Kadali (Telugu) - Audio Review

Movie: Kadali (Telugu)

Production: Mani Ratnam, Manohar Prasad
Cast: Arjun, Arvind Swamy, Gautham Karthik, Lakshmi Manchu, Thulasi Nair 
Direction: Mani Ratnam 
Music: A. R. Rahman 

Lyrics: Vanamali (Dr. Mani Gopal)

Mani Ratnam has kept his fans waiting for almost 3 years after his last film Raavan which didnt fare well at box office. People started waiting for a good film from him. And finally his upcoming film starring Gautam (Actor Karthik's son) and Tulasi (the younger daughter of Radha) has been titled as Kadali in Telugu. The film's Tamil title is Kadal, which means 'The Sea'. 

The film is set in the backdrop of a fishing village and most part of the film has been shot in a village near Tuticorin and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. After a long time Arvind Swamy who acted in Maniratnam's Roja and Bombay is acting again in this movie in a special role. Arjun and Lakshmi Manchu are also playing vital roles in this love story. 

A R Rahman took charge of the music department and Rajiv Menon is the cinematographer. After a long time ManiRatnam is doing another movie with Love as subject, the last being Madhavan, Simran starrer Amrutha back in 2002. Its been long time that Mani Ratnam has given a hit at box office, and everyone including his fans are waiting for a decent hit from him. His recent movies, Raavan, Yuva and Guru were not successful at box office.

With ManiRatnam and AR Rahman working togather, obviously the expectations will be high as they never failed togather in terms of music. Rahman always gave his best to Maniratnam. And Maniratnam's films always had top class music. His combination with Ilayaraja produced some un-believable hits. 

Rahman in 2011 has worked only one Indian movie (Rockstar) and in 2012 its 4 movies. Way way less than what he used to do. His last Tamil movie was in 2010 ( Enthiran ) which shows gradually decrease in Indian movies. He is working only for major productions both in South and North. Given fact that its been 2 years from Mani and Rahman, people are eagerly waiting to embrace the audio from the combination of these two technically brilliant artists. Need to see whether they are able to retain their magic touch or they are fading away...

This movie is made in Tamil and is dubbed in Telugu as Kadali. However movie will be released in both languages simultaneously. Rahman hasn't had success in doing direct Telugu movies so far. Since this is a Tamil movie, there will not be an issue so we can ignore this fact. Whenever there is such kind of dubbing movie, Rajashri had done great justice to keep the lyrical values in tact. This time Vanamali took care of lyrics. Vairamuttu has written in Tamil. Vairamuttu and AR Rahman had a great track record and it is assumed that they have repeated their track record. However Vanamali is not much heard for writing this kind of lyrics, need to see how he had done with this movie.

Rahman offers 7 songs, nothing much to mention about the singers as they have been in his team for earlier movies. The new names added were Shakthisree Gopalan ( Gunjukunna) , Abhay Jodhpurkar (Pachani Thota ) and Aaryan Dinesh Kanagaratnam ( Magidi )

1. Pachchani Thota........

Abhay Jodhpurkar, Harini

Rahman starts album with one of the beautiful starts of a song, acoustic guitar at the best, so soothing, subtle setting the mood right, taking the listeners somewhere, making them ready for a fantastic melody probably a romantic one. Maniratnam visuals for sure will be top notch to make this one of the best of the movie. Its been long time we heard such a smooth melody, Rahman master of orchestration adds rights instruments at right places to elevate this song to a different level. The interludes are the best. He rightly mixes the instruments and tunes makes listener to be lost in the tune. The pause between stanzas is just fantastic. This song can be visualized for a couple in love in a place for all by themselves and getting their best time in their life. Having said that this song lost the nativity because of the singers and the words. The lyricists didn't have right words in the song (I don't like blood in love songs to violent imaginations) and singers didn't sing the words perfectly there by taking away the greatness of Rahman. However this song is a treat from Rahman.

2. Chitti Jabili

Vijay Yesudas

An infant crying in the start of the song tells us that this is going to be a song that some one is trying to make baby sleep. Since its a male voice, it could be the father of baby. Vijay Yesudas took from where the ambience set by Rahman, slow and minimal instrumentation, Its been a while that we heard such Rahman who is so simple and brilliant. We need such Rahman, who touches us. I remember his "Kizhakku Seemayile" listening to this song. Vijay Yesudas is brilliant as a singer. Its a treat to listen Rahman the way he progresses from calmness to rhythms. The flute is again brilliant of course Rahman's favorite instrument. However again second in a row, the words are messed up. Thochunu got broke because of tune becoming To - chunu, like wise many words lost their existence either by not having stress when required or when not required having it. Another song probably is wasted by lyrics.

