Kochadaiiyaan Music Review

Engae Pogudho Vaanam

Voice: SP Balasubramaniam
Lyrics: Vairamuthu

All of the five minutes of the first track could be summed up in a phrase - majesty at its best. Opening with grand reverberating orchestra, launching SPB's voice in grandeur, the first song of the album is a soulfully worded praise for the king of kings. There is majesty in every note, with the constant rise and boom of orchestra, with extensive use of strings at every level. The chorus hum in the background add to the magnum opus of the song, elevating the fab of the mood to a great height. While the lyrics are an inspirational order in the first stanza, with the confidence of success, in the second stanza they transcend to the assurance of indespensability, come what may, going on to praise the princely king further. While the background score is an inviting lovely experience, it gets even better in a piece of distinct musical rapture bordering on foot tapping melody, after the second stanza. Speaking of the promises of His Majesty, the third and fourth stanzas are worded of the goals of the kingdom, concluding to a round of appreciating claps and climaxing in the trumpets singing praise for ever after. In simple terms, AR Rahman, SP Balasubramaniam, Vairamuthu and Rajinikanth - need we say more?

Medhuvaagathaan

Voices: SP Balasubramaniam, Sadhana Sartgam
Lyrics: Vaalee

Following the majestic number is a subtle and soft romantic duet, opening in Sadhana's mesmerizing voice. This song is special for multiple reasons and one of them is the lyrics of the legendary poet, Vaalee. The first two lines are sung against breeze of music, which then gathers beats in mrudangam, supporting a lilting melodious number. From the lyrics, it is can be gathered that it is the romance between the prince Rana and his love interest, which is celebrated in this melody, in the charming and soothing voices of SPB and Sadhana. Vairamuthu's lyrics are pristine pure Tamil, predominantly describing the handsome prince. The poesy has a bounce to its own, especially in the third stanza, while the purity of language makes it a sweet challenge, yet compelling to sing along. Tone of the song changes slightly towards a deeper shade in this stanza, and the song continues at the same pace to end in a soft, sweet melody.

Maattram Ondrudhaan Maaraadhadhu

Voices: Rajinikanth, Haricharan, Umashankar
Lyrics: Vairamuthu

Here's a surprise package! Everyone loves Rajinikanth - his flair, his acting and his style of language. 'Maattram Ondrudhaan Maaraadhadhu' brims with inspiring lyrics, in Rajinikanth's own voice! More than a song, this one is a recital of a compilation of motivating lines. It opens with encouraging lines in Superstar's voice, followed by trumpets to complete the regal feeling of the song. Beautiful orchestra runs in the background, which elevates the overall regal demeanour of the track. The song is all about people singing in praise of their leader who they adore, while the king himself is a humble man, unfazed by victory or defeat, and lives up to the duties of a king and of a normal human being. Poetic and motivational lines are narrated in Superstar's voice; between two recitals, there's song in Haricharan's voice. The song picks up in an all new vigour after the second recital, in majestic trumpets, followed by immaculate lyrics on poetic violins again. The song wraps up in a very unique fashion - mesmerizing jathi in Umashankar's voice, trailing off on breeze of BGM in the end.

Manapennin Sathyam

Voice: Latha Rajinikanth
Lyrics: Vairamuthu

Love is an undying promise in itself and the fourth track of the album is a romantic promise of eternal love, by the bride. In her own unique voice, Latha Rajinikanth has sung this number, which makes the package all the more special. Protective, careful, innovative, selfless, loving, undoubting, caring - a woman can take various forms and play it all with perfection, and this song is about the promise of the beautiful bride, who assures to display all her virtues as a sincere wife. The song is set in the background of shehnai music and gentle beats, with Latha's sweet voice playing perfectly with the beautiful lyrics, making it a soothing romantic melody, and also gives the feeling of a wedding in progress. Background score and the lead voice compliment each other in a beautiful lilting sweet melody, making it a lovely package that every woman would willingly offer as her own promise to her loving husband. The melody ends in softly playing shehnai and gentle taps.

