More great stuff from Vidyasagar

After "Poi" I couldn't help listening to Vidyasagar's next offering for the movie "Thambi" and I wasn't surpried to find some very pleasant numbers. Jump first to "Sudum Nilavu" sung by UnniKrishnan and Harini. What a lovely number. The song actually reminds you of several other tamil songs but can't think of them now. I don't know what's with the smaller songs in movies these days (there are too many of them) but you always wonder why they weren't extended into full versions. Two of those good ones are in this movie too. Check out "Enn Kaadhal" by Saindhavi and "Kanavaa" by Madhushree.
Thambi.

S P B back with a great number - Songs from the movie Poi

Besides the eye-catching new girl Vimala, the K Balachander movie features a great number by THE greatest singer in the country, S P Balasubramianiam. The vocals are sweet and the song stylish for a cool evening setting. It is called "La La La". What a long run SPB has had and he still has great potential to impress after singing over 35,000 songs. Two other small songs also impress. "Enna Tholaithai" by Chithra and "Inge Inge Oru Paatu" by Shankar Mahadevan. But it will be SPB's song that is going to be real "killer". "Kutty Kutty Kavithai" by Shalini is an OK number. Full points to Vidyasagar for all the lovely compositions. Check it out at the following link on musicindiaonline. Poi.

Himesh Reshammiya delivers a stunner

After composing music for T.V serials and movies Himesh's debut solo double CD album Apka Suroor (Vol.1 & 2) is one rocking album that is certainly going to be talked about for a long time. Instantly gratifying, the very vocal and catchy songs are going to appeal to anyone. No wonder most of the songs from the album are in the top 20 list of www.musicindiaonline.com's Indipop countdown. Vol.1 contains the originals and before anyone else can make remixes out of them Himesh offers all the remixed versions of the originals on Vol.2. This review is of the originals on Vol.1.

Start with "Naam Hai Thera", the song that is featured in the advertisement on T.V that got me instantly hooked. I am sure you'll be hooked too. Next stop, check out "Tu Yaad Na Aaye Aisa Koi Din Nahin". Reminiscent of the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan it's a lovely qawwali based number. Time to rock again. Jump to "Mere Lamhon Ki Aarzu", an awesome number with great vocals, lyrics and a terrific beat. Take a break now with "Samjo Na", a lovely acoustic number. Time to groove again, this time with a slower rocker. Check out "Ched De Pyar Ki Baat". With female vocals, rap and Saarangi thrown in good measure it's a groovy number. Follow this one with "I love you O Sayyoni" which has all the potentail of becoming a crowd fav. with live audiences. And here's more. Follow up with "Aashiqana Hai Dil" a song sung well to complete a groovy three song set. Before you can wind down here's one more daandiya number. Check out "Nachle it's folkish". Not a great number as there have been many similar ones but this one is daandiya perfect.

Ok, time to wind up now. Listen to "Chahe Gila Karo" a beautiful song with some fantastic singing and wrap up the collection with "Vaada Tainu"

Although "Tera Suroor" is currently No.1 listen to it at the end to remind you that all good things need not always come to an end. Listen to the song and then start all over! The album is certainly worth a couple of first listens.

Almost all of the songs on this album are great for playing live. Himesh delivers in one "kick-ass" album what Indian and Pakistani rock bands haven't done in decades.

Paramasivam scores with three songs, Paarijatham with one

Three songs tuned by Vidhyasagar in Thala's new movie "Paramasivam" are going to be hits for sure. The first is the delightful "Asa Dosa" sung well by Priya Subramani. "Kannan" is another short lovely number sung by Kalyani Menon, Lakshmi Rangarajan and Saindhavi. By the way it looks as though there are two Kalyani Menons or are they the same. Remember the 80's hit "Nee Varuvai ena Naan ninaithen". It was sung by a Kalyani Menon too. And finally "Natchithira Paravaikku" sung by Tippu and company. The chorus of the children in this song will remind you of Illayaraja's songs in the movies "Anjali" and "Virumandi".

The real treat however is "Unnai Kanden" from the movie "Paarijatham" that debuts Saranya, daughter of actor/director Bagyaraj and Poornima Jayaram. Sung stylishly by Shruthi and company to the tune of Dharan's music it may sound a bit like "Vaseegara" but it is a beautiful number. Treat yourself.

New songs in Tamil

First is the sensuous number "Chellame Idu Irava Pakala" sung by Karthik and Sunitha Sarathy from the movie "Kalaba Kadhala" composed by newcomer Niru. It's sure to become popular and is certainly worth a listen. "Eruvar Vazhum", another small duet from the film "Aathi" is an OK one. But the song that is likely to become a dance hit from the same movie (though it sounds stale) is "Olli Olli Udambe", a Karthik and a different sounding Anuradha Sriram duet. "Paakathe" from the film "Aaru" with nice tunes in the charanam will please you. It's a break for Tippu who I believe is married to the popular singer Harini. "Soda bottle" is the another "dapankoothu" number from "Aaru" which is bound to become popular. Check them out.

Who is likely to replace Chithra

Before I even try to answer that let me not give the impression that Chitra is going to be dethroned overnight by the multitude of great new singing talent that the Malayalam music industry is never short of.

I won't consider Sujatha who with a voice that is getting better every year as someone who is going to take over the crown although she is good competition. A couple of years ago I thought the crown may go to newcomer Gayatri. With a huskier voice, training in Hindustani besides Carnatic, influences ranging from Rafi to Dire Straits and some great songs I was under the impression she could replace Chitra. But ever since I saw Manjari sing live on T.V, Chithra's "Karmugil" from the movie "Nandanam" I knew the south Indian film audience could look forward to some great vocals from this promising new singer. I was surprised to see her duet with Illayaraja for his mega concert but maybe for good reason. Trained in both Carnatic and Hindustani and with influences such as Latha Mangeshkar and Mohd.Rafi besides a host of other Indian singers she is quite a contender for the next big female voice from Kerala.

I checked her songs on MusicIndiaOnline and I couldn't believe her range of singing. Simply put her songs are difficult for others to sing. Her Reena Roy(remember her?)/Sunitha looks are another plus. Check out the following links to her songs. First Stop, the album "Mazhayilaroo". "Maaleya Sandhyee" must be the first song you need to listen to and I am sure you will be hooked. Follow that with "Pinneyum" and then to "Paadu Pranayamee". Next stop, the album "Pranayamai" and check out the song "Thaane En Thamburumooli".
Final stop the song of movie "Ponmudipuzhayorathu" and check out "Oru Chiri Kandaal", a duet with Vijay Yesudas. Music for this movie is by Illayaraja and Tamil listeners will even find similarities between this number and the number "Poonkathave" from the movie "Nizhalgal" whose songs were also composed by the maestro.

Not forgetting Gayathri here are links to two of her great numbers. Check out "Enthinee Kanna" from the movie "Sasneham Sumithra" and "Thamaranoolinal" a duet with Venugopal from the movie "Mullavalliyum Thenmavum".