effects, in spite of the strong ‘bhangra’ feel to it. Lively singing from both, especially Anuradha!

Oru Varam...
Vocals: S.P.Balasubramaniam, K.S.Chitra.
Lyrics: J.Francis Kiruba

The seductive richness in SPB’s voice is neatly balanced by the yearning in Chitra’s voice. What an elegant marriage of ghatam, ganjira and morsing to notes from santoor, harp, guitar and whispering keyboard notes! Care has been taken not to subdue the sweet lyrics in music. A very neat usage of Vachaspati raga, especially where SPB goes ‘ma pa ni dha pa ma ga ma pa’ after ‘ragasiya thavam onru irukkiren’.

Notta Kudu Thotta Kudu...
Vocals: Kathik, Suchitra Karthik, Ujjayinee. Rap:MWA-Bigg Nikk, Brodha V.
Lyrics: Andal Priyadarshini

What can you say about this amusing number that is ‘all over the place’, so to speak! Again the rhythm (ghatam, to be precise) fascinates you. The rap element is funny so is the offbeat usage of Mayamalava Gowla raga. Karthik sounds endearingly silky. This can explode onto the charts if listeners can sense the ‘FUN’ element in it.

Ada Engengum Aasai...
Vocals: Benny Dayal, Kalpana, Maya.
Lyrics: Na.Muthukumar

A perfunctory mettu, it does not excite you. But the very delicate ghatam-ganjira combination plus the use of strings-oud, guitar mandolin etc make it peppy to listen to. A song that gently mocks at the greed that overruns our lives.

Pooti Vaitha Vairam...
Vocals: Maya.
Lyrics: Na.Muthukumar. Rap: Sricharan, Konnakkol: V.Selvaganesh, Umashankar

This number is attractively spaced out in terms of rhythm with the notes ‘sa sa ri ga ma--Ga ri ga ri sa sa ri ga’ forming the base. The percussive instrument that belts out after the ‘sa sa ri’ bit is a cute addition. The raga seems to be Natabairavi. A fun fusion blend of rap, konnakkol and lyrics. Well knit, especially the rhythms.

KKM Theme..
Vocals: Benny Dayal, Maya, Sricharan.
Lyrics: Sricharan, Raam Chander, Maya.
Shri.Vikku Vinayakram (ghatam), Matias “IA” Eklundh (electric guitar), Jonas Hellborg (bass guitar) Ranjit Barot (drums)

Feels as if you are listening to an extract from a fusion album. What can you to say about Vinayakramji’s playing that has not already been said? Just savor it! All the other instruments sparkle too. A percussion student’s delight!

Aasa Machane...
Vocals: Shankar Mahadevan, Jaya Rajagopal, Anuradha Sriram.
Lyrics: N.Ramakrishnan

A remix you take an instant liking to. Maybe because it is racier than the original!

Verdict:

A very crisp album in terms of percussive arrangements. Quite lighthearted too! With Crazy Mohan around, this is expected, anyway. But, oh but, the heavy leaning on ‘fusion’ stuff does disappoint, slightly. Especially after we enjoyed Selvaganesh’s creative melodies in ‘Vennila Kabbadi kuzhu’. If well integrated into the movie, the appeal of the songs could be undeniable.