Music Review: Yuvan Yuvathi, Maruthavelu, Thambi Vettothi Sundaram, Mambattiyan, Vandhaan Vendran & Rowthiram

Not writing about all the songs in the albums..

Yuvan Yuvathi - Vijay Antony
This is my favorite among the recent releases. A vibrant album by Vijay Antony.  'Oh My Angel' is a good melody with some interesting usage of instrument in 2nd interlude.  'Mayakka Oosi' is another typical Vijay Prakash song.. A decent melody.. '24 mani neram' sung by Haricharan has a brilliant flow in Charanam! 'Kola Kuthu' is the next Nakka Mukka.. Enna kuthu!! Snehga's voice has added lot of peppiness to the song..Waiting for this song to be played in next DJ night :).. Vijay Antony has proved yet again that he is the real kuthu master. He sees to that there is some 'music' in kuthu song too.. Great work! ' 'Ullangai'  has a wonderful musical piece in interlude..

Maruthavelu - James Vasanthan
What is interesting about this album by James Vasanthan is his voice selection. All of them are unique and un-conventional. 'Kala Kalakkura' is a good rhythm number. I loved the progression in pallavi. I would rate 'Thookanam Kuruvi' as his 3rd best melody after Kangal Iranda and Oru Vetkam Varudhe.. 'Varom Kanavodu' is new genre for James Vasanthan. He might have got inspired from some north Indian songs.. A philosophical song and very nice to hear.. In 'yetho yetho' he has tried to give a melody like the contemporary young music directors.. A decent attempt..

Thambi Vettothi Sundaram - Vidyasagar
'Kolakaara' and 'Netru illai ' are good melodies. Interludes of Netru illai are too good. I somehow feel that the rhythm section of that song could have been better..

Mambattiyan - Thaman
'Karuppanasamy' and 'Malayooru'   are energetic rhythm numbers. 'Yedho Aagudhe'  has lot of feel.. A good melody! I prefer not writing about the re-used/re-mix songs in this album.

Vandhaan Vendraan - Thaman
A refreshing album by Thaman. 'Anjana' is the song that has been mostly heard by me in recent past. He has intelligently handled scale change in this song. Other songs have lot of 'Harris' effect and so obviously they are nice to hear when we are in good mood. So no specific mentions about them.

Rowthiram - Prakash Nikki
As a debutant (film music) , I would call it as a decent work by Prakash Nikki. Some people who are desperately looking for melody might like 'Maalai Mangum Neram'..

Engeyum Eppodhum - Satyan
I liked 'Uyir Arunthadhe', an eery song and 'Govindha' for using that old sound... Somehow I felt that lyrics and music didn't go together properly..

Mangatha - Yuvan
Comments reserved as I have to hear the album some more times..

Thandavakone - Ilayaraaja
Yet to hear

Bangalore - Coimbatore

Perur Temple

I had been to Coimbatore last weekend (May 18-19) with my friend Vinodh in car. We went in Maruti Swift. The aim of the trip was to attend the marriage of our friend Chandrashekar. It is worth mentioning that me, Vinodh and Chandrashekar got introduced to each other through an Orkut community for Ilayaraaja.

We started from Bangalore at 6AM. We had breakfast at Vasavi Cafe Krishnagiri. Most of the times, the hotels between Hosur and Krishnagiri (Kamath, Krishnaand Adayar Anandha Bhavan) are crowded. So I recommend this hotel for people going in that highway, just that you have go into Krishnagiri town.

Isha Yoga Center

It was an ultra-smooth drive till 40 Kms before Coimbatore. From there, since road construction was going on it took more time than expected. We reached Coimbatore at 1PM. We stayed at Hotel Vijai Paradise, NSR Road. The hotel was pretty decent and the good thing is that Annapoorna hotel is near Vijai Paradise.  'keerai' they served for Saturday lunch was awesome!

Mahalakshmi Temple

Luckily, I had my UG friend Arun working in Coimbatore for more then 3 years.  He joined us in the afternoon. We went to Kovai Kutralam (though we returned back without seeing since entrance is open only from 10AM to 3:30PM but we went there only at 4PM). From Kovai Kutralam, Isha Yoga Center (Velliangiri hill base) is just 15 Kms away. One has to take left at Iruttupallam while returning back from Kovai Kutralam. Velliangiri trek is considered to be one of the toughest and interesting trek in south India. It seems it will take 8 hrs to go up and ladies are not allowed to climb that.

From Isha Yoga center we went to Perur Patteswarar temple (It was built by Karikala Chozhan) and finally we went to Marudamalai Murugar temple. We started from Coimbatore city at 3PM and returned back to city after seeing all those places by 8PM.

Next day, we started at 7AM and went to Eechanari Vinayagar temple and Mahalakshmi temple. Both the temples are present close-by in Coimbatore-Pollachi route.

Hydro Meteorological Project

After attending marriage, we started back to Bangalore at 1PM. For a change, we took Sathyamangalam-Bannari-Chamrajnagar-Kollegal-Malavalli-Kollegal route. Though distance wise it is short by 40Kms, it took more time and also the drive wasn't very comfortable. But all those inconveniences can be accepted for that spectacular route. It was completely green on both the sides. 27 hair pin binds have to be crossed and all of them were steep.

Vinodh, Arun and me in front of Marudamalai temple

A hydro meteorological project on that route after Karnataka border was a surprise package (We were not aware of that place). That place can be made as another tourist place like Thekkady. It was 9PM when we reached Bangalore.