Muniyandi...has rural flavour

The very name of Bharath's latest Tamil film from Metti Oli Thirumurugan -- Muniyandi, Vilangiyal Moondram Aandu -- catches your attention.

With lyrics penned by the prolific Vairamuthu, almost all the songs have a strong rural flavour, their intensity and tone varying only slightly. The stirring beats by Vidyasagar, however, lend energy to the tunes.

Kombuvitta kaalaiyenna ... starts off with a typical bang, thumping in your eardrums -- a mixture of nadaswaram and percussion. Extolling the virtues of Muniyandi, guardian deity and the soul of villages, Tippu's strong voice suddenly slips into romantic passages and softer tones. And then its back to detailing the antics of college-kids who escape from their headmasters. The lyrics remind you a little of the number Sakthivelu ... from Kovil. More often than not, the beats drown out the voice, which perhaps is the idea.

Pottakuruviyo... starts off differently enough with strains of guitar. Haricharan and Mahathi begin this romantic number in seductive tones. The lyrics leave you in no doubt about the rural flavour. A rather novel flute interlude reminds you of why you like Vidyasagar. And then it's back to the urumi and flute.

The director seems to have made a conscious effort to move away from standard romantic fare and it does catches your attention. But only just, because the tune wanders from seriously angsty to syrupy stuff. It would be interesting to see how this song is picturised.

Kodangi vanthirukken ... rendered by Manickam Vinayagam and Anuradha Sriram begins on a serious note and with the familiar rural refrain.  A sudden voice that barks in the Chandramukhi fashion is startles. Anuradha Sriram's voice quavers as usual, reminding you of Sivakami nenaippinile ... from Kilipechu Ketkava. The interlude takes you back to the snake-dances of yore. After this the pambai and urumi make an entrance.

Manicka Vinayagam's voice leaves you with goose-bumps. And then it's back to foot-thumping and wildly jigging beats. Though the number definitely seems to be a priestly ceremony calculated to drive away ghosts, there's something catchy about such elemental rhythms that sets your adrenaline pumping.

Kattippidikkum karadiya ... sung by Jeyamoorthy and Malathi Laxman morphs into the themmangu mode, with the male and female players beginning the eternal argument between man and woman. With the nadaswaram and percussion adding accompaniment, it follows standard notes and phrases.

Imayamalaiyum (Remix) ... is a potpourri of mixed notes from all the songs. This number, rendered by Praveen Mani, Tippu, Manickam Vinayagam and Jeyamoorthi is a brief mixture of sound, fury and rhythm.

Vidyasagar usually tries to give you something to listen to, no matter what the album is. This time, though he seems to have taken one or two standard notes and flipped them around, to suit the rural flavour. His talent for mix-and-match carries him through, but there's very little else.

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