Youtube link.

Thank you Neha

Life is wonderful!

முழுமதி அவளது முகமாகும்
மல்லிகை அவளது மணமாகும்
மின்னல்கள் அவளது விழியாகும்
மௌனங்கள் அவளது மொழியாகும்
மார்கழி மாதத்து பனித்துளி அவளது குரலாகும்
மகரந்த காட்டில் மான்குட்டி அவளது நடையாகும்
அவளை ஒரு நாள் நான் பார்த்தேன்
இதயம் கொடு என வரம் கேட்டேன்
அதை கொடுத்தாள் உடனே எடுத்து சென்று விட்டாள்
ஓஹோ முழுமதி….

கால்தடமே பதியாத கடல்தீவு அவள்தானே
அதன் வாசனை மணலில் பூச்செடியாக நினைத்தேன்
கேட்டதுமே மறக்காத மெல்லிசையும் அவள்தானே
அதன் பல்லவி சரணம் புரிந்தும் மௌனத்தில் நின்றேன்
ஒரு கரையாக அவள் இருக்க மறு கரையாக நான் இருக்க
இடையில் தனிமை தளும்புதே நதியாய்
கானல் நீரில் மீன் பிடிக்க கைகள் நினைத்தால் முடிந்திடுமா
நிகழ்காலம் நடுவில் வேடிக்கை பார்க்கிறதே
ஓஹோ முழுமதி….

அமைதியுடன் அவள் வந்தாள்
விரல்களை நான் பிடித்து கொண்டேன்
பல வானவில் பார்த்தே வழியில் தொடர்ந்தது பயணம்
உறக்கம் வந்தே தலைகோத மரத்தடியில் இளைப்பாறி
கண் திறந்தே அவளும் இல்லை கசந்தது நிமிடம்
அருகில் இருந்தாள் ஒரு நிமிடம்
தொலைவில் தெரிந்தாள் மறு நிமிடம்
கண்களில் மறையும் பொய்மான் போல ஓடுகிறாள்
அவளுக்கும் எனக்கும் நடுவினிலே திரை ஒன்று தெரிந்தது எதிரினிலே
முகமுடி அணிந்தால் முகங்கள் தெரிந்திடுமா
ஓஹோ முழுமதி….

Hawa Sun Hawa -Singers: Sonu Nigam & Alka Yagnik Lyrics: Nusrat Badr Duration: 6.01
Sonu Nigams Hat trick starts here. I like the way Alka Yagnik starts singing. Her voice blends, if I may use that word, perfectly with the flute. This song has ‘Vintage ARR’ stamped all over it. I wish he reuses this tune for a tamil movie Atleast the flute bit between 1.44 and 2.00. Lengthy song but every second is worth it.

Ghum Sum – Singers: Sonu Nigam & Alka Yagnik Lyrics: Nusrat Badr Duration: 4.20
Sonu and Alka Yagnik at it again. If it was flute in the previous song, it is guitar in this song. The string interludes are top notch. Something in the lines of Munbe vaa or Nenjamellam kaadhal. But its not that lengthy in this song. The drum beat between 3.40 and 3.44 is quite unexpected and funny

Gulfisha – Singers: Sonu Nigam, Sunidhi Chauhan and Vivian Chaix Lyrics: Nusrat Badr Duration: 4.43
Sonu nigam’s at it again! Vivian Chaix starts chanting and then we get to hear the song, that you might hear frequently in FM Radio. This song reminds me of the Maaricham song from sillunu oru kaadhalAda ada hai ada tere ada ne jaane kya kiya? Peppy number, when compared to other songs in this album. Has ARR used the japanese bamboo flutes in this song? Sunidhi has lots of variations in this song, and she has done a neat job.

Meherbaan – Singer: AR Rahman Lyrics: Raqueeb Alam Duration: 3.51
Another NewYork Nagaram. Whats the special connection between ARR and ‘Tere Bina’? I think this song might be a part of the future concerts. I can visualize ARR playing the piano and singing ‘Tu hai nadhiya main hoon sangam’, whilst blaaze is holding the microphone next to him. Wonderful song to listen, while you are going on a long drive or rather on a walk. Was ARR thinking about this song, when this photograph was taken? If you are tense or upset or angry, please listen to this song. Peace!

Tu Mera Hai – Singers: Chitra, Sukhwinder Singh & Naresh Iyer Lyrics: Nusrat Badr Duration: 4.57
The way Chitra sings ‘Tu Mera mera mera hai’ it reminds me of some other ARR song. I am not able to place which one. For the first 1 minute of the song, there is nothing but interludes and Chitra singing ‘Tu mera mera mera hai yaara’. Similar to Thee Thee, where there is more of interludes and the first stanza, and not much lyrics otherwise. Sukhwinder has sung like how he has sung in ‘Water’, and not his usual energetic self. Nice. Till the end I was wondering when Naresh Iyer would appear in the song.

