The Tamil version 'Kuselan' is simultaneously remade in Telugu as 'Kathanayakudu'. In fact 'Kuselan' in itself is the remake of a Malayalam film 'Kadha Parayumbol'. However, it is learnt that the director of 'Kathanayakudu' chose to improvise the Super Star's role in a much larger way keeping Rajanikanth's image than the original. Hence there is no surprise that most of the songs were in praise of the hero and made the audience to believe as one the reasons for the title justification.
Though the impact of AR Rahman could be clearly seen in his nephew's tunes, one could find his own style by giving a tune which is equally acceptable to both Tamil and Telugu versions. At times, some bits in tunes, remind us the songs in films like 'Oke Okkadu and Gentleman'.
Lyrics by Veturi, Ramajogaiah Sastry and Ananta Sriram were perfectly suited to the tunes making the audiences question themselves whether the songs were first tuned in Telugu or Tamil. Moreover, the songs rendered by top class artistes like Shankar Mahadevan, Hariharan, Kailash Kher, Daler Mehendi, Chitra, Shreya Ghoshal, Sadhana, besides Sujata, Prasanna were quite melodious and surely the album has the chance of reaching the top three in very few days.
Cinema Cinema
Artiste: Shankar Mahadevan
This number seemed to be the theme song / title song and it could be the introduction song of Rajanikanth, who plays really a film hero (real life role) in the film. The song was penned in such a way to explain about film and film making and the merits and demerits in the film industry. The lyricist being attached to the film industry for several years was able to explain about the film industry. As the song had lyrical value, the music director might have chosen to give scope to the lyric than filling it with music. However, he utlised the interlude time very well. The music lovers could easily identify the impact of AR Rahman to certain extent and at the same time, he maintained his own style by mixing Illayaraja kind of melody in the song.
Vatche Vatche Vaana
Artiste: Shreya Ghoshal
This song appears to be a situational song. The number begins with music of rain and frog noise etc. Soon it turns a little fast number and very youthful. Shreya Ghoshal's voice filled the needed melody in the song. Music Director Prakash needed compliments for honoring the singers' talent without filling in unnecessary music to snub the voice. This made the lyricist to use his literary talents in scripting fantastic lyrics to all the songs. Especially use of very common words in a song lifted the tempo in the song. No doubt, it would remain yet another good song on 'Rain' theme. Traditional instruments like guitar, violin, drums, flute, electric guitar and bass guitar and were aptly used by the music director.
Challe Challe
Artists: Hariharan, Sujatha
This number was tuned in complete melody. The song begins with guitar and ghatam sounds. It appears a duet between the hero and heroine. The tune is in folk song manner as the background songs is the chirping of birds, with light drumbeat coupled with flute bits. Guitar interludes along with bits from key board enhanced the theme of the song. However, the ghatam sound continued to remain in the background. The use of guitar bit before the second stanza is worth listening. The second stanza talks about share market and the sweet and diabetes, which means the couple returned from the city to village. The use of flute in the interludes between the second stanza are also worth listening.
Ra Ra Ramayanna
Artists: Kailash Kher, Prasanna
This number was tuned in a mass beat. Especially the initial music indicates that style of a Sikh's folklore kind of music, followed by traditional drum (dappu) music indicates some other. The humming indicates another kind of folklore beat. The song also penned in praise of a hero and his heroic deeds. The wavelength of music director, the director and the lyricist appear to be in right sync and all the songs had good lyrical values. However, the music director also made use of traditional instruments instead of going for extravagant instruments.
Om Zaarare.
Artistes: Daler Mehendi, Chitra, Sadhana Sargam
This number filled the void that the music director ignored the western instruments in his album. He used several western musical instruments and different humming in the backdrop. Some how, he could not ignore use of traditional instruments and took their help in the last stanza. He chose to use one of the Tamil musical instrumentsm which sounds like a mridangam of Carnatic music, with a different sound.
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