Oh Kadhal Kanmani (2015) | AR Rahman 

- Akilan Nagarajan, Reviewpuram

“Kaara Attakaara”    (Listen here)

Lyrics : Aaryan Dinesh Kanagaratnam, A. R. Rahman, Mani Ratnam
Singers :Aaryan Dinesh Kanagaratnam, Darshana, Shashaa Tirupati

The album begins with a standout. Pulls you in right at the start. Dinesh’s rap works wonders to the psychedelic trance (heard for the first time in Tamil, or probably even Indian Cinema) that breaks new zones of its own. ARR also ventures into pop funk with this track, and at the same time there’s his signature heaviness in it. And while doing all this, he doesn’t lose the flavour of our contemporary sounds. A winner on both musical and emotional (for being exhilarating) merits!

“Aye Sinamika”  (Listen here)

Lyrics : Vairamuthu | Singer : Karthik

Love being the quintessential language of the album, this is the track that gets it going. The romance will be filling the screen, and the visual chemistry will take over. But here, Karthik takes it upon himself to provide the feels with a song tailor-made for his level of vocal clarity. The song literally makes the relationship seem tangible, both lyrically and vocally. This range of proximity is pure magic, and is the trademark of this director-composer duo.

“Paranthu Sella Vaa” (Listen here)

Lyrics : Vairamuthu | Singers : Karthik, Shashaa Tirupati

What starts as a playful tease between the leads, moves onto a pleasing track that breezes past with the conviction brought out by the singers. The transition in the middle and the melodious track that it eventually turns out to be, is Rahman pulling the rabbit out of the hat, and we don’t see this coming in any way. This could well be the USP that catches the fancy of listeners.

“Mental Manadhil” (Male)  (Listen here)

Lyrics : ARR, Mani Ratnam | Singers : ARR, Jonita Gandhi

A tailor-made track for the discos, this is Mani Ratnam letting his hair down with some playful lyrics that are brimming with “tween-age” energy. Rahman makes it a memorable and catchy listen with his effervescent singing. Another easy winner from the duo!

“Naane Varugiraen” (Listen here)

Lyrics : Vaira Muthu | Singers : Shashaa Tirupati, Sathya Prakash                                                         

A track that feels like it is searching for something, and we are pulled into this very search. Shashaa Tirupati’s lovely rendition stands out in thisreverberating pursuit, and Sathya Prakash with his debut for ARR, does very well to match the former’s proficiency. Another immensely captivating track that will stand the test of time.

“Theera Ulaa”   (Listen here)

Lyrics : Vairamuthu | Singers : A. R. Rahman, Darshana, Nikita Gandhi

A progressive track that gives the feel of locomotion, just as the tempo. This is where the romance could be taking a time leap or testing separated waters. The sounds in the background are haunting enough to provide the feels. A highly stimulating, classy number that is going to form a cult of its own. Contemporary class, this!

“Mental Manadhil” (Female)  (Listen here)

Lyrics : ARR, Mani Ratnam | Singer : Jonita Gandhi

This track gives a whole new perspective to a tune we are already familiar with. Jonita brings in new energy, and the tune is tweaked beautifully to suit the female voice and give it an edge of its own. Even surpasses Rahman’s version at places!

“Malargal Kaettaen”  (Listen here)

Lyrics : Vairamuthu | Singers : K. S. Chithra, A. R. Rahman

The very famous young deftness in Chitra’s voice is back, giving a mellifluous song and taking us down the memory lane, at the same time.

“Maula Wa Sallim” (Traditional) (Listen here)

Singer : A. R. Ameen

And the composer has introduced his son into the scene with this recreated Qawwali, that is pure bliss start to end. The innocence in his voice brings out the feel of a certain lucidity in singing. A calm and composed culmination to the album.

“Oh Kadhal Kanmani” may not be the duo’s finest. But yes this is an album that once again reinstates Mani Ratnam and Rahman’s arguable position of being the country’s best living director-composer duo. The album has it all and even more than what one would expect from this duo. There’s one for the dance floor, one for the prayer, one for the pain, and one for rejuvenating yourself. The strength of this album is this very fact, that everyone is going to have their own favourite. Rather than giving one unanimous track that clicks with many, here’s Rahman providing for the subjectivity of the audience.Summing it up, this album has everything that one could ask for. An endearing winner.

Rating : 4/5