Chandramukhi

It is not difficult to imagine the kind of pressure that Vidyasagar must have felt after landing himself the prestigious Chandramukhi.

It is never easy to score music for Rajni's film. The expectations of his legendary fans are so huge that it can daunt any music composer (even the now acclaimed Padayappa music initially did not go well with Rajni's fans).

So considering the pressure and pulls, Vidyasagar has come up with a fine score --- keeping in mind what Rajni's fans usually look for. The thing is that he has not gone for experimentation or tried out any new funky sounds. He has played safe even while managing to come up with some eminently hummable tunes. To be sure, they may not be classics. But it sure fits the bill. A good mixture of melody, mass and foot-tapping numbers. Chandramukhi is sure to be another hit of Vidyasagar's and will join the list of his recent Dhool, Ghilli and Madurae.

1) Devuda Devuda

This is supposed to be Rajni's introduction song on screen. So the accent is on heavy beats and long rhythms. The lyrics, by Vali, are on typical lines with the hero speaking on behalf of the underdogs. For such a song, the most trusted voice in Tamil films is S P Balasubramaniam. His voice is as safe as a security vault. He whips up the right enthusiasm and youthful exuberance that a song of this calibre needs.

2) Konjam Neram

You cannot help marvel at the freshness in the voice of Asha Bhosle. Her voice is as new as this morning's rose. It has an alluring fragrance to it, too. Combining with Madhu Balakrishnan, a talented youngster whose voice itself is a quaint mix of Yesudas and Jeyachandran, Asha's touches news highs in melody. The song has some interesting and off-beat beats. Madu's voice is mature and good enough for any kind of exertion. The tune however is a bit of a let down in that it leaves you with a heard-before feeling.

3) Athithom

What straight away strikes you in this song is the splendid orchestration. The tune itself is a resplendent medley of Tamil and Kerala folk. Vidyasagar has used both the regional percussion instruments to good effect. The harmonium piece is also ear-catching. But binding it all together is the voice of SPB. He makes you feel as if you are hearing the song sitting near a smooth flowing rivulet in a rural ambience. Vaishali, a new singer, provides perfect foil to the experience of SPB. Vaishali is an excellent addition to the group of young singers spreading their wings in Kollywood.

4) Kokku Para Para

This song is play on a word game that is hugely popular in Tamil Nadu. The tune is lively and again Vidyasagar redeems himself with astute instrumentation. He has an innate flair for instruments and it comes through nicely in this zingy number. Rajalakshmi is just the perfect voice for the song while Tippu and Manickanm Vinayagam add pep to the fun element in the number. The chorus by kids adds grace to this song.

5) Raa Raa

Who is this Binni Krishna Kumar? This is the question that is bound to be asked after listening to this Telugu number. She is decidedly first class in both melody and ability. She looks like yet another promising singer from the never-ending stable of brilliant crooners from Kerala. Her voice is both fresh and cultured. The same cannot, however, be said of Tippu. The orchestration, again, with percussions, is excellent. The heroine sings this song apparently with memories of previous birth. A classical number and classic effort.

 6) Annanoda Paatu

This is a fast-beat mass song. KK, Karthik and Sujatha, with their undoubted talents, add luster to the rhyme and rhyme. The percussion has been used wi