Hai Dard – Singer: Udit Narayan Lyrics: Nusrat Badr
The way the song starts, one might assume it is a peppy number. But all of a sudden you get to hear Udit Narayan pouring his heart out. Once again, whats the instrument that appears in the beginning of the song? And is it the same instrument between 0.17 and 0.21? Pathos song, sung perfectly by Udit Narayan. His pronounciations are spot on! Not to forget the voice in the background. I wonder if there is a flashback sequence of happier moments in this song, somewhere between 2.40 and 2.50 as the music in that particular portion is quite different from the songs tune.

Ishq Ada (Female version) – Singer: Parul Mishra
When I first heard this song, I was wondering if something was wrong in my car CD player. It starts with Ada hai, sada hai, dua hai. The male version had isha ada hai, ishq dua hai etc. Parul was the winner of the Fever talent hunt competition that was held in Delhi, before the November concert. If you listen to this song, you will know why she is a worthy winner. During the concert she sung a very tough song from Zubeidaa very well. There are slight variations from the male version, not just in the tune but also in the usage of instruments. Dream debut for Parul in which she scores a six of the first ball. Great talent! Listen to her alaap in the middle. We need more songs from Parul

Milo Wahan Wahan Singers: Alka Yagnik & Jayachandran Lyrics: Nusrat Badr Duration: 6.24
Jayachandran after a long time. Lovely voice, perfect modulation. Why doesnt he get that many chances? Apart from Jayachandrans voice, what makes this song a very pleasant one is the usage of violin and the way Alka Yagnik has sung it. Need to listen some more time. One interesting thing to observe is the pause in between lines, with no music in between.

Meherbaan (Instrumental) Guitar: Sanjeev Thomas Duration: 3.01
If there is one thing I miss(Yes, I am being greedy here) in this album, its the lack of instrumental for all the songs. No disrespect to any of the singers, but I wish we had an instrumental version for all the 9 songs. Just listen to the instrumental of Meherbaan. You will understand why I am saying this.

This is one album I had been waiting for quite sometime. According to some interviews, this movie has been in the making for quite sometime. And the music has been composed over a period of time. It definitely shows us interesting glimpses of BOSS’s musical journey.

Finally, in the interview to Kalaignar TV ARR mentioned that whenever he likes a song a lot he plays it to Mani sir. I wonder if this is the first album, apart from mani sir movies, for which he played all the songs to Mani sir.

Thank you BOSS for taking us on a wonderful musical journey, via ADA

Two more weeks!

This is the direct link of the teaser (10 seconds). The tag line goes like ‘Musical journey by AR Rahman’ and there are 9 songs, plus one instrumental. Cool!

Jashn E Bahaara
Master Editor. If ARR had been an editor, he would have been an expert there as well. Thats what I felt after listening to this song. At one stretch Javed Ali goes on close to a minute without any audible sign of catching his breath. Easily my favorite song of the album. Somewhere between 3.50 and 3.54 you get to hear a bell at the background. Its there for just 3 seconds and vanishes. This happens once or twice in the song. I somehow get a feeling that Akbar’s courtyard, in the movie, is close to a temple and the bell we get to hear is the temple bell? By the way whats the string instrument that appears in the first interlude? Its magical. Maybe the first ARR song in which I liked the vocal version rather than the instrumental version. That doesn’t mean I didn’t like the instrumental version.

Man Mohana
Bhajan Symphony. It seems Aishwarya Rai was supposed to sing this song first. At least thats what I read in some reports. Thank god she didn’t, as we wouldn’t have got to hear Bela Shende. Only someone like ARR can think of a symphony kind of interlude for a bhajan song. I remember Baradwaj writing sometime back on how current day singers struggle to catch breath in between lines. He had also mentioned about how Sujatha was an expert in it. I think Bela Shende seems to have taken the trick from Sujathas book. I love the way she effortlessly sings ‘Manmohana’ in high pitch. She does it 3 times continuously with tempo increasing slowly. I disagree with many ARR fans who brand this song not to be in same league as of other songs in the album. It is one of my favorites

Khwaja Mere Khwaja
Multilayered Rahman. How many layers are there in this song? I tried counting but gave up midway Well, I have not listened to that much qawwali(spelling?) to appreciate this song. I liked the strecth that appeared on the trailers and the way Rahman sings ‘Aaaa’ in the background. Though the tune is catchy, I somehow feel the song would have been better if more singers had been used and Rahman stuck to just the main verses and the aalaap? The instrumental of this song was too short The starting reminded me of Pray For Me Brother instrumental opening, but that was for just 2 seconds or so. Its very different.

