‘Chella Kutti’ - Theri (Tamil)
Music: G. V. Prakash Kumar
Usually, fans expect a Vijay-sung song in all his films and Theri is no different. G.V. Prakash Kumar hands over the soundtrack’s best to the film’s hero, who along with Neeti Mohan does a very good job aided by some snazzy digital corrections by the composer. The song is a frothy, catchy re-imagination of M.S. Viswanathan’s ‘Sippi Irukkudhu Muthum Irukkudhu’ from Varumayin Niram Sigappu, the only difference being this version is set in Goa. It’s an interesting idea that works easily given the bouncy nature of the song.
‘Komala Henne’ - Godhi Banna Sadharna Mykattu (Kannada)
Music: Charanraj
That mouthful of a film name simply means, ‘Wheatish complexion, average build’ (pretty close to Tamil, now that you know the meaning —Godhumai vannam, sadharna udarkattu) used to describe Anant Nag who suffers from Alzheimer’s and goes missing. Charanraj’s music is phenomenal all through the soundtrack, and much like his erstwhile band’s (Thaalam, featuring Charanraj, Job Kurian and Yakzon) style of music. Charan even gets his Thaalam buddy Job to sing the soundtrack’s best, ‘Komala henne’, a breezy, immersive melody with a highly inventive anupallavi.
‘Ishq Anokha’ - Ishq Anokha (Indipop)
Music: Kailasa
Ishq Anokha is Kailasa’s fifth album. While the first three albums—Kailasa, Jhoomo Re and Chaandan Mein—were brilliant, they seemed a bit lost in the fourth, Rangeele. But they seem to have got their mojo back in Ishq Anokha. The title song is the pick of the album, with Kailash Kher’s dependably earthy vocals leading the way as usual and beautifully takes off as he goes, ‘Le tu nadiya magmaati’. But equally important for the band’s sound is Paresh and Naresh Kamath’s musical imagination—they bring the trademark mod sound to the very-desi tunes.
‘Adiye Unna’ - Vetrivel (Tamil)
Music: D. Imman
‘Adiye Unna’ is an Imman special all the way. The nuanced tune is reminiscent of Ilaiyaraaja’s heydays—a bit like Kadalora Kavithaigal’s ‘Adi aathaadi’—while Imman, in his trademark style, layers it with a highly enjoyable profusion of strings and flute. Sathya Prakash and Vandana Srinivasan seem to be thoroughly enjoying the singing. Imman’s work in the interludes too deserves a special mention.
‘Vaathe Poothe’ - Valleem Thetti Pulleem Thetti (Malayalam)
Music: Sooraj S. Kurup
Malayalis seem to be tired of getting their stock of ‘adipoli’ songs from their neighboring states. So they produce the occasional ‘adipoli kuthu’ songs like Neram’s ‘Pistah’ and ‘Rockaankuthu’ from Premam. Sooraj pitches in that space with ‘Vaathe poothe’ that sounds like it could easily be part of an Ajith starrer, introducing Thala in super slow motion. Vidhu Prathap and Sooraj S. Kurup are perfectly in sync singing this song with manic energy and the right musical banter between them.
