Thanks Ichord :) --- On Fri, 1/15/10, ichord <[email protected]> wrote:
From: ichord <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [arr] My opinion on VTV To: [email protected] Date: Friday, January 15, 2010, 6:26 PM Fantastic review, Gayathri! Really enjoyed reading it!! --- In arrahmanfans@ yahoogroups. com, Gayathri Chandrakasan <gayathri_ck17@ ...> wrote: > > Thanks Vithur :) > > --- On Fri, 1/15/10, Vithur <vith...@... > wrote: > > > From: Vithur <vith...@... > > Subject: Re: [arr] My opinion on VTV > To: arrahmanfans@ yahoogroups. com > Date: Friday, January 15, 2010, 2:51 AM > > >  > > > > > Nice review Gayatri.... well written. >  > > >  > On Fri, Jan 15, 2010 at 2:56 PM, Gayathri Chandrakasan <gayathri_ck17@ > yahoo.com> wrote: > > >  > > > > > > > > > > Though it has just been two days since I bought the cd, nevertheless for some > reasons, I feel as if I've been having an age old "relationship" with the > album. To tell the truth, when I first heard the songs, I did like the album > for the overall presentation. However, as the songs kept playing in my cd > player, I noticed that there was something extra special about this album. > The more I listened to it, the more I'm engrossed with it. And the more I'm > engrossed with it, the more I'm unwilling to part from it. In fact, I happen > to come across a mail written by our fellow friend who claimed that he now > takes a longer route back home in order to have some time alone with the > soundtracks. The moment I read it, I just couldn't help but smile...because > that's exactly how I felt when listening to the album myself...to spend some > time alone with the album and to uncover the truth of what's making it so > spellbinding! > > The followings are merely my thoughts on my "new-found friendship" with VTV. > I'm not a professional commentator nor do I have a profound knowledge as far > as music is concerned, thus kindly pardon me if there's any inaccuracy or > mistake in the expressions and words used below. > > > 1. Omana Penne > Omana Penne starts on a blissful tune coupled with the soothing voice of > Benny Dayal. I've always preferred Benny in soft melodies rather than in > fast beats or folk numbers. And as expected, Benny has done a wonderful job > here. The first saranam was given an "under-water- singing" effect which > reminds me of Blue, nevertheless the similarities ends there. > > > > The Kerala portion on the other hand, has a heavenly rhythm which leaves you > asking for more. It's always a privilege to hear ARR's usage of ethnic music, > even if it's only for a few seconds and he has done an excellent job here as > well. And needless to say, Kalyani Menon was the perfect choice for this. On > a further note, the nadaswaram used throughout the song was just mind > blowing. Initially I had my doubts if the real nadaswaram was used for this > particular number nevertheless clarifications given by fellow friends and a > quick check with ARR's official website cleared my doubts. Kudos to ARR and > Natarajan for churning out an essentially ethnic and yet modern tune. Omana > Penne is definitely here to stay! >  > 2. Anbil Avan > The techno sound at the prelude seems to have traces of Santhipoma of Enaku > 20 Unaku 18. To tell the truth, I didn't find this song to be particularly > astounding at first. However, repeated hearing has made me to change my mind. > Trust me, this song is "highly addictive". Devan did a great job, needless > to say. I couldn't think of any other singer who would have given the song > the same level of energy that Devan accomplishes. Nevertheless, I must say > that Chinmayi was a revelation. I've always had difficulties identifying > Chinmayi's voice as she has the talent of modulating her voice texture and > style according to the mood of each and every song of hers. While she was > soulful in Oru Deivam (Kannathil Muthammittal) and angelic in En Uyir > Thozhiye (Kangalal Kaithu Sei), here she seems to present a western-based > singing. In fact, when I heard this song for the first time, I had mistaken > Chinmayi's voice to Vasundhara Das'. A check on the credits > revealed the truth. She sounds amazing! > > > Coming back to the music arrangements, ARR has again surprised everyone with > his choice of genre for a song such as this. The song basically expresses the > lovers' dreams of their marriage. While most would have settled for a > melody for such a situation, ARR decided to grant a peppy, foot-tapping > number. And what an apposite choice that was. He effectively brought out the > elation felt by the lovers in a vivacious manner, while the inclusion of the > marriage tunes at the interludes provided a wonderful, jubilant feel to it. >  > 3. Vinnaithandi Varuvaya > I was pleasantly surprised that ARR used Karthik instead of Hariharan for > this soothing number. This would have been a cake-walk for Hariharan who's > a master in playing