Under the sun

Wednesday, May 09, 2007

Cheeni Kum

Link

On first hearing:

- Percussion disappoints BIG TIME (as has been the case of late). What a welcome change MX was! Where's that percussion Raaja?
- Synth sound-a vida maattengararu Raaja. Rears its ugly head often in the album.

However, (it gets only better from here) on repeated hearings:

Baatein Hawa - What an enchanting reworking of the original. The greatness is in the way the original tune sits perfectly in a very different situation. The second interlude even has a fast-paced electric guitar cameo followed by a very short jazz piece. Listening to this song while traveling will be one hell of a trip.

Jane Do Naa - What a tune! Shreya Ghoshal's voice intoxicates. Look out for the guitar punches that goes with the rhythm. Brilliant piano prelude and first interlude. These are the 'surprises' and 'moments' one expects from a Raaja song.

Cheeni Kum - Shreya and the superb interludes save the song from the dreadful 'beats'. This is more pronounced in the sad version 'Sooni Sooni' - thagara dabba la thatra madhiri oru sound. Reminiscent of the beats in "Ennai thaalaatta varuvaalo". How i missed the acoustic drums of the original "Mandram Vandha"!!
Infact, pudhu music system vaangina first test panna ideal song-a irundhudhu adhu.

Theme Music - Beautiful and uplifting. Wow Superb transitions

Melody Sax - Experimental Raaja is back with all that jazz. Thou art the master. Tempo changes, mood transitions. Good stuff.

The album does get better on a few more listenings. mAyakkaNNAdi is history, people.

Cheeni Kum - Mandram Vandha (Mouna Ragam)
Jaane Do Naa - Vizhiyile (Nooraavadhu Naal)
Baatein Hawa - Kuzhaloodhum Kannanukku ( Slowly Opened The Door)

P.S: This film is directed by adman Balki (big Raaja fan) and stars Tabu and an ad actor who acts in ball point pen commercials. Its going to be premiered at Cannes

posted by Bala (Karthik) at 11:49 PM

23 Comments:

  • Hey wasn't Amitabh acting in cheeni kum? What happened ?
    BTW do you mean the album has no new compositions........:(

    By Blogger mutRupuLLi, at Thu May 10, 11:24:00 AM  

  • Sridhar,
    Amitabh pEnA ad la nadikkala nu solreengala? :)

    "BTW do you mean the album has no new compositions... :("
    kavalai vENdAm. Just listen to the album i say!

    Theme music (though it has phrases of Mandram Vandha) and Sax Melody are new comps

    By Blogger Bala (Karthik), at Thu May 10, 11:44:00 AM  

  • "stars Tabu and an ad actor who acts in ball point pen commercials."

    LOL. Sema nakkal sir... :-)

    By Blogger Vignesh, at Thu May 10, 12:03:00 PM  

  • aaha...naan kaalaiyila bulb'na thriumbavum prove aaiduchu..:)

    By Blogger mutRupuLLi, at Thu May 10, 12:24:00 PM  

  • Vignesh/Sridhar,
    :))

    By Blogger Bala (Karthik), at Thu May 10, 02:34:00 PM  

  • // Theme music (though it has phrases of Mandram Vandha) and Sax Melody are new comps //

    Sax Melody - Is it not a remix of "En Iniya Pon nilaavae song ???

    Plus - I don't think there are any original compositions. I thought "Jaane do" is a new thing but was disappointed when my kannada friends gave me the info that it s a very very popular kannada song "Jotheyali" :-(

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at Thu May 10, 02:56:00 PM  

  • Selva,
    I thought "Jaane do" is a new thing but was disappointed when my kannada friends gave me the info that it s a very very popular kannada song "Jotheyali" :-(
    Why 'disappointed'??
    Certainly i wasn't disappointed with Jotheyali's Tamil version "Vizhiyile" or "Tumbi Vaa", the Malayalam version of "Sangathil padatha"

    Sax Melody - Is it not a remix of "En Iniya Pon nilaavae song ???
    Well, to me, it didn't sound like "En iniya pon nilave". Let me listen to ti again, maybe it will ring a bell :)
    Secondly, please don't use the word remix and Raaja in the same sentence! It's blasphemy.
    Remix = using the same tune, changing the tempo/beats and butcher the interludes and BGM as much as possible :)
    Raja NEVER does that.
    e.g
    Cheeni Kum - Ruins the rhythm/percussion alright but look at the interludes, the subtle change in the way Shreya ends the charanam. Nowhere near the original, i agree

    Baatein Hawa - Wow! Same tune. See how well it matches the 'playful' situation. Rhythm, BGM, interludes are totally different. The interludes take this song to a different level.

