Ayan Music Review

Nenje Nenje…
Vocals: Harish Raghavendra, Mahati
Lyrics: Vairamuthu

Pleasing lyrics for this duet and sung with such fine articulation by both. Conceived on the Natabairavi scale, this song has delicate string sounds, especially violin and guitar built into it. Is that the clarinet that sounds along with the violins 3 minutes into the song? Wispy sangatis! And when the lady goes ‘deham malaraagum’, the flute stylishly goes ‘dha ni ga ri sa’. But at the end of it, you somehow feel the rhythm is too rigid for the mood of the song.

Now, is this a sequel to ‘Dhikku Dhikku’? Strong rhythms and synthesizer sounds that vaguely make you recall Afro-American music. But interestingly conceived and an unconventional voice. Has the song been shot in an exotic locale? Lyrics drip with seduction.

This number shines for Karthik’s fine vocals, good tabla work, very stylish use of harmonica sounds that go ‘sa sa sa sa sa ni—pa, pa ni dha pa’, and the creative blending of ganjira, hand claps and female vocal humming that adds a certain teasing quality to the piece. A song of yearning whose rhythms make you recall some snatches from his own ‘Vaaranam Aayiram’. But likely to be relished as it is well put together. Looks like the Harikamboji scale is used.

Another offshoot of ‘Adiye Kolluthe’ inspiration? Anyway is quite trendy and it is great to see Chinmayi rise to the demands of such a piece. The violins, guitar and other string sounds have been carefully airbrushed into the song, as the rhythms override them all. Could catch the fancy of youngsters if picturised well.

Harris Jayaraj’s crafting is elegant as ever. But what disappoints us here slightly is that the songs have influences of his earlier albums here and there, which could have been avoided. Harris does have it in him to give us many more ‘wah wah’ numbers.