Karuthamma....!! The very name sounds like a south indian village belle whose
story forms the crux. The main credits to be rolled out here are :
Direction: Bharathi Raja
Star Cast : Raja, Maheshwari, Rajashri
Music : A R Rahman (Not sure about the background score though!)
Lyrics : Vairamuthu
Bharathi Raja, who is a thespian in making village based movies comes up with
this triangular love story with lesser known actors. This must be the first
time collaboration of the director with ARR who was until then dubbed as the
"technology backed musician". ARR broke all records with this movie along with
other village based Kizhakku Cheemayile and Vandicholai Chinnarasu and proved
all critics wrong and how!!. It made every critic run and hide their face..!!
BR - ARR - Vairamuthu combo has been
very artistically successful than commercial.!
Theanmerku Paruvakaatru ---> Unni Krishnan , Chitra
It was a dream offer for Unni who was until then singing only solos, got a
chance to sing his first ever duet and with whom..? His most favourite singer
Chitra..!!! (based on excerpts from his interview). The song begins with
droplets with a soothing drumbeats..!! Followed by the ever soothing
nightingalish voice of Chitra with her lines...and then Unni repeats her
lines..Though he is a legend in classical arena, he goes very mushy and
romantic in this song showing his lighter side. The interludes, particularly
the second interludes mesmerises like heavans...!!! The water droplets sound in
the background throughout the song makes the listener feel the rain without
visually seeing the song. The last charanam by Chitra is just humming....and
what an effect she leaves
behind is only to be experienced..!!! Amazing romantic song...!!!
Pachhaikili Paadum ---> Minmini , Shahul Hameed, Chorus
Welcome to the world of Cocks, Hens, Bulls and Birds and some rustic country
side voice tones of Shahul Hameed and Minmini. Shahul is like 100% perfect pick
for this song. This song is melodious and folksy as well. Sadly, did not get
the deserved recognition it should have got. The female chorus part is also
equally charged up and dub some of the animatic sounds. Particularly, hear it
carefully when Minmini goes "Kondattam...indru thendralukku dinam dinam...", a
donkey hee-haaws in rhythm. Only ARR can make a donkey sound in rythm.. ;) .
Full masti and entertaining song...!!!
Kaadu Potta Kaadu --> Malaysia Vasudevan, Bharati Raja, T K Kala
The two thespians Malaysia Vasudevan and Bharati Raja unite in this very
situational song. Cannot be termed as the best by ARR. He has casually belted
out this number with some nice flutes and chords. Certainly will not appeal to
the listeners unless they are live and breathe the country air. T K Kala enters
only in the second interlude BGM with her traditional pathos flavoured voice.
Could have sounded even more better for me..!!!
Aaraaro Aariraaro ---> T K Kala, Theni Kunjarammal
A great choice of singers by ARR for this heart wrenching
tragedy piece. I really dont know how Theni Kunjarammal sounds in-syc even if
she goes out of pitch many times especially for the patho songs. Its this
particular wonder that she got many offers from ARR. And nothing to say about T
K Kala. Its completely her genre. She adds a special warmth that cannot be
easily ignored. The music is completely minimal here and yet sounds great in
the background.
Pooraale Ponnuthaayi (Happy Version) --> Unni Menon, Sujatha
The "Pudhu Vellai Mazhai" jodi Unni and Sujatha re -unite in this happy
version of Porale Ponnuthayi. A mindblowing melody with nice interludes and
humourous lyrics. The same happy version was re-used by ARR as "Chanda Taare.."
with Ustaad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan saab..!!! I absolutely marvel at this knack
of ARR to make a same song sound in completely contrasting genres. Hats off to
him..!!
Poorale Ponnuthaayi (Sad Version) ---> Swarnalatha
For me, personally, Karuthamma is synonymous with Swarnalatha...and its just
because of this song..!! She has typically lived in the skin of the character
while rendering this heart melting wonder..!! And rightly so, was the recepient
of the prestigious National Award winner for the Best Playback Singer Female of
that year..!!! Be it her initial aalaps, her haunting pallavis and charanams
and the long breathless finishing towards the end moves any music lover to
tears.! ARR uses very minimal instruments very carefully as to not come in the
way of her rendition.! Easily THE BEST song produced from this fantastic
combo..!! Vairamuthu too needs a loud appalause for his mindblowing lyrics!
Karuthamma may not be those World Level best creations by ARR, but still it
lingers on the mind for many many years to come.! It was a fitting reply for
all the critics who clubbed ARR and Technology together..!! I am sorry...dont
know much on the BGM part of this movie to write.
