Maestro Ilayaraja who is known for his dream run of hits in Malayalam, this time comes up with mixed bag of numbers in Sooriyan. The album which is composed mostly of raga based numbers is more advisable for more serious music listeners except for a couple of songs.
1. Ishtakkari Singers Madhu Balakrishnan, Manjari.
The lyrics of the songs are by Gireesh Puthencherry. The potential chart buster which gives us a feel of spruced up version of Loosu penne of Vallavan in the opening lines. The songs have a lovely tune with rhythmic bass percussions and altered vocals. The song is based on a wonderful mix of Sudhha Dhanyasi and Abheri that make you dance to its tunes.
2. Shabdhamayee Singers: Kavalam Sreekumar, Sankaran Namboodri
Both these singers, who are bigger names in classical concerts, ease through another classical based song. The song is another unadulterated filmi- classsical which will cater to serious musicians. The song is based on ragavardhini.
3. Manase Manase Singer: Yesudas
It is set in Sarasangi-a very classical Ragam. The song, a soft melody is one of the highlights of the album which evokes deepest emotions and touches a chord, in the Overwhelming voice of maestro. The song and its percussion's have a touch of Rajasab's Oliyilae Therivadhu song.
4. Paattellaam Singer: Vijay Yesudas
The song is a medley of Carnatic and Western percussion's. The singer has tried o sound it different. The classical violin in first interlude of the song and electric guitar & classical violin in the second interlude are highpoint of the song, brightly mixing the best of classical and western.
5. Vasandha Nilaavin Singer: Madhu Balakrishnan
The glorious vocal of the singer and the prefect tune creates another feel good song. The pallavi has shades of Ilayaraja's own Tamil song, Naadam Ezhundhathadi from the film, Gopura Vaasalile, but the music director has forcefully managed to make differences in electronic percussions and rendering styles.
6. Ambe Vaani Singer : Yesudas
Set in raga Dharmavathi, the song is a complete carnatic treat from the soul stealers, the musician and the singer of international acclaim. Yesudas with his magnetic voice always gives his extreme best in these types of songs.
Sooriyan which is a film soaked in classical music telling the story of a family with two musicians, deliberately has to cater to the traditional beats and classical songs. The overall package created by the veteran composer doesn't excite more as a commercial hit. But the album may be real musical feast in this noisy musical era, to the lovers of classical and serious listeners of music, who realize the wonderful mixture of raga based compositions, put forth by the maestro.