When news came in of Tharangini, a Malayalam songs retro night at The Residency, one expected to listen to old numbers, mostly from a generation ago. But, it was a pleasant surprise to get hear even Mohanlal hits of the early 90s that one grew up with. To add to it, Airtel Super Singer contestant Febin Pared Palli and his band Beatz even sang songs from the latest romantic rage, Thattathin Marayathu . What more could one ask for?
Melody rules
At the ball room of The Residency Hotel, it felt like home. There were little candles on the tables and the bartenders in mundu served drinks. Febin and his band began with an old number ‘Chandanam Manakkunna Poonthottam’ from Achuvettante Veedu .
More melodious numbers followed. Febin’s voice carried the romantic flavour as he sang the Prithviraj hit, ‘Picha Vecha’ from Puthiya Mukham .
Sindhu and Sudha had the audience in a thrall with their melodious voices. From the ever-green ‘Rajahamsame’ of K.S. Chithra to the latest Shreya Ghoshal hit, ‘Pattil Ee Pattil’, the ladies sang effortlessly, recreating the pathos of the songs. Sindhu sang ‘Sandhye’, a song immortalised by S. Janaki.
Febin, Sindhu, Sudha and Vinod lent life to the duets, ‘Kolakkuzhal Vili Ketto’, ‘Anuraga Vilochananayi’ and ‘Muthu chippi’.
Of love lost
Think retro and think Baburaj and his poignant love songs. Febin sang ‘Pranasakhi’ that left everyone in the audience teary-eyed. The audience hummed along with ‘Ellarum Chollanu’ and ‘Alliyambal Kadavil’. Yesudas melodies such as ‘Ayiram Paadhasarangal’, ‘Aareyum Bhava Gayakanakkum’, and ‘Aayiram Kannumai’ took everyone back to the familiar paddy fields and backwaters.
Then, there were the popular Mohanlal fun numbers. Vinod sang ‘Sundari Sundari Onnu Orungi Vaa’ from the film Aye Auto . The song, a fusion mix of chenda and drum beats, livened up the mood.
Remember Mohanlal in a hat and Urvashi in a glimmering skirt and pigtails, dancing dappankuthu ? That was ‘Kasturi’ from Vishnulokam. Vinod and Sindhu sang this number and even broke into a small dance. Febin sang another Yesudas melody ‘Aaro Viral Meeti’ from Pranayavarnangal.
“We want His Highness Abdullah ,” a lady shouted from the hall. She got to listen to the legendary semi-classical number, ‘Pramada Vanam’, by the accomplished Vinod.
“One cannot forget the contributions of Ilaiyaraaja to Malayalam film music,” Febin announced. As he sang ‘Poonkattinodum’, the romantic hit of the 80s, many come only think of the handsome face of the first blue-eyed boy of Malayalam cinema, Rahman. There were also the yesteryear hits such as ‘Nee Madhu Pakaru’, ‘Manikya Veenayumayen’, and the peppy ‘Appangal Embadum’ and ‘Velmuruka’. One just wished the night lasted forever!
