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Talent to the fore
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‘Isaikaatru’, Pen 24’s debut album, was released recently
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Very intelligently, the production house, Pen 24, has roped in big names for its debut album. Naturally, your interest is kindled even before you begin listening to it.
Formidable force
‘Isaikaatru’ (with ‘Musical Waves’ as its slug) has a formidable force backing it — Vairamuthu, sax wizard MSV Raja and bass guitarist Keith Peters. In a scenario where Tamizh albums are dime a dozen and a new one arrives in the market almost every day, despite lukewarm responses, it is sheer self-confidence that has prodded producer Amish Kumar to bring out ‘Isaikaatru.’ He is also the creative head of the album,
But it has been meticulously planned and promoted, and there lies the difference.
Of the six songs on a range of subjects, two have been penned by Vairamuthu and four by Pon. Murugesan.
The opening words of Vairamuthu’s ‘Manasukkul Okkandhu’ give a sense of déjÀ vu initially because you’ve heard them in an earlier number. The song has also been shot as a music video with Arvind Akash. Shakti Saravanan of “Chennai 600028” fame has cranked the camera. Quite a flat piece musically — but thanks to an expressive percussion, ‘Manasukkul …’ gets a lift.
Again, the fiery lyrics of the second number, ‘Indhiyanae …’ which is Pen 24’s celebration of the 60th year of Independence, bears the Vairamuthu stamp.
While ‘Idhayam Thirandhalae’ underlines the fusion fever in composer Rizwan’s strains, with an English chorus joining the band, Pon. Murugesan’s lyric is a highlight of the soft lullaby, ‘Pudhidhai Mannil,’ supported by an interesting Western and desi percussion.
The flute bits in the ‘Vizhiyil’ number are particularly enticing. And summing it all up is MSV Raja’s instrumental version of ‘Indhiyanae.’
During the release of the album at Four Frames in Chennai, Vairamuthu advised the young team to rise above filmi stories and find themes for their albums from real life.
Nurture album culture
“The album culture in Tamizh ought to be nurtured. Music shouldn’t be confined to film numbers alone. Composer Mohammed Rizwan should continue cutting discs even after he gets opportunities to create film songs. And it is a creative outlet for me too, because till date I haven’t written all that I want to,” he confessed.
His advice to the makers of the CD was they should make their future projects theme-based, instead of going in for miscellany again. “These youngsters have talent. So I feel I should encourage them,” he concluded.
MALATHI RANGARAJAN
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