hai (Blue) - Blue is a veritable potpourri of forward-leaning tunes assembled together with dexterous attention to detail. A free-flowing amalgamation of intriguing blues'y sounds (Rehnuma), ebullient rap-bhangra fusion (theme song), and groovy synth-pop (Fiqrana), the soundtrack finds its centrepiece in Aaj Dil Gustakh Hai, a captivating acoustic exotica sung with verve by Sukhwinder Singh, Shreya Ghoshal and Benny Dayal that reveals itself in increments with every listen.
Kulirudhu Kulirudhu (Taj Mahal) - I am at a loss as to what's the best aspect of the song. Is it Unnikrishnan and Swarnalatha's accomplished singing? Or is it that ektara, or the flute, or the santoor? I guess it's a bit of everything! On a side note, is it just me or is there a likeness to One 2 Ka 4's Khamoshiyan Gungunane Lagi?
Uyirum Neeye, Azhagu Nilave, Sevvaanam Chinna Pen (Pavithra) - Poetic ode to a mother-son relationship from lyricist Vairamuthu, and strikingly beautiful music from Rahman.
Punnagaye (24) - Rahman crafts a lilting standout in Punnagaye. The melody, like with O Kadhal Kanmani's phenomenal Naane Varugiraen, puts Shashaa Tirupati's saccharine-sweet vocals to ample use, and she, for her part, delivers it effortlessly.
Tere Bina (Guru) - A love ballad composed in sufi style, the entrancing melody is an ode to famous Pakistani qawwali singer Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. And it can't get better than that!
Dil Gira Dafatan (Delhi-6) - An utterly spell-binding composition and Ash King is just wow!
Kandukondain Kandukondain (Kandukondain Kandukondain) - Noted vocalist Charulatha Mani in her explorations of Carnatic music in Indian film music speaks of Nalinakanti as a "pleasant raga" that "ushers in happiness," an aspect best exemplified by Ilaiyaraaja's Endhan Nenjil. Also worthy of note are Rahman's beautifully-arranged Kandukondain... and Sonnalum, and Deva's Manam Virumbuthae.
Swasame Swasame (Thenali) - S.P.B. and Sadhana Sargam in one song, and how can you not like it!
Kurukku Chiruththavale (Mudhalvan) - More of that lovely ektara in this melodious ditty from A. R. Rahman, but what I love about it is the beautiful lyrics from Vairamuthu. Sheer poetry!
Maya Machindra, Akadanu Naanga (Indian) - Telephone Manipol is melodious in typical Rahman fashion, but in Maya Machindra and Akadanu Naanga, he hits the bull's eye, thanks to their lively orchestration, and S.P.B. and Swarnalatha's impeccable rendition.
Thenmerku Paruva Kaatru (Karuthamma) - An ethereal sounding classic from A. R. Rahman, fabulously sung by Chithra and Unnikrishnan.
Ishq Bina, Taal Se Taal, Nahin Samne (Taal), Kadhal Yogi (Thaalam) - The crushingly beautiful Ishq Bina is a truly great song on an album of great songs. But I would be remiss if I didn't mention Swarnalatha, who is gob-smackingly good in Kadhal Yogi!
Kismat Se Tum (Pukar) - A gorgeous semi-classical piece, expertly harnessing Sonu Nigam and Anuradha Paudwal's vocals over a hypnotic blend of strings, mridangam and tabla.
Zariya (Coke Studio @ MTV Season 3: Episode 1) - A Buddhist-Jordanian composition sung by Ani Choying Drolma and Farah Siraj that gives a whole new spin to the word 'fusion.'
Mental Manadhil (Female version) (O Kadhal Kanmani) - I may be in the minority here, but I love the female version of Mental Manadhil to bits. It's impossibly catchy, wild and to top it all, Jonita Gandhi spellbinds with her stupendous rendition of the techno-laced melody.
Kelamal Kaiyile (Azhagiya Tamil Magan) - ATM's music is an arresting assortment of eclectic sounds. There's the grand Ellappugazhum, the Carnatic-folk fusion pieces Valayapatti and Maduraikku Pogathadee, the spiffy Ponmagal Vandaal and Nee Marilyn Monroe, and then you have this instantly likeable techno-rocker Kelamal sung by Sriram Parthasarathy and Saindhavi.
Aaj Dil Gustakh Hai (Blue) - Blue is a veritable potpourri of forward-leaning tunes assembled together with dexterous attention to detail. A free-flowing amalgamation of intriguing blues'y sounds (Rehnuma), ebullient rap-bhangra fusion (theme song), and groovy synth-pop (Fiqrana), the soundtrack finds its centrepiece in Aaj Dil Gustakh Hai, a captivating acoustic exotica sung with verve by Sukhwinder Singh, Shreya Ghoshal and Benny Dayal that reveals itself in increments with every listen.
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