with the ragas. Nevertheless, I must say that Karthik has > done a commendable job. In fact, full credits goes to ARR for using Karthik's > voice in a very unconventional manner to such great effect. Instead of opting > for the open-throat singing (which I believe is Karthik's plus point), ARR > has brought out a rather husky side of Karthik here. Truly amazing! > > > ARR has used minimum instruments here, letting the string arrangements to > do the wonders. And wonders they did! I was instantly attracted to it from > the first moment I heard it. In fact, I must say that I was amazed with the > whole presentation of this song. Definitely one of my favourites! >  > 4. Hosanna > Vijay Prakash is back after the amazing job rendered in Fiqrana. Among all > the songs, Hosanna attracted me from the moment I first heard it. The song > started on as a slow melody but ARR quickly transformed it to a > fast tempo at the pallavi. Vijay sounds refreshing and he seemed completely > at ease with the high notes. I especially loved the way he presented the > "idhayam" portion which comes at the beginning and at the end of the song. > Absolutely delightful! > > > By the way, who said Blaaze sounded repetitive?? I don't usually like rap > and I was never a big fan of Blaaze, but I dare say that he was great here! > He seems to have adopted a more "Caribbean" feel this time which sounded cool > to the ears. Suzanne on the other hand has added charm to the song with her > blissful humming and chanting of "Hosanna". A highly lovable number, I must > say! >  > 5. Kannukul Kannai > The song started with great violin score coupled with the usage of percussion > at the right places. The beautiful string arrangements at the interlude needs > to be specifically mentioned here as I felt ARR has done a wonderful job with > them. Naresh Iyer was truly amazing! The boyish-sounding Naresh is now back > with a matured and well-developed voice and he handled the fast-pacy number > gracefully. I admit that the lyrics of the song have yet to grow on me but > the amazing harmony of sounds projected here is too extraordinary to give > this a miss. Definitely has potentials to hit the chartbusters! >  > 6. Manipaya > The moment Shreya Ghosal rendered the first line, I knew that this is going > to be a special number. But nothing prepared me for the surprise I was about > to face. The whole experience of listening to this song just left me > speechless. So much so that the moment the song ended, I had the urge to play > it again and again. Shreya was just amazing. She totally connected with the > song. Not only had she improve her pronunciation to perfection but the > emotions she conveyed through her voice was so intense that you can't help > but feel the pain and grief she executes soulfully. And ARR...what can I say > about him? He just took the song to a higher level with his emotive > singing. Truly, this song is just made for them. > > > > The lyrics didn't particularly sound poetic, nevertheless, they spelt out the > characters' feelings exceedingly well. The girl seeking forgiveness for > failing her lover, and the guy responding by attributing each and every > success of his to her was expressed poignantly here. In fact, the whole song > has a pathos feel lingering around it that eventually leaves you emotionally > drained. ARR has created a whole new dimensions to his music by not only > evading the usual pallavi-saranam- pallavi sequence, but by giving each and > every stanzas a life of its own. And adding to the magical effect is the > inclusion of the wonderfully crafted and meaningful Thirukural. What more can > you ask? > I would whole-heartedly agree that this song is definitely the best of the > lot! Face it, "beautiful" is just too lame a word to define this song! >  > 7. Aaromale > When Rahman infused rap into folk numbers, everyone was left awed by the > final product. So how would you respond now that he blends rock with ethnic > music? You can't respond, of course. You're just left flabbergasted with the > sheer brilliance of ARR. Alphonse was an apt choice for this number. His > powerful , solid voice suited the mood and style of the song marvelously. I > loved the slokas-like tunes which gives the song a native touch and ARR > inserts them well with the excellent support of percussion. If there's > anyone who can blend rock and ethnic music exceedingly well, then it has to > be ARR. The more I hear this number, the more I'm drawn to it. Phenomenal! >  > Overall, Vinnai Thandi Varuvaya left me feeling completely contented and > excited. ARR has never failed to surprise me with each new projects he > ventures. This time around, I was not only elated, but I was thoroughly > absorbed and captivated with the final product. God bless ARR for triggering > a special feelings in our hearts through his magical music once again! >  > > > > > -- > regards, > Vithur >
