Shamitabh | Maestro | Amitabh | Dhanush | Balki | P. C. Sreeram

[venkkiram]

1. "Ishq E Phillum" Swanand Kirkire Suraj Jagan 04:30
2. "Sha Sha Sha Mi Mi Mi" Kausar Munir Caralisa Monteiro 05:20
3. "Piddly Si Baatein" Swanand Kirkire Amitabh Bachchan 05:09
4. "Stereophonic Sannata" Swanand Kirkire Shruti Haasan 04:59
5. "Thappad" Swanand Kirkire Suraj Jagan & Earl D'Souza 04:07
6. "Lifebuoy" Swanand Kirkire Suraj Jagan 01:54

Reviews posted on IR New Albums thread

[venkkiram]

Piddly Official Full Song Video | Shamitabh | Amitabh Bachchan

[venkkiram]

SHAMITABH Official Video Trailer

[venkkiram]

1. "Ishq E Phillum" Swanand Kirkire Suraj Jagan 04:30
2. "Sha Sha Sha Mi Mi Mi" Kausar Munir Caralisa Monteiro 05:20
3. "Piddly Si Baatein" Swanand Kirkire Amitabh Bachchan 05:09
4. "Stereophonic Sannata" Swanand Kirkire Shruti Haasan 04:59
5. "Thappad" Swanand Kirkire Suraj Jagan & Earl D'Souza 04:07
6. "Lifebuoy" Swanand Kirkire Suraj Jagan 01:54

[venkkiram]

Amitabh Bachchan will honor Ilaiyaraaja at Mumbai : Balki | Shamitabh Press Meet | Songs

[krish244]

Thanks for the youtube link Venkiram.

Songs in youtube link are in mono (bitrate sounds decent though...not sure what bitrate it is). Not sure why they upload songs in mono. I think they can upload samples in good bitrate in stereo instead of mono full song. That would do more justice to clarity and would help in appreciating (especially when the music is layered) the music better.

http://gaana.com/song/sannata

You can listen to the songs in stereo in gaana website. Not sure what is the bitrate though.

On first listening, the album sounds amazing. Lots of surprises. Quick review is that I liked Sha Sha, piddly, thappad, ishe e phillum and more probably. This man (IR) is unbelievable for the quality and innovativeness he gives in his music even at this age. A real inspiration!

Will write more on this album later...

thanks,

Krishnan

[thumburu]

Shamitabh album from gaana.com link provided by Krish244. Thank you Krish.

Stereophonic Sannata - Was aghast initially when Raja himself mauled his own baby. But this ultra modern rework has sure grown on me after few times.
Well. I can admit the same feeling i had , about Raja's audacity in the entire Shamitabh album.
My top 3 in that order goes like 1, sha sha sha - Love the way every stanza ends with that sweet, surprising melodic drawl. Also the second interlude is so rich that one wished if it were with real ensemble of instruments.
2. Thappad - Incredible energy in the interludes that defy Raja's age , is all I can say.
3, piddly - By now it seems all over in TV channels and had the time to grow. Smooth and suave which is easy on the ears.
Particularly do note that delightful guitar bit that follows the first two lines in the stanzas.
For me, Shamitabh > Paa > Cheenikum

[venkkiram]

"நான் எப்படியெல்லாம் இசையமைப்பேன் என எனக்கே தெரியாத நிலையில் மற்றவர்களுக்கு எப்படி அது தெரியும்?" - என கொஞ்ச மாதங்களுக்கு முன்பு ராஜா ஒரு பேட்டியில் சொல்லியிருந்தார். அதைத்தான் ஷமிதாப்பில் பார்க்கிறேன்.

Piddly Si Baatein :
Look at the way he just makes the ongoing catchy rhythm freeze and brings one heavenly feel second interlude! Typical Maestro! இந்த ஆல்பத்தில் உச்சமாக நான் கருதும் பாடல் இது. எளிதான மெட்டு போல தெரிந்தாலும்.. ஆரம்ப இசை முதல் கடைசிவரை ராஜா அதற்கு அமைத்திருக்கும் பின்னணி இசை.. அவரால் மட்டுமே முடியும் என சொல்லக் கூடிய ஒன்று. மேலும், அமிதாப்பின் குரல்வளம் இப்பாடலை எங்கேயோ கொண்டு போய் நிறுத்துகிறது.

