Ghajini Music Review / Observations

Surya badly needs a break (Perazhagan and Mayavi didn't strike a chord with the audience) and is pinning his hopes on Ghajini, which is slated to be released later this month. Surya hasn't worked on double heroine subjects recently. In this movie he is going to share the screen with Nayanthara and Asin. Harris Jeyaraj has had reasonable success with the music of Anniyan and Thotti Jaya.

Classical singer Bombay Jayashree has had major hits with HJ (Vaseegara from Minnale, Mudher Kanave from Majnu, Ondra Iranda from Kaakha Kaakha) and she has now become a mainstay in HJ albums. Her recent song in Thotti Jaya is already receiving rave reviews.

Oru Maalai by Karthik: This is definitely the pick of the album. Karthik’s voice modulations are quite impressive. The singing style would have been better a choice for a song with lot of English / Tanglish words, but it has been put to the best use in this pure Tamil song. It’s a peppy number right from the word go. Was stunned when they used the words Thuridha Unavu (to mean fast food). Looks like Ramadoss gimmicks are working (Even Ah Aah had some good Tamil lyrics). The perennial guitar rhythms in the background go well with the mood of the song.

X Machi by Mathangi and Naahul: This song resembles some previous compositions by HJ (12B and Arasaktchi). The charanam reminds me of Osthava song from E20 U18. Just listen to these lyrics (Kurukezhuthu Pudhir Naane Maelirundhu Keezh Nirappu and compare it with Panam Vaendam Nagai Vaendam from Osthaavaa song) and you can find the connection. Mathangi’s husky voice suits the song. Look’s like an item number. This is a track worth ignoring. Unlikely to make an impact after the movie runs out of the theatres.

Suttum Vizhi Sudare by Sriram Parthasarathy and Bombay Jayashree: The sober voice of Sriram Parthasarathy (remember the song Elangaathu Veesuthey from Pithamagan?) doesn’t have the initial impact. IMO Unnikrishnan or Kay Kay would have been a better choice. Sriram makes up for it in the charanams. The beats remind me of Marghazi Poove from May Madham. The first BGM is quite similar to some pieces of Oru Dheivam Thandha Poove from Kannathil Muthamittal. With repeated listening, this song is bound to catch on. Minimal background score and some catchy lyrics are the selling points of this song. I read somewhere that two of the songs have been picturized in Switzerland. This could be one of them.

Rahatulla by Anupama: A high decibel song, which could have been composed during the time of Anniyan. Can be easily mistaken for Remo Remo or some such song. The audience will get tired if HJ tries more of such songs. Why do all new songs need to have an Arabic influence? It happened in Arinthum Ariyamalum and it is happening in this song. This might do some rounds in the party circuits.

Rangola Hola Hola by Shankar Mahadevan and Sujatha: A folk type number backed with rythm pad beats. This song has some traces of Randakka Randakka (Anniyan) and Kokku Meenai Thinguma (Kovil). By HJ standards this should go down as an average song.

Peppy songs are HJ’s forte and he has done what is expected of him. Ghajini is good in parts but is not likely to enter the same league as Kaakha Kaakha and Minnale. Hoping that HJ will dish out better fare in Vettaiyadu Vilayadu.