Winner Music Review

Winner

“Eye” by Devan

It is a catchy, western style, dance number with foot tapping refreshing beats. Pa. Vijay has written the song, targetting the youth, with words like ‘babes, SMS, internet’ etc. Devan’s carefree voice with U.S accent is the perfect choice for this song. It’s sure to hit the charts.

“Endhan Uyir” by Udit narayanan

It is an enchanting composition. Though Udit’s tamil is injurious to our ears, the beautiful BGM and percussions save the song. Though it is slow paced, it is sure to attract the younger generation by the catchy rhythm. This song would have been the pick of this album, if only someone other than Udit had sung it. “Mathaapoo” by Tippu, Premji, Sri Ranjani is a dance number to be picturised in a marriage function sequence with herds of people let loose their feet. And again, Yuvan has proved his wrong choice of female vocals in this song.

“Muthal murai” by Srinivas and Mahalakshmi Iyer

It is a wonderful melody and such a beautiful song features as an unexpected surprise gift to melody lovers. Though rhythm reminds us of “Thulli thulli” song from “Unakkagaa Ellam Unakkaaga”, the song is hauntingly composed with beautiful guitar pieces. Pa.Vijay has given wonderful lyrics with lot of love feelings.

“Engirundaai” by Harish Ragavendra

It is again a beautiful melody number which is highly addictive. Yuvan has concentrated on the BGM and the class compositions are the outcome. This song will hit the charts though Pa. Vijay’s lyrics are illogical at places, like the lover asking the lady love, where she was, when he was born?. Doesn’t it imply that she is elder to him? Lyrics in second charanam humiliates the males by depicting the lover to be totally dependent on her and disturbed by her smile, movement etc.

“Kozhi” by Udit and Prashanthi

It starts with the music which makes the listener think it’s going to be a melody and suddenly pucca ‘dappanguthu’ song sets in. It is for the front row occupants and Yuvan has used flute innovatively for a dappanguthu song.

Overall, it is an above average album with a mixture of western, folk, dappanguthu and melody numbers. Though it is released without any publicity, it is sure to create some ripples. The recording and tape quality is also notably good and Yuvan is fast becoming a commercial hit giving music director.

Bala Music Review

Bala

No doubt the busiest music director working in Tamil cinema these days is Yuvan Shankar Raja. Ilayaraja's younger son has so many releases these days; if you go to a cassette shop, there are four recent YSR releases available to buy ("Mounam Paesiyathey," "Bala," "April Maathatthil," "Kaadhal Samraajiyam") and "Punnagai Poovae" is coming up soon as well.

If you ask me whether the sheer number of YSR's projects is lowering the quality of his work, I would say no. He consistently produces good music.

But if you ask me whether he's making superb music like "Nandhaa" or "Thulluvatho Ilamai" or "Poovellaam Kaettupaar," I'd have to say no to that, too. His music recently is not as very-high-quality as some of his initial efforts; it's never bad, but the recent ones haven't been excellent, either.

"Bala" fits that mold as well. There are a few good songs, a few not-so-great songs, and overall, we have a nice-to-listen-to, but no-classic album.



1. Poo Poovai -- Unni Menon, Ganga.

A great way to begin the album. Strong lyrics, good singing, and melodious music. This is a wonderfully melodious song, and the lyricist should be praised for this one. My favorite lines are, "Malai vanthaal / Athil nanaivoam / Athai thuvattum sugam kidaikka." Yuvan Shankar Raja knows when he should underplay his music, and he does so to considerable effect here. This should have a nice picturization, I'm hoping.
Very Nice.
2. Theendi Theendi -- Unnikrishnan, Sujatha.

A very '80s-sounding but very nice melodious love song. Both Unnikrishnan and Sujatha have done nice jobs. The music is melodious and nice. The lyrics are good as well. Neatly done.
Very Nice.

3. Vannatthu Poocchi -- Karthik, Madhangi.

And releasing himself from the subtle melodies of the previous two songs, Yuvan Shankar Raja has the first louder more brash song in "Vanatthu Poochi." Both Karthik and Maadhangi sing well, and the lyrics -- surprisingly -- aren't bad. The music, though, is innovative and very new-sounding. I'm not saying this is a loud song; it's just louder than the rest of the album. I wonder what the picturization for this is going to look like. It's very "different" kind of music, both quick and difficult to dance to.
Between a Very Nice and an Excellent.

