Category Archives: A.R.Rahman

My Current Playlist

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Just thought of writing here what I am listening to nowadays….

A R Rahman’s masterpieces:

    • The classic Veera Raja Veera
    • The fun piece Nana from Couples Retreat
    • The soul-stirring Dichotomy of Fame from Rockstar
    • The playful Kuru Kuru KaNgaLile from, again, Couples Retreat
    • Ponni Nadhi from Ponniyin Selvan – the same Rahman can sound playful in Kuru Kuru KangaLile and pack so much energy in this ode to Ponni Nadhi
    • The haunting, contemplative Latika’s Theme
    • The inspirational ‘Never Give Up’ from Million Dollar Arm

The trailing background music of Kuru Kuru KaNgaLile is as lovely a piece in itself, as the one in the background for ‘Jugni’ from ‘Kaatru Veliyidai’. The vocals, the humming, the chords, the melody – there are multiple layers of awesome music running all through this less than 3 minute song.

Bliss of Navarasa Kannada:

  • Ni Paadamule Gati by Sanjay
  • Vande Sada Padmanabham by Sanjay
  • Naan Oru Vilayattu by Sikkil Gurucharan & Anil Srinivasan (Album – Tarunam)

The first two bring out the joyous shade of Navarsa Kannada, while the last one brings out the other rasa of Navarsa Kannada by being all soulful! 🙂

Finally, Sanjay’s Shri Parvati in the beautiful Shri Raagam is one song that I just can never have enough of! This is such a beautiful composition, replete with some lovely chittaswarams.

What are you listening to? 🙂

Kaatru Veliyidai Revisited

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I just couldn’t get myself to watch Kaatru Veliyidai again, because the very thought of watching the abusive nature of Varun (VC) was making me feel really irritated! What madness is it that makes the human mind hold on to someone despite all the abusiveness!

I finally got myself to watch a few scenes some time last year and, before I knew it, I got hooked big time to the magic of ARR & Mani Ratnam. What music and what visuals!

It is one thing to portray the initial happy days of a simple relationship, like in Alaipayuthey and OK Kanmani, where the relationship itself is yet to really begin. But it is quite a task to portray a complex relationship like that of VC and Leela’s, which is synonymous with everything but happiness.
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ARR’s Thumbi Thullal

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This song couldn’t have come at a better time! Right now, when the world in itself is facing uncertain times like no other, here comes a song bringing along with it celebration, joy, dance, longing, love, hope and all that is synonymous with positivity.

Starting off with a soft Charukesi (?), slowly transcending to the soft percussion which doesn’t have any shades whatsoever of the ‘saraveDi’ lyrics, it builds up into one of the most beautiful, soft crescendos ever at ‘madhumaNamO’!

In comes Shreya’s voice, singing some of those lines which seem to have the classic ARR touch, with sitar joining in in the background. I love the way how the words ‘en kaLLachirippin nILam neeye’ are placed with the word ‘nILam’ spaced out so ‘nILam’.

Again ‘saraveDi’ enters unexpectedly and is followed by a very lovely flute interlude.

Shreya sings more of those longing lines.

The percussion, flute, ‘saraveDi’, Shreya’s voice and, now, guess what?! Nadaswaram! And that too the majestic Nattai ‘jagadAnandakArakA’ acting as the crowning glory!

The crescendo of the thavil has the song switching to Nakul Abhyankar’s voice. The place where he goes ‘uyurAvEn’ is so wow!

Then comes this amazing chorus having all the classic touches of ARR.

And when Shreya launches off to ‘thumbi thuLLal’ again, you’ve chorus as the background along with all the thavil, sitar, flute and more! Wow!

The finale has us drowning in the mellifluous sounds of sitar and flute, leaving us asking for more of this addictive music!

The promo visuals for this song are quite appealing and the music and visuals together call for celebration!

There are way too many intricacies, lovely instrumentals, beautiful tunes, foot-tapping beats to be relished in every single second of this song that once you start listening to it, there is no way you are not playing it on an endless repeat mode!

The Magic of Alaipayuthey – 20 Years Later

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This blog of mine has always been synonymous with celebrating all things Alaipayuthey! So, it would be highly unfair if I leave this special occasion of Alaipayuthey turning 20 without at least a passing mention here. But when have I ever been able to stick to just a ‘passing mention’ of Alaipayuthey? 😉 So, here is yet another heartfelt raving about that special movie!

Sometime in the beginning of April during one of those sleepless nights, it struck me that Alaipayuthey was turning 20 this year. Since then, there have been quite a few reminiscences going on in my mind. From thinking of 20 special things to 20 special scenes to recollecting certain write-ups of mine, Alaipayuthey has yet again been giving me quite a few relaxing moments during this much-needed anxious period!

While it would be cliched to say that this movie remains as special to me today as it was 20 long years earlier, it is indeed the case. When I saw earlier in the day that Mani Ratnam was going to be appearing Live on Facebook with Suhasini, I set a reminder and watched it from the start to finish, absolutely hooked to it. And then when Madhavan made an appearance in the show, I can’t tell you how much the Alaipayuthey fan in me was rejoiced! Is there any better way to celebrate Alaipayuthey?!

As Madhavan said the famed ‘Naan onna virumbala’ dialogue in the show, the magic in these words were as fresh today as it was when we first heard it. Madhavan asked Mani Ratnam about why there was such lengthy, filmy dialogue in this, so unlike his usual style. Before I knew it, I was thinking about several of the proposal scenes in all his other films.

