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WHAT’S HOT l CHENNAI TIMES
FRIDAY 25 SEPTEMBER 2015
MUSIC
Praveen Tyagarajan
Anirudh is a very
chilled-out composer
Can you tell us about your musical influences?
I’ve a very eclectic choice when it comes to music.
I’ve always been a fan of Lata Mangeshkar; in fact,
I started singing her songs as a child. I also follow
Alka Yagnik and Shreya Ghoshal. Having stayed
in the US, I like country and R&B music too. I like
Carrie Underwood and am a fan of Beyoncé. I can
also say that travel has influenced the kind of
music I listen to. I love different languages and
genres.
When did you decide to move to Chennai?
I have been in Chennai from last July. I wanted to
be part of the music industry and become a vocalist. With a background in Carnatic and western
music, I thought it will be a good thing to move to
Chennai. My training in Hindustani music started after I moved here. I’m a student of AR
Rahman’s music conservatory and I also freelance
side by side. I’ve worked in several low-budget
films and music albums.
Didn’t you have any inhibitions before moving to
Chennai?
I knew that if I didn’t take the plunge, I will never
do it. I had spoken to a lot of people in the music
industry who told me that if I’m planning to take
singing seriously, then I should move to Chennai.
Even KJ Yesudas advised me to move to the city
when I had toured with him during his North
American tour. I have a lot of friends here who are
always there to advise me. I’ve lived independently before and I like adventures. I thought it will be
exciting to start fresh at an unknown place. I think
I like Chennai now and it likes me back.
Have you understood how the Tamil film industry
functions?
It is not easy. Things are very different from how it
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is in the US. One has to be at the right place
and time to get opportunities here. There,
you have to be at an established level and
you need to have good management. And of
course, the pay is also more. I’m still trying
to understand the music industry and how it functions. I am currently focusing on work and I’m
hopeful that more work will come my way.
Don-u Don-u Don-u is a hit. How does it feel to
get so much recognition?
I’m surprised and humbled at all the recognition
and praise. I’ve never worked on this genre and
this song was so new to me. I have always lent my
voice for songs on a high register (tone), and
have always associated my voice with western
and pop numbers. But this song is with low
tones and I have a very low pitch.
Nevertheless, it was a different experience and the song itself is so peppy
and addictive.
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Mutham Kodutha Maayakari
Kadhal Cricket
Don'u Donu'u Don'u
Yaendi Yaendi
Konjalaai
Kannala Kannala
You're My Darling
Yeya En Kottikkaaraa
Kaakaponnu
Innum Enna
Hey Umayaal
Siluku Marame
Dandanakka
Siru Nadai
Yennamma Ippadi
Bittu Padam Di
Lucka Maattikkichi
Thoovaanam
Naa Romba Busy
Strawberry
Last
week
My name was recommended to
Anirudh by Vijay Yesudas. I met him and
Dhanush and they were very apprehensive
about me singing the song because of my
American accent. They asked me, ‘Do you know
Tamil? Can you understand the language?’ In fact,
they spoke to me in Tamil most of the time when
we met. But then I gave the song a shot and they
were like, ‘Oh, not bad. The accent is not visible at
all!’ The style and lyrics of the song are very
unique and catchy. Anirudh is a very chilled-out
composer. Both Dhanush and he made it really
easy for me. They would share their opinion and
provide inputs while singing. We worked on the
song very quickly and smoothly.
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So, how do you plan to get rid of the accent?
Alisha
Thomas
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Peak
Song
Position Title
Kollywood: The album opens with a
melody — Yaendi Yaendi, sung by
Vijay and Shruti Haasan. The first
thing that strikes you about this
melody is that DSP has moved out of
his signature style. The casual rendition of Vijay and Shruti’s stylish voice
add flavour to the song while the soft
tune enhances its emotion. Already
popular among the masses, this one
is here to stay. Going by the looks of
the film, most parts of the film have
been shot in a forest. And, Jingiliya
evokes just that tribal flavour. The
song, rendered by Javed Ali and Pooja AV, sounds typical of DSP, but might work on the big screen.
Sottavaala by Shankar Mahadevan and MM Manasi
sounds more like a Telugu number. The tune is quite
catchy, and should translate well on screen with
Vijay’s expressions. This one is for the masses!