    Jaane Do Naa - enna Selva disappointed nu sollitteenga? :(
    The piano prelude, the strings in the 1st interlude (2nd interlude disappoints, i agree) - superb improvisation. Infact, i think i've started liking this version more than the original :)

    The theme and the sax melody are as original and 'Raaja' as one can get - though the former contains bits from Cheeni Kum (Mandram Vandha) and that's why its the theme music- and the latter is the "Ilaiya" Raaja who thrilled us
    in Mumbai Express.

    Sorry for the long reply but i'm back in the 'groove' after the disappointment of Maayakannadi :)

    By Blogger Bala (Karthik), at Thu May 10, 03:21:00 PM  

  • By the way, one more reason why this album should work for everyone (original comps or not) - Shreya Ghoshal.

    By Blogger Bala (Karthik), at Thu May 10, 03:22:00 PM  

  • Bala,
    OMG what a lengthy post..
    even I was disappointed a lot after listening to MK :( my anger towards cheran doubled :( can't that guy extract even tolerable tunes from the genius :(

    After Cheenikum, oru VERI MOOD la irukkenga pola :-))

    Tell u the truth. I have been listening to CK for the past 2 days .. office la ellarum kirukku pudichuduchunnu nenaikiraanga :-))

    well. I did listen to VIZHIYILAE often. But jotheli was good (kannada version).
    when I listedn JAANE DO first, I loved it and it was my pick of the album. But when I listened to Kannada original that was also good since that was unique in its own way with superb pronunciations.


    To be precise, it is an [b]ALBUM WHICH IS WORTH A BUY EVEN !! [/b] after MK !

    People like me who were disappointed with MK are now in a diff mood after listening to CK !!

    Great work and cool changes / additions.




    and as you said, I have a doubt whether it is a SHREYA GOSHAL album ! :-)) Awesome selection by IR.. Her voice is sweet and romantic :-))

    well... rest in the hub..

    btw, since i have listened to that last sax melody many times, I feel it looks more like EN INIYA PON NILAAVAE ! :(

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at Thu May 10, 03:50:00 PM  

  • I am a looser :( Got no time to download and listen! Will do that ASAP :)

    Sahaana - Chinmayi (or) Munbe Vaa - Shreya Goshal?

    Thamizh ucharrippu pathi yenna nenaikureenga? Is it 'just' on our part to complain about Udit narayan while ignoring Shreya?

    BTW got another question:

    "germaniyin sendhEn malarE" Starting 'Prelude' pathi yenna nenaikuringa.

    Sorry to digress :)

    By Blogger ., at Thu May 10, 11:33:00 PM  

  • Selva,
    office la ellarum kirukku pudichuduchunnu nenaikiraanga :-))
    avanunga kadakkaraanunga :)

    Thilak,
    Munbe Va Shreya any day

    Thamizh ucharrippu pathi yenna nenaikureenga? Is it 'just' on our part to complain about Udit narayan while ignoring Shreya?
    WHAT??????????
    Surely you must be kidding me :)
    Shreya's Tamil pronunciation is better than some of the Tamil singer's pronunciation.

    By Blogger Bala (Karthik), at Fri May 11, 07:49:00 AM  

  • // Surely you must be kidding me :)
    Shreya's Tamil pronunciation is better than some of the Tamil singer's pronunciation. //

    Bull's eye ! :clap:
    Thilak,
    I think Shreya Goshal is one of those very few singers who makes even ordinary song look better one with her voice.

    With IR's everlasting tunes, her voice had suited in a better way.

    All the songs are sweet though the name of the film irks ! :-))

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at Fri May 11, 10:05:00 AM  

  • No kidding, chumma oru expert opinion. I like the Ponnu's Voice. Obviously better than the most. But I think it's IR's concert. She messed up a little when she sang 'Kaatril endhan deepam'. Adhan ketaen :)

    Okay, what about 'Germaniyin' prelude? And If some idiot said 'Sagikala' for the trumpet sound, what would you say?

