BEHINDWOODS COLUMN

If you've sensed the arrival of Sean Roldan (SR) with Vaayai Moodi Pesavum you will realise that he's fully at home in Mundasapatti. If you are reeling from SR's cloud of eccentricities in Sathuranga Vettai then look no further than Mundasapatti for bright sunshine.

SR says he received a free hand to create the soundtrack and credits this culture to trailblazer producer CV Kumar's progressive music influences (which includes Rush, dubstep and western classical for those who might be interested to know). It’s hard to disagree with Sean when he says such are a rare breed in the industry, enabling composers such as himself and Santhosh Narayanan to blur the lines between simplicity and complexity.

The lively folk sounds of Mundasupatti are very much up SR’s alley and offer a throwback to some of his work in the indie circuit. The album, as SR describes, is a fine balance between keeping the music accessible to the listener and unsettling the concept of film music.

Vivek Narayanan shakes things up with folk wails and chants in the album opener ‘Uchiyila Udhichavane’ that builds steam towards the close working up the momentum of the record. SR tries to describe another tune, written by GKB and sung by the composer himself, ‘Ambala Singam’, but he soon realizes that it’s a futile exercise. The song is in the vein of a hero’s intro song but with its tongue firmly in cheek. Musically it’s funky with a succession of horn solos and adventurous movements.

 Haricharan and Kalyani Nair team up to deliver an emotional duet – ‘Idhu Enna’, penned by Muthamil, who’s written all but one song on the album. The dexterity of the strings in ‘Mr.Fix-it’ is fine tuned here and so is the vocal melody. Again, SR’s desire to wander away from linearity makes its presence felt.

‘Kadhal Kanave’ has SR the most excited, as he stirs up romance in the air by featuring the real life couple of Pradeep Kumar and Kalyani Nair behind the mic. The track is decorated with beautiful strings and stellar flute solos, by Vijay Gopal, making it the composer’s tribute to the couple.

‘Rasa Maharasa’ will have you reconfirming if it is indeed an ‘oppari’ with its reggae styled bouncy guitar picking. In the company of Rita, SR ad-libs his way into the groove with an air of nonchalance. SR’s solo version is included as an added measure of merriment.

The album closer, ‘Killadi Oruthan’, sounds like a Sean Roldan and Friends product, and the composer agrees. A sufi styled folk rock song with deep lyrics aimed at the functioning of the universe is delivered upbeat with Anthony Dasan doing what he does best.

With Fox Star Studios and CV Kumar’s backing, if Ram Kumar’s Mundasupatti already carries a tag of being entertaining in a zany and unconventional way, Sean Roldan’s soundtrack reaffirms it.

Mundasupatti audio releases on April 28th.

*Tracklist*

1. Uchiyilla Udhichavane
   Singers : Vivek Narayan
   Lyrics : Muthamil

2. Kadhal Kanave
   Singers: Pradeep Kumar, Kalyani Nair
   Lyrics : Muthamil

3. Rasa Maharasa (Duet)
   Singers: Rita Antony Dasan, Sean Roldan
   Lyrics: Muthamil

4. Ambala Singam
   Singers : Sean Roldan
   Lyrics : GKB

5. Idhu Enna
   Singers: Haricharan, Kalyani Nair
   Lyrics : Muthamil

6. Rasa Maharasa (Solo)
   Singers: Sean Roldan
   Lyrics: Muthamil

7. Killadi Oruthan
   Singers: Anthony Dasan
   Lyrics : Muthamil