Songs and full credits at the end of the review.
The choice of raga (shubhapanthuvarali from the sound of it) and the intensity in the whole song evokes memories of Ouseppachan’s own National award winning soundtrack Ore Kadal (which had all its songs composed in that raga) while listening to Maaya Nagarame. The song is almost as effective too, especially with the brilliant Sharreth handling the vocals. Kamalakar’s frenetic flute-play and Ustad Fayaz Khan’s sarangi stand out in the backdrop. Ustad Fayaz Khan returns as vocalist for the ghazal Magar Tum and does a fine job of it. Composer keeps the arrangement conventional (barring the guitar which is kind of regular with ghazal tracks of late), but the most interesting aspect from the song is the fact that the first two lines of the song are a clever rehash of Ouseppachan’s own Oru Poovine Nilaashalabham from Meenathil Thaalikettu. The similarity ends there however.
Pathukke Entho is nicely structured, a nice soothing tune (sung very well by Neha Nair) set to an slow, atmospheric arrangement that is occasionally punctuated by a burst of jovial violin phrases (Chennai String Octet). It is only the occasional English monologues from Mohanlal that sound jarring. Vaikkom Vijayalakshmi is a surprise choice for the hep sounding Killathe Chollamo. She is energetic as usual, though I prefer hearing her in classical/folksy tracks. The song as such is just average. Guest composer Vinu Thomas (debutant?) does a tidy Carnatic pop fusion of sorts in the final track Oru Venal Kaattaai (shades of bahudaari raga in places, I think). The song particularly shines in the interludes – first with Idea Star Singer champion Vivekanand’s violin solo and the second led by Alichen with his flute – even with the dependable vocals of Chithra and Sudeep Kumar.
Ouseppachan and Vinu Thomas produce an engaging soundtrack for Kanal.
Music Aloud Rating: 7.5/10
Top Recos: Maaya Nagarame, Oru Venal Kaattaai, Pathukke Entho
Full credits (as supplied with the youtube jukebox)
Song 1 – Pathukke Entho
Music – Ouseppachan
Lyrics – Dr.Madhu Vasudevan
Singer- Neha Nair
Song 2 – Maaya Nagarame
Music – Ouseppachan
Lyrics – Dr.Madhu Vasudevan
Singer – Sharath
Song 3 -Magar Thum
Music – Ouseppachan
Lyrics – Dr.Madhu Vasudevan
Singer – Ustad Fayaz Khan
Song 4 – Killathe Chollamo
Music – Ouseppachan
Lyrics – Dr.Madhu Vasudevan
Singer – Vaikkom Vijayalakshmi
Song 5 – Oru Venal Kaataai
Music – Vinu Thomas
Lyrics – Prakash Maraar
Singers – K.S.Chitra & Sudheep Kumar
Songs 1,2,3,4
Keyboard- Williams
Guitar- Sumesh
Sarangi- Ustad Fayaz Khaan
Flute – Kamalakar
Solo Violin – Ouseppachan
Strings- Chennai String Octet
Harmonium – Prakash Ulleri
Tabla – Anand
Songs 1, 2, 3 & 4 -Mixed and Mastered by Biju James @ VGP Studios, Chennai
Song 5 -Keyboard Programming – Aby Salvin Thomas
Carnatic Violin – Vivekanandan
Flute – Alichen
Mixed and Mastered by Ajith A. George at DSMC Studios
