Saturday, December 24, 2011

Tamil filmi songs:Best of 2011 - VJ's pick

Its that time of the year when you turn back and say 'Oh! Is it the end already??' and then start picking your brains on what went well and what could have been better in the last 365 days. Well I am back after a long hiatus which I would like to attribute to various reasons. Thanks to my friends who have given their thumbs up to my previuos efforts, I am encouraged to write the best way I could.

I would like to start with my favourite topic- Music. Tamil film music has been right up there when it comes to quality and experimentation. Lets find out what 2011 served us by examining the top 10 songs of the year, or shall I say, my 10 favourite songs of the year.

Criteria:
i. Songs from movies released in 2011 only.
ii. Remixes and songs lifted from other language films are excluded.

10. Molachu moonu - Velayutham

Music: Vijay Antony
Singers: Prasanna, Supriya Joshi
Lyrics: Viveka
Vijay Antony might have slipped down a bit this year, but in Velayutham he did gain some ground. Molachu moonu is a nice soothing melody that cares for your ears. Lyrics by Viveka gives a rural feel to the song and is catchy. Prasanna and Supriya Joshi blend well with the minimal instrumentation. One of Vijay Antony's best work.

9. Poraney Poraney - Vaagai Sooda Vaa

Music: Gibran
Singers: Ranjith, Neha Bhasin
Lyrics: Karthi Netha
Debutant Gibran impresses in his first outing by providing excellent score for a period movie first up. This song belongs to Neha Bhasin who expressess the angst of seperating lovers in a beautiful manner. Instrumentation is apt for the feel of the songs and Gibran does well to highlight Neha instead of spoiling the effect with too mmany instruments. A different attempt at a rural pathos song.

8. Nee Korinaal - Nootrenbathu

Music Sharreth
Singers: Karthik & Swetha Mohan
Lyricis: Madhan Karky
One of the best things in the otherwise forgetful film is the music score by Shareth. All the songs were fresh, but 'Nee Korinal, stood apart for its exemplary lyrics and soulful singing by Kathik & Swetha. The 'na na na na' verse that builds up to the pallavi is well executed. Romance oozes out of the song and this one will defenitely be on loop for the love birdies. We would like to see more of Sharreth after 180.

7. Engeyum Kadhal - Engeyum Kadhal

Music: Harris Jeyaraj
Singer: Aalaap Raju
Lyrics: Thamarai
Harris shone only in bits and pieces this year. Engeyum Kadhal was regular Harris affair, but still it had its moments. The title track is a charming number which was an ode to the movie and love itself. Aalaap Raju breezes through the song and we should thanks Harris for restraining from unnecessary raps and giberish vocals. The song though, stood out for its beautiful choreogaphy by Prabhu Deva.

6. Aariro - Deiva Thirumagal

Music: G.V. Prakash Kumar
Singer: Haricharan
Lyrics: Na. Muthukumar
This year is by far G.V Prakash's year. The young composer has put a claim on the spot next to AR Rahman with some brilliant work this year. Deiva Thirumagal is a classic case. Aariro is a soulful rendition by Haricharan which works magic with Na Muthukumar's words. Mulling over the intricate relationship between a father and his daughter, the song enchants us all. The whole album was a sumptous dish of unadultrated music.

5. Deivam vazhvathu enge - Vaanam

Music: Yuvan Shankar Raja
Singer: Yuvan Shankar Raja
Lyrics: Na. Muthukumar
This title track is the lifeline of Vaanam and it appears through-out the length of the film. Yuvan is back ito his elements in this soul-stirring number. He has the capacity to bring out the feel of the song without the help of instruments and he does the very thing in this song. Na Muthukumar complements Yuvan well with his philosophical touch in the lyrics. Yuvan's best rendition this year.

4. Pirai Thedum - Mayakkam Enna

Music: G.V. Prakash Kumar
Singer: Saindhavi & G.V. Prakash Kumar
Lyrics: Dhanush
Another hit number by the Saindhavi-GVP combo. 'Pirai Thedum' is a pleasent listen which is aided adequately by the smoothness of Saindhavi's voice. GVP complements her very well. Coming out of Selva's stable, 'Mayakkam Enna' is bound to have good music and GVP doesnt dissapoint. From 'Pirai thedum' to 'Voda Voda', all the songs entice the listeners. The theme music is also a delightful piece and it carries the film forward.

3. Adada En meethu - Pathinaaru

Music: Yuvan Shanjar Raja
Singers: Hariharan, Bella Shinde
Lyrics: Karthik Netha
A movie with rather uninspiring cast & crew was marketed as Yuvan's musical. And how did Yuvan respond to the occasion...Vintage Yuvan, this album was. His best album in recent period, contained the trademark Yuvan and Vijay Jesudas numbers, but 'Adada en meethu' ran away with the prize. Hariharan's subtle rendition weaved in superbly with Bella Shinde's innocent voice. The charanam is what gives the boost to this fantastic song. We might want Yuvan to work more with the director Sabapathy(), if he gives us such songs. Whos cares about the movie...

2. Yathe Yathe - Aadukalam

Music: G.V. Prakash Kumar
Singer: G.V. Prakash Kumar
Lyrics: Snehan
GVP as a singer can give the likes of Yuvan a run for their money. The National award winning film Aadukalam is one of the composer's finest works. 'Yathe Yathe' made everyone shake a leg with its mesmerizing rythm and the inevitable joy behind it. My pick for the best male singer would be GVP. He projects the mood of the song perfectly and the instrumentation is apt. This one is a cracker.

SONG OF THE YEAR: Ennamo Edho - Ko

Music: Harris Jeyaraj
Singer: Aalaap Raju, Prashanthini, Sricharan, Emcee Jesz
Lyics: Madhan Karky, Sricharan
Harris chances his arms many a times and he hits the target once and how!!! Harris shines brightly with this splendid song for 'Ko'. Everything from the pallavi to the humming to the rap to the charanam fell into place for this song. The 'Eno kuviyam illa oru katchu pedu' verse is the highlight and Madhan Karky should be credited for those wonderful lines. Im still hearing it.
This is arguably my pick for the SONG OF THE YEAR 2011.

3 comments:

Ganesh K Kumar said...

super maame...

But you left vizhigaele from kullanari koootam.. i expected it..

Ganesh K Kumar said...

super maame..

but i thot vizhigaleley from kullnari kootam ll be in list.

Vijay Ramanathan M said...

hmmm..i thought abt it too...it also has good insteumentation and nice vocals...but i decided to go with these 10...now u have said it..and i think i cud ve eplaced it at No10...