6.27.2007

Kireedom Soundtrack

G.V.Prakash Kumar is definitely a promising newcomer with a big hit ‘Veyil’ and soon-to-become-hit ‘Ooram Po’ soundtracks to his credits. Not often a newcomer like him gets chance to compose music for movies with big stars. It is a chance for the composer and his music to reach a wider audience. In such movies, it is more important to deliver hit music rather than quality music. There is not much scope for you to innovate or experiment in such projects. But inspite of all these constraints, the one who strikes a right balance of everything to delivery a hit and quality music is the real master. Has GVP done it? Well, to some extent.

I think every composer who scores for a movie with big stars is forced to compose a hero introduction song with a lead music like that of ‘Oruvan Oruvan Muthalaali’. Not even a single composer had succeeded is repeating that Rahman magic and GVP joins the list. The 'Vilayadu' song is simply boring expect for Sivamani’s percussive interludes.

‘Vizhiyil Un Vizhiyil’ is a breezy romantic melody with beautiful Veena interludes. Sonu Nigam is lot better than Udit in Tamil pronunciation. Not just her voice, but even the singing style and improvisations of Swetha, reminds us of her mother Sujatha. ‘Akkam Pakkam’ is GVP’s version of ‘Vaseegara’. Sadhana Sargam excels with her expressions in this song. The starting sitar strings of ‘Kanner thuliye’ instantly reminds us the sitar bit from ‘Evano Oruvan’ song and the format and orchestration reminds us ‘Poongatrilae’. I am not against GVP following Rahman in getting overall sound quality (obviously, no contemporary composer can avoid Rahman’s influence and hence Rahman sound in his music) but using the same instruments and following same kind of orchestration is not what we expect. Infact, the starting notes of charanam is same as that of ‘Poongatrilae’ song. The first line of ‘Kanavellam’ is exactly the same as that of ‘Yaar theeyai yerippatho’ from ‘Ooram Po’. I think it is too early for a composer to repeat himself. But otherwise, it is a very nice situational yet catchy number with Karthik and Jeyachandran singing with right feel.

The theme music which we heard in the trailer is a well orchestrated piece. I am happy that they included this piece in the soundtrack. The violin piece is really haunting. The piece suddenly shifts to some action cue and comes back to the main theme in a beautiful way and especially it haunts towards the end when the theme plays on its own on cello, violin and string section without any percussions in the background.

GVP should soon find his own style and sound and it seems that he gets inspired by all contemporary composers. But inspite of all these influences, Kireedom soundtrack is definitely worth a listen.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey Suresh,
How are you doing man? Hope you're fine now.

I thought the theme music of Kireedom was really good. Especially, the solo violin piece is indeed haunting! (Also, I feel it has distinct shades of "Vinmeengal Thaandi" track of Uyire.)

P.S. Suresh Kumar said...

hi 0,

i am completely fine. recovered fully. Btw, I felt the theme had shades of 'Virumandi' theme, you might have heard the violin theme that runs in the title credits of Virumandi, may be the kind of violin used to play these themes are the same

Adiya said...

suresh

i am getting mixed feeling with this track.
As u mentioned
--Kanneer Thuliye( Vijay Yesudas ) gels with Poon katriley en swathe song.

Akkam Pakkam ( Sadhana Sargam ) starting sounds like Pakka en pakka types, Kanavellam( karthik ) sounds like Thutthu varama ( kakha kakha ) .

P.S. Suresh Kumar said...

adiya - ofcourse, the tracks are a pot pouri of many other songs and that is why each one of us identify the same song with different songs and that is why i mentioned, GVP is influenced by all contemporaries

Anonymous said...

Just found your blog. Awesome work. On another blog you mentioned that you compiled a list of best of 2006 songs. Can you tell me where you have placed that list?

P.S. Suresh Kumar said...

arun - thank you. here is the link for best of 2006 songs

http://ursmusically.blogspot.com/2006/12/rewind-tamil-film-music-2006.html

DailyDiva said...

Excellent write-up! I agree with you , Kireedom's music is greatly influenced by A.R.Rahman's previous works!

krishnakumar said...

Hi Suresh:
For some reason I am not a fan of GVP. Agreed that his music is very slow and clean, but I think thats the "Rahmanesque" influence...just the sounds quality and a bit of orchestration. I dont feel that there is a "natural" zing...like when ARR composed Kaadhal Rojaave etc. I get the feeling that his is a more "learned" skillset, rather than a natural talent.
But good that he is atleast not overdoing with techno/hip-hop etc.The theme music technique is very similar to some of the hollywood scores...
Cheers,
KK

P.S. Suresh Kumar said...

rose - thank you. soon GVP should find his own path

KK - Yeah I too am not. He compositions are heavily inspired and i also could sense his theoritical way of doing it but atleast he is doing it right.

Karthik Sriram said...

A good review dude!

Clinical analysis...

GVP inime Singa Vazhiya(original tracks) illa vera vazhiya(deva vazhi) n theriyale!

P.S. Suresh Kumar said...

Karthik - thanks. I don't think GVP will get down to Deva level.. .anyway let us wait and watch

Anonymous said...

Akkam Pakkam = Sneghidene + Vaseegara

the beats,music, arrangements, 1st & second interlude gives away its a Vaseegara and tune is pakka Sneghidene...

Vizhiyhil has a heavy Kandukoindain Kandukoindain song feel, which was sung by Hariharan & Mahalaxmi.... listenin to it gives me a pic of KKKK's picturisation.....

P.S. Suresh Kumar said...

dinesh2002 - I am surprised to see that diff people feel different refernces abut that same song and i think GVP should read this as to know what he is actually doing... though i can say it cannot be said as exact copy of the songs as in the case of few HJ's songs

Prakash Srinivasan said...

GVP is a hell better than guys like Srikanth Deva, Dhina (though he has some slow tracks now)& sometimes even Yuvan (nowadays Yuvan music is too run-of-the-mill).According to me the GVP scorecard reads like this:
1. Veyyil-Superb debut-3 good songs
2. Oram Po-Decent-2 good songs consdiering the story.
3. Kireedom-I liked Kanavellam & Vizhigalil (the 2nd one after 2 or 3 listenings)

There is no doubt that he is a guy to watch out for in the future.