In Lamhon
Simple and nice. Actually I do not know what to write about this song? Do I write about the great combination of Sonu Nigam and ARR? Do I write about the Madhushrees entry? Do I write about the chorus when you least expect it? Or do I write about how Sonu’s voice is distinctly heard in the second chorus? Lovely song.

Listening to Jodha Akbar is like drinking half glass of payasam/kheer. Ofcourse it is sweet and nice. But it is the unexpected cashewnut, raisin that you encounter which makes it all the more wonderful. But why are there only 5 songs? Movie length according to media reports is close to 3 hours. But still only 5 songs, apart from the instrumentals? I somehow feel that it is less. Maybe thats why I am not completely satisfied with this album. There should have been atleast 1 more song. I sincerely hope ARR doesn’t stop composing for period films. In fact I wish they make a periodical movie in Tamil and ARR composes for it

The audio CD was supposed to be released by 21st of october and it got released yesterday in India, and on thursday in the US. By the time the CD’s were in stores over here almost every mp3 site on the world had/has the songs. Best part is the reason they gave for delay in India. The CD’s had some manufacturing defect it seems. Now why will someone buy the CD, if it is available online?

I downloaded the songs on Friday and have been listening to it non stop. Will buy the audio CD as well. Detailed review sometime next week

If someone wants to know, how NOT to launch a music album please contact UTV Music. Completely unprofessional from such a big and powerful group!

Have you listened to the song ‘Naaka Mukka’? Long since I heard such a dappankuthu song. God knows what laari sonaa or naaka mukka mean?

Thanks to Vishy for the song.

BTW, I have been observing that off late lots of intro songs have the word ‘da’. Yaara paathu da solraanga indha heroes ellam? Why only ‘da’? Why not di? Am not referring to XY chromosome calling XX chromosome ‘di’. I am talking about same sex ‘da di’. Guess it was all started by the great man with dhaadi ‘vaada en machi vazhakkai bajji’. I protest this sexist attitude. Its very bad. I hereby demand that Kolangal title track be changed, and Devayani sing using ‘di’ ‘di’ ‘di’.

P.S. Naaka Mukka song is from the movie, Kaadhalil Vizhundhen.

I was actually waiting for Star Plus to telecast the Delhi concert, to write a post on it. Looks like it might take some more time! Anyways, here are some observations from the concert.

*One of the best concerts I attended. The stage looked good exept for the sleazy background videos whenever some romantic song was being sung. Very colorful. And thankfully, no rain!
*Not just ARR, but his family and close associates are extremely humble.
*ARR recognized me. He was playing keyboard, during rehearsals, and I was standing behind him in the stage and watching. He waved a hi and smiled
*I was standing for close to 2 hours just watching him play keyboard. One of the best moments for ARR fan You should see him concentrate, closing his eyes and tapping his foot while his fingers do all the magic.
*During the concert I was standing next to Krishnan Chetan(Ponmagal vandhaaL).
*Jodha Akbar song was mesemerizing. And the way ARR transformed it to Veerapandi Koattayile was brilliant.
*In this concert, right from the word ARR was at his peak form. I remember, in Bangalore, he was out of form for the first few songs.

This is my favorite video of all ARR songs picturised till now.

Here are some of my other favorite ARR videos (Youtube videos). I like all of them, not in any preferred order.

Pachai Nirame – Alaipayuthey. Video link
Snehidhane – Alaipayuthey – Video link
Dol Dol – Ayutha Ezhuthu – Video link
Oru deivam thandha poove- Kannathil Muthamittaal – Video link
Minnale – Maymaadham – Video link
Roobaroo – Rang De Basanti – Video link
Pudhu Vellai mazhai – Roja – Video link
Oh vennila – Kadhal desam – Video link
Shakalaka Baby – Mudhalvan – Video link
Chandralekha – Thiruda Thiruda – Video link
Thirakaadha kaatukulle – En Swaasa Kaatre – Video link
Nahin Saamne – Taal – Video link
Dilse re – Dilse – Video link
Pukar – Kismat se tum – Video link
What are your favorite videos? Please get me the links if they are not there in this list

There are totally 6 songs in this album, including a remix of yesteryear hit ‘ponmagaL vandhaaL’. One thing that struck me when I saw the track listing, was the number of new singers ARR has used in this album. Luckily, all of them sound like Tamilians (Pronounciation is good).