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Main Hoon Hero Tera
Afghan Jalebi ( Ya Baba )
Sarfira
Tung Tung Baje
Sapna Jahan
Sau Aasoon
Nachan Farrate
Tu Chahiye
Singh Aur Kaur
Lip To Lip
Bandeya
Mera Naam Mary
Selfie Le Le Re
Sun Saathiya
Mummy Daddy
Baaton Ko Teri
Dance Ke Legend
Welcome Back
Bhar Do Jholi Meri
Tutti Bole Wedding Di
Poor
— [email protected]
Average
Good
Kollywood: Desi Girl by
Silambarasan and Lakshmi
Menon has a mix of club and
local flavour. Simbu adds his
energy to the song, while
Lakshmi has adapted the
style very well. As far as the
tune is concerned, it is quite in
sync with today’s style. This
song is for the masses. Oh
Madhu by Anirudh has a funky
tune that is likeable. The composer has explored a wide range of elements in
the orchestration without moving away from the
essence of the song. It has a feel-good appeal
with Anirudh’s voice adding more pep. Our pick
of the album. Pudikkum by Shankar Mahadevan
and Shreya Ghoshal has a folk flavour. Thaman
has worked well on the tune bringing the folk
rhythm with a style. Though it reminds you of
Very Good
Hero
Phantom
Katti Batti
Singh Is Bliing
Brothers
Katti Batti
All Is Well
Bajrangi Bhaijaan
Singh Is Bliing
Katti Batti
Jazbaa
Brothers
Bajrangi Bhaijaan
ABCD 2
Bhaag Johnny
All Is Well
Hero
Welcome Back
Bajrangi Bhaijaan
Welcome Back
BANDEYA:
The promotional song for Aishwarya
Rai Bachchan’s upcoming film has the
actress looking like a goth goddess.
She is dressed in a gorgeous black
gown. The song has been shot against
a decrepit setting of building ruins so
the look and feel matches the theme
BEATS BUZZ
SAAHASAM — THAMAN SS, PRASHANTH MUSIC, ` 99
Mannavanae Mannavanae by Sooraj
Santhosh,
MLR
Karthikeyan,
Chinmayi and Anitha adds a royal
feel to the album. The song starts
with a bang and slowly evokes the
feel of pride and the orchestration
has grandeur. The composer has
tried to include different elements,
but this doesn’t translate too well for
the listener. The tune also could have
been more powerful. The title song
has already been ringing in our ears
for a while now. This song is solely
for Thalapathy fans to whistle and
hoot in theatres. Manidha Manidha is staple and formulaic — only the meaningful lyrics by Vairamuthu
and Tipu’s powerful voice help carry it through. DSP
has certainly changed his style for the ambitious Puli,
but the album is a case of hits and misses.
KADHAL CRICKET: Hip Hop
Tamizha chose singer
Kharesma Ravichandran for the
song after coming across some
of her covers on the net
Album
Title
REVIEWS
PULI — DEVI SRI PRASAD, SONY MUSIC, ` 125
Trisha Illana Nayanthara
Thani Oruvan
Maari
Puli
Yatchan
Thani Oruvan
Vaalu
Papanasam
Yatchan
Yatchan
Urumeen
Paayum Puli
Romeo Juliet
Urumeen
Rajini Murugan
Trisha Illana Nayanthara
VSOP
Romeo Juliet
VSOP
Strawberry
Best of Bollywood
songs for the week
ending Sep 19, 2015
How was it working with Anirudh?
Was Dhanush present during the
recordings?
I’ve never been able to explain this, but I somehow manage to sing with no accent when I’m
asked to sing a Tamil or a Hindi song. I think
learning Carnatic music really helped me master the art of imitation in any language. In
fact, all my friends keep wondering how
I do this.
— [email protected]
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Album
Title
³
A
Last Peak
Song
week Position Title
³
lisha Thomas, a playback singer from
Washington DC, has made Chennai her
home since from July. She began her training in Carnatic music at the age of five and has
also learnt western music as a young church
vocalist and piano student. A Malayalee, Alisha
received massive recognition after she sang Don-u
Don-u Don-u in Maari. She talks to What’s Hot on
her musical influences, her tryst with the Tamil
film industry, recording her chartbuster song and
working with Anirudh and Dhanush. Excerpts:
Best of Tamil
songs for the week ending
September 19, 2015
Outstanding
Maduraikku Pogathadi from
Azhagiya Tamil Magan in
some places, Shankar and
Shreya have packed this
song with their powerful
voices. Angry Bird by Mohit
Chauhan is a romantic song
and the singer has tried his
best to get the diction right.
But the song doesn’t really
impress. Sayang Ku by
Thaman SS and MM Manasi
has a local flavor. This song is strictly for the theatres as it doesn’t really please the listener.
Overall, Thaman has put in effort for this album
and has ensured that he keeps his usual Telugu
influences at a minimum. And, he’s also got
good singers for every song. A pleasant, little
surprise, this!
— [email protected]
Music legend Smokey Robinson asks Justin
Bieber to cover all his songs
hether it is Chris brown or
Edwin McCain, Justin
Bieber is marvelous in
singing other musicians’ covers
and now, a new request has been
dropped in his basket by Smokey
Robinson, who wants Bieber to
cover all his songs.
The American legendary singer
said at The Ivy after his meeting
with the 21-year-old singer’s new
hit What Do You Mean?’s music
producer, Poo Bear that he would
like the singer to cover not just one
or two, but all his songs, a website
reported.
Interestingly, as per the report,
Bieber is completely interested in
covering Robinson’s songs and is
finding it his pleasure.
ANI
Pics: Corbis
W
Justin
Bieber
Smokey Robinson