Music Review: Cobra (Tamil)

Composer(s): A. R. Rahman
Listen to the songs online here: JioSaavn

Thumbi Thullal is a testament to Rahman's incredible sense of sound (the musical onomatopoeia that follows the lyric "Vedikkum beerangi..." is a nice touch), refusing to settle for any one mode and coasting along a dizzying array (that's mildly putting it!) of classical instruments that perfectly augments the free-flowing and meandering tune. And Shreya Ghoshal and Nakul Abhyankar lend the hyper-colourful jam the right amount of ornamentation. The song also takes an unexpected detour towards the outro that eschews its busy arrangement for a segue to Uyir Urugudhey, a pensive acoustic guitar ballad that rests on a soft bed of orchestral swells and plays to Rahman's strengths as a singer. Arabic strains dominate Adheera, an absolute banger that's built around burbling electronics and slinky grooves, while Tharangini, featuring Rahman regular Sarthak Kalyani, has its fluid rhythms and breezy atmospherics set against a gently pulsing backdrop that evokes the composer's own Anbil Avan from Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa. Yele Ilanchingamey, an obvious nod to Rahman of the 90s, is exceedingly pretty, and brings to forefront Rakshita Suresh's poignant rendition and the spiralling strings that undergird it. A. R. Rahman, with Cobra, goes for the mainstream jugular and hits the bull's eye, even if it may lack the convention-breaching aspect of Iravin Nizhal.

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