Ella Pugazhum – Singer: A.R.Rahman, Lyrics: Vaali 5.31
This is the title song. I was initially surprised when I knew that ARR was singing the title track. It is usually Shankar Mahadevan, for Vijay, right? Vaali’s lyrics must please Vijay fans a lot with lines like
‘hey thozhaa munaal vaada unnal mudiyum thala thala thaLabadhi nee dhaan. anbu thalaiva vetri namakke. azhagiya thamizh magan nee dhaane’.
I somehow get a feeling that this song will be used as BGM in the movie. Good peppy song. Especially the high pitch burst from ARR at the end ‘mudyiyaadhu enbadhe illai. kadal poal malai poal bhoomi poal neeyum perumai serada’.

ponmagaL vandhaaL – Singers: Aslam, ember rap Lyrics: alangudi somu 3.05
Wonderful song. I was least expecting a remix song to be like this. Especially the end of first line. You kind of settle into the tune with Aslam singing ‘ennai aaLakkinaal anbile’, and you have techno beats followed by the ember rap ‘You are my diamond girl, smiling smiling girl’. Its like a shaggy song. Its funny when the singer sings tamil lyrics in rap tone. I liked it in the first hearing itself. Far better than the ‘Thottal poo malarum’ remix.

Nee Marilyn Monroe – Singers: Benny Dayal, Ujjayinee Lyrics: Na.Muthukumar 6.14When I heard the samples from ARR’s website, this was my least favorite song. But the full song changed my view completely. If you thought ‘Style’ song from Sivaji was stylish, wait till you listen to this Ujjayinee(Listen to the way she goes oh oh somewhere around 4.10) and Benny Dayal have sung very well. The interludes of this song are quite exciting, and the whole sang has rhythmic beats at the background. Foot tapping no. Since this song is picturised on Namitha, guess one can skip the video

vaLayapatti – Singers: Naresh Iyer, Ujjayinee, Madhumitha Lyrics: Na. Muthukumar 5.44
‘Nee nadhaswaram pola vandhaal naabi kamalam naana. Nee ezhu swaram pola vandhaal etta swaram naana, etta swaram naana’. Easily my favorite of the album. Naresh Iyer has kalaasified as usual. Listen to the way he croons ‘Jimikki poatta mayile mayile, mayakkuriye ennai mayakkuriye’. Na.Muthukumar has done a wonderful job with the lyrics. I am becoming a huge fan of this guy. If someone just looks at the lyrics of the song, they might anticipate a traditional tamil song with nadhaswaram, thavil and other instruments. And the trailer samples also conveyed the same. But the full version took me by surprise. Its a fusion of various classical styles(carnatic, hindustani, Qawwali), with modern beats, brazilian samba and many more. The voices of Ujjayinee and Madhumitha go along very well with the song. ‘Un kaNgal reNdum kalyani, un sirippo sindhu bhairavi, nee konjum boadhu neelambari’. ‘nee paarkum boadhe pathikudhe sondha ooru sivakasiya pesum boadhe sillunudhe unga oorum cherrapunjiya nee nerungum boadhe current erudhe unga ooru kalpaakkama narambellam muRukkerudhe yaendi neeyum manapaariya.’ Too good!

kaeLaamal kaiyile – Singers: Sriram Parthasarathy, Saindhavi Lyrics : Thamaarai 5.27
The beginning of the song reminded me of ‘aagaya vennilave tharai meedhu vandhadheno’ from the movie Arangetra veLai, but the similarity ends there. I somehow feel that lyrics could have been better, for this tune. The mood of the song is somewhat like the maaricham song from ‘Sillunu oru kaadhal’. Whats this genre called? Haunting genre? Guess I need to listen some more times to like it.

Madhuraikku Pogadhadi – Singers: Benny Dayal, Archith, Dharshanaa Lyrics: Pa. Vijay 5.23
Foot tapping song, with funny lyrics. ‘Madhuraikku pogadhadi enga mallipoo kaN vaikkum, thanjavur pogadhadi thalai aatama bommai nikkum, thoothukudi pona sila kappal tharai thattum’. Another song, which I might like after repeated hearing. Some parts of the song reminds me of an old tamil song ‘maNamagaLe maRumagaLe vaa vaa, un valadhu kaalai eduthu vaithu vaa vaa’ (Not very sure about the lyrics).

As always, Boss delivers. Benny Dayal and Ujjayinee are very good, and I look forward to more songs with ARR/Na.Muthukumar combination I like it more than Sivaji.