Tamil film Malaikkotai is a racy entertainer from Bhoopathy Pandian, the director of Thiruvilayadal-Arambam. Vishal is the protagonist with Priyamani as his love interest. Priyamani who won Best Actress Award for her performance in Paruthiveeran [Images] is an urban glamorous girl in this film.

Music score is by Mani Sharma.

The album kicks off with the usual intro type number Kantha Kadamba. It is all about a guy crazy for girls and dying to fall in love! Mani Sharma fails to impress inspite of adding fast beats, hip-hop and loud percussion. Lyricist Muthukumar goes overboard with his unpalatable lines -- the hero pleading with Lord Muruga to help him find a girl and win her hand the same way the Lord himself won the hand of Valli, for example. Incidentally this is the only track for which Muthukumar has penned the lyrics. Naveen's energetic vocals are the only saving grace of this drab track.

However the next romantic solo with fast beats, Uyire Uyire redeems the composer to a great extent. Yugabharathy's lyrics provide much relief after Muthukumar's wearisome Kantha Kadamba. Ranjith sings this melody track in an elegantly mellow fashion. Instrumental interlude with soft strains of guitar and trumpet, and a short rap are other highlights.

Rahul Nambiar's Oh Baby is the life of this album. Yugabharathy's lyrics, though in lighter vein, are adorably sweet. The guy, who is madly in love with his lass, addresses her in glorifying terms. When she wears a Kanchipuram 'pattu' sari, he feels, the honour goes to the sari, not the other way about! An inspiring tune, forceful percussion patterns with fusion of western and folk rhythmic beats, impressive instrumental passages with nadaswaram and trumpet strains, and Rahul's fast-flowing vocals make this an interesting foot-tapping number.

Yugabharathy again comes up with good lyrics in the next romantic solo Devathaye Va Va. But there is nothing extraordinary about Mani Sharma's composition. Vijay Jesudas' singing style makes him sound as if he is going into retrospect, especially when he goes into high decibels, as in his exotic Kadhal Vaithu Kadhal Vaithu from the film Deepavali. The instrumental prelude and interlude with veena and flute sequences are delightful.

A western style rendition of the earlier Uyire Uyire follows. Rita with her dulcet voice joins Ranjith in this duet version. But Ranjith's solo is more enjoyable. The composer has enriched this track again with guitar and trumpet passages and a short rap interlude.

The concluding number Ye Atha Athorama is a western style remix of a number from Payanangal Mudivathillai composed by Ilayaraja. Tipu in his usual vigorous style has rendered this, supported by Anuradha Sriram who sings in a lisping voice. Thumping drum beats and brief rap interlude add spice to this track. But it cannot hold a candle to the original.

In a nutshell, there is nothing stimulating about this album.

Rerdiff Rating: