12.16.2005

Pudupettai Music Review


The very first note of the soundtrack starts with a unique flute sound playing a melody (reminds God Father theme, just the sound not the music) and then the same melody is played by a full throttled symphony orchestra which makes it evident that this is not a soundtrack that we usually get to hear in Tamil film music. Also it is evident that Yuvan and Selvaraghavan has strived hard to make this soundtrack unique with a never before heard feel and sound. As they do in Hollywood, this music is more of a soundtrack for the movie, which we will be able to appreciate better after watching the movie. There are 10 tracks, 4 of them are songs, 5 are theme music and one is a remix song.

Now are they really successful in trying something completely different? Well somewhat. For the sake of trying something daringly different, I think they have gone too far, I mean the use of symphony orchestra for movie with such a gangster movie. It sounds too European and
I don’t know how well it is going to fit in the situations in the movie. Also I should say it is quite an amateur attempt from Yuvan’s side. A symphony if not done well may turn into a cacophony. I don’t say that it is too bad. He has got the melodies right but it is the orchestration where he has to learn a lot from his own father and other western classical composers. Here is an evidence of what would happen when a composer, who doesn’t know to write the notes on score sheet of his own compositions, composes a symphony

But yet I should say Yuvan has handled some of the solo Thai instruments deftly in the songs, which adds to the overall uniqueness of the songs. Selling dope is better than other theme tracks in terms of deft orchestration and also has got various moods in it meeting the needs of the situation. Going Thru Emotions: Prelude is a nice fusion of various string instruments, sounds, rhythms, voices and thereby emotions. But I don’t know why I hear the music that I got to hear in advertisements in the between the songs when I hear them in Raaga.com at some places in this song. Night Life is the catchiest of the lot with a flute piece playing a dappanguthu tune accompanied by heavy rhythms. Clash of Titans and Pudupettai Theme are the tracks that are evident of what I said about Yuvan’s orchestration abilities.

The blend of Thai instruments, strings, synthesizers and rocking percussions and electric guitars makes this unconventional number Ithu Enna Kadavulae stand out. Kamal Haasan’s voice is rough and tough in this song and he is just perfect with right expressions. The guitar strumming in the start of Yenga area is nice but it is too situational to grab our attention with just the audio. The rap like singing in Tamil is quite different but there is too much of electric guitar and synth in the song that makes it sound alien. Oru Naalil is the pick of the album. The song is a nice melody with some good philosophical lines penned by Na. Muthukumar. Better Yuvan can stop singing such emotional songs. He is just not perfect in pitch and expression. In spite of Yuvan’s faulty singing, the song works mainly because of the simple rhythm and beautiful guitar and violin pieces performed by Amalraj. Don’t ever try to listen the remix version of this song at all. We should definitely not encourage such songs. It is pure noise. Pul Pesum Poo Pesum starts with a catchy synth piece but soon falls flat as the vocal tune of the song is not so exciting but the interludes and the strings are great in this song.

I don’t know how commercially viable this album is. There are no romantic or peppy dance tunes in it. Anyway in spite of its flaws, I really like this album for its experimentation more than anything else. Let us wait and watch the movie for this soundtrack to grow on us. And also for an extended soundtrack release after the release of the movie as it always happens with Yuvan + Selva movies.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hii Suresh,i am a huge fan of ur reviews and i always look up to them.I just started listening to the Enga area and other songs...i just feel that the moviw will be completely in the face stuff.I think the movie will be more in the face tha any of Selvaraghavan's previous movies.My expectations have gone up from the movie.

P.S. Suresh Kumar said...

hi subbu,

thanx for ur comments. Yes, soundtrack has really set high expectations on the movie.

Karthik S said...

I personally felt that Yuvan has outdone himself in Pudhupettai. Yes, his Dad has far more innovative pieces to his credit but this is one soundtrack that would make Raja proud!

P.S. Suresh Kumar said...

Karthik: i accept what you as say as just your opinion. Yuvan is definitely going in the right way. Just wanted to mention that he should reach the greater heights in the same way but by gaining more expertise in writing socres.

hi regan,

thanx for ur comments. Symphonic themes are not at par though well attempted.

Anonymous said...

'Enga Area Ulla' - Doesn't it remind you of 'Who let the dogs out'?

Anonymous said...

Selling Dope again reminds me of 'Hollow Man' title track!!

Anonymous said...

Yennayya idhu? 'Vaariya...' is more than an inspiration from Remo's 'Flute song'.

P.S. Suresh Kumar said...

maverick: too many inspirations(????) it seems. are you sure about it?

Anonymous said...

Cmon, Suresh !! It is by YSR. All said and done, I am loving every bit of 'Enga Area Ulla Varaadha'. Who else than YSR to give such tracks in Tamil? I find the recording is on par with some English dance numbers. Listen to it in a hi-fi stereo system and it will definitely be a chart-busting foot-tapper!

P.S. Suresh Kumar said...

it does grow on me but not to the extent of listening to it repeatedly. i liked the tamil part sung in rap style but hate the english intrusions in between. and also felt there is too much of synth

Anonymous said...

what maverick pointed out is correct .... "vaariya" is an inspiration from Remo's "Flute song"

and even i dont like the english intrusions in between the songs..

YSR seems to do it often...almost in every other song...
is he obsessed with that thing or what?

Anonymous said...

Hi Suresh,
Your review was really good. As rightly pointed out by you, YSR should stop singing...the way he has pronounced some of the words is ridiculous...there are a lot of professional singers who can do the job well...overall the music looks better than his previous works with Selvaraghavan...lets wait for the movie to get released and see how good it gels with the screenplay.
~Bhaskar

Anonymous said...

Guitar and drum usage in "Oru naalil" song reminds me of Hotel california of Eagles. Though not an exact copy, it sounds very much similar

bharat said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
bharat said...

you can listen to more of AmalRaj's playing here

www.theebyencore.com