    By Blogger ., at Fri May 11, 10:30:00 AM  

  • She messed up a little when she sang 'Kaatril endhan deepam'. Adhan ketaen :)
    That was just a goof-up. To be fair to her, doing a live show in an alien tongue is a far cry from a studio session

    And sorry, missed the "Germaniyin" part..
    Yendha baadu sollichu prelude sagikkala nu sonnadhu???? I remember reading one such post in Orkut. Trumpets/horns usage la namma aal Master.

    By Blogger Bala (Karthik), at Fri May 11, 11:15:00 AM  

  • //Tabu and an ad actor who acts in ball point pen commercials.//- ROTFL! Nachunnu irukku.
    Mind la vechukkaren- use pannikaren. :P
    -Viji

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at Fri May 11, 01:36:00 PM  

  • Thambi Thilakku, Shreya kutti kaatril endhan paattai thappa paadichunnu solreeyale...adhai angeye sari pannikkittu correct-a padi parisu vaangittu poche marandhutteyala?
    Bala thambi solludhapla adhu oru goof-up, amubuttu dhaen. Ippo neenga kooda thaen Geetham-ngaradah Deepam-nu goof-up panni solreeya. Adhukkaga thilak thamib eppovume ipdi dhannu naanga solroma?
    Ada apdiye naalu thappu panirichunu vechupome - andha ponnoda thenaana kuralukkaga mannichi vitruvomla!
    Indha Udit paya irukkane, avan sangadhi vera. Avan voice-ku thappellam poruthukka mudiyaadhulla! Adhukkellam oru idhu venumappa!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at Fri May 11, 02:59:00 PM  

  • bala,
    Colleagues. I don't think its bad or 'outdated'. I like the way it sets up the whole song.

    Raj Anne,
    Haha..Adhu Seri..Correcttu daen :)

    By Blogger ., at Fri May 11, 05:56:00 PM  

  • Adiyaenin oru siriya vimarsanam.. pizhai irundhal poruthu kollavum :-)) Tolerate if anything is non-sense since this must be my first lengthy review for a film music :SHIVERING:

    ----------------------
    CheeniKum



    IF I have to use the write word to term the songs of Cheenikum, I will go with vigneshram's line "Cheeni Jaasthi". All the songs are sweet, romantic, sizzling and they flow like a gentle breeze.

    Initially, I was a bit hesitating to download the songs (Thanks to Maayakannadi). Then went ahead with downloading. The result is :notworthy:


    1) CheeniKum - Though it cannot match Mandram Vantha since the original was sung my SPB, this song is unique in its own way. Somehow, I feel that it is a bit diff compared to the original esp the way Shreys sings this one. It is a bit fast but well controlled. Even the music that comes in between is good. Something that comes when you didn't expect it. The way she raises her voice and ends with "Kyon hi kyun" is superb :wink: :P well.. not the best if u compare the other songs in this one

    2) Baatein Hawa - 1
    Again, though it is a much popular song in tamil, it looks different and teh feel is also slightly diff. Naduvula varrah AB voice :banghead: distrupts the flow. Not sure how it is going to be picturised :shaking: The ELECTRIC GUITAR piece that comes in the middle :notworthy: One of the best songs in the album.


    Baatein Hawa - 2
    The second one of Baatein Hawa ! The best thing is, in both the versions of BH are diff situations and couple of listens is enough to enjoy this one continously ! :thumbsup: what a song ! :clap: (Better read the lyrics of the song atleast once though it is not required since shreya is amazing with her voice)

    3) Jaane do
    :notworthy: when I listened first, I didn't like Jaane do since we got carried away by the much popular versions Cheenikum and Baatein Hawa (coz of the impact of the original songs Mandram vantha and Kuzhaloothum kannanukku) ! But few more listens and easily the BEST SONG !

    But :cry: I was disappointed when my colleagues (kannadigas) told me that it is a V.V.Very popular Kannda song and they had their own opinion that this song had killed the original :shock: I got the kannada version as well. It is also good.. But :banghead: I blamed myself since I had the tamil version too.(vizhiyilae). I was shocked when I heard that there is a Malayaalam version as well :banghead:

    O.K enough said. But THIS SONG IS CERTAINLY THE BEST OUT OF ALL including the Kannada version IMO !

