Direction: Shankar
Music: A.R. Rahman
Lyrics: Vaali, Vairamuthu, Na. Muthukumar and Pa. Vijay
A Rajini’s movie, a film by Shankar and a Rahman’s album being rare commodities, always kick up tons of expectations. When all these three team up under prestigious AVM’s banner, expectations are sky-high. The more hush-hush Shankar made, the more news, stills and music clips got released
over the Internet. Three songs were released 2 weeks before the official music release. The good thing about it was, those songs sensitized the music fans well before the release of full and final version of songs, making them more palatable.
Balleilakka – S.P. Balasubramaniam, Raihanah, Benny & Chorus
A typical Rajini intro song, in the league of “
En peru padayappa”, “Devuda Devuda” etc., S.P.B’s voice bubbles with magic and energy required for the song. The chanting by Raihanah and percussions aptly provide the village based folk feel. Na. Muthukumar has proven once again in his stylish and touching lyrics. Particularly the lines
“Koovum cell phone in nacharippai anaithu,
sil vandin ucharippai ketpom” mark his presence.
Style – Rags, Tanvi, Suresh Peters, Blaaze
Thanks to Shankar for providing a lyrics booklet, without which, no one can guess the lyrics of this song. Anyone hearing this for the first time will get the shock of his life, not able to digest that, it’s a Rajini’s song. Pa. Vijay has come up with broken lines glorifying Rajini’s style and flashes of brilliance are noted at places. They could have avoided the tamil-butchering and the style of singing as if with upset stomach.
Vaaji – Hariharan, Madhusree & Chorus
Prelude gives no clue as how the song would turn up and the anupallavi with beautiful tamil words and the melodious pallavi are captivating. Vairamuthu’s pen sleeks along with poetic tamil. The tune is simple, predictable and with known rhythm pattern. Madhusree has improved a lot in her tamil pronunciation. Hariharan has lent his voice for Rajini after a long time and is the best choice for this melody.
Athiradee – A.R. Rahman, Sayanora
Once again, get the lyrics booklet, before you start listening to this song. Vaali has come up with his usual style of youthful ‘Tanglish’ lyrics. Rahman has chosen to render the pick of the album. The song begins with beats reminding Michael Jackson’s Jam. With the tune and orchestration being complicated, the song takes time to grow on the listener and is definitely an addictive stuff. Sayanora’s performance is class and in par with the energy and mood of the song.
Sahana – Udit Narayan, Chinmayi
When there is a list of singers like S.P.B, Mano, K.J. Yesudoss, Srinivas, Hariharan, Karthik, who had lent their voice for Rajini and are good in tamil pronunctiation, God only knows why Rahman opted for Udit Narayan. He has got a good track record of literally grating tamil words. Though Udit has improvised his pronunciation, at higher octaves his voice goes offtrack and somehow spoils the otherwise beautiful melodious song. Chinmayi has become the favourite singer of Rahman and gets to sing in almost all his albums. Vairamuthu has been roped in for this melody number knowing that only he can do justice to it.
The Boss – Blaaze, Naresh Iyer, Raqueeb Alam
It is the background music for the stunt sequences and needs to be enjoyed along with visuals Let us reserve our verdict till we watch it on the screens.. Lyrics by Na. Muthukumar are disappointing and not up to his standards.
Sahara – Vijay Yesudas, Gomathisree & Chorus
Wow. Simply breathtaking. Brilliant is the word that comes to mind on hearing this song. Vijay Yesudas and Gomathisree’s performance is classic and the background music brings out the pathos feeling effectively.
Overall, Sivaji is a decent Rahman’s album with his stamp all over, though not a satisfying Rajini movie soundtrack or a Shankar movie’s soundtrack.
*****
