The leading scene to the song Mannippaaya is probably the only contribution of Vinnaithandi Varuvaaya to Tamil Cinema. And a very good one. It isn’t different but a very clichéd one. The way it was passionately shot made all the difference. With such a well rendered song from Rahman and Shreya, Gautam had only one choice, to build it up very well. The whole song was ecstatically sung and a major part of the song was picturized in the same way. Especially when Simbhu sings animatedly when driving a bike, been there done that.

The Alleppey night, the boat, the lyrics, the love struck Simbhu and Trisha, the choreography and even the graphically falling star all support Mannippaaya’s heat. One would wish if the whole song never moved from that place. As the song divulges into other dreamy sequences and montages, it looses the passion of the night where it starts. Nevertheless it was the only scene I loved in the film. And ofcourse, some parts of Aaromale.

Gautam sticking to Simbhu’s point of view and not showing an extra scene of Trisha when Simbhu not being present is good screen-writing but his biggest problem are the dialogues. He should probably take help from someone else or stop repeating the, “I want to make love to you” lines. Seems super artificial when squeezed into real-life situations.

P.S: The Thirukural harmony in Mannippaaya sounded unrefined.

Fanboy version of Rahman’s Hosanna mixed with the dance sequence from the bubbly 500 days of Summer.

Listening to Cat Stevens the whole of y’day was solacing. A Deep voice, lonely acoustic guitar strums and subtle harmony characterized Cat Stevens’ music. So if you like such a setting, he is the master-blaster.

This blog has already become a collection of youtube bookmarks. Adding to it, here is one more that influenced my late teen/early twenties(now that I have moved away from it). This song has much more to it than just Cat’s voice. The lyrics, in form of a dialogue between a father and son reveals a father’s remarks on his life behind him and for the son, the life ahead of him. Such philosophy!

Post from July 28th, 2007 -

I admit, I’ve been excessively obsessed with this song. Partly because I think Selvaraghavan made a crappy video of a cool song. The camera and Ravi Krishna eyes are fixated on Sonia’s bosom and I think thats a cheap thing to do, given the realistic lyrics and a great rhythm.

I propose someone to re-shoot it and make a pretty good video. Maybe with available resources, I would even re-shoot it myself at Seattle and edit it using Final Cut . Imagine this, as the electric guitar plays, a tall desi guy with a hooded black t-shirt, the mountain ranges on the backdrop, walks on a bridge while its raining. Cut it to a mall, a desi girl with her American teenage friends, walking past this chap with a wink in her eye, eating baskin robbins. Cut back, to the raining bridge. Cut again to wide angle shot, the guy walking on the alki beach with a backdrop of seattle downtown. I’m sure it will do justice to Yuvan’s cool beat. Some day…

I’m still obsessed with this idea of re-shooting the song. Currently looking for camera(!), help with shooting/editing, a desi guy, 2 non-indian females and a sunny seattle day. Coming this summer…

KamalHassan Version -

Kamal looks like Nammavar in his latest, Unnaipol Oruvan, except a little aged. But here’s the real kicker – Music by Shruthi Hassan. You too, Kamal!

Was listening to random songs on Pandora today and this song brought back some great memories from school. A friend and I used to listen to this number continously that I still remember every guitar chord. During my teens, I thought the lyrics was very philosophical but then I also thought Michael Jackson was the best pop musician. Regardless of the lyrical value, this has been a great inspiration for me and probably for millions around the world during late 80s/early 90s.

Performed by the New Zeland band Crowded House, this song has been covered by other artists including Howie Day and Paul Young.

There is freedom within, there is freedom without
Try to catch the deluge in a paper cup
There’s a battle ahead, many battles are lost
But you’ll never see the end of the road
While you’re traveling with me

Hey now, hey now
Don’t dream it’s over
Hey now, hey now
When the world comes in
They come, they come
To build a wall between us
We know they won’t win

Go Rahman !!

Original score: James Newton Howard (“Defiance”), Alexandre Desplat (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”), Winner – A. R. Rahman (“Slumdog Millionaire”), Hans Zimmer (“Frost/Nixon”) and Clint Eastwood (“Changeling”).

From Roja to Slumdog, it was one helluva trip. Thanks for all the music.

Best Original Score – Motion Picture

The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
Composed by Alexandre Desplat

Changeling
Composed by Clint Eastwood

Defiance
Composed by James Newton Howard

Slumdog Millionaire
Composed by A. R. Rahman

Frost/Nixon
Composed by Hans Zimmer

I only hope he gets it. Way to go, buddy !!

BTW, waiting to watch Frost/Nixon.

A thousand elephants. Watch out.

The ‘ghaana’ Avan Enna Thedi Vandha Anajala rendered by Karthik is my personal favorite followed by a very SPBesque Shanthi O Shanthi by SPB Charan/Clinton.

Man, that guy was a kiddo then. Neat interview. Cheers to the yesteryear Surabi Team and ofcourse Abdul Rahman aka ARR.

Just in case, you haven’t seen the already hit trailer of Vaaranam Aayiram[aka Forrest Gump], its right here.

For all the help with Dasavathaaram soundtrack. Romba thanks.

During the early 90′s before Michael Learns to rock hit India with a boy band status, I heard them through CDs that my friend’s friend got from the US. Johnny Hates Jazz (remember the shattered dreams number) was a similar band with great numbers on their first album. MLTR’s Colours was their first biggest hit and it was released in ’93. The next album, Played on Pepper, had a great number That’s Why.

With Paint My Love album the ind-teens and MTV celebrated them as an usual mushy mushy boyband and chicks went gaga for them. But thats when I started to hate them.

Last week, I put together a 90′s pop hits CD and MLTR’s songs were also some of them. My first favorite was Sleeping Child but I have out-grown that song now and just can’t listen to it. Someday Someway and 25 minutes are two numbers that I keep humming usually. Wild Women is a philosophically cool number but Paint My Love sucks, big time.

Great memories of my first Sony CD player and MLTR CDs. For now, someday is the one on the hotspot.

In my search for freedom
And peace of mind
I’ve left the memories behind
Wanna start a new life
But it seems to be rather absurd
When I know the truth
Is that I always think of you
someday someway…