‘Note’worthy year of musicSRINIVASA RAMANUJAM, TNN 25 December 2009, 12:00am IST Text Size: | *Topics*:
- *music* <http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topics.cms?query=music> - *AR Rahman*<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topics.cms?query=AR%20Rahman> - *Mozart of Madras*<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topics.cms?query=Mozart%20of%20Madras> A R Rahman creating history by bagging the Oscars will perhaps rank as one of the greatest moments in the world of music this year. However, [image: A R Rahman]<javascript:openslideshownew('/slideshow/5374565.cms?imw=460','541','526')> <javascript:openslideshownew('/slideshow/5374565.cms?imw=460','541','526')> Toast of the town: A R Rahman Twitter<http://twitterapps.indiatimes.com/feedtweet/tweet?link=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Noteworthy-year-of-music/articleshow/5374549.cms&title=%E2%80%98Note%E2%80%99worthy%20year%20of%20music%20-%20News%20&%20Interviews%20-%20Bollywood%20-%20Entertainment%20-%20The%20Times%20of%20India> Facebook <javascript:addto(2);>Share <javascript:void(0)> Email <javascript:openWindowmail("/mail/5374549.cms")>Print<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-5374549,prtpage-1.cms> Save <javascript:showdivlayer("5374549","b","close");>Comment<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Noteworthy-year-of-music/articleshow/5374549.cms#write>despite the Mozart of Madras going global and Maestro Ilaiyaraaja turning his attention to Kannada, Hindi and Malayalam, Kollywood film music still managed to flourish, thanks to the entry of fresh tunes and arrangements. The year also saw Shruti Haasan, daughter of the versatile Kamal Haasan, making her debut as a music composer. Unnaipol Oruvan might not have done very well musically, but its sonngs and mixing sounded radically different to those used to Raja’s and Rahman’s tunes. “When my dad told me that they were looking for a fresh, young music director for the film, I immediately jumped at the offer,” states Shruti, who is currently acting in a Telugu film with Siddharth. “Music is always my first love,” she states. Buoyed by the success of films like Paruthiveeran and Subramaniapuram, filmmakers chose to deal with rural subjects, thus giving composers a golden chance to indulge in breezy nattupura padalgal and high-on-energy kuthu! Nadodigal, one successful film at the box-office, had a liberal dose of such numbers. “Of late, filmmakers are thinking of subjects that offer scope for folk numbers,” explains singer Velmurugan, who sang the popular Aadungada ... song in Sundar C Babu’s Nadodigal, “Several folk singers will get a chance to sing in movies with the emergence of such themes.” Selvaganesh is one music composer to watch out for. His Vennila Kabbadi Kuzhu, the music of which released in late December 2008, was a perfect mix-and-match of melody and folk. The composer has his hands full now. “I compose film music with the same passion I have for playing the kanjira,” explains Selva. GV Prakash, who entered Kollywood with a bang with Veyyil, came up with a musically-rich Aayirathil Oruvan. This film’s music saw the young composer using instruments not in vogue and setting a new benchmark for himself. Another budding composer all set to reach new heights is Sai Thaman, who gave us the musically-rich Eeram. James Vasanthan, the man who gave us Kangal Irandal ... , proved that he wasn’t a one-film wonder when he came up with the melody Oru Vetkam ... from Pasanga this year. Going by his excellent score in Kavalar Kudiyiruppu, James could well emerge as the next big name here. Harris Jayaraj had a decent year, with Ayan and Aadhavan faring pretty well. Though A R Rahman won the Oscars this year, his concentration on Kollywood music is at an all-time low. But things are certainly looking bright on that front with the music of Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa all set to hit stores soon. “Scoring music for this film was like a peaceful homecoming after a year-and-a-half of globetrotting,” writes Rahman on a social networking website, “What’s more is that it’s extra cool to have someone like Gautham at the helm, who shoots every bit of the music with passion and respect.” Now, isn’t that music to the ears? http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Noteworthy-year-of-music/articleshow/5374549.cms -- regards, Vithur
