Vinnaithaandi Varuvaaya

A.R Rahman has done it again. I just don't know how he does it. But he has done it again. I've been listening to the song 'Aaramole' from his latest album 'Vinnaithaandi Varuvaaya'(Will you cross the skies and come to me).Over and over and over...

I heard the album when it was released around first week of Feb 2010 and some how I missed listening to this particular song. The other songs were moderately decent. But more on those later.

So imagine my surprise when this song came out when watching the movie. It literally grabbed me from my seat. Ofcourse that was weeks ago.

But today listening to it on repeat it just kept getting better after every listen. And that really has been Rahman's power. The power of his music to draw you in and mesmerize you completely.

The song starts off like an ode to Pink Floyd, with strains of 'Wish you were here' but then this literally unknown singer Alphons Joseph, comes on and takes the song to a different level. Rahman introduces the mantra like chant/chorus in the background (Shusti Shusti..), verses in Malayalam and Sanskrit, merging together, and violins and drums, carnatic classical and hard rock, mixing and mingling like long lost lovers. And all the while Joseph pours his heart out and hits the high notes with his gifted voice taking us all on a sublime journey. Phew!

Hosana - Another good song from the same album. A more melodic number, which has become a staple of Rahman. But nonetheless a good listen.

Vinnaithaandi Varuvaaya - Theme song. Reminded of Coldplay solo song. But an interesting counterpoint to the other songs in the album. Minimal arrangements with the singer vocal modulations being the focal point.

Omana Penne - Nobody brings together Carnatic and pop music together like Rahman. That was what drew me to his music from the beginning. And he does it well here again although the results are more on the melodic side. But the saxophone bits are splendid.

But Aaromale is the crowning glory. And now with the risk of listening ad nauseum, I must with great reluctance, turn off the repeat function for this glorious piece of music. Or maybe after the next one..

Here is the youtube version of the Aaromale song. The others can be found on the side bar.



I truly wonder if music is an universal language and if all people could appreciate this song like I could.

Nav