Music Review: NOTA (Tamil/Telugu)

Composer(s): Sam C. S.
Listen to the songs online here: Saavn (Tamil, Telugu)

Sam C. S. has a knack for employing Swagatha S. Krishnan's vocals in ways least expected, and barely a few weeks after Kannanin Leelai, he hands her yet another superlative Carnatic-soaked fusion in Raja Raja Kula that she croons effortlessly alongside Anirudh Ravichander (Nithyasree Mahadevan takes her place in the Telugu version, predictably doing a phenomenal job of it). Yethikka Yethikka's electro-pop soundbed piggybacks heavily on Benny Dayal and Sunitha Sarathy's exuberant rendition, while the short thematic pieces Hey Amaicha and Yaar Kalikku, and the two intrumentals (Power Play and The Rise of a Leader), riding on a mix of strings, brass and horns (Macedonian Symphonic Orchestra), make for riveting, punchy listens. NOTA is the latest indication that Tamil film music is in midst of a transition phase, and although the film's music may not have its own life outside of the movie, the fact that the BGM and songs are in sync with the film's political thriller setting helps it every bit.

Comments