Aa Aah Music Review

It was almost one year since an A.R.Rahman’s direct Tamil album hit the audio market. After “New”, A.R.Rahman hits bull’s eyes with “Aa Aah” music. Though A.R.Rahman and S.J.Suryah combination gave a hit album with “New”, it was a very average effort considering the standards of Rahman but this album has lot of new sounds and new experiments and sure will reach the masses and become a blockbuster. Further knowing the song picturisation skills of SJS, songs will be liked even more after watching the visuals. Kavignar Vaali has penned the lyrics for all six numbers.

Aa Aah song is going to rock Tamilnadu in following days to come. The song’s lyrics sound like it is a hero introduction song and also it fits to A.R.Rahman and his fans as he is returning to Tamil after a long gap. The beats are extremely catchy and addictive. You will not move to the second track without repeating this song. The song is full of techno beats, electronic sounds and synth exceptionally programmed with which the tempo, energy and the rhythm is sustained till the end and makes your hearts jump as one of the lines in the song itself says “Viterrindha Pandhai polae ullam thullum”. A.R.Rahman’s voice is apt for the song and the Kids chorus part sprinkled all through the track adds to the peppy mood of the song.

Mayiliragae is a nice melody. After “Sakkarai” song’s success, Rahman repeats the magic of blending Nadhaswaram, Thavil with techno and electronic sounds in this song too but in a completely different way. I don’t think the instrument used is real Nadhaswaram though it sounds like. The song is high on melody as it proceeds to charanam with predominantly Tabla in the background. Somehow, the song sounds like yesteryear melodies of MSV. I still don’t know why on the hell Rahman goes to Madhusree again and again in spite of her pathetic Tamil pronunciation. I accept she has a good voice but her diction is a irritant to the melody and even after multiple listening, I could not find out what she actually sings. On contrary, Naresh Iyer is a great find. He is good in diction, expression and rendition while singing.

Varugirai is the most unconventional pathos melody I have heard in the recent past. You won’t accept what I am said about this song, when you listen to it for the first time. The pathos and melody is only in the vocals but the rhythm and techno beats in the background all like that of a hip-hop number and yet both gels well. And Rahman safely and aptly goes to Hariharan and Chitra for expressive vocals, as the song’s melody and meaning mainly depend on the vocals. The string piece that starts the song is quite good. The string section that accompanies in the BG with Chitra at the end is excellent. With this number, Rahman breaks another convention of pathos songs.

Thigu Thigu is again an instantly addictive sensuous melody. For those who have heard “Dacoit duel” from Warriors of Heaven and Earth, the sound of Taiko drums and Chinese strings that start this song will not be new but its blend with Tabla and Indian strings sounds quite new to ears. It sounds almost like a light Tamil Mujhra number with a classical touch in the tune in the charanam. This song also sounds like a soothing MSV’s composition except for the arrangements and electronic sounds. I think S.J.Suryah must be a great fan of MSV and he wants the same kind of melody in Rahman style. Sadhana Sargam has improved a lot in Tamil pronunciation and does a fine job in singing with right expressions.

Thaluvuthu is highly unconventional and one will definitely get irritated on listening for the first time. In spite of its odd format, the song works mainly because of expressive vocals of lead singers, continuously changing background rhythm with various percussions instruments. Shreya Ghosal is unbelievably perfect in Tamil pronunciation and expression, the songs adds to the versatility of her. What can I say about this legend SPB? He simply dominates the track with his charismatic voice and energy, just listen the way he sings “Thadumari Thavi Thavikiradhu”. Rahman brings back one of his unique styles of using voices i.e, the same voice will sing in extreme pitches in parallel in two different tracks. If you didn’t like this song even after many listening, just wait for the visuals.

Marankothiyae is the only average number in the album. Though it has got foot tapping beats and catchy interludes, somehow didn’t appeal much as like other songs in the album. All the voices in the song are computerized. Even the rap part of Blaaze is not at par. Anyway I feel even this song will sound good with the visuals.

So at last, the album is worth the wait and definitely a good (though not great) effort from A.R Rahman. He can definitely add this album to the list of his commercially successful albums. As always the album will disappoint big time on first listening. Stay cool and play the tracks again and as you start to unlace every layer of the sounds in the songs, you will jump with joy.