"Yuvan and Simbhu combo at their best after Manmadhan and Vallavan," blares out the CD, as you recover from the red cover. And considering the hype that usually surrounds a Silambarasan movie (that too with music by Yuvan Shankar Raja to boot), you naturally gear up for a blast. Does Lakshmi Movie Makers' Tamil movie Silambattam, with the Little Super Star measure up? Here's the low-down:
Up first is Kettavannu Peredutha Nallavanda penned by Vaali. In Silambarasan fashion, this one heralds his entry on-screen. With a typical nadhaswaram-rural beat and Shankar Mahadevan's voice, the tune (which reminds you at places of Podhuva En Manasu Thangam from Rajini's Murattu Kalai) offers no surprises. A certain percussion interlude is almost verbatim to the En Asai Mythili piece. The rest is all about how crowds gather for the hero and how the average Tamilian ought to raise his head.
Nalamdhana begins with an English rap, the lyrics of which have been penned by Suzie Q & earl. The first Tamil line is the same as the old classic Nalamdhana written by Gangai Amaren, which seems almost a sacrilege when you compare it to the impact made by the original. In the meantime, Silambarasan, Earl and Suzie Q have taken turns to present this hotchpotch of a song (little bits from earlier Yuvan creations), which has random rap with kuthu overtones. This one too ends with a fast-paced percussion piece, a la En Aasai Mythili. Doubtless, it will serve its purpose in the picturisation.
Ilayaraja croons Machaan Machaan, along with Bela Shende. Na Muthukumar's lyrics speak of a romantic piece in a colloquial fashion. Perhaps it's meant to evoke the same emotions as Kadhal Valarthaen from Manmadhan -- certainly the song is very similar, though diluted.
Trumpets herald the beginning of Vechikkava, a remix from Nallavanukku Nallavan in the Silambarasan tradition and sung by him (not that he's worked himself much to render it) and Suchithra. There's not much to be said except that the number is fast-paced and raunchy.
You can't help but grin at Where Is The Party?, a typically irreverent take on Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna's Where's the Party Tonight . It begins with strange and weird Dumeel noises. Mukesh's accent, Priyadarshini's voice and Silambarasan's rabble-rousing lyrics that describe the pubbing and clubbing lifestyle make you giggle. The pace and staccato rhythm perfectly match the synthesised kuthu music. There's not much of melody, and it might not be to the taste of someone who's looking for a classy song. It is one of those songs that is meant to make you shake a leg. The last few words, especially, make you laugh out loud. You get the feeling that everyone had a blast when they were doing this particular piece.
Perhaps Yuvan Shankar Raja has spoilt you by his innovative work in his previous albums but in this one, he seems to have careened off after Silambarasan's tastes. He might have ended up satisfying the makers; the duo's track record might help in this album becoming a best-seller. But the collection, barring one or two moments, is nowhere near his best.
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