mmmm....need to get the book and read it.
like it or not, glad they are taking more historical movies/documentaries
சேர, சோழ, பாண்டிய ,மௌரிய ,விஜயாலய சாம்ராஜ்யங்களின் கதைகள் very interesting .
proud of our Indian heritage , civilization , culture & history
vinatha.
yes sir - it is my opinion :) i went with some expectations ....Quote:
Originally Posted by raj_musing
In mayajaal , people came out frustrated . There were only 20 people totally !
sir, saw the video .. semaya kindal pani irukanga!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by raj_musing
Happi release date postponed to 20th May 2011 from 15th Apr 2011..so we have to wait a bit longer to get drenched by the WCM of Maestro ..
http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movi...269/index.html
Been out of station for more than a week and when I come back I see that you can hear Ponnar Shankar music but you cannot buy the CD!!! What a state of affairs!!!
Listening to it on raaga.com. Before I write my review of this album, a couple of observations:
First, who would have thunk!!! I mean, when they announced that a movie called 'Ponnar-Shankar' was being made based on MuKa's script, the only thing that the Raja fan prayed was that the music must be by Deva!!! Infact someone posted that as a fact and we were quite satisfied. For no MuKa script has been made into a decent movie. (Whether you blame it on the script or on the director I leave to your political affiliations.) Given that the movie was going to have Prasanth as the lead, and he has not had a decent hit for quite some time now, was not encouraging. So when suddenly news cropped up that the music was indeed by Raja, many squirmed uncomfortably. So as I said, who would have thunk that this movie would have such music!!!
Second, there is no use trying to see this movie as a historical. For all practical purposes, the movie would be like a vehicle for Prasanth to try and reclaim lost glory. (From Ramki's review, that looks unlikely.) As lot of people have suggested, you just need to treat this as a fantasy or a hero oriented movie, which for its backdrop has a historical setting. So no use listening to the music thinking that we will get another 'PazhassiRaja'. For Thiayagarajan is no Hariharan and MuKa is no MTV!!!
With those observations out of the way, let me try and put my thoughts about the music. Probably not going to say things which are much different from what has been said earlier by Jai, V_S, raagas and others. But then, who doesn't have the urge to put their thoughts down :) So bear with me.
First, let's get the weakest link in the album out of the way. 'kodi kotti koduthalum' has a very standard structure and a standard accompaniment as well. There definitely is a lot of energy in the song and I particularly am amazed that Raja can get such an accompaniment done on synth. I personally like 'rama rajyam' from 'Gayam-2' in this type of genre more. Wish this intro song was more on the lines of 'chozha vala naadu' of 'Uliyin Oosai'. The song which can easily be accused of not being in the spirit of an historical.
Which leads us to the next song, 'Annanmaar Kadhai'. Initially I though this would be something on the lines of 'karumathur kaatukulle' from 'Virumandi'. But as Hulk had pointed out the orchestration and the movements suggest the 'Tiruvasagam' influence more. The song starts off on a superb ryhthm, which increases it speed and then slows itself to accommodate the singers who sing with the typical folk lilt. Madhu stars 'annanmaaru kadhaya' with the tavil as accompaniment. Somehow not convinced that he is the best choice here. The other singers bring a lot of folk flavour to the song but Madhu does not have the 'folk voice'. After he sings his line, you can hear the Tiruvasagam effect. The female chorus sounds so similar to 'muthu natramam' song from 'Tiruvasagam'. The synthesizers in the background try to give the symphonic effect. The interludes have the synthesizers playing and the nadaswaram joining in. This is one song in which real violins and maybe the Budapest Orchestra playing would have added a lot of value. Especially when Madhu sings the sad parts. Raja moves between pure folk and a western chorus without spoiling the spirit of the song as only he can. I particularly like all the female chorus in this song. So very melodious. For me the song is worth just for that folk voice which at the end sings that short melody. What a melodic line that is.
