Malayalam film songs have given much support to the mappila songs, by creating some of the greatest hits of the sixties and seventies. Starting from Baburaaj and K Raghavan who created popular hits of the genre like Kuttikuppayam and Karutha Kai, AT Ummar and KJ Joy also contributed much for the popularisation of mappila isals. And now in 2007, Ramesh Narayanan, the talented Hindusthani musician and Shahbaaz Aman have definitely cared enough to follow their precursors to create some of the notable tunes of the year for Mohanlal's Pardesy.
The film is a period one, set on the background of Malabar. It has a few songs, but each one gives you a different mood of the cultural existentia and originality of Malabar. Two songs in the album are set to music by Ramesh Narayanan while the rest is by Shahbaaz Aman.
1. Thattam Pidichu Valikkale--This is probably one of the best melodies heard in the recent times. Rendered with feel by Sujaatha, the song has soulful lyrics by Rafeeq Ahamed. The song stands apart from normal Oppana songs with its intense emotions.
A desolate, profound and compelling melody echoing the sentiments of the lead heroine's character who articulates herself with the ''Mailaanchy Chedy'' and ''Thottaavaady Thai'' is the theme of the song. Ramesh Narayanan has filled the romantic circumstances in a classically enriched melodious outcry.
2. Annandha Kanneerin--A different Qawaali number rendered in the voices of Sujatha and Manjary. In Malayalam, Qawaali in female voices is a rarity. The variety of the voices who have given their souls for the song, is a must feel for the genuine music lovers. The number is well versed and rhythmic in melody and is fabulously spirited.
3. Yara Dhuni Dhuni--This is a rarer but energetic composition by Shahbaaz Aman. Rooted deliberately in genuine styles of Malabar marriages of the sixties, the text uses the rare expressions of the decades associated with the marriage bands. This folksy number is rendered in fast styles by the hit specialist Vineeth Sreenivasan and M.G. Sreekumar with their distinct styles. Shahbaaz has tried to induce freshness on a folksy base for the song, which gives a feel of uncompromising authenticity.
The music of this Pardesy is quite special because in an age of remixes and fast food music, it stands out with its leisured pace and much forgotten flavour. Sure, it's no competition to its antecedents; still it earns points for being an opulent looking album with a fully committed soul.