Choreographer turned actor Harikumar again dons the greasepaint for Tamil film Thirutham. The film is directed by Ponraman who has also written the story, screenplay and dialogue. Priyanka plays the female lead.
After Thoothukudi, both Harikumar and music director Pravin Mani come together for this album. Sivakasi Sreedhar has penned the lyrics for all but one number; the odd one out is by Yugabharathi.
The Thirutham album kicks off with the Unni Menon-Chithra romantic duet, Kathal kanmaniyae. Weighed down with a run-of-the-mill tune, this number is saved from slipping into mediocrity and made appealing by the easy flowing, flawless vocals. Vigorous drumming, flute and guitar give an extra edge to the number. The song is a bonus anyway, because the playback outings of both Unni Menon and Chithra have become rare events.
Next up is Baduva kayyae pidida in 'kuthu pattu' style by Jassie Gift, and Anuradha Sriram. Loud rendition by Jassie Gift in his unique husky voice, ably supported by Anuradha makes the song interesting. Energy, fast beats and guitar improvisation add verve to the number. The track with mild sensuous overtones might find takers both among the front-benchers and on the dance floors.
Labham yogum coming next is another fast number, kicking off in hip-hop style. With lyrics suggesting that the youth take life easy and live for the present goes with the taste of today. Karthik's powerful rendition infuses sufficient energy into it, in perfect alignment with the thoughts expressed in the lyrics. A catchy chorus, which incidentally is a common factor in most of the numbers in this album, endows the piece with a Caribbean flavour. Guitar and rap interludes add verve to the track.
Sidumoonchy devathayae, full of light banter, is rendered by Srinivas and Kalyani at a brisk pace. It is the only number for which Yugabharathy has penned the lyrics. The track has guitar and violin strains and hip-hop towards the end as adornments. The flat tune makes the rendition sound routine.
Singer Tippu shifts gear from his comfort zone of fast numbers and croons the soft number, Paathai therikirathu which comes next. The song with a philosophical bend is about failure in love, heartbreak, calculations in life gone wrong and regret over past mistakes. The number with an overdose of melancholy is reminiscent of some of the old tragic songs from Gemini Ganesan films, but without their soul-stirring feel. Violin, guitar and flute passages produce good harmony.
The composer winds off with the theme track as an instrumental ensemble, with ebbing and flowing rhythm.
Not many brownie points for Thirutham music. An average fare.
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