Thappad
தப்பட் தப்பட் Making பார்க்கணும். அதன் வேகமான தாளக்கட்டிற்கு வேஷ்டியில் ராஜாவின் உடல் அசைவை கண்டு ரசிக்கணும். ஒரு "கொம்புல பூவசுத்தி" போல. "தும் ஆ தும் ஆ தும் தப்பட் தப்பட்"! இப்படியா ஆச்சர்யத்தில் ஆழ்த்துவது! ராஜாவின் லீலைகளில் இதுவும் ஒன்று!

Stereophonic Sannata
What a prelude Raja came up for this song! The mixing of voices forming the rythm is simply genius effort! உச்சத்திலும் சுருதியின் குரல் எவ்வளவு கம்பீரமா நடைபோடுது.. உச்சரிப்பின் தொனி அருமை. தனித்துவமான குரல் வடிவம்!

Sha Sha Sha Mi Mi Mi
Caralisa Monteiro தேர்வை பாராட்டனும். இங்கேயும் இரண்டாவது இடையிசை அதகளம். முழுப்பாடலும் ஐஸ்கிரீம் போல கரைகிறது. நேரம் போவதே தெரியல.

"இந்தக்கால இளைஞர் போடும் ஆட்டத்திற்கு இளையராஜா எந்தன் பாட்டிருக்கு" - ன்னு ராஜாவே பாடுற மாதிரி இருக்கு

Shamitabh. தெரிமாஸ். பொடிமாஸ்.

[venkkiram]

Shamitabh : Unveiling of an Anarchist

https://onlyraja.wordpress.com/2015/...-an-anarchist/

Well written review.

[irir123]

adikka varadheenga!

this album is not a patch on 'Neethane en pon vasantham', but more along the lines of 'om shanthi om' (telugu). NEPV (like Pazhassi raaja, Nan kadavul etc) was/is a landmark album with had drum patterns with live instruments (the second interlude of 'ennodu vaa vaa' being an exception) - this album no 'organic' feel with live instruments.

impressive (for me) at the outset were the interludes: 2nd interludes of 'sha sha mi mi', 'piddly' (almost half way to the height achieved by 'saaindhu' NEPV second interlude).

'sha sha mi mi' sounds/feels like a cross between a modern version of some Nazia Hassan song from the 1980s and a Shankar Mahadevan song - the rendition, singers' voice et al give the same feel - its the arrangements that have the IR feel.

IR's strings and the brass sections in the interlude make it standout.

Bappi da might have done something like this in his heydey, but the strings, brass and bass sections are definitely IR territory.

'piddly' is vintage IR strings ensemble - AB does some justice with some effort to this cousin of "konjam theera" (oru naal oru kanavu).

'ishq phillum' is a different version of 'katrai konjam' from NEPV!

'sannata' - Shruthi's voice def adds value to this rehash - the synth prelude motif is a counterpoint melody to the 'aasaiya katthula' tune and Balki could have insisted that counterpoint itself as a separate melody - IR evvalavu thadavai sonnaalum, ivinga pechha kekkaama, pazhaiya pattaayey thiruppi venumnu ketta yenna artham?

all the melodies sound truncated - maybe to suit a different audience spectrum

IMHO, after listening to Ghibran and Santosh Narayanan's output in recent years, IR's recording still sounds outdated - not on par with those of other younger guys around - maybe its coz the others dont have such intricate/complex strings arrangement as IR does in his compositions, so theirs are easier to mix - am not an audio engineer.

Santosh can give a 'aasai oru pulveli' or 'mogathirai' or Ghibran can give 'vaagai sooda vaa' with the sounds crystal clear, why doesnt IR's albums have the same production quality ?