June proved very exciting for Indian film music in general, with some of the best albums of the year yet showing up. There were a few remarkable releases in Tamil, in the spectrum ranging from indie to mainstream music.
1. Anirudh Ravichander – Orey Oru (Kolamavu Kokila)
Anirudh Ravichander composes another beautiful unplugged song, in a familiar palette that is also becoming a favourite. Sung ably by Anirudh and Jonita Gandhi, the song has the vocal layering evocative of ‘Neeyum Naanum’ from Naanum Rowdy Thaan, one of his career-best compositions. With three songs in, the soundtrack for the quirky-titled film is already a hit.
2. Shweta Mohan & Bennet Roland – Yaavum Enadhe
Shweta Mohan launched her first ever independent music video, composed by Bennet Roland, in Tamil and in Hindi. The song is very chirpy, similar to how Shweta Mohan sounds. With a brisk pace and sprightly guitars, ‘Yaavum Enadhe’ makes a great indie debut for the singer. It has garnered quite some media attention and the love of listeners, aptly so.
3. Hiphop Thamizha – Vilambara Idaiveli (Imaikkaa Nodigal)
The full soundtrack of Imaikkaa Nodigal composed by Hiphop Thamizha released in June, and the pick of the lot is ‘Vilambara Idaiveli’ (the song was out early this year) sung by Sudharshan Ashok and Srinisha Jayaseelan, with backing from Christopher Stanley.
Groovy from the get-go, with delightful Nadaswaram/Shehnai interludes, this is the kind of song that has helped the composer rise to the mainstream status in the Tamil music scene.
4. Govind Menon – Alathi Anbai (Asuravadham)
This is Govind (Vasantha) Menon’s first full-fledged Tamil album. ‘Alathi Anbai’ builds on a pensive mood with a touch of haunting melody, falling right in the forte of the singer Ananthu. It is only expected of Govind Menon, who was a part of the last year’s magnificent album Solo.
5. N. Kannan – Kalavarame (Thamizh Padam 2.0)
Firstly, it is a pleasant surprise that a sequel to a spoof movie, which also is a spoof, has an elaborate soundtrack with varied genres. ‘Kalavarame’ especially is a lovely composition and a tricky one at that. The song has no apparent beginning or end, at least in the conventional sense. The tongue-twisting lyrics (also drawing from some of the yesteryear hits, such as ‘Kanmani Anbodu’ from Ilaiyaraaja’s Guna), by Madhan Karky, that just about sit in the song meter are ably rendered by Chinmayi and Pradeep.
6. M Ghibran – Naanagiya Nadhimoolamae (Viswaroopam II)
Ghibran’s first composition for a Kamal Haasan’s film was just out, more than three years later. The song composed on the mother-son arc clearly shows the musical finesse that was a given in Ghibran’s early albums. Kaushiki Chakraborty sounds wonderful with her classical touches. The only blot in an otherwise standout track is the mismatch between Kamal Haasan’s ageing vocal skills and the demanding composition.
