Linguswamy, the director of films like Anandam and Run, has an obvious ear for music. Though his two films had two different kind of musical flavors, they were both hits and fitted the film to a T.
He is also a person who chooses music directors based on the film and not just because he is comfortable with so and so.
If it was S A Rajkumar for Anandam, then it was Vidyasagar for Run.
Linguswamy has again plumped for Vidyasagar for his Ji. After listening to the songs, you understand that it is with reason.
Vidyasagar always understands the pulse f his directors. And more importantly, understands that of the listeners. In the event, he is able to satisfy both.
And in Ji he has. But for a couple of soft numbers, the audio has a racy and foot-tapping feel all through.
1) Kiliye Kiliye
The first number in the audio itself is a racy. It sets the tone for the whole album. Udit Narayan, with his quaint pronunciation and energetic approach, is in fine fettle. Sujatha, with her soft tones, gives him good company. The orchestration is however mixed --- good in places and not so in some others.
2) Ding Dong
Madhu Balakrishnan is a big name in Malayalam film music. Though he has sung a few numbers in Tamil, you have always wondered why does he not many offers here. But Vidyasagar has great faith in his abilities (Remember Kana Kandein Thozhi in Parthiban Kanavu?). Madhu repays the music director's faith in him with a pleasing rendition of this number alongside the
talented Madhushree. This is in fact very soft and soulful number whose cadences are brilliantly accentuated by the singers. The instrumentation is also very apt.
3) Sarala Kondayil by Karthik
It is a song on the lines of Brindhavanamum Nandhakumaranum in Missiamma. The song is apparently a soft gaana number with the lyrics describing the life of a college student in a humouros manner. Karthik is as usual efficient.
4) Thiruttu Rascal
Sreelekha Parthsasarathi is poor man's Anuradha Sriram. She gives it all, all the time. And she does with Mano in this raucous number. It is obviously for the frontbenchers. You can almost imagine the fans dancing in the aisles for this. It, however, has shades of a song that Vidyasagar himself had tuned in Villain.
5) Vaamba Velaikku
It is again a fast number with racy rhythms. Kay Kay has perhaps has lent his voice for the first time to a fast gaana number to the accompaniment of percussion and rhythm instruments. Vidyasagar has interwoven a rural feel into this loud song.
Vidyasagar, on the whole, has got both the tunes and tones right.