Tamil film Vegam (speed) is produced by actor, director, theatre person, and 'comedy king' S Ve Shekher with his wife Uma Maheswari, under the aegis of their production company Commercial Creations.
Story and screenplay also are by S Ve Sekher. With Vegam, their son Ashwin is making his foray into Tamil films not only as an actor but (along with his sister Anuradha Shekher) as a playback singer too. A home production in the true sense of the term!
Another curiosity factor is Khusboo and Prabhu appearing in important roles, though not paired together. Archana is in the female lead. The film is directed by K R Udayasankar.
Music score is by a new tunesmith Rajhesh Vaidhya, a renowned classical singer and a disciple of Veena maestro Chitti Babu. He has many albums to his credit and has composed music for many serials.
Surprisingly the names of lyricists are not given on the inlay card of the cassette.
The album opens with the 'kuthu pattu' Arumugam arumugam rendered by Ashwin Shekher and the composer himself. Vibrant rendition by both the singers, reverberating percussion including high energy drumming and impressive chorus are the highlights of this adrenaline-soaked track. Ashwin with the sheer energy in his voice and effortless rendition shows great promise. The number ends with remixed lines of the 1979 T M Soundarrajan-Jamuna Rani song, Mama mama , perhaps Vaidhya making a compromise to go with the present day preferences.
Adding Hindi phrases to the lyrics has become a trend these days. The next track begins with Hindi lyrics Kya Bole kya bole. This Tippu-Harini number has hip-hop as prelude and interlude. Though this romantic duet has fast beats, there is a melodious thread running through it. Vaidhya's unique orchestration is another laudable factor. Hip-hop, violin and flute delineations, orchestra with unbridled percussion crashing down and then fading away only to restart after eloquent pauses, create good harmony. Tippu and Harini with their evocative rendition make a perfect pair.
Next up is the highly enchanting number Silirkudhe siragaa by Anuradha Shekher and Suchithra. Mild hip-hop, good instrumental prelude with resonant percussion, western chorus in the interlude and jazz-like orchestra make this a highly riveting number. Anuradha, singing with casual ease in her symphonic voice, makes this a gratifying number. Suchithra gives good support.
Vegam Vegam, the title track by the composer, Ranjith and Haricharan is a powerfully pitched number with striking rhythm and short rap interludes. Superfast rendition by the singers also is synonymous with the title of the film.
But it is the next track, Kaladhara Kaladhara by Unnikrishnan and Anuradha Shekher that steals the show. Simple yet meaningful lyrics, excellent instrumentation with euphoric violin and flute notes and impressive chorus interlude add to this romantic duet's melodic richness. The composer has created a successful fusion intertwining classical and western tunes. Anuradha and Unnikrishnan stir up emotions with their flawless and pulsating rendition.
The Vegam theme track by Gangai Amaran's son Premgi Amaran is a mix of Tamil and English rap. And the concluding 'Title Theme' with western beats, jazz accompaniment and Suchithra after extended humming of the Silirkuthe tune concluding in a mild soprano fashion, can at the most be called a filler.
Truly a compelling contemporary musical passage laced with melodic richness.
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