Illayaraja + Kamalhaasan = Experiment
Illayaraja has been always giving his best for kamalhaasan. Their combination has proved a lot before in Heyram, Guna, Mahanadhi, Devar magan and many more. Any list of best songs of illayaraja will definitely have these songs “Kanmani anbodu” from guna, “Nee partha” from heyram, ”ingi iduppazhaga” form devarmagan, ”Valaiosai” from sathya, ”Then pandi seemayilae” from nayakan ,”Kannae kalaimanae” from moondram pirai and many more.
Let us c whether the songs of this album will add to the above list. There are two kinds of songs in cinema one is the songs that you can appreciate the immediately when you hear it without seeing the movie and second kind is the songs that fits and synchs with the screenplay of the movie and music can be appreciated only when you see the song at right situation in the movie. The songs of Sandiyar fall under the category in which the songs are purely situational and nothing unnecessarily added to the movie. I think in movie they have tried to convey a lot through the songs.
There are 10 songs in the album and among them 5 are short of length. 6 songs are sung by Kamalhaasan himself and two are sung by illayaraja and 2 numbers by shreyaghosal.All the songs are perfect folk and 100% traditional Tamil folk songs and the lyrics are excellent in the madurai slang and all are situational songs. One may get I disappointed on first listening but once when you hear two or three times you will really enjoy all the songs especially for the simplicity in words for lyrics, native folk kind of music with some experimentations.
Usually in villages of tamilnadu, the people mostly the ladies often sing songs with their own lyrics without any knowledge in music for all the events that happen in a man’s life like a child birth, function of pregnancy, Maatu pongal and pongal festival and like, when men or women at work to forget their pain in work, when a man wins in a bet or competition, marriage, arrival of newly married couple into a new house, to make the baby sleep called “Thalattu”, During a death called “oppari” and all these are called “Nattupura paattu”. They use simple words and they sing spontaneously with a rhythmic tune according to the situation without any preparation. And as the movie is village based and has lot of situations in it Illayaraja who is a maestro in Tamil folk is the best choice. All the songs in Virumandi is also the compilation of such songs.
1) Onna Vida
Singers: kamalhasan, Shreya Ghosal
This song in the only melodious duet in this album. The lyrics is penned by kamal himself and has good job in bringing out a simple Tamil words that has depth in meaning as lyrics for a duet. Again IR has used guitar, flute and violin with elegance. The song sounds simple but the best in this album. Similar to “Ingi idupazhagi” song in devar magan.Shreya has done a good job because it is difficult singing in Tamil in Madurai slang but she has tried her best. Kamal has sung the song with ease.
2. Annalakshmi kannasachcha
Singer: Kamalhaasan, chorus
I think the situation of the song is when Heroine Annalkshmi accepts to marry Hero Virumandi.The song impressed on first listening. The flute interludes and the violin orchestrations are different and good in this song also.
3. Neththiyila pottu vaiyi
Singers: Thiruvudaiyan, sukumar, karunanithi
The singers of this song are not professional singers they belong to a village troop who sings “Natuppura pattu” in villages. To be more natural IR has used voices some of real villagers. This song is very short and I think the situation is making the Bull to get ready for “Jallikattu”, it is a famous game played in Tamil villages in which the brave young guys should make the Ferocious Bull with sharp thorns to surrender and arrest them.
4. Magarasi mannai vittu poniye
Singer: theni kunjaramma
This is a “oppari” song that is the song that is sung during a death .An old lady theni Kunjaramma has sung the song with all the necessary emotions.
5. Karumaththur kattukulla
Singers: thiruvudaiyan, mary, sukumar, periya karuppaththevar, karisal karunanithi
This song is like “Therukoothu” song means street drama song. It describes a tale bout Virumandi and Pechiyamma the same may be the story of the movie also who knows. This song is similar to the song “Andam Kidukidunga” in “Devadai”.It is real,real and extremely real and natural and voices,tune,instruments are the same what they actually use in street dramas in the villages. Only Illayaraja can compose such realistic songs.
6. Antha kandamani
Singers: ilayaraaja, kamalhasan, karthik, tippu, surendar
This is a different and unique song in the album. It sounds very different from the other especially the voices of Illayaraja and kamalhaasan sounds in a very different tone. The highlight of the song is the chant “Viru Viru Mandi Virumandi” used all through the song. He has used lot of traditional percussions and a rare fusion of music.Tippu and karthick are used as chorus singers in the later part of the song.
7. Mada vilakke
Singers: kamalhasan
This is a pathos song like “then pandi” in Nayakan.Though it doesn’t impress you that much Illayaraja has tried to convey the pathos in a different way.Kamal’s voice renders the emotions well. Usual sad violin in the songs tried to bring out the mood. But this song I feel will be more appreciated when seen in the movie.
8. Kambule poove chuththi
Singer: kamalhasan
This is an enjoyable song with funny lyrics .I think the situation is when Virumandi(hero) wins a bet with Annalakshmi(heroine) and the song follows.Kamal has done some funny synchs and sounds in his voice and again it will be best understood only when visualized. In this song IR has tried with instruments like drums and trumpets to make it funny.Anyway, a different mix of instruments with voices singing in Madurai Tamil.
9. Karpakiragam vittu sami veliyeruthu
Singers: Illayaraaja, kamalhasan, karthik, tippu, surendar
This song has same tune and music of track 6 with a different lyrics
10. chandiyare chandiyare
Singers: Shreya goshal
This song has same tune and music of track 2 but with a different lyrics and with a female voice.
Overall views about the album
I left to mention about the lyric writer Kavignyar Muthulingam who has penned 7 songs in this movie,the lyrics in madurai slang is the soul of the songs and gives a more realistic feel. The album is no doubt one of the best Of Illayaraja.But only matured music lovers and cini-goers only can appreciate the music and also only after watching the movie. I think it will be better to review the album after watching the movie. Because as I have already mentioned the situation of the songs in the decides its fate. But according to me, I love listening to these songs again and again even now. Die-hard fans of Illayaraja do buy this album.
