Songs and credits at the end.
The soundtrack may be missing a track from S P Balasubrahmanyam, but composer Santhosh Narayanan does produce three songs to accompany Kabali at his heroic moments. Best of which (and indeed one of the best songs of the soundtrack) is Neruppu Da, the phrase that’s been the rage since the teaser came out. Blaring sirens, Jhanu Chantar’s electric guitar, that Morricone-ish employment of whistle (by Vijaynarain Rangarajan) and lyricist Arunraja Kamaraj’s rapping, peppered with the superstar’s own monologue snippets – this is as heady as it gets! Ulagam Oruvanukka too is trippy despite following a regular inspirational template, riding on an exuberant set of vocals – Ananthu, Santhosh Narayanan, Gana Bala with rap from Roshan Jamrock – and an arrangement that is highlighted by some fab percussion from RK Sundar and bass by Naveen Napier (that whistle refrain makes an appearance too, this time by Sri Shyamalangan). Not sure if it is just me who hears a bit of Break The Rules in the song. Veera Thurandhara is the thematic piece that truly bears the composer’s familiar brand of imaginativeness. An intriguing melange of a retro suspenseful tune (Vijay’s trumpets and Jhanu’s guitars) with contemporary electronic elements and the vocal section that intersperses Gana Bala’s brilliantly restrained recital (backed by Lawrence R and Pradeep Kumar) with Roshan Jamrock’s rap.
That leaves the two incredible melodic pieces of the soundtrack. Maya Nadhi has Ananthu, Pradeep Kumar (also arranger of strings section) and Swetha Mohan doing a spectacular rendition of a haunting melody while the backdrop features some equally brilliant acts – Keba Jeremiah’s acoustic guitars and Macedonian Radio Symphony Orchestra’s violins in particular. And the pensive Vaanam Paarthen. There is something of a Sundari Kannaal Oru Sethi shade in its sprawling soundscape, especially the start, and yet the song is very much associable with Santhosh and Pradeep’s (he has lent a hand in the arrangement here too) past works. Lovely violins once again, and Vishnu Vijay’s flute too is well employed.
Kabali. A soundtrack that is a winsome marriage between composer Santhosh Narayanan’s trademark musical style and the Rajni brand of heroics.
Music Aloud Rating: 8.5/10
Top Recos: Maya Nadhi, Neruppu Da, Vaanam Paarthen
