Ponniyin Selvan - I Audio Review- Tamil (2022)

Movie: Ponniyin Selvan - I (2022)

Director: Maniratnam

Production: Maniratnam & Allirajah

Cast: Vikram, Jayam Ravi, Karthi, Trisha, Aishwarya Rai & Many Others

Music Director: 'Isaipuyal' A. R. Rahman

Music Partner: Tips Official

'Ponniyin Selvan - I' the dream project of Maniratnam is seeing the limelight in near tomorrow & that's more or less an euphoria to all the Tamizh fans. The greatest empire ever in South India is undoubtedly the 'Chola Kingdom' , right from our childhood we would have heard stories about that legendary legacy, but now we are getting to see visual interpretation of it at the big cinemas & my happiness is knowing no bounds.

Based on the novel 'Ponniyin Selvan' , Maniratnam has adapted his script & divided into two parts & the first chapter is unfolding on Sep 30, 2022. I cannot really wait till then. I have to really pat Ratnam Avarkal for such guts to take on this risk to showcase that legendary story to the audience of this generation.

And also another important thing to note about this picture is about the star studded cast. Vikram, Karthi, Jayam Ravi, Trisha, Aishwarya Rai, Vikram Prabhu, Shobitha, Prabhu, Sarathkumar, Rahman, Prakash Raj & the list goes on. By looking at the promising trailer & teaser,one can grasp that Ratnam hasn't deviated much from the original plot. So, expecting a blockbuster real cinema from the legend. 

One who has read the novel, would really search every inch for perfection & my opinion is that  Ratnam will not give any chance to such critics. I may keep talking endlessly about the film, but the space is a constraint. So, leaving everything apart for Sep 30. Let's dive into the album review. 

The legend, 'Mozart of Madras', 'Isaipuyal' A. R. Rahman Avarkal & should I really have to talk about his prowess. Who am I to atleast review on his scores. This' just an humble attempt in sharing the opinions regarding the exceptional scores that ARR has scored for PS-I. Directly, getting in------ here we go

01. Ponni Nadhi

Vocalists: A. R. Rahman, A. R. Rahiena, Bamba Bakya & Chorus

Lyricist: Ilango Krishnan

Rating: 4.5/5

The album opens to an extraordinary number in absolute ARR's template. No exaggeration in saying that he has taken a ride into the Chozhan empire. A song about Vandiyadevan & the spirit of Chozhans praising the 'Ponni Nadhi' in the voice of ARR himself. Isn't that an epic combination?! Probably yes! The moment, Rahman starts to sing 'Ponni Nadhi' every Tamizhan might get goosebumps. 

Am sure Karthi & MR would have rocked, but this song is really really special. It is talking about the Cholan spirit, honesty, grandeur & the majestic aura about the kingdom in the voice of Vandiyadevan & Ilango Krishnan has done a splendid job in writing the lyrics for this song. One cannot resist tapping the feet nor snapping the fingers right from the moment the track plays. In all aspects, this cannot be any better, I repeat any better. One has to praise Rahman for rendering the toughest dynamics with damn ease. And also the chorale team deserves a laud. If someone might get disappointed with this stuff, then I'll say they're not in the right place nor mood to get this masterpiece. It's a masterpiece, true! May be not the greatest of Rahman works, but still deserves everything for the innovative instrumentation & brilliant vocals. I enjