The problem with the music of Kochadaiiyaan is that it has flashes of brilliance and suddenly, you plunge into a canyon of seriously heart-breaking songs. The one good thing is that these low elements are few and overall, the album is a good attempt at popular music with a difference. AR Rahman joins hands with lyricist Irshad Kamil yet again for this one.
Actors: Rajnikanth, Deepika Padukone, R Sarathkumar, Shobana, Jackie Shroff and Nassar
Music: AR Rahman
Lyrics: Irshad Kamil
Aye Jawaan has Rahman singing along with his sister Reihanna. This stirring song, on the lines of Azaadi from Bose – The Forgotten Hero, has some amazing use of slow drum beats intermingled with the chorus and the latter soars high as the song continues. Rahman’s voice is perfect and Reihanna’s unusual voice is something. It is followed by a soulful romantic duet Dil Chashpiya – the best tracks. Slow piano tune mixes with Jonita Gandhi’s voice and then Arjit Singh turns the song into a treat to hear, with an unusual rendition. One loves the fusion of drums, violins and trumpets with tabla and mridangs. Arjit and Jonita render the duet beautifully.
Bol De follows the Aye Jawan path, but has a heavy electro music sound. This one can boast of the superb use of chorus and Rajni sir’s voice comes in with dialogues. There are two versions of Vaada Vaada. The female version has Shashaa Tirupathi lending Carnatic singing touch, mixed with western instrumentation. Shashaa’s voice has a calming effect. The male version has Rahman’s favourite Karthik and is much better thanks to the singer’s honey glazed voice. But Mera Gham has nothing to cheer for it and is a criminal waste of talented singers like Shreya Ghoshal and Javed Ali.
Thandav is an engaging war cry song again with excellent use of the chorus. One is impressed with the unusual fusion of trumpets, bass guitar, chenda, and dhols and so on. It resembles the Lagaan theme. You go into a trance with the instrumental Rana’s Dream. Its subtlety grows on you. The last song happens to be medieval European music inspired song Aaya Khwaab Ka Mausam. The use of instruments like trumpets, timpani and violins is great while singer Raghav Mathur adds a bounce with his voice. Interestingly, he sounds very much like Javed Ali. Kochadaiiyaan is not the run-of-the-mill movie. AR Rahman never fails to keep standards high but even by his standard, the album is more ho-hum. Irshad Kamil’s lyrics are marvellous as usual.