Producer : G Venkatesh
Director : Suhasini Manirathnam
Cast : Arvind Swamy, Anu Hassan, Nasser
Music and BG Score : A R Rahman
Lyrics : Vairamuthu
Very seldom does a woman centric scripts fall under the hands of A R Rahman to
score the music. The debutant director ,Suhasini Manirathnam made this possible
by joining hands with ARR for the very first time. She, till date, remains the
only woman director who could sign in ARR for her flick. Based on the character
named "Indira", the movie depicts the fueds within the neighbouring villagers
and also a soft romance blossoming amidst all the disputes. Anu Hassan plays
the protagonist, while Ratnam's favourite Arvind Swamy plays her love interest.
Nevertheless to say,the movie bombed at the box office and could not rake in
any moolah! However, as always the only name that worked Big time in context
with this movie is Mr. A R RAHMAN!!! His magical touches to any venture would
uplift any mediocre stuff to unimaginary heights! Indira is the best quote one
can make as a proof to the statement.
Ini Achham Illai | Anuradha Sriram, Sujatha, Swetha, GV Prakash, Esther
Feeling low with some sorrow covered over..? Tune to this song and you get
all your zeal and passion back!!! This seems to be the message that song
carries over.! A very energetic thumping score starts with some melliflous
lines by Anuradha "Vidiyaadha Iravendru..." accompanied by the kids in "Illai
illai.." which kind of comes across as a confidence booster! And then
,suddenly,a drum beats wakes up our senses and groove to the tune.
Swetha(daughter of Sujatha), G V Prakash (Nephew of ARR) are the two lucky kids
to have worked with the Legendary musician at such tender ages! Sujatha, with
her sugary rendition, makes a very good presence in the song. The carnatic
music excellence shown by Anuradha Sriram towards the end is remarkable. She
reaches the highest note effortlessly and registers in our mind.!
Munnerudhan | TL Maharajan, Swarnalatha, Chorus
"Yelalangadi Yelaalo.."...this is catch line for the song. This song is
quintessentially based on the nature of mother earth and ARR expresses his love
to nature in this folkish small piece bit song. TL Maharajan, a renowned folk
singer makes his trademark presence felt and Swarnalatha, owing to her
adaptablity to any genre, makes her cameo in an efficient way. This song could
be topping the list of the smallest song composed by ARR with the duration
lasting upto a mere 2 mins. Short and sweet piece..!
Odakkara Maarimuthu | SPB, Seergazhi Chidambaram
Time for some masti while on the move..! The picturisation of this song shows
Arvind Swamy returning back to his village after his studies and meet his long
time friends. This entire song backs on the enquiries about well being of his
childhood fetishes and crushes. Its so naturally composed that rural people can
instantly get connected to! Many urbanites may need little time to involve into
this. SPB is made to sing with full enthu and jest!. Seerghazhi Chidambaram's
witty lines brings in some laughter. Particularly the line "Poosanikka Vayir
Vaangi Tirumbi Vandaale...". The interludes are made simple and earthy. Flutes
and pianos backed with a great rhythmic beat goes on very easy to the
listener's ears..!!
Nila Kaaigiradhu | Harini
Singer Harini made a sensational entry to the world of film music through this
brilliant masterpiece composition. ARR, has always had his instincts in
selecting his singers perfectly right, this one being just an instance. A 16 or
17 year old singer with her strong classical backings got a mighty break in her
life right at the debut stage, all thanks to the belief ARR had in her. She
begins with a great aalap in a voice sounding more younger than her age. Her
classical expertise is clearly made visible by the freedom which ARR has given
her. Mridangams are at their sounding best whenever ARR tries his hands on
them!The soothing swaram recitals by the chorus, the sudden aalap by Harini
makes the interlude heavenly!! One only wishes that we could have heard of more
charanams and have a prolonged peace mind!!
Nila Kaaigiradhu | Hariharan
What more we all want when we get what we desire..?!! ARR quenches our thirsts
and yearnings of wanting more of Nila Kaaigiradhu in Harini's version. While
Harini went more classical way, Hariharan's version go very soft and melliflous
which at times reminds us of the mighty pathos created in the same combo of
ARR- Hariharan in the earlier "Uyire.." from Bombay! This version passes of as
a great relief to all our stresses and overcome all our sorrows for once!
Absolute pious and retreat!
Thoda Thoda | SPB, Chitra
A Milestone, an anthem, a history creator, a gigantic lovey - dovey
duet......such testimonies can't make any justice to such trend setting
creations. Anything and everything about this song is an absolute wonder and a
treasure to preserve! There have been many duet songs which became timeless
classics lingering always in peoples minds.! "Thoda Thoda" necessarily belongs
to such category and stands tall for me..! I adore this songs as much as i
adore anything in my life!! Roping in the stalwarts SPB and Chitra ji as duet
singers is in itself a major success for the song and adding this if its AR's
magic at the tunes,its nothing short than a trip to paradise and back! ARR's
whistling made it completely for the first interlude. Have u ever heard of a
complete interlude being used as a whistle anytime before? Not many,
right..?!And nobody knew this whistling was by ARR until SPB famously qouted
this in one of his concerts..! Simply magical!!! The second
interlude has been left to Naveen to haunt with his jet speed Flute tunes
followed by magical voilins to show some pathos effect. The amazing vibes that
Chitra and SPB share between them is simply resplendent!!
For those who couldn't extract the sugary juices from "INDIRA" yet, please
revisit them through your hearts!! I am sure you would jump with joy..!!!
