You cannot keep a good thing bottled up for long. A R Rahman's Sillunu Oru Kaadhal is a good example.
The master of techno-orchestration and stylized melodies has shown fine form.
Rahman has used few fresh voices besides himself rendering a number with aplomb.
The thing about Rahman is his feel for lilt and rhythm. You get that in ample measure in Sillunu Oru Kaadhal.
Kummi Adi (Dr Siva Chidambaran, Swarnalatha, Naresh Iyer, Theni Kunjarammal, Vignesh)
A perfect beginning. Rahman lofts the first ball of the over for a huge six. Peppy beats and racy rhythms combined with open throated voice of Sirkazhi Siva Chidambaram make it a song worth listening to. Swarnalatha provides the soft touch. Mass number from the master. Quite typical to his style, Rahman has tried to give a westernized feel to the song. His expertise in mixing comes to light in this number.
Munbe Vaa (Shreya Ghoshal, Naresh Iyer)
Beginning with husky voice of Shreya Ghoshal, the song has minimal instrumentation and Rahman lets the romantic lyric do the talking. Steps in Naresh Iyer with his gentle voice. The combination is ethereal. Again vintage stuff. Provides the feel of sitting alone and enjoying a wet December morning. It touches the heart straightaway. Hats off, Rahman.
Maaza Maaza (SPB Charan, Shreya Ghoshal)
Yet another melody from Rahman. Dealing about the pangs of love, the song has heavy instruments but exudes a soft and stylized sound, thanks to Rahman's intelligent mix. With music and lyric going hand in hand, this number is worth listening to. The gentle voice of SPB Charan seamlessly mixes with Shreya Ghosal's soft voice and leaves a great feel for the audience. Rahman deserves praise for choosing the right combo to render this song which is filled with youthful exuberance.
Machakari (Shankar Mahadevan, Vasundhra Das)
A racy number with a western touch to it. Vasundhara Das begins with style while the ever-energetic Shankar Mahadevan sings within himself. The peppy beats and the good use of percussion instruments are the impressively striking features. Rahman is at a comfort zone when scoring music for such numbers. The quick change of rhythms is done in an excellent manner without affecting the momentum of the song.
New York (A R Rahman)
A song with weighted rhythms with Rahman himself at the helm. The song has a catchy ditty and an agreeable melody with western touch and soft lyrics. Rahman is on a good wicket and delivers a winner. The instrumentation, typically Rahmanesque, is splendid and the catchy rhythm stays with you right through. The singer in Rahman is equally impressive.
Maaricham (Carolisa, Mohammad Aslam, Krishna)
A brisk and a high-pitched effort, with Caroilsa touching the higher octaves quite easily. The guitar and the drums give the song a perfect lift. Giving her good company are Mohammad Aslam and Krishna. Watch out for Carolisa. The beats, and the rhythms accompany the lyrics well in this number. Rahman's good orchestration gives the song a special and singular identity.
Jillunu Oru Kaadal (Tanvil)
The title song of the album. Pick of the album for Rahman has taken enough care to ensure that it strikes the listeners. Vaali's touching lyrics combined with a groovy music are noteworthy. The song seemingly influenced by Jazz has Tanvil rendering it with rare felicity and feel. The chorus is very catchy and Rahman seems to have given a lot of thought behind the song for its the flesh and blood of the albu