Music Review: I (Tamil)

Composer(s): A. R. Rahman
Listen to the songs online here: Gaana

A. R. Rahman banks on heavy vocal processing in the addictive Mersalaayitten (remember Maram Kothiye from Anbe Aaruyire?), with Anirudh Ravichander's laidback singing style imbuing the song with a typical "Anirudh" touch despite it being very Rahman'ishly techno. Adiye singer Sid Sriram (additional vocals by Sunitha Sarathy) gets a similar soft-rock tune in the Nenjae Yezhu-like Ennodu Nee Irundhaal and the rousing harmony finds perfect backing in the wonderful chorus. Its other guitary variant, armed with an emotive voice from Chinmayi, works even better.

Ladio's (Nikita Gandhi) techno-pop doesn't quite land, but Rahman lures you back with an impressive concoction of techno, opera, bhangra and melody in the brilliantly orchestrated Aila Aila (Aditya Rao, Natalie Di Luccio). However it's the euphonious semi-classical melody Pookkalae Sattru Oyivedungal (Haricharan, Shreya Ghoshal) that emerges the soundtrack's highlight. A beautiful tune on the lines of Kadhal Anukkal, lyricist Madhan Karky unleashes his creative potential by playing with the word 'I' like only he can. I's techno-leaning music is less satisfying and more disappointing given the hype and hoopla. A serviceable commercial album nonetheless.

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