‘Dheevara’
Baahubali (Telugu)
Music: M. M. Keeravani
‘Dheevara’ may not score high on being appropriate for the supposed period for which it is composed, but it is still a highly imaginative track. Cinematic licence perhaps allows for the leeway, given the way the song marries very filmi Telugu — and very Keeravani ish — melody with pulsating Western pop. The core melody is enticing and nuanced, but what elevates the song to the next level is the ‘Dheevara’ call-out that plays in a tangentially different genre and sound to the main melody… and it is this contrast that makes the song so enjoyable.
‘Boundless’
Album: Indosoul
Music: Karthick Iyer
Shanmugapriya, as a raaga, is already sufficiently mesmerising. But Karthick Iyer and his band does to it is particularly enchanting, in ‘Boundless’, the first song from their debut album, Indosoul. You have an almost scratchy 40 second mridangam solo by band mate Sumesh Narayanan to open the track and Karthick makes a grand entry with his electric violin, with the soul of Shanmugapriya, like a Tamil cinema mass hero. The violin and mridangam converse frenetically, building up the superlative crescendo, with Ramkumar Kanakarajan joining with his drums. This is wonderfully inventive modern Carnatic music interpretation.
‘Alunguraen Kulunguraen’
Chandi Veeran (Tamil)
Music: S. N. Arunagiri
It’s surprising to see director Sarkunam opt for a relatively unknown composer like S. N. Arunagiri, particularly after having launching current favourite Ghibran in Vaagai Sooda Vaa and working with him again for Naiyaandi . Arunagiri doesn’t disappoint at least in ‘Alumguraen Kulunguraen’ that follows the template set by Rahman's Minsara Kanavu number, ‘Vennilavae Vennilavae’, perhaps because of the Keeravani raaga connection. Namitha Babu and Prasanna Rao are competent in the singing department.
‘Mini Tiffin’
Album: And A Half
Music: Arka
Arka is vocalist Karthik (the noted Tamil playback singer who has been making inroads in many other Indian languages), kanjira player Selvaganesh (ghatam maestro Vikku Vinayakram's son and composer of Tamil films like Vennila Kabadi Kuzhu), flautist Ravichandra Kulur, drummer Gino Banks, bassist Mishko M'ba and guitarist Santhosh Chandran. When such a diverse and talented bunch of people come together, the output has to be mighty interesting. It is! The album bubbles with vibrant energy that is so very Indian, beyond the fusion ambitions. ‘Mini Tiffin’ is one song that truly embodies the band's sound, with Karthik’s breathless singing aligning itself with the rest of the band's sound in spectacular fashion... almost like a distinctly South Indian version of Indian Ocean.
‘Hey Vasamoakka’
Vaalu (Tamil)
Music: Thaman. S
As far as movie titles go, this one’s so apt, given how the film’s soundtrack released more than an year ago (March 2014) and the film’s release delay is behaving just like the body part depicted in the title, particularly when it happens to be attached the rear side of Lord Hanuman. Given the film's renewed release prospects, it's perhaps time to give ‘Hey Vasamoakka’ (whatever it means) a fresh listen. The song, sung by Anirudh and Andrea, is zingy, with an easy-on-the-ears spunk and generous English to appeal to the 'youth'.
