Vallavan audio - flawed but enjoyable

Coming after the hugely successful Manmadhan, this was one Yuvan album I was looking forward to. (Of course, I look forward to every album from Yuvan but this one was extra special after the magic they created in Manmadhan). But unlike Yuvan's successful combinations with his other favorite directors (like Ameer & Selva) where he has only gotten better with each passing film, here Yuvan takes a small step backward. Mistake me not, this is no mediocre album but its just that I expected more out of the Yuvan - Simbu combo.

First up, people who hate Yuvan's voice (primarily after his sing-all-songs-in-an-album experimentation in AIBI), there is good news - Yuvan has not sung any song in this album, though the credits of the theme music have been given to Yuvan. But that is hardly a song and so you can breathe easy. Simbu has sung 4 of the songs and by sounding more like Yuvan, makes you suspect if it is Yuvan or Simbu who has sung those songs. But he is definitely a lot better than Yuvan. Now, to the songs...

Loosu penne - Pick of the album, by miles. There are 2 versions and the regular version is my pick. Simbu has sung pretty well. The song is replete with rap pieces and some very catchy humming by the chorus. The tune is very simple and haunting at the same time. The remix offers nothing new in it and hence can easily be passed on.

Vallavaa ennai - the second best of the album. Another instantly catchy melody from Yuvan. The orchestration is pretty neat in this one. Sunidhi Chauhan elevates the songs to new heights. A very high quality number.

Poduda aattam - this should be Simbu's intro song. It starts off with some heavy thaarai & thappattais and the kids choir definitely makes the song more enjoyable. But then it moves along expected lines, like any other Simbu intro song. You will not like to hear this, after a while.

Hooray hooray - though it reminds of others songs, it is instantly catchy. The beats are neatly done.

Kaadhal vandhirichu - this is the song that Yuvan has hand picked for remixing this time around and as always comes out on top. He has thrown in some liberal parts of 'Its your bday" song but this remix is very catchy. And Simbu has done an amazing job of rendering the song.

Ammaadi aathaadi - and finally there is this kuthu song about which I had blogged a while back. To put it in Simbu's own words, குத்துன்னா குத்து. கொலைக்குத்து :) The song does live up to its promise given by Simbu. And surprisingly TR has done a decent job of singing it, though he does falter at a couple of places where he has to sing high pitch. But even during those times, Simbu comes in and makes up for it with some superlative singing. The beats of that song are sure to impress anyone on the first listening and I am already looking forward to Simbu's dance in that song. Should be a perfect item number with ample scope for Simbu to display his dancing prowess. Sure to be a chart-buster.

Now to my disappointments of the album - there is no typical Yuvan melody in this one, something like Kanave kalaigiradhe in AIBI or the Edhedho ennangal vandhu in Pattiyal. The next grouse is that there are no songs with heavy beats either, similar to the Pul pesum song from Pudhupettai or Poga Poga from Pattiyal or ABCD marandhu pochu from Manmadhan. One more of each of these genres and this would have been a perfect album.

Bottom line - Like Karthik has mentioned in his 100 words review of the album, we can see more of Simbu in all these songs and less of Yuvan. That brings the quality of the album, just that little bit down. But even given all that, a definitely entertaining & adequate album overall.