Srikant Deva, music director of Tamil film Sila Nerangalil has a pleasant surprise up his sleeve. After a 13-year long hiatus, the veteran playback singer and original nightingale of the south P Susheela is returning once again to the playback arena with this film.

Sila Nerangalil, a thriller, also has a few firsts to its credit. It is the debut playback vehicle of TMS Selvaraj, son of T M Sounderrajan, one of the top playback singers of yesteryears. With this film, noted Malayalam director and four time National Award winner Jayaraj is making his directorial debut in Tamil. Vincent Asokan, son of veteran actor, the late Asokan, and villain of films like Pokkiri and Alwar is donning the hero's mantle for the first time in this film. Navya Nair is in the female lead.

Without resorting too much to any modern cosmetic frills, Srikant Deva's Sila Nerangalil offers a really enjoyable musical fare. Vairamuthu's meaningful and poetic lyrics also have contributed in a big way to the allure of the tracks.

The opening track Embavai Embavai, a seductively lilting melody high on sentiment rendered by Senthil Dass and Raesmi is the toast of this album. You can qualify this track only in superlative terms. Excellent hummable tune, splendid lyrics with quaint imagery and pleasing alliteration, great instrumentation, and super rendition stirring up tender emotions by Senthil Dass are the hallmarks of this number.

Senthil Dass's ear-caressing, well-modulated voice imparts feel and fervour. Raesmi has been sidelined to the chorus part. The number begins with an instrumental prelude and ends with the mandolin strains softly fading away. A sublime piece, which prompts you to go on the rewind mode.

The next piece Ponguthu Ponguthu rendered by TMS Selvaraj has also excellent lyrics, good rhythm and impressive instrumentation. Selvaraj with his deep voice is really a chip of the old block and shows great promise. Even his diction reminds you of his illustrious father. The tune, though a slightly reworked one (Pokkiri pokkiri�) evoking nostalgic flavour, still sounds original and is hummable.

Thirudapatta Nilavae by Haricharan and Chithra beginning with energetic drum beats is a heavy pulsating piece. Vairamuthu's lyrics are a testament of the undying love of the lovers. The composer has made an exception in this number and used modern sound designs like mild hip-hop chorus. Crashing down of instrumental notes makes the track highly powerful. But Chithra's voice goes unbearably shrill while trying to match Haricharan's spirited high decibels.

P Susheela's Pottu Vaitha, a ballad, has a retro feel. It makes you hark back to a bygone era when music was more voice than noise. Age has not withered Susheela's timeless voice and she sings with amazing ease retaining excellent diction. Vairamuthu's lyrics are simple yet poetic and the tune is pleasing.

The album comes to a close with Suchithra's sizzling and sensuous hot number Cell Phonai -- a racy and energetic piece the song sounds like an item number. Suchithra infuses life into it with her powerful rendition. But the lyrics get drowned in the accompanying sound and fury.

A really fascinating piece of work from Srikant Deva.

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