Ramanujan Music Review
Cast: Abhinay Vaddi, Bhama, Abbas, Radha Ravi, and others
Director: Gnana Rajasekaran
Production: Srivatsan Nadathur, Sushanth Desai, Sharanyan Nadathur, Sindhu Rajasekaran
Music Director: Ramesh Vinayakam
Gnana Rajasekaran is back with one more biographical work. He recreated Bharathi and Periyar succesfully in the past, he is on his way to recreate the mathematical genius of this planet, Ramanujam. It is exciting to see, Abhivan Vaddi, the grandson of, Gemini Ganesan who is making his debut. There’s lot in store to look forward in this biopic.
Thuli Thuliyai – Ramesh Vinayagam, Vinaya
Do you stop skipping channels when you see a song from glorious 70′s? do you stop jumping stations when you hear a classical compostion from, P.B. Srinivas’s era? if your answer is yes, then, this song will sweep you off completely. The concept of time travel is absolutely possible with songs like these. Ramesh Vinayagam makes all the instruments to sound exactly how it would have sounded on a live orchestration during 60/70′s. The flute, piano, mirudhangam, ghatam all merges together to deliver a retro style melody. Vayadhil siriyaval.. valarum thalir ival.. migavum paduthudhu naanam, lyrics like this shows the beauty of language and how classical music can let the lyrics to take the lead in a tune. The other version with, Kaushiki Chakraboty is equally good too. A wonderful track will be remembered for decades.
Vinkadantha Jodhiyaai – Unnikrishnan
Ramesh has created another magical composition with the use of violin backed with ethereal vocals of, Unni. There are very few singers who sounds exactly the same for years together. Unni belongs to that category. It is so refreshing to hear woodwind instruments and mouthpeice orchestration through out the song. The last 30 seconds of the song will hover in your head and leads to humming the fantastic tune.
Narayana – Vani Jayaram, Karthik Suresh
As the album unfolds, Ramesh keeps raising the bar. Is there any better way to convey the epic/myth stories than composing them as a song? One could easily recite and remember the entire story with a rhythm. “Paanjaliyin kural keatadhum.. poonjelaigal koduthayada.. adada aval maanam avamaanam adaiyaamal idai sera udai thandhaaye krishnaa mugundha… nadu iravinil dhevaki madi thondriya madhusoodhana hari..” The legend, Late Valee is still living with these kinds of word plays. He has brought all his experience to proper use. One could recollect his classic work about, Lord Krishna in, Krishna Vijayam series (that he wrote in a weekly magazine) too. Vaani has delivered the lyrics so passionately. The extended anu pallavai introduces young, Karthik Suresh who has done his part to great perfection to end this reverberant bhajan.
Ramanujan Theme – Instrumental
The first of four instrumentals with German Pops orchestra. The piano and violin flows together for 3 long minutes to narrate a story of its own. The brilliant orchestration will make us to crave for more at the end of the theme.
Mystic Mind – Instrumental
One more theme based on piano and woodwind instruments. As the name suggests, the tune takes a u-turn after 2 mins and flows in a different path unlike the previous theme. It is good to hear the same instruments offer different feel within a span of 180 seconds. Guess, the visuals do explain the nuances of these themes.
One to Zero – Instrumental
Ramesh comes back to violin. As we keep listening to this instrumental, there’s a very high chance of penning our own lyrics. Such is the beauty of violin. The tempo, orchestration, remaining focused to the central theme are captivating to the core. A lyric less masterpeice narration from the composer.
English Notes – Instrumental
Ramesh’s love affair with violin continues once again. Surprisingly, this instrumental overtakes all other songs/theme in the album. The theme goes on and on for almost 7 mins and it gets better as it progress for the entire duration. The stop and start style of orchestration in the first 3 mins and a non- stop marathon run in the last 4 mins makes this a stunning listen.
Ramesh Vinayakam was always there and thereabouts with his wonderful albums in the past. University, Nala Dhamayanthi, and Azhagiya Theeye should have fetched him more projects. But for some reason he was toying between singing and composing. With this album he has struck the right chords towards his name once again. This must be the break he’s been looking for years. Hopefully, he will make it big hereafter.