3. Gunjukunna

Shakthisree Gopalan

I heard this song in MTV un-plugged version by AR Rahman and Shaktisree Gopalan. This song was sung in Tamil. This version has been haunting ever since then. Shaktisree's voice was so naive, different and the way it was simple in that version showed that another promising album ahead in store for us. This song when heard in Tamil continued the feel, I anxiously looked at this song first when album is released and totally disappointed by Vanamali and Shaktisree. They both ruined such a fantastic song from Rahman. 

First lets talk about the song and then come to the issues. This song is so refreshing tune. What a beautiful melody from Rahman. Once again subtle instrumentation has been key for this movie. His accordion accompaniment is just fantastic. Another song with Guitar start, the singer starts refreshingly melodious. Rahman who is know for refining the song until he is satisfied, brings in so much details into this song, which is great to listen. He sings in interludes which brings in right emotions. Flute in interludes touches the heart.  Thanks Rahman Sir, for such a wonderful song.

Now coming to issues, this song has been translated word by word by Vanamali. Gunjukunna is unrealistic lyrical word in Telugu, then many comparisions like paalu, perugu, asa kurupu, raacha kurupu, doesn't fit the song. They are word to word translation of Tamil. Thereby he lost the nativity. Then singer who doesn't know Telugu literally killed the words. I cannot say what kind of damage they have done to this one of the best compositions from Rahman. I would suggest if anyone know Tamil go and listen to Tamil album, even if one doesn't know Tamil, just listen to MTV version.

4. Yele Yelle
A.R.Rahman

Rahman sings this song and completely contrast to what we have heard so far in this album. Everything is changed, the style, rhythm, pattern. The advantage of Rahman being global musician shows in this song. He mixes different styles of music so seamlessly, that this song is foot tapping, energetic and melodious. Sometimes it appears he has improvised a little bit but that doesnt matter. Everyone for sure will enjoy this peppy tune. Once again lyrics have been mess. It will appear that this sing is a foreign language song.

5. Yaadike

Sid Sriram

This song reminds the pattern of Ye Maya Chesave, But Rahman tried to experiment this song in a different style. These songs are tough to present, as everything has to be so perfect, the instruments, mixing, singing and the rhythms. Rahman not sure how much time he took for fine tuning this song. This song is not in the routine genre, an experiment that he has done and depends upon how people like it. Again this song appears as a foreign song.

6. Magidi Magidi

Aaryan Dinesh Kanagaratnam, Chinmayi, Tanvi Shah

3:33 minute song. Rahman at his best orchestration. Song on initial hearing sounds crazy. The techno beats, rap, mixed with repeating words doesn't appeal at all. But hold on this song will go crazy among the youth. This song in Tamil starts as Magudi meaning snake charmer instrument. Hero and Heroine saying I am snake you are charmer, I play to your tune. However in Telugu this has lost the charm.

7. Mamathe Neevule
Haricharan

This song goes with Christian background, as the lead is a fisherman who is Christian. The charm of this song is the chorus. I felt Haricharan could have done lot better. The chords progression is treat to listen. 

Pick(s) of the album: 1,2,3,4 - for 5,6,7 on repeated hearing. 

Rahman's tunes always are challenge for lyricists. The complicated tunes he gives is very difficult for lyricist to fit the words to the tune and make some meaning out of it. Mainly when they are done in one language, keeping the "Bhavam" for the scenes in another language is another big challenge. Since Vairamuttu's imaginations cannot be matched in Telugu, ( nativity issue ) carrying the word to word translation is a huge blunder. Since Rahman, Mani, and all involved in this movie don't know Telugu. Vanamali should have got the liberty and free hand to write the lyrics, but he himself being a non-resident of Andhra Pradesh and not much experienced in writing dubbing songs he messed up the lyrics big time. 

AM Ratnam started this trend of downfall of the lyrics for dubbing movies and the saga continues..Sorry for Maniratnam's team, for the great injustice they have done to the Telugu songs. Not sure why Maniratnam completely ignored to take care of Telugu songs. These songs are not for to be listened in Telugu. Songs completely lost their charm . The soul is lost and only the form is present. AR Rahman fans who can listen and understand Tamil, should easily ignore these Telugu songs and listen in Tamil. For the rest it depends on them whether they want to listen and like these songs or not. 

Rahman's Telugu fans will miss a good album to enjoy in their own language.

Coming to Music as such, Rahman songs most of time grow upon repeated hearing. He has reached a stage where he is global and his music reflects the same. Many global music patterns are seen in his music in this movie. This makes difficult to appeal entire range of audience. He showed some glimpses of early days Rahman and showed where he is today. Listeners will see this difference. He catered for both Rahman lovers ( who liked him in early stages and now ) thereby he proved why he is special to Maniratnam. Maniratnam got the help he wanted for sure. With the kind of story, this should be a visual treat hope Maniratnam doesn't disappoint. The lost touch between the two seems to be regained. 

Conclusion: In Telugu, just listen for Rahman, but if you want to Enjoy - listen in Tamil, as you wont be enjoying them if in Telugu, something or other will be bothering you.