If Shah Rukh Khan's effort at weaving magic with a remake of Don resulted in a glitzy, glamourous metrosexual villain-hero, it's now Ajith's turn, with director Vishnuvardhan at the helm, to burst onto the Tamil scene with a freshly made sizzling version of yesteryear's Rajnikanth blockbuster, Billa.
Yuvan Shankar Raja has etched an intricate musical feast to compliment the tale -- and quite a feast it's turned out to be, a la the original. Pa Vijay, who penned the lyrics, has done an adequate job.
The theme music of Billa is rather an example of what the whole album promises. Yuvan has made the most of sleek and snazzy music, throwing together a jazzy collection that traverses all the spectrums of the musical scale. With faint overtones of the 80s music echoing in your ears as the title weaves into the tune, the steady thrumming of the beats is a strangely fulfilling mixture of old and new. Nostalgic, yet trendy.
My name is Billa is the remake you're waiting for the most -- and thankfully, it doesn't disappoint. Naveen and KK's rendition begins with the old strains, with a catchy whistle that brings back the old Rajni right in front of your eyes -- and the very spirit of the movie. Bring in a dishy drum sequence and a beat that reminds you of the oldies band ABBA, vaguely, and you have a ready-made blockbuster song that's going to be the rage of discotheques soon.
Vethalaiya pottendi rushes into your eardrums in the cracking voice of Shankar Mahadevan. A thundering beat suffuses your hearing, making you sway to its rhythm. Sure, it overwhelms the lyrics more often than not, but the primal quality in it sort of takes your mind away from the typical dappanguthu verses, and as the song moves towards the last crescendo, you're hard put not to give into the crashing beats.
The opening strains of Sei ethavathu pull you in a glorious sweep of strings that carry you to another plane of enjoyment altogether -- and this one too, boasts of a catchy rhythm. Sei, essayed by Neha Bhasin and Preethi Bhalla is an astounding mixture of melody and feet-tapping beats, not to mention excellent interludes of stirring music. It rather reminds you of Thee pidikka from Arinthum Ariyamalaum -- but what the heck? As long it carries you away on a feast of music, that's all that matters. Sei is easily blockbuster material.
Seval kodi, essayed by Vijay Yesudas and a chorus is an interesting medley of paeans on the Lord Murugan -- familiar phrases from the Thiruppugazh turn up -- interspersed with a cunning commentary on the present situation prevailing in the land. And just when you think Yuvan is going to turn up with stock musical phrases, the tune loops in one itself, presenting a new dimension. The nadaswaram has been put to good use, suddenly branching off into a completely unexpected contemporary piece of music. This too, is eminently danceable music.
It might be interesting to see how Naan Meendum is going to be picturised -- the song certainly leaves you with a curiously lingering tune inside your head. Yuvan, it's obvious, has aimed for a complete departure from predictable music, judging by the almost Arabic overtones to the violin strains, and the rather bongo-esque interlude. Deepika's voice is interestingly nasal and harsh at times. It goes with the general tone of the song -- though the tune itself seems to meander rather aimlessly at places.
Yuvan has certainly tried very hard to produce an unpredictable fare -- and succeeds, mostly. Prepare to dance your feet off with this album.
Rediff Rating: 
