Songs and full credits at the end.
Dubai, composer Shaan Rahman and lyricist Manu Manjith’s ode to the Malayali El Dorado is short, sweet and extremely heart-warming. The arrangement is kept simple, riding largely on the mandolin/banjo hook and Liya Varghese’s vocal harmonies. Suchith Suresan and Vineeth Sreenivasan deliver the lead vocals equally well. Composer Shaan Rahman also gives Vineeth Sreenivasan a second melody Ee Shishirakaalam, one where he is joined by another competent singer Kavya Ajit. The melody is excellent, as is the composer’s wont, and the background features some brilliant violins from Cochin Strings. Thiruvaavaniraavu, as evident from the title, is an Onappaattu, and is made adequately Malayali-sounding both lyrically and musically (a touch of arabhi raga perhaps), albeit with a smattering of synth elements. Sithara Krishnakumar does a fine job behind the mic along with another voice rarely heard these days, Unni Menon (and additional vocals by Meera Scharma).
It could be the presence of the leading men from Kochi band When Chai Met Toast – singer Ashwin Gopakumar (who is also lyricist here) and guitarist Achyuth Jaigopal – that lends Home a pronounced indie sound. A fab movie debut for the twosome; Ashwin’s words and singing convey the nostalgic feel to a tee, while Achyuth provides splendid support from his end. Ennilerinju is the only track that digresses from the soft melody format which dominates Jacobinte Swargarajyam’s soundtrack. Of course, here too Shaan lays a melodic base through Cochin Strings, but what hooks you to the song is the well-executed rap-carnatic jamming between Rzee and Sithara Krishnakumar.
Jacobinte Swargarajyam. A melody-heavy soundtrack and Shaan Rahman delivers, as he always has – in the genre, and particularly for Vineeth Sreenivasan.
Music Aloud Rating: 7.5/10
Top Recos: Dubai, Home, Ee Shishirakaalam
Song Credits
Ee Shishirakaalam
Singer: Vineeth Sreenivasan, Kavya Ajit
Lyrics: Harinarayanan B.K.
Thiruvaavaniraavu
Singer: Unni Menon, Sithara Krishnakumar
(Additional Vocals: Meera Scharma)
Lyrics: Manu Manjith
Dubai
Singer: Vineeth Sreenivasan, Suchith Suresan, Liya Verghese
Lyrics: Manu Manjith
Ennilerinju
Singer: Rzee, Sithara Krishnakumar
Lyrics: Rzee
Home
Singer: Ashwin Gopakumar
Lyrics: Ashwin Gopakumar
Guitars : Sumesh Parameshwar and Achyuth Jaigopal
Strings : Cochin Strings
Solo Violin : Roopa
Flute : Rison
All Songs and Background Music Composed, Programmed and Arranged by Shaan Rahman.
All Songs recorded at ‘Shaanz Eternal Ray’, Cochin and ‘Freddy’s AVG’, Cochin.
All Songs and Background Music Mixed and Mastered by Biju James at VGP Studios, Chennai
Music Label: Muzik247