When Suhasini showed a mirror with a colourful backdrop, even before she started talking about it, I shouted out loud, ‘Hey this is the Alaipayuthey mirror!’ 😀 She indeed did confirm that this was a mirror which she had bought in Hauz Khas, Delhi and was used in Alaipayuthey. Knowing yet another new trivia about anything and everything related to Alaipayuthey excited me today as much as it did during my teens. 🙂 That mirror in which the thaali is hung 🙂

If watching a mere Live conversation with Mani Ratnam gets me this excited, guess how much the movie still excites me even today!

Jugni – Kaatru Veliyidai

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There are those songs that start like a whiff of fresh air. Jugni is one such – the opening soft music as fresh as the air in the snowy Himalayas where the video of this song is shot!

Then those foot-tapping beats change the mood of the song. The constant dance-worthy beats all through and those intermittent exploding beats, the soft layers of short snatches of music in the background here and there – at times soothing, at times intense, but all through mesmerizing – stay with you long after this song gets over.
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As We Bond Over ARR’s Music

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I cannot tell you how exciting it is for me when I introduce composition after composition of ARR to my children and see them too thoroughly enjoy those. With the volume on a high and the woofer on, there are those moments when there’s no room for naughtiness or tantrums and it’s just music and us. As I tap my feet and hum along softly and they both dance to the music, relaxing with Rahman’s music has almost become an everyday activity for us.

ARR Songs Mash-Up by Guitar Prasanna

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And then there are those stunning pieces of music which leave you awestruck, mesmerized, happy and pulls you in completely into it. Now, how would you feel when several of your most favourite songs from your favourite composer are brought together and blissful parts from one song after another comes successively in your favourite instrument, guitar by your favourite guitar player? Watch Guitar Prasanna effortlessly create magic with his guitar bringing together lots of beautiful songs of Rahman:

https://www.facebook.com/guitarprasanna/videos/10155715823783956/

Mindblowing! What a wide variety of songs has he chosen! This is going to be my music for the day.  

Kaatru Veliyidai

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Breathtaking visuals, beautiful colours, mesmerizing music, people with flaws and feelings abound, a leading lady in lovely costumes, a love story on a setting that makes you think beyond your normal lives and thank those brave soldiers who are helping us lead a safe life – that is Kaatru Veliyidai for you.

If you are looking for a story of two perfect and caring people falling in love with each other and leading a happy life together, then this movie is not for you.
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Alaipayuthey – The Colours!

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Watching Alaipayuthey fully last Saturday, I seriously couldn’t recollect the last time I watched it fully! It definitely has been a few years! Watching it make me feel 17 years younger, got me away from feeling like an oldie having entered into my 30s. 😉 And yes, it made my hands itch to write something about it here!

I love colours – deep, rich colours, vibrant hues, bold strokes of colours on a canvas and even dull, moody tones. Alaipayuthey is one movie which literally celebrates colours through the song ‘Pacchai Nirame‘ and through almost every single frame. It is not just Pacchai Nirame, each and every scene of which glorifies the many varied hues of colours painted naturally by nature on this wide canvas called earth and sky.

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ARR 50!

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Celebrating Rahman’s music as he turns 50 years today! Here are 50 of my favourite songs of A R Rahman: (Random, no particular order)

Foot-tapping Songs:
1. Andha Arabic Kadaloram – Bombay
2. Thee Thee – Thiruda Thiruda
3. Rang De Basanti
4. Mental Manadhil (Female) – OK Kanmani
5. Chaiyya Chaiyya – Dil Se
6. Ooh La La La – Minsara Kanavu
7. Nenjinile/Jiya Jale – Uyire/Dil Se
8. Dil Se Re/ Sandhosha Kanneere
9. Fanaa – Aayitha Ezhuthu
10. Yeh Dilli Hai Mera Yaar – Dilli 6

Most Romantic Songs:
11. Pudhu Vellai Mazhai – Roja
12. Moongil Thottam – Kadal
13. Tu Bin Bataye – Rang De Basanti

Happy Songs:
14. Poo poo pookkum Osai – Minsara Kanavu
15. Barso Re – Guru
16. Pacchai Nirame – Alaipayuthey
17. Thirakkadha Kaattukkulle – En Swaasa Kaatru

Songs I turn to when in deep thought:
18. Latika’s Theme – Slumdog Millionaire
19. Dichotomy of Fame – Rockstar
20. Never Give Up – Million Dollar Arm
21. Aaromale (Female) – Vinnaithaandi Varuvaya

Emotional, Beautiful Songs:
22. En Kadhale – Duet
23. Mannippaaya – Vinnaithaandi Varuvaaya
24. Uyirum Neeye – Pavithra
25. The Banyan Theme – Conveys emotions sans words

Random Favourite Songs
26. Parandhu Sella Vaa – OK Kanmani
27. Hey Goodbye Nanba – Aayitha Ezhuthu
28. Poovukkenna Poottu – Bombay
29. Yaayire – Rangeela
30. Telephone Manipol – Indian
31. Muppathu Nimidam – Parasuram
32. Mellisaye – Mr Romeo
33. Theendai – En Swaasa Kaatre
34. Chinna Chinna Aasai – Roja
35. New York Nagaram – Sillunu Oru Kadhal
36. Kucchi Kucchi Rakkamma – Bombay
37. Ishq Bina – Taal
38. O Rey Chori – Lagaan
39. Yeh Rasta Hai Kah Raha – Swades
40. Yeh Jo Des Hai Tera – Swades
41. I am Sorry – One 2 Ka 4
42. O Baawre – Daud
43. Vaaji Vaaji – Sivaji

Songs with beautiful interludes:
44. July Madham Vandhal – Pudhiya Mugam
45. Malargale – Love Birds
46.Kannamoochi – Kandukondain Kandukondain
47. Azhage Sugama – Paarthaale Paravasam

Special Pieces
48.Spirit of Unity concert theme
49.Worldspace theme
50. Thaai Manne Vanakkam – Vande Mataram (I prefer the Tamil)