ATM - Music Review

When maestros make music, it cannot be questioned. There can be no second opinions. The least that one can rate is ‘quite good’. There was a feel in me couple of years back that Rahman had lost his touch with Tamil cinema. Sillunu Oru Kaadhal and Sivaji changed my mindset. Rahman’s place in Tamil Cinema is irreplaceable. Now, the music of Swargachitra Appachan’s Azhagiya Thamizh Magan(ATM), reinstates this fact very clearly.

Starring Vijay, Shriya and Namitha, ATM has music by Isai Puyal A.R. Rahman. This album will sure be a treat for Rahman fans as well as Vijay fans. Moving away from the typical Vijay film’s music Rahman gives something extra ordinary that will satisfy all class of music lovers. The storm has just begun.

Ella Pugazhum Oruvan Oruvanukke

A.R. Rahman begins the album, packed with all punch and style. An inspirational song for youth interspersed with few lines of praises for the hero, nicely written by Vaali. The chorus that comes throughout the song is nice and the heavy instrumental pumps up the adrenalin. The hero of the song is however Rahman, who with the full throated singing especially towards the end (Maanavan Manadhu Vaithaal) makes a big impression that won’t leave you till you finish listening the album

Verdict: Classy intro for a mass hero

Rating: 9.3/10

Ponmagal Vandhal

Die hard Rahmaniacs may not appreciate this remix work of Rahman very much. But this remix version of the old song from Sivaji Ganesan’s sorgam, is something I feel like Rahman’s answer to those dozen remixes that come up every month in Kollywood. With excellent western mix(by Krishna Chetan) and the subtle rap that doesn’t harm your ears, it makes you realize how well remixes are handled by maestros. Aslam sings it simple and Ember Rap gives the right feel. And very nice mixing of TMS’s lines from the original song in the middle.

Verdict: Remix Reinvented

Rating: 9.2/10

Nee Marilyn Monroe

Completely tuned in western style with lots of English words thrown into the lyrics, this is yet another rocking song. Benny Dayal and Ujjayinee do a great job doing full justice to the tune. Benny's voice modulation is amazing, especially when he sings "Baby un DJ naan" just in the tone of DJs. The female humming in the opening and the second interlude is brilliant. The use of Indian style instruments shortly in the first interlude is also a brilliant fusion. The guitar that plays all along the song is simply superb.

Verdict: Western all the way

Rating: 9.5/10

Valayapatti Thavile

This song opens slowly with a nice prelude and then singing by Madhumitha . Slowly it picks up speed continuing at a constant pace. The thavil that beats throughout the song and the mild nadhaswaram bits that play every now and then, gives you the southern flavor which fuses with the well composed North Indian Qawali style of singing by Naresh Iyer and Madhumitha(and Ujjayinee??). There is also a brief jugalbandhi with quite a few instruments and jadhis in the interludes. A cool string instrument, not sure what it is, starts playing in second interlude and continues all along the second stanza. The intelligent use of different Ragas and swaras in the tune as per the lyrics is simply excellent work by Rahman, again a fusion of folk and carnatic. Naresh Iyer is as brilliant as ever.

Verdict: Fusion at its best

Rating: 9.8/10

Kettu Rasitha Paadal

An excellent melody with fast pace and great beats. Well, is that possible? With the maestro’s composing, anything is Its not a straight forward tune like Munbe Vaa, but little complicated like Sahana Saaral of Sivaji or Mellisaye of Mr.Romeo. The chorus of “Paarthum Paaramale Pogum Nerangale” in second interlude is out of the world, typical Rahman. Same with the case of “Kokilam Kokilam” line. Lyrics of Thamarai is an added plus, with brilliant imaginations like "Koondhal ennum yeni yeri muthamida aasaigal undu... Netri mooku udhadu endru irangi vara padigalum undu". The brilliant rendition by Saindhavi and Sriram Parthasarathy are feathers in the cap of Rahman’s great composition. A song that grows over after every listening.

Verdict: Rocking melody

Rating: 9.7/10

Maduraiku Pogadhadi

Listening to this song, one instantly goes back to the days of Kizhakku Chemmayile, when Tamil folk got its techno form from Rahman. Usage of good number of village percussions and instruments like Sitar and nadhaswaram gives this song a very ‘Song of this soil’ feel. You got to believe that it’s the same Benny Dayal of Marilyn Monroe song who has sung this folk song. A very versatile find by Rahman. Yet another surprise is Dharshana whose voice gives this peppy folk a tinge of western. Supporting vocals are very important in such songs and it’s adequately done.

Verdict: The techno folk

Rating: 9.1/10

Go and grab your audio CD right away… It’s worth a buy and listen.

Overall Verdict: Adhiradi Isai Mazhai

Overall Rating: 9.4/10