Vishwaroopam – Music Review

Ulaganayagan Kamal Haasan‘s film "Vishwaroopam" is gearing up for a January 2013 release, and the soundtrack has gone down well with the masses already! Composed by musical trio Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy – whose last musical project in Kollywood was for "Yavarum Nalum" in 2009 – the soundtrack is a real musical treat from start to finish. 

The title track "Vishwaroopam" is powerful in every aspect, from the the music itself to Vairamuthu’s lyrics. Suraj Jegan‘s voice is ideal for this high-energy, dramatic song. The Arab-inspired interlude in the middle gives the feel of being in a souk market, and the switch back to the opening, dramatic tone is seamless.

"Thuppakki Engal Tholile" opens with a bugle fanfare, and you begin to expect it to progress in a similar way to the title track. But then the bass line drops and we’re treated to a jazzy number, with English and Tamil lyrics sung by Benny Dayal and Kamal Haasan. Benny’s vocals suit the track perfectly, and he switches effortlessly between the two languges. Kamal’s portions change the tone of the song, adding a Middle Eastern twist to the foot-tapping number. Watch out for the drum interlude by percussion maestro, Sivamani!

Kamal himself penned the lyrics for "Anu Vithaitha Boomiyiley", a song about peace. The track is poignant, and again has lyrics in both English and Tamil. Nikhil D’Souza‘s voice is haunting, and Kamal continues this vocal tone in the Tamil parts. The lyrics are thought-provoking, and Kamal’s expression in this track is transcendent.

"Unnai Kaanadhu Kannum" is my personal pick of the album. The song is very Kathak-esque, opening with Kamal’s konakol (recitation of Taals) and then his Tamil lyrics, which he delivers with the utmost of ease. The musical portion opens with a classical tone, but once the bass comes in, the track is given a contemporary twist. Shankar Mahadevan is in his element for this song; his nuances and expression is simply beautiful. The visuals and Kamal’s dance expressions in particular are sure to be brilliant for this track!

The final track on the soundtrack is a remix of the title song, done by Shane Mendosa. While the power of the lyrics is lost in this remix, it doesn’t really matter – it’s clear that this track has been done purely for the dancefloor, and the clubby feel is there right from the offset.

Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy have done a great job with this soundtrack, which includes a number of genres, exquisitely-penned lyrics, and brilliant vocal performances on each track. 8.5/10