A.R.Rahman and Vijay combination after ‘Udaya’ did raise lot expectations but one must be clear about what one can expect from such a combination to happily accept the quality of music delivered. In Azhaghiya Tamizh Magan, Rahman delivers good enough crowd pleasing numbers sprinkling with some of his trademark fresh sounds here and there.
Rahman injects a fresh energy into an otherwise hero-pleasing-his-fans intro song 'Ellapughazhum', with catchy rhythm pattern, rocking guitars, rough vocals and grand orchestration. ‘Pon Magal Vandhaal’ is an interesting rework of the old classic with enough pep in the tune and thump in beats. ‘Madhuraikku Pogathey’ takes us back to ‘Kizhakku Cheemayilae’ times, a simple, earthy and catchy number without usual Rahman mix of e-beats and with bass layers joining only at the end.
‘Merlyn Monroe’ immediately catches our feet with its soft and peppy bass pattern that loops throughout. It is peppy, soft and even melodious at times without any heavy beats. It has been quite a while since Rahman made such not so complicated peppy tracks. ‘Valayappatti’ interestingly swings between a pleasant classical melody and folk music; it seamlessly traverses from one form to the other without meshing it up and giving a fresh sound to the song.
‘Kelamal’ sounded like IR’s ‘Aaghaya vennilaavae’ in parts but otherwise a nice melody but I am surprised by all- techno orchestration for such a melody. It would have sounded much better with some live orchestration. The tune wanders a little and struggles to reach a point in charanam but I hope it will grow on repeated listening.
On the whole, Rahman delivers a hit material.
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10.22.2007
Azhaghiya Tamizh Magan Soundtrack
Posted by P.S. Suresh Kumar at 5:16 PM
Labels: A.R.Rahman, Album Review, ATM soundtrack, Azhaghiya Tamizh Magan Soundtrack, Vijay
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14 comments:
Rahman has effortlessly satisfied both Vijay's fans and his own. He has also striked somewhat a balance between MASS and CLASS. ARR has come out of his usual style for some songs to suit the genre of the commercial movie that Vijay stars. Though this is not Rahman's best album, he has clearly provided another hit of the year after his previous Mega Hit Sivaji.
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Jaazay - 'Effortless' is the right word. I could sense the 'casual' approach in the music and yet the songs are catchy and serves the purpose...
i somehow feel that the resemblance of 'aagaya vennilavae' was on purpose to match the "kaettu rasitha padal onrai's" meaning - another one of rahman's multilayering?!
anoop - Nice thought. It it is really that... fine...
Agree with the techno stuff in the Kelaamal song, which is no way near the league of Rahman's recent melodies (Mayilirage from AA and the 2 gems from SOK) Overall, a very average album but like you said, it will be a hit just bcos it is a Vijay movie.
Eww.. IMHO, this album sucks big time (as an ARR fan).. Either ARR has to take up a lot more films or restrict his work to simply quality stuff.. And that too with intense competition from Yuvan and HJ in Tamil and a dozen more in Hindi, he better pull up his socks..
Already, an ARR album is so rare these days and when it does come, a half-hearted effort hurts me really bad... And ARR should try to limit his experimentation in commercial albums.. It simply does not work..
And his choice of singers seems very weird these days...
Just sample this:
Saindhavi can hardly hold her pitch at high notes in Kelamal, while Sriram's rendering is appalling during most of the song..
The singers in Valayappatti are pathetic as well.. I think those who cannot pronounce Tamil properly should not be allowed to sing brugas.. This Ujjaini clearly struggles with the brugas at the end of "Nee Naadhaswaram" bit..
In short, ARR's ATM in 2007 is what his Varalaaru was in 2006.. What the heck, even Varalaaru had the gorgeous Innisai!
(I know I am extremely cynical, but I just could not control myself after I wasted time to listen to this album continuously for the past couple of days)
Filbert - It will be hit not just becoz it is a Vijay movie, but also because, ARR has come down few steps to please the masses as well... but album isn't totally void of Rahman's experimentations...
Vidya - Reply to your comments need a seperate blog post but quickly... and as you said, let us not be cynical about Rahman's soundtracks for these kind of movies, i mean such mediocre efforts from Rahman doesn't make me to doubt about Rahman's composing skills, i know for which movie he would give mediocre music and for which movie he would give a masterpiece, if it happens with music for a 'Jodha-Akbar' or next Maniratnam film, there is a point in being cynical and all arguements but why for movies like 'ATM'....
according to me, Sandhavi is a great singer... have you seen her singing P.Susheela songs on TV, she is mindblowing, when used properly she could be a 'Shreya Ghosal' of south india... but i think it sounds weird at high pitches due to some technical mixing done on the voice...
Ujjaini is lot better than a madhusree
ATM which is Vijay's 45th movie is an album we have all been waiting for. Excellent album by 'The Mozart of Madras' A R Rahman. All the six songs are thoroughly enjoyable.
Jothi
IMHO, something's lacking in this album
http://vigneshram.blogspot.com/2007/10/azhagiya-tamil-magan-music.html
Jothi - So you are a Vijay fan... enjoy
Vignesh - Read your thoughts, but i think Vijay fans like it more than ARR fans... the problem with others (who claim themselves as not an ARR fan) always expect 'Out of the world' music from him...
Suresh - You are right, we always seem to expect an out of the world music from the Boss. But Frankly after 3 or 4 listening I started liking all of ATM songs. (But still as an hardcode Rahman fan, am little disappointed 'coz I feel this is a half hearted version from the boss).
Anon - Yes, ATM is enjoyable but forgettable... but just becoz it is forgettable... we can't stop enjoying it for the moment...
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