Music Review: Pyaar Prema Kaadhal (Tamil)
Composer(s): Yuvan Shankar Raja
Listen to the songs online here: Saavn
Not since Uttama Villain (which had 17 tracks composed by M. Ghibran) has there been so many songs in a Tamil film soundtrack. And that's not necessarily a bad thing. The more the merrier, is it not? On a side note though, I can only hope Yuvan Shankar Raja's sprawling effort is worth it. Music-wise, while I have mostly despised his poor diction and off-key singing over the last few years, I'm not sure if it's post-processing magic or something, he sounds surprisingly tolerable here. Especially in Dope Track, a signature dubstep-EDM fusion that recalls to mind the superlative Unakkaagave Uyir Vaazhgiren from Moondru Per Moondru Kaadhal.
Surprise Me's romantic balladry borrows generously from maestro Ilaiyaraaja, in a good way that is, while Miss You Papa is strings-driven pathos but too short to make any sort of impact. Likewise with It's Over, despite Shweta Pandit's effective rendition. Yuvan however makes fantastic use of her vocals (alongside Suranjan) in Never Let Me Go/ I Will Never Let You Go, an astounding Hindustani semi-classical tune that's breathtakingly Ilaiyaraaja'esque even as he layers the song over an imaginative esraj-santoor soundbed. (Them Ninaithu Ninaithu Parthal and Kanaa Kaanum Kaalangal feels!) Al-Rufian's pitch-perfect singing in Secret Window is accentuated by its simple acoustic treatment, and in Wake Me Up Everyday, British singer Teejay Arunachalam's so-so vocals pulls down an otherwise breezy synth-laden melody.
Let's Be Friends? is heady rock, with Cliffy Carlton adding to the manic groove, Hold Me Now is bouncy tropical jam à la Kush Kush, three minutes of infectious energy bolstered by vivacious vocals from Sanjith Hegde and Thurga, and High On Love is just that, high on love, thanks to Sid Sriram's effortless rendition and Yuvan's gorgeous arrangements. Hello is the soundtrack's undisputed highpoint, its a cappella'esque backgrounds gaining tremendously from Devan Ekambaram, who is no stranger when it comes to singing such songs (remember Smayiyai?). That it's just over a minute only has you reaching for the repeat button. Close on the heels of Peranbu, Yuvan has another hands down winner with Pyaar Prema Kaadhal. Perhaps the fact that he is also the film's producer explains it. Irrespective of whether that's a contributing factor or not, I couldn't be more happier.
Listen to the songs online here: Saavn
Not since Uttama Villain (which had 17 tracks composed by M. Ghibran) has there been so many songs in a Tamil film soundtrack. And that's not necessarily a bad thing. The more the merrier, is it not? On a side note though, I can only hope Yuvan Shankar Raja's sprawling effort is worth it. Music-wise, while I have mostly despised his poor diction and off-key singing over the last few years, I'm not sure if it's post-processing magic or something, he sounds surprisingly tolerable here. Especially in Dope Track, a signature dubstep-EDM fusion that recalls to mind the superlative Unakkaagave Uyir Vaazhgiren from Moondru Per Moondru Kaadhal.
Surprise Me's romantic balladry borrows generously from maestro Ilaiyaraaja, in a good way that is, while Miss You Papa is strings-driven pathos but too short to make any sort of impact. Likewise with It's Over, despite Shweta Pandit's effective rendition. Yuvan however makes fantastic use of her vocals (alongside Suranjan) in Never Let Me Go/ I Will Never Let You Go, an astounding Hindustani semi-classical tune that's breathtakingly Ilaiyaraaja'esque even as he layers the song over an imaginative esraj-santoor soundbed. (Them Ninaithu Ninaithu Parthal and Kanaa Kaanum Kaalangal feels!) Al-Rufian's pitch-perfect singing in Secret Window is accentuated by its simple acoustic treatment, and in Wake Me Up Everyday, British singer Teejay Arunachalam's so-so vocals pulls down an otherwise breezy synth-laden melody.
Let's Be Friends? is heady rock, with Cliffy Carlton adding to the manic groove, Hold Me Now is bouncy tropical jam à la Kush Kush, three minutes of infectious energy bolstered by vivacious vocals from Sanjith Hegde and Thurga, and High On Love is just that, high on love, thanks to Sid Sriram's effortless rendition and Yuvan's gorgeous arrangements. Hello is the soundtrack's undisputed highpoint, its a cappella'esque backgrounds gaining tremendously from Devan Ekambaram, who is no stranger when it comes to singing such songs (remember Smayiyai?). That it's just over a minute only has you reaching for the repeat button. Close on the heels of Peranbu, Yuvan has another hands down winner with Pyaar Prema Kaadhal. Perhaps the fact that he is also the film's producer explains it. Irrespective of whether that's a contributing factor or not, I couldn't be more happier.
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