Music Review: Tagaru (Kannada)

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

The title song, in Anthony Daasan's spirited vocals, rides on a manic kuthu-based arrangement, but the song as such is been-there-done-that. Mental Ho Jawa, on the other hand, is more of the retro-disco variety, but the classical twist halfway through makes for an interesting diversion. Hold On is no different, and works quite well as a folk-classical fusion that's exceptionally sung by Ananya Bhat. Charan hands over the singing reins to Siddhartha Belmannu, who confidently leads the classical tunes of Badukina Bannave and Balma incredibly well, the latter in particular benefiting immensely from a dark, frenetic electronic arrangement that's at once electrifying and gripping. The composer himself goes behind the mic for Jeeva Sakhi, a brooding guitar piece adorned by udukai, flutes (by the prodigiously talented singer-flautist Varijashree Venugopal) and assorted percussion, delivering a compelling chant-like soundscape like no other. Dalapathi, and now Tagaru, Charan Raj's transition to mainstream music is quite patchy and unsatisfactory at best, but he indubitably shines when it comes to blending them with his trademark classical flourishes.