Ilayaraja is back with a bang

The maestro is back, and Ram Gopal Varma is the man responsible .

While Ramu's new Shiva may have drawn brickbats from audiences, Ilayaraja's background score is one to marvel at. The Tamil version Udayam offers much scope for fast beats and loud orchestration, but the master has steered clear of temptation and struck a chord with mood music and harmony tying the theme together. This is truly a refreshing listen.

The album has six tracks starting with Solvatharkku, a pulsating, rhythmic love duet evoking nostalgia. Sung by Tippu and Manjari, Pazhani Bharathi's lyrics and Ilayaraja's music catch the subtle moods and expressions of the young lovers. And even with a simple, smooth flow, the music can't be called mushy.

The following Ezhuunthu va is an attempt to instill patriotic zest in the youth. The instrumentation is appropriately vibrant in this song, a wake-up call to rise like a stormy wave and rewrite history. The effervescent tune suits the lyrics, while the orchestra never overwhelms the words. Vijay Prakash has rendered the number with youthful vigour.

In Enge nam desam poguthu, the mood is different. It is a lament over the sorry state of affairs in our society and the helplessness of the masses with little hope for the future unless there is another kurukshetra. The maestro himself has rendered this composition, and the brooding melancholy of his voice is ideal to convey the despondent lyrics.The haunting track grows on you in retrospection.

Oru nal malayil sung by Shreya Ghosal and Vijay Prakash depicts the sunny side of love. It has an old world charm. Shreya sings with gay abandon, transporting you to the golden era of singers like S Janaki.

Then comes En nenjin ragam enge, all about the pangs of separation. Shreya's soulful rendering does full justice to the expressive notes, and the singer deserves applause for managing near-perfect Tamil diction. Ilayaraja has masterfully blended both Indian and Western instruments and deftly incorporated a violin in the background, adding to the pathos.

The last number Police police is a satiric indictment of the police force effortlessly rendered in a lighthearted vein by Tippu and Manjari. A racy piece, it will satisfy those who fancy their songs fast and fun. The lyrics are simple and the masses can easily empathise with them.

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