KOCHADAIYAAN SONGS REVIEW

The album begins with grandeur featuring vocals by the living legend S. P. Balasubramaniam and fantastic orchestration equipped with superior string section, violin, trumpets and celtic styled interludes. The track is like a musical journey through a glorious life of a warrior, playing along with Rajini's image and philosophies, put to words by Vairamuthu.  S. P. Balasubramaniam is effortless in his higher octave singing and marks the beginning of an enthralling album.

After a power packed opening track, it is time to slow down with a beautiful melody laden with sitar, and mellowed rhythm. The mellifluous voice of Sadhana Sargam takes the track forward with flawless perfection and S. P. Balasubramaniam wonderfully joins the duet. The track gains its momentum as it moves forward with mridangam, string section and relaxing bass work.  It has a sparkling Indian flavor throughout its progress making it a welcome change in the era of modern film music!

A heroic track arrives next with appealing orchestration housing a fresh voice of Haricharan in the midst of a progressive rhythm.  The track keeps the listeners alert and highly engaged with the dialogues of Superstar Rajnikanth in his distinct voice. Ultimately, the crafty orchestration and uplifting chorus can only play second fiddle to this Rajini show !

An amazing traditional track arrives with flashes of breezy piano and touches upon beautiful raagas like Raag Kaapi, Desh and Maand- some of A.R.Rahman’s favorites right from his Roja days. The presence of Naadaswaram in the interlude adds yet another highlight to the track. Latha Rajnikanth supports this classy composition with eased perfection.

An eerie track composed in Carnatic style strikes a balance between danger and romance. This is perhaps one of the most challenging tracks for Chinmayi to perform for the complex layers and the demanding nature of the composition.  Srinivas too is up to the task  with his own masterful voice. The track itself can be seen as one of Rahman's best efforts in recent times to push the boundaries of Carnatic tunes.

A racy track with commanding chorus and an orchestra with a plethora of historic instruments arrives now. The track carries an undercurrent energy and creates an imaginary ambience in the mind of the listener. The track is exceptionally woven with traditional instruments alongside the bursts of distortion. The track is best approached as a background theme.

The lilting song Manappenin Sathiyam arrives again in the voice of Haricharan sounding as mellifluous as the previous version.  While the first version was soothing, Haricharan’s earthy voice makes his version very reaffirming. A special mention for the fantastic lyrical contributions of Vairamuthu throughout this album.

The only instrumental track on the album is performed by the internationally acclaimed London Symphony Orchestra. It travels like a dream world with pan flute, mellowed string section, viola, and plenty more, all playing a splendid rearrangement of 'Engae Pogudho Vaanam'. The London Symphony Orchestra certainly brings a global flavor with their unfaltering skills.

The grand finale begins with A.R.Reihana’s booming voice in higher octave and a sea of string section. A.R.Rahman joins the feast in this heavenly composition with his impactful voice, at his breeziest best. The interludes are sure to leave the listener enthralled. The track spells heroism by means of its confident presentation and breathtaking orchestration.