Kalloori - Balaji Sakthivel

Last weekend, finally I got the opportunity to watch ‘Kalloori’. After one week, the movie still haunts me. In spite of its flaws, Kalloori is miles ahead of other movies that I saw in 2007. I would rate ‘Kalloori’ higher than ‘Kaadhal’. I don’t know why it didn’t do as well as ‘Kaadhal’ did? Anyone know about Balaji Sakthivel’s next?

And read this beautiful review on 'Kalloori'. I agree with each and every word in it.

25 Favourite Tamil Songs from 2007

10. Sariyaa Ithu Thavaraa

Movie: Kalloori
Music: Joshua Sridhar
Lyrics: Na.Muthukumar
Singer: Haricharan

Ofcourse, the song has a decent melody and a thumping rhythm that makes it instantly likeable. But what makes it stand apart from other such melodies is the heavy usage of string section. I don’t remember listening to a song in the recent past which uses strings almost throughout the song as it is in this song. The string section beautifully plays counter to the main vocal melody and is actually the soul of the song. I can’t imagine the feel and the impact of this song without the string section.

Kalloori Soundtrack

No one can imitate early 90’s Rahman style of music like Joshua Sridhar but I have no complaints. Because his compositions, though apes the style of orchestration and the feel of that of Rahman, are genuine and Joshua seems to be doing it with utmost honesty without directly lifting any tunes or phrases of Rahman. He brings in a sort of refreshing feel in his music inspite of treading a familiar path. May be that freshness is because not many others who ape Rahman take this path of his. Kadhal brought him to instant fame and though his other soundtracks didn’t become as popular as his first, I immensely liked ‘Uyir’ and the melodies in ‘Aran’ and ‘Ninaithu Ninaithu Parthaen’.

Coming to ‘Kalloori’ soundtrack, I think the music brings in all the necessary elements and emotions associated with a college campus drama, quite well. It has got a refreshing energy in rhythms, and pleasant melodies. The music creates an ambience of its own, which also makes us to yearn for the visuals. Though the story is college based, Joshua doesn’t misuse it by going totally electronic. Instead he restricts to simple pleasant melodies, supported well by a soothing orchestration and just enough e-sounds and beats looping around for the pep. The usage of heavy string sections, chorus and flute pieces in all the songs plays a major role is bringing the right feel in the songs. Especially, the initial flute piece and guitar strains in Kalloori theme (though reminds us of his Kadhal theme music) make us nostalgic about our own college days. I think ‘Kalloori’ music brings the mood and feel of the movie perfectly like yet another Telugu soundtrack ‘Happy Days’ did in the recent past.