Saturday, February 21, 2009

Sarvam - Music Review

Good music is created only when there is interest and enthusiasm in the creator and able support and guidance for him. In short, you need a good team, which can bring out the best in an induvidual. Yuvan shnakar Raja is a composer who needs all these, and when he gets them, you can prepare yourself for some good music listening experience.

Saroja happened few months ago, and that was the last good album from Yuvan. After a few unconvincing albums, he is back with the dream team - Vishnuvardhan and Arya. 'Think Music' presents the music of Sarvam, an Ayangaran release, and lets check out what the album offers.

1. Theme music

Starting off with a humorous and romantic tone , it manages to keep us interested for a while befor it slips into serious mode. The composer has borrowed his own tune from Billa and tried to create a racy tune according to the mood of the film. A good piece that can kindle your interest to see the film, even more.

2. Siragugal - Javed Ali, Madhusree

From the very begenning of the song it reminds you of Rahman's "Guzarish", and what makes that more convincing is the same voice(Javed Ali) for both songs. Nevertheless it is a treat for the melody buffs, with Madhusree's sweet voice matching the mood perfectly. Had only Javed's tamil pronounciation been a bit better, the song would have been one among Yuvan's best melodies.

3. Neethane - Yuvan shankar Raja

The song starts with an interrupted signal like sound, and sette down witha rythmic guitar interlude. A typical Yuvan number, with his signature all over it, sagging at no point. Yuvan manages to keep the tempo of the song at the right place where you can feel the melody and the rythm. This is my pick of the album.

4. Sutta suriyana - Vijay Yesudas

Vijay has become a regular in Yuvan's albums, as his father was in Illayaraja's. The tune is nothing new in this one and the beats also reminds us of 'Kappal eri poyaachu' from 'Indian'. But midway through you are introduced to the 'Megam karukuthu' piece and then the same tune is used in a flute, which makes the song an above ordinary fare.

5. Kaatukulle - Yuvan shankar Raja

This could have easily been the song of the album, if it was not for Yuvan's inablity to raise the tempo to the levels that the song required. This was again a trademark song from the composer, starting of with sound of water droplets and Yuvan's voice rising from the it. The choice of instruments is commendable and the sound engineer can take a bow for putting them beautifully in place. Nevertheless, it has all ingridients for a chartbuster.

6. Adada - Illayaraja

When was the last time you saw Illayaraja playing a rockstar?? He is back in that avatar, with this rollicking song, signalling that he can still create magic. Only he coud have managed to make an impact in a song dominated by loud BGm, wierd flute interludes and husky english lyrics in feminine voices. He has had a blast, and this song is set to burn the dance flores.

Overall, a good album from Yuvan aftera long time, and has made quite a few adjustments and tried to come out of the usual tunes without missing his punch

Rating: 3 1/2

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Naan Kadavul - Movie Review

I am stranded for words at the end of the film, but I took courage and managed to get few words to review one of the very few films that had disturbed me a lot. This is once again a personal review, as opinions differ, and what with the film being a Bala special. It has been a long time since I have seen such a heart rendering movie in Tamil Cinema. And this is not a surprise because it was expected from the director who manages to make his films to stay in the viewers mind for a long time. Bala has his own school of direction and 'Naan Kadavul', his fourth venture as dirctor is nothing different.

The story starts with the visuals of Kasi and the Ganges flowing through with the soothing hindi(i think so...) song at the background. Then you are introduced to a old man and his daughter in search of his long lost son, whom he abandoned due to the advice of a few astrologers. He finds his son with the help of a local, and is astonished to find him as an Aghora. Rudran(Arya), after being left alone by his father, took refuge under an Aghora and is also brought up as one(Do not miss his astounding introduction). He believes that he is the creator and he has the right to kill evil people and provide moksha(by the way of death) to people who are not able to sustain. He returns home to Malaikovil(Tamil Nadu) with his father and sister, but neither his mother's affection nor his new relationships could make him differ from what he is. He makes a cave near the Malaikovil temple as his home.

When you are introduced to Thandavan who captures helpless beggers and milks money through the alms which they get, it is then that the original plot is revealed. Hamsavalli(Pooja), a blind girl with a beautiful voice is captured by Murugan, Thandavan's aide and she is made to beg along with the fellow beggers. When she is tried to be sold to a gory looking man for a ransom, she tries to escape, and lands at the feet of Rudran. Rudran, who can sense the evil from the good just by the looks, kills both Thandavan and one other dealer who tries to sell Hamsavalli. Pooja who was tortured by Thandavan, loses interest to live and begs Rudran to give her moksha by ending her life, and Rudran obliges.

There are plenty of scenes which make you cry like when we get to see the plight of the beggers and the way they are tortured when refused to beg. It brings the sour truth of our society to limelight. The choice of artists for beggers(physically deformed in real) is commendable and Bala can take a bow for making such raw people from such a cruel walk of life, to act. These secondary characters form the soul of the film. They not only make you cry but also provide quite a few laughs with their witty dialouges. Bala's penchant for humour cannot be set aside, as right from Sethu till now, he doesnt fail to tickle your funny bone often. The dance sequence in the Police station and the 'Ammavum neeye' song sequence have us in splits

The lead actors Arya and Pooja have relatively lesser screen time than it is required for lead actors. Arya is stupendous in his appearence and his voice modulation is immaculate. His asanas are a treat to watch and we curse Bala for not showing enough of them on screen. Pooja as a blind girl is unbelievably great, with her moves and expressions making us believe that she is one amongst the real handicapped people. She is sure to go places with her talent brilliantly exploited by Bala. The other charaters like the villain Thandavan and his aide Murugan, and the limbless Swami at the Malaikovil, have done a neat job and garner praise.

When it comes to soulful music Illayaraja can never be matched, and he has once again proved the same. The background score is so true that it tugs your heartstrings and takes you into the film. 'Om hari Om' and 'Bikshai paathiram' leave an everlatsing trail in our minds. The music often takes the movie forward when there is lack of dialouges. The technical team also deserves praise

On the flip side, this film is sure to make many a people uneasy while watching it. The raw potrayal of the plight of beggers is sure to create a lump in your throat, but I am sure many might not sleep the night they saw the movie. The climax scene where Pooja is put to death and the scene where she is tortured by Thandavan is just out of imagination for an ordinary film goer. Realism as it is takes centre stage in every Bala movie, but I rate this the best when it comes to realistic potrayal.

So what is the conclusion?
No one in India can never ever think of making such a movie, other than Mr. Bala. If you can see movies like Apocalypto, then here is your cup of tea.

AHAM BRAMHAASMI......

Rating:
For the weak hearted: Stay Away
For others : 4/5