Annamar Kathai - The prelude is soft and immediately the shehnai/dappus change that feel. Then we have the folk tune. So far, the song does work well even in period context, because there is nothing unperiod-film-like till here. What surprises me is when the song starts - Annamar Kathai. I felt the flow is missing when the song switches from folk choral lines to this line. If we can overcome this hiccup, then the song flows well. The Bhairavi-based first interlude is amazing. The synth percussions during chorus rendition, kind of add contemporary touch but thats ok. The percussions keep changing. Even the tune. The unpredictability of this song is good. Although this is not a typical melody based number that can be enjoyed at any time. It is situational. And raaja does fine job, though I might not listen to this song frequently. (Rating: 3/5 - only because i will listen to it less frequently)
Bavani Varugira: The beginning portions cannot be pegged to any period as such. They can sound good even if set in contemporary times. The guitar riffs & bass bounces during shreya Ghoshal's start are the ones that steps down the period-feel aspect although I like that stuff. So, period-feel be damned, its cool. The percussions too are more earthy in this song, though generated from synth. So thats fine enough. Nice folk melody driven song. The synth elements do not really pierce out from the arrangements negating the period-feel. They somehow stay within limits - i feel. Only the bass stands out, which is unusual for a period-feel. But what can we do. :-| (Rating: 4/5)
Kannai Padithen: I think this is the most lovely composition of this album. Heavily riding on synth, it is difficult to place this song in a period-film, going by its treatment. But if we look at melody alone, it can very much fit the premise. But the arrangements - they transfix this into any contemporary premise. The songs works tremendously. amazing melody. nice renditions. Even the violins seem synthesizer generated (unfortunate - but what can we do). Except the flute, I dont know if there are any more real instruments here. But what a beautiful sweet melody. I see shades of Hamsadhwani but I need to listen to it more identify exactly. (Rating: 10/5 - yes i mean 10/5)
Malar Villilae: Grand prelude (though synthesizer based). I felt this song is based on raag Brindavan Saranga. Lot of synth sounds accompany the vocals. I bfelt the instruments somehow overpower the vocals in this song, volume-wise. Not that vocals are not audible but just that there seem to be too many instruments/sounds competing with each other to take that forefront spot, along with vocals. Matter of sound engineering/mixing i Guess. But wonderfully crafted interludes and brilliant charanams. I dont need to talk much about the postlude. Phenomenal work. I think this song will have a grand picturisation with lot of dancers and stuff and crane camera movements. The song sounds that BIG. (rating: 4/5)
Thedi Vantha Devathai - Absolutely non-periodic in sound and arrangements. The tweaky sounds at 0:25secs is far too contemporary. Shreya Ghoshal sounds better than Kunal Ganjawala (I somehow never liked his singing usually). The tune is very much 80s raaja. This is like erotic 80s raja updated to version 2.0. Again, we cant listen to this song at all times, especially at home, with elders around - given the style of rendition. But the music in this song - phenomenal. Very groovy number. (rating: 3.75/5)
Kodi Kotti - The song that I didnt enjoy despite listening to it 5 times. The synth percussions and stuff failed to impress. It neither has period-feel. Nor any of the impressive aspects like other songs (a beautiful tune - No; interesting arrangements - No). I can understand if any other composer composed this song (if any other composer would have composed this song - I am sure some IR fans would have ripped that composer apart :-) citing various negatives), but nah.. i cant expect this from IR. The weakest song of the album. (rating - 0.5/5 - strictly my opinion folks)
Is Period-feel must in period films?: Now, let me add my bit to the ongoing discussion about period-feel. Is Period-feel important in a period film? I would say YES(to a large extent), IF the film is by Ilaiyaraaja. Why? Because we all often praise him for one (among many) aspect - He gives music that is 'apt' to the theme/style/story/nativity etc. He understands the pulse of any film well and composes music 'according' to that pulse. So, from that point of view - for a period film, it is not wrong expect that Ilaiyaraaja should justify a period film with 'proper' arrangements. Ilaiyaraaja did that with films such as Kaalapani, Bharathi, Pazhassi Raja. But he failed, in maintaining period feel, in couple of songs in this album and lets not flinch from admitting that. Imagine, if these films too had too much of synth quotient - would they have the same impact on us? Now imagine a song such as "Thedi Vathu" or "Poothadhu poovu"(jagan Mohini) in Ilaiyaraaja's upcoming film "Rama Rajyam". Dont we feel that it would be incongruent or misfit, arrangements-wise? I think any composer should try to create music that carries the sounds/feel of the scenes, settings to a good extent with some space for contemporary embellishments just to make the songs sound good on ears (and commercial viability).
That said, does it really matter to our ears/mind whether the music suits the film's context or not? I mean, the experience of 'period feel' is limited only to the 3 hours when we are watching the film. when we listen to an album - all we are bothered about is whether we liked the album/song or not. We obviously dont fit the relevance of sounds by imagining the film in our mind because we are busy listening to music and not seeing the film. So from that point of view, it is alright if the album has good songs. Now what any composer can do is to maintain that fine balance between acoustic music & synth elements just to give a feel that evokes the period and yet sounds novel. In my opinion, Ilaiyaraaja achieved that in Pazhassi Raja & Kalapani to a great extent. In this film, looking at overall execution, that balance seems to be missing. But that is compensated with wonderful songs (except for Kodi Katti). So the best way I can enjoy this album is to erase the fact - that this is a period film - from my memory and treat it as a standalone album.
Overall Rating: From what the album offers to me, after all reconciliations :-) I would give 4/5 to this album. This album offers much more to me than ASK & Ayyan. The songs that I will listen to frequently are Kannai Parthen, Malar Villilae, Thedi Vantha & Bavani Varugira. There IS an overdose of synth, which I wish he avoided but i think that is compensated with the quality of tunes, so we can mark it as a tie there!
To cut my long story short(after telling the long story :-) ), Ilaiyaraaja doesnt disappoint and I still believe he can deliver great music. Bring it on sir!
