Rameshwaram Soundtrack

Niru made a promising debut with the album ‘Moongil Nila’ which had some beautiful melodies. So, obviously when I heard that he was composing for a Tamil movie, I had high expectations but his first Tamil soundtrack ‘Kalaabha Kaadhalan’ had a below average music. But now Niru has bounced back with a beautiful soundtrack for the movie ‘Rameshwaram’. It has a good variety of melodies and situational songs.

‘Azhagalin Oosai’ starts with a beautiful string section like that of Rahman’s ‘Sonnalum Kaetpathillai’ and soon Niru makes the song his own by using a melody straight out of one of his songs from Moongil Nila album. Niru’s ornamentation of the pleasant melody with beautiful array of instruments striking the right notes at the right places behind the vocals, and his multilayered breezy orchestration in the interludes makes this songs one of the most complete ones in the recent times. Haircharan and Kalyani further romanticize the melody with their silky rendition.

Though highly situational, ‘Elloraiyum’ is instantly catchy with easily identifiable tune and earthy lyrics. Though we talk about innovation and experimentation in songs, there is nothing like the feel that you get when a melody fits to T with a familiar percussive rhythm. And this song has got such a rhythm, though familiar, adds a great energy to the song. ‘Etho Senjapulla’ is total fun with variety of beats, sounds and instruments going together throughout the song creating a feel of its own. Though the melody slips in the charanam, the colorful arrangements make it up.

‘Naan Tharai Nila’ is again a beautiful melody with nice arrangements. Swetha seems to have got some of the best melodies of 2007. She excels again in this song. Niru has used Violin and Veena sounds in a very innovative way in this song. ‘Netrirundhuom’ is Niru’s version of Rahman’s ‘Vidakodu Engal Naadae’. Though it has a very emotional orchestration fitting the theme of the song, O.S.Arun’s rendition makes all the damage. Niru did the same mistake by using O.S.Arun in Moongil Nila. He may be a good classical singer, but his voice simply doesn’t fit in the filmy songs. Fortunately, we have an instrumental version of the song which is very good as O.S.Arun’s vocal parts are replaced by a flute.

‘Rameshwaram’ soundtrack is highly recommended.

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Tamizh MA Soundtrack

Unnalae Unnalae Soundtrack

The soundtrack of “Unnalae Unnalae” is neither good nor bad. Harris Jeyaraj should seriously think about trying something new.

Except for the Synth horn piece with which the song starts, “June Pona” song has nothing new. The beats, guitar usage, chorus, the way the song is sung and the overall format of the song are exactly the same as “Manjal Veyil” song. I think, even the tune is in the same meter. But the tune is okay and what makes it worth listening is the new voice Krish, a good find. Btw, is it a pathos song? “Hello Miss” has interesting rhythms and surprising twists and turns. I like songs with few surprises here and there. But I have the heard-before feel, may be the beats are similar to that of “Shakalaka baby”.

When I first the heard the starting horn bit of the song “Vaigasi Nilavae”, I was afraid whether Harris would go to an extent of directly ripping of Vangelis Chariot of Fire. But thank god, it stops within the first few seconds of the song. The song throws in some surprises in the middle by changing rhythm to Tabla from e-beats and the disjointed second interlude with string arrangement is also nice but as the melody itself falls flat, the song as a whole doesn’t impress.

I am tired of these club beats and bass guitar in Harris’s song, the guitar strumming is the only savior of the song “Muthal Naal”, though we have heard it many times before. The tune as such is very good but as it proceeds to charanam, the tune lacks the same pep and catch it initially had. “Ilamai Ullasam” is a short and sweet song with a casual peppy tune and nice vocal harmony and arrangements. I didn’t like the main tune of the song “Unnalae Unnalae” until Harini slipped in to sing it with her own classical touches. But that’s about it. The song as a whole doesn’t hold our attention.