4. Bailamo -- Yuvan Shankar Raja.


All traces of subtlety gone, we have a "dappaanguthu"-sounding song with poor lyrics. The good news about this song is YSR is very definitely trying to vary the kind of songs he sings. The bad news is while this music tries to be innovative, it's only successful up to a certain extent. Perhaps I'll like this more after seeing the picturization, but I don't know -- this isn't my kind of song, and so far, it's my least favorite on the album. It's not a bad song, but it's for the front-benchers.
Nice.

5. Yen Kannai -- Shankar Mahadevan.

I love the intro to this song, with the haunting unidentified female voice vocalizing. The main part of the song is also very well done and has a haunting undercurrent to it, and Shankar Mahadevan does a great job with the song. It's a love song -- but in YSR's hands, there's more to it as well. It's a pleasant way to end the album. We're coming back to that melody now. The lyrics are also good.
Between a Very Nice and an Excellent.

Junior Senior Music Review

Junior Senior

For a long time (since maybe "Thalapathy"), I've been a Mammootty fan. Ever since "Nandhaa", I've been a die-hard Yuvan Shankar Raja fan and see him as the next upcoming big thing to hit Tamil cinema.

Does YSR keep up his solid reputation with "Junior Senior"? Well, yes, he does, and quite well. I could listen to three of these songs again and again -- and the other three aren't too bad, either. The only problem I have with the album is that a couple of these songs sound a bit like older YSR compositions, and repetition is a surefire killer of new music directors. I know that YSR has the talent to get past that repetition -- but he hasn't quite yet.

Good strong album. Just not YSR's best, or even close to it.

Don't worry, Yuvan Shankar Raja, I know you'll deliver with "Pop Carn."

SONG-BY-SONG REVIEW:

Aanandham -- Unnikrishnan.

YSR albums always begin with a bang. He often slams us with his best song early on in the album, and "Junior Senior" is no exception. "Aanandham Pennukkullae", beautifully and subtly sung by chameleon Unnikrishnan definitely qualifies as one of the best songs, if not the best song, on the album. Great lyrics, organized composition, beautiful subtle music, and great singing. Who could ask for more? "Junior Senior" is off to a hefty start. Excellent!.

Naan Oruvan -- Vijay Yesudas.

Initial listen, I thought this song rendered by Yesudas' son, Vijay Yesudas, was pretty bad. The gunshots sounded tacky, and the song didn't seem to have any rhythm. But I have since revised my opinion. "Naan Oruvan" grows on you, and the song is brilliantly composed, starting off softly and then getting more and more alive. Vijay Yesudas also does a perfectly capable job on the singing, and YSR keeps up his reputation of being able to find the perfect singer for each song. Excellent!

Pudhusaai Pudhusaai -- Srinivas, Tippu. "

Pudhusaai Pudhusaai," unlike "Naan Oruvan" is an instantly likeable very fun very exciting song. From the moment the first "Engae engae enthan ottrai roja devathai?" line first came up, I've been hooked ot it. Great song. No more needs to be said. Plus, I have to say it it: Tippu, who initially started out strained, is now showing much improvement. Excellent!

Srirungara Kannaa -- Uncredited Singer.

This is one of those YSR songs that sound like we've heard it before in a previous YSR composition -- this sounds like "Alagaana Suriyan" from "Manathai Thirudi Vittaay." But it's still a great song. The female singer who sings it does a magnificent job, and the beat is nice. Not the best song for repeated listening, but the lyrics are good, the singing is good, and the beat, while familiar, is good. Very Nice.

Thithippai -- SPB, Swarnalatha.

There's been a disturbing trend recently of handing SPB the worst song on the album in hopes that he will turn that song around and make it good. (This definitely was not the case in YSR's "Nandhaa," where YSR gave SPB arguably the best song on the album -- "Mun Paniya.") Unfortunately, SPB can't make an average song good; he can only make a great song perfect. That's the case with "Thithippai," the only really disappointing song on this album. Adequate singing, usual music, very average lyrics. Nice!

Oh Shalalala Jamai -- Yuvan Shankar Raja, Yugendran, Prem.

Another familiar sounding YSR ditty; this sounds like "All Day Jolly Day" from "Manathai Thirudi Vittaay." The song really aren't that similar; it's just that the average lyrics, YSR's voice, and the beat make them sound that way. Nice dance youth song, but not really my kind of thing. The album started off strong with three excellent songs, and then went downhill (but not too far downhill) from there. Nice.