Idhayam

Voices: Srinivas, Chinmayee
Lyrics: Vairamuthu

After four up-beat songs, this offers a change in mood as a serious number, on a melancholic note. Musical score in the song swings and sways between soft melody and rolling beats, signifying the emotion in sheer perfection. The song opens in Chinmayee's voice with a couple of lines in pure Tamil and drags on, establishing the feeling of loss in the clear and then rolling to a sudden question. The complete package sounds typical of an aggrieved woman torn between feeling lost and her anger thereof, questioning the injustice. Poesy is an adorable yet complicated pure Tamil with a good share of ancient words thrown - this one is sure to get you to scout in the dictionary for the meaning of many words. Every time she questions why she has to suffer and why her hero abandoned his duties, there is response from the man, who sounds cornered for a mistake he did not intend. Srinivas's voice completes the package of this unique song, in his rendition that carries the right emotion on each note. The woman questions again, against rolling beats and the man responds that he will keep up his promise - all in pure Tamil words. The song ends with the woman's verdict of undying and unconditional love for her man, irrespective of her loss.

Engal Kochadaiiyaan

Voices: Kochadaiiyaan ensemble
Lyrics: Vairamuthu

The battalion is ready for the war, and they hail the king with this song of praise and motivation. 'Engal Kochadaiiyaan' is typical gathering of an army of loving and faithful citizens, for the king they adore and worship. The entire nation gathers to praise their lord and motivate him for a probable war, in this song. But this song stands out from the regular ones of this genre, in its uniqueness of a contemporary touch. The song, in fact, begins on an electronic note, and opens on the rustic yet lively calling out to the king. There is chenda and mattalam in their traditional fashion, and there are also electronic guitar notes, making the song a perfect blend of ancient and contemporary. Praise to the king flows in awe inspiringly pure Tamil, in highly complicated adjectives of appreciation. With all the praise, the nation surrenders in worship to the king they love - the almighty Kochadaiiyaan. After two stanzas, the second half of the song is only music. With trumpets adding the royal touch, the score is rich in adrenaline; in the minor details, the sound of swords clanging against shields is also simulated, and you can almost see a historic war gearing up, in your imagination.

Manamaganin Sathyam

Voice: Haricharan
Lyrics: Vairamuthu

We've heard the bride's promise and here comes the groom's counterpart for his loving wife. Tune of the song is unchanged from 'Manapennin Sathyam' but the lyrics have been altered beautifully to celebrate womanhood from a man's perspective. He is the royal prince, responsible and protective; but at heart, Rana is also a man who loves his heroine endlessly. As a romantic lover, he adores every little detail of his lady love and promises poetically to be the faithful loving husband, who would selflessly sacrifice himself for her happiness and longevity. Lyrics are penned beautifully, describing every little detail in its own fashion of high regard, and are highly descriptive. Though the fundamental tune is same as the female version, there are slight variations in the background score, especially the usage of shehnai, in 'Manamaganin Sathyam'. In all, this is a song that every man will lovingly promise to his soul mate.

Karma Veeran

Voices: AR Rahman, AR Reihanah
Lyrics: Vairamuthu

The last track begins with an English touch on a pleasant opening in Reihanah's opening notes, followed by AR Rahman's voice praising the almighty king. The ups and downs in trumpet are beautiful, pleasant and rejuvenating. This song is self motivation to the king, who is required to be unfazed by fluctuations between victory and failure. As a human, he is to be humble and sincere. Lyrics speak of the duties of a king who has the pride, but not the ego, of being the worshipped leader. It reminds the king to keep calm and ensure his feet on ground, irrespective of his unmatched success, and also prepares him for the forthcoming challenges. Beats are reverberating yet not thumping, but a soothing touch while maintaining majesty, which gets even more regal with the chorus. After a roll of beats, the song changes tempo and pace, yet maintains its consistency of motivation. Following the chorus, the lyrics are backed by violins, which taper off in subtle yet fast paced notes that shoot up in pitch to join in the chorus again - this transition is a magical, musical travel. Following the heavy orchestra, Rahman's rendition takes an interesting twist. The song travels through upbeat notes to end softly in gentle strums.

The mighty king is on his way in a first-of-its-kind film and the welcome to him has been perfected in the music with royal touch in nine tracks - eight beautiful songs and an instrumental 'Rana's Dream' by London Session Orchestra. It uses pure Tamil and complicated adjectives, making it sound historic and rustic. Yet, it is also kept simple and straightforward in tunes and contemporary in music with modern touches to the royal story. Given that 'Kochadaiiyaan' is a graphic entertainer, this music will well suit the screenplay, and is also a soothing album independently. Now, we can't wait to watch the king in action!