Heavy Rotation: A. R. Rahman (Part IV)

A continuation of Rahman's musical evolution...

Kannukku Mai Azhagu (Pudhiya Mugam) - What lovely lyrics by Vairamuthu, and what lovely singing by P. Susheela and Unni Menon! Ethereal!

Ennai Kaanavillaiye, Mustafa Mustafa, Thendrale, O Vennila, Hello Doctor, Kalluri Salai (Kadhal Desam) - Mustafa is that eternal friendship anthem, so catchy and unforgettable, while S.P.B. effortlessly amps up feelings of love and longing in Ennai Kaanavillaiye. Unnikrishnan, for his part, delivers the lullaby'ish Thendrale with aplomb. Also did you know that singer K.K. made his debut as a playback singer with College Style (Kalluri Salai) and Hello Doctor — crooning the Hindi and Telugu versions of the songs from Kadhal Desam — before making his entry into Kollywood with Strawberry Kannae from Minsara Kanavu?

Sax Lullaby, Title Theme Music (Duet) - Kadri Gopalnath's sax is almost divine!

Theendai (En Swasa Kaatre) - Where Carnatic music and sensuality blends to yield the ultimate eargasm!

Varaha Nadhikarai, Margazhi Thingal Allava, Mudhal Murai, Sowkiyama Kannae (Sangamam) - That Varaha... catapulted Shankar Mahadevan to fame notwithstanding, the fusion of folk and classical elements is trademark Rahman.

Aathangara Marame (Kizhakku Cheemayile) - Mano and Sujatha are their usual fabulous selves in this splendid ghatam-laden folksy melody.

Dekho Na (Swades) - Baba's Kichchu Tha gets a Bollywood makeover and sounds much better too.

Ranjha Ranjha/Kaattu Sirukki (Raavan/an) - It's interesting how the singers express the song differently in their own unique styles. If Javed Ali and Rekha Bhardwaj more or less adhere to the song's structure in the Hindi version, Shankar Mahadevan and Anuradha Sriram play around with it in Kaattu Sirukki, making it more addictive and lively.

Roja Solladi (Alli Arjuna) - I love this propulsive beat-heavy brass-leaning melody to bits, perhaps Chithra's lilting rendition has something to do with it.

Fanaa, Theekuruvi - Two diametrically different songs, one is a dance number and the other, a romantic ballad, yet the classical twist is nothing short of spellbinding. Theekuruvi also happens to be the only song which features acclaimed Malayalam composer Johnson singing alongside Harini and debutant Mukesh.

Marudaani, I Miss You Da, Taxi Taxi, Elay (Sakkarakatti) - Chinmayi is terrific in the genre-bending I Miss You Da, and Madhushree, likewise, aces the melodious Marudaani, while Benny Dayal and Blaaze are tailor-made for Taxi Taxi's catchy reggaeton soundbed that recalls to mind Daddy Yankee's Gasolina.

Sahara (Sivaji: The Boss) - Although Chinmayi and Udit Narayan are exceptional in the dreamy, whimsical Sahana, this second variant sung by Vijay Prakash and Gomathishree is all the more minimalist and astounding.

Dil Ka Rishta (Yuvvraaj) - Too many cooks spoil the broth they say, but not Dil Ka Rishta. Sonu Nigam, Benny Dayal, Roop Kumar Rathod and a host of singers croon to perfection this stunning composition from Rahman. World music at its best!

Dil Se Niklegi, Jogiya Jogiya, Mahive Mahive, Mera Rang De Basanti, Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna (The Legend of Bhagat Singh) - A. R. Rahman expands on his sounds from Lagaan for a grand, orchestral effort that's by turns poignant, touching, and exhilarating. It's a confluence of diverse sonic elements, with the folky melodies and the classical-infused tunes layered against a phenomenal rendition from the singers involved.

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