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Sudum Nilavu - Thambi (Vidyasagar, Tamil)
Fantastic reinterpretation of Reetigowlai. Great lyrics too!

Nuvvena - Ram (Yuvan Shankar Raja, Telugu)
Poppish & catchy, despite the resemblance to Rahman’s ‘Anarkali’.

Thayyatha Thayyatha - Thiruttu Payale (Bharadwaj, Tamil)
Beautiful Charukesi base…lilting & evergreen!

Ai Meri Zohrajabeen - Phir Hera Pheri (Himesh Reshammiyya, Hindi)
Himesh at his recent nasal, catchy best.

Teri Deewani – Kailasa (Kailash Kher, Hindi)
What Kailash can do beyond those now-predictable vocals!

Kangal Theduthe - Manathodu Mazhaikkaalam (Karthikraja, Tamil)
Karthikraja is back with a bang! Very innovative.

Nilavai Sutri – Madhu (Ilayaraja, Tamil)
The Master pulls out a winner – youthful, classy!

A touching love story that uses time travel as an excellent plot device, Audrey Niffeneggar’s debut novel is exceptionally charming. You completely fall in love with Henry and Clare and may naturally start wondering as to who would look appropriate in those roles in a movie version. Jude Law and Kate Hudson, perhaps? Despite being about a sci-fi subject like time travel, you take away a lot of lessons on loving the moment and the person you’re with at that moment and how the effects of time affects your perception of both. A must read of lovers of good fiction.

Keywords: Audrey Niffeneggar, Henry DeTamble, Clare Abshire, Chicago, Time Travel

Shabe firaq and Ghoomar are clearly from the older part of Himesh’s tune bank - outdated & monotonous. Considering Dil vich lagiya has already been carpet-bombed via numerous mediums, you do warm up to the catchy track instantly. Akruti Kakkar impresses too! Aaya Re for most parts is predictable but for Kunal’s spirited vocals. Vijay Yesudas makes a surprise entry, singing like his dad, in Tumhi se, but the tune is from the yore, and is a bore. Finally Himesh gets creative with Mausam Hai that also gains from Sonu’s vocal verve! Another one-hit track album from the nasal wonder!

Keywords: Himesh Reshammiya, Shahid Kapoor, Neha Dhupia, Kareena Kapoor, Priyadarshan, Paresh Rawal, Suniel Shetty

Since our nation has by now learnt to live with Himesh’s nasal wonders, Yaad sataye sounds pretty good, with relaxed rhythms and catchy hooks. So does Ai meri zohrajabeen, with a more pulsating sound! The power of reinforcement, I presume! The title song is best left for the credit rolls. Pyar ki chatni has the quintessential 80s folk sound and is very very predictable. While Dil naiyyo merely carries Himesh’s non-filmy pop sound, Dil de diya, with its borrowed prelude and a completely jaded tune fails to deliver. And so the Himesh juggernaut rolls forward with 2 more ear-friendly tracks!

Keywords: Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Paresh Rawal, Rimi Sen, Himesh Reshammiya

Aayiram vaanavil has that S A Rajkumar tone but for the interludes that define Karthikraja’s musical prowess. Kangal theduthey with its innovative opening, rhythms and a catchy tune impresses instantly. That both these tracks have a strong raga base helps in their appeal. Pani vizhum and Unakkum Enakkum, with their more-than-adequate hip appeal, harks back to Karthikraja’s happier Ullasam times. Welcome to however sounds more like Yuvan’s recent Telugu output. A movie with Shaam in the lead may not be really happening, but if this music doesn’t get Karthikraja and the film some exposure, I’m not sure what else will!

Keywords: Shaam, Karthik Raja, Yuvan Shankar Raja, Manadhodhu Mazhaikkaalam

Trademark Karthikraja rhythms galore in Kattabomman and Arai adi thoorathil. While the former is predictable, Arai adi is extremely interesting for its varying tempo, interludes and pattern. Nalaai indha kaalam carries forward Ilayaraja’s legacy in its tune and interludes. Idhi maayalogam with an ingratiating Malgudi Shuba seems like that mandatory, forced item number. Oru maatram, with its captivating flow and some mesmerizing orchestration, reminiscent of Raja, is the pick of the album! Its unfortunate that Karthikraja reserves his better stuff for lesser-known productions while he seems uninterested in compositions for relatively bigger productions like Mercury Pookkal. Definitely deserves a hearing!

Keywords: Karthikraja, Karthik Raja, Ilayaraja, Yuvan Shankar Raja