Now come the four songs which people don't seem to have any problem about. 'bhavani varugira' gives us no clue on how it will develop in its prelude. The initial chorus points to a different direction. The whole chorus is like a modern folk. The folk soul exists and Raja puts jeans over it. Then the whole ambience changes suddenly with the synth guitar strums. Shreya makes a melodious entry and slowly the folk element starts coming up while Raja still retains the modern elements with the synth beats. The first interlude with the shenoy and thavil and later the chorus gives the song an unexpected twist. The charanam is vintage Raja. The melody increasing as the song progresses and you not able to guess which way the tune will flow. Unexpectedness is the hallmark of this song. The tavil and the conch like sound in second interlude is followed by the synthesizer playing its melody. The 'ya ya' chorus reminds me of the 'Jaganmohini' song, where he uses such a chorus to terrific effect. The postlude is a bonus, with the rhythm guys freaking out.
Which brings us to the song of the album, 'kannai padithen'. A wonderful prelude violin (synth?) plays what sounds like Hamsadhwani while the chorus seem to avoid giving the Hamsadhwani twinge, giving a very different effect. As irir123 pointed out, this sounds like an old Hindi melody. I would like to think of this song as a S D Burman melody riding on an O P Nayyar beat!!! The flute making its appearance before the pallavi ends, the plaintive violin in the interlude, followed by the violin banks playing Hamsadhwani. Typical Raja. No one else possible. The melody per se doesn't sound like Hamsadhwani. The charanam has the same magic, the melody increasing as the charanam progresses. It is as if you are in the midst of a field caught in a shower of melody. The second interlude keeps up the spirit of the first interlude with the flute occasionally peeping in to add to the melody. No wonder raagas gave it 10 out of 5 !!!
'thedi vandha devadhai' is the mandatory erotic number in such films. 'Jagan Mohini' had 'poothadhu poovu', 'Kannukkulle' had 'pacha meni'. But compared to 'poothadhu poovu' I think this is a more melodious number, with Shreya's voice contributing to the melodic quotient. The rhythm, as in many Raja songs with the erotic touch, is in a start stop mode. He rarely uses a flowing rhythm for such songs. When you see Kunal Ganjawala's name on a Tamil song you are apprehensive. It is not that bad I must say :) The interludes get as modern as they can with the chorus and the synth. An enjoyable melody.
Which brings us to the last song and one which in my opinion competes with 'kannai padithen' for the title of the best song. Again, the prelude suggests a direction which the pallavi doesn't take. The strains of Madhyamavathi / Brindavana Saranga heard in the pallavi get accentuated when Shreya starts the pallavi. A lovely touch of guitar like sound and then the female chorus keep the melody flowing. The first interlude is rather standard I would say, it is the second interlude which takes the cake. The charanam is just amazing, with Shreya and the chorus alternatively singing. This tune can only be thought of by Raja. Of that I am very sure. The second interlude has flute, mridangam joining in and then Raja moves the melody using the synthesizer with phrases only he can conjure up. The second charanam ending has the mridagam joining in, the effect of which is delicious. The postlude again is an excellent bonus to us. Outstanding melody.
Overall an album in which Raja has freaked out, in terms of tune, in terms of melody and in terms of experimentation. Keeping in mind that everything is done on synth, this is incredible indeed. Except for one of two, the choice of singers in apt. This is a Shreya Ghoshal album. Her voice reeks melody and suits every song that she sings. Happy that she was free and Raja didn't have to chose Bela Shinde. I have no problems with Bela's voice but her Tamil is atrocious. Shreya has improved leaps and bounds in this area and her diction is superb.
So only thing for us to do is to buy the CD. If and when it releases. EKSI.
After a long time, this is one album which i thought of buying the CD, but couldn't get hold of this. Some shopwalas dont even know this movie yet.
http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/t...iew/10403.html
music of Ilayaraja disappoints; fails to enter our ears--I wonder if the reviewer knows what music is.... not even one song entered his ear(s)
funniest review on a movie's music i have read..:-)