    BTW I watched a small video on the picturisation :banghead: :shaking: AB looks :x & the otherthings. not sure at what time this song comes in the movie. Let us wait and see :shaking:


    4) Sooni Sooni
    When I listened to it, I thought that HariHaran is singing this song. But who is this vijay prakash guys :banghead: Is this an effect of "voice rendering" or vijay's own attempts to resemple HariHaran. The way he rises his voice and his pronunciations are :x It is a song which u can skip and try to hear the other songs since there is already one CHEENIKUM !
    The effect was something |||ar to hearing male version of "Ninaithu Ninaithu" (7g) :banghead: after the superb female version :)

    5) Theme Melody
    Good one :D The keyboard piece :clap: But this looks like an old IR song or a mixture of songs. 1:20 to 1:37 :notworthy: and then again slow music ! I am not sure abt how it is going

    6) Saxophone Melody
    Starting nalla thaan irukku :confused2: But to me after a period of time, it looks like "EN INIYA PON NILAVAE" SONG in Moodu pani ! esp 0:10 to 0.45 ! :roll: OK one ! IMHO !!

    Overall, WORTH A BUY !!
    I have been listening to this one for the past two days. Not even a single time, I got frustrated with this one ! :clap:

    After CK, IR had indeed eliminated the impression I had on the music he is giving oflate. (Madhu,Maayakannadi :banghead: etc)

    Plus - IF someone uses the same singer in a single film music, you will get a PULICHU PONA effect & irritation. That is not here. SHREYA GOSHAL :notworthy: (Am I becoming a SG fan ? :roll: )

    IF you are a person who had followed many music download site, you will find one or two links to download the albums of IR. But if it U1,HJ, ARR etc, you will get more than 6 links. I used to wonder how I can download them since even those 2 sites will be blocked :lol: As I expected I didn't find the links in the regular d/l sites :lol:

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at Fri May 11, 06:01:00 PM  

  • I was just looking at the pics from the movie on rediff.com. Intriguing to say the least! 64-34 romance and Paresh Rawal added to the mix, can't wait. Will listen to the songs this weekend.

    Shreya does seem to have a better tamil diction. I tried to find faults in sami kitte (some jeyam ravi movie) and hardly could. Light years away from the Udits and the Madhushrees.

    caught IRs program on youtube. That was too good!

    By Blogger Munimma, at Fri May 11, 08:00:00 PM  

  • Selva,
    Thanks for your thoughts :)

    I still think, Sax Melody is not En Iniya Pon Nilave...

    And welcome to the Shreya Ghoshal joLLu club :)


    Munimma,
    I think the movie's getting released on May 25th.
    Hope it does well, atleast for Raaja's sake :)

    Yeah, Udit, Madhushree, Sukhwinder, Yuvan Shankar Raja - they are in a different league altogether.
    Guess its *also* upto the MD, really. Even Shreya mispronounced a couple of words in "Askava" song in "Enakku 20 Unakku 18", her otherwise correct diction notwithstanding

    caught IRs program on youtube. That was too good!
    You mean the Jaya TV program? That was something!

    By Blogger Bala (Karthik), at Mon May 14, 06:04:00 PM  

  • // And welcome to the Shreya Ghoshal joLLu club :) //

    :-)))

    Athe Athe !!

    btw, as usual, sila per ezhuthura review periya imsaiyaa irukku.. esp the one in IR Albums section :(

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at Tue May 15, 11:49:00 AM  

  • Found this link from the rediff's discussion of Cheeni-Kum's music. Still can't digest the rehash.

    http://www.mid-day.com/news/city/2006/july/140645.htm


    “I told him that I can easily compose a fresh set of songs, but he said that it would be a great loss to the Northern audience, which hasn’t heard these songs, ” reveals Illayaraja laughing, as ad agency Lintas’ National Creative Director turned film maker R Balakrishnan looks on. How long does it take to compose a brand new soundtrack? “A matter of half an hour,” says Illayaraja, without a blink.


    Interestingly the article is dated Jul'16 2006.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at Wed May 16, 08:15:00 PM  

  • Hi,This is in response to the comment by Selva Kumar on 7th May
    where he is wondering who this Vijay prakash is,to know who he is pls check youtube and search for vijay prakash if you have the patience.Just listen to this amazing singer who has not got his due recognition.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at Thu Jul 05, 10:12:00 PM  

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