I discovered today’s song very recently from my hard disk searching for another song accidentally and such serendipitous discoveries in my world make this process with Raaja worth the time spent. You have time to kill, you loiter with your collection, you stumble on a song you haven’t heard and bang! it’s brilliant. It may not be the rarest of songs but it may be one you’ve not come across. That joy of discovery is unparalleled with a composer’s oeuvre of a classy few thousand songs.
The song is from the film ‘Chinna Vaathiyar’ and while Kanmaniye Kanmaniye and Love Pannidathaan were my favorites, this song blew me away with just the uninhibited joy it brought and made me re-listen to the other songs in the album with a little more respect. This song, Atha Maga RathinamE, has the hero and heroine dancing and making merry before the omnipresent climax in every masala film. Run-of-the-mill cinema situation but a tune befitting the mirth demanded is provided, just that I feel the mirth here is like a flood breaking its banks and entering our systems, making us tap our feet and want to dance.
Starting with heavy drums, a chorus follows it leading to Malaysia who throws in a delightful weight to his voice that sounds deep and base. The tune and the way it rolls finds it difficult to be disliked. The folk element is very down to earth and appeals instantly. The arrangements bring in a rock feel. How the soundscapes feel in-place together despite hailing from Pannaipuram and Liverpool respectively is a wonder. Pep and joy overflow but beneath that, there is an underlying melody that is likable too. The guitars that fill in after each line add to the funk. The interlude has drums, guitar and chorus upon that drums in harmony. Just before the charanam, there is an absolutely groovy electric guitar for a second. These micro-moments elevate the song to the stratosphere. Having a superb tune is one thing and knowing what to do with it is an altogether different skill that Raaja has.
Uma Ramanan’s voice suits the song to a T in the charanam and her staccato lines at andha Guruvaayur sandhanamE… thiruvaayoor naayanamE followed by Malaysia repeating the tune make for a delightful passage and the following curves leading to annaadum naan paadurEn on to the pallavi is unpredictable and delightful composition. The pallavi has the chorus that nearly mimes a trumpet (does a wind instrument finish the line with them?) with its sound in harmony with the lead vocals. The second interlude has a flute whose lines are finished by a trumpet. Chorus follow leading to another magical mini bass guitar fill-in before the charanam. It is different from the first interlude’s climax, yet the idea is the same and it contributes to the eargasm. The second charanam is another superb passage and as Uma Ramanan waits at aththaan.n.n. before oru kuththaalamE, the song is quite a kuththaalam of joy too.
It is a quintessential kuthu song and yet doesn’t pump in any cinematic cliche in its composition. Magical Raaja. The youtube audio isn’t the greatest (song deserves to be heard in mp3). It can be watched for Kushbu dancing. However, the audio quality I’m attaching is quite good.
Audio Link: http://www.raaga.com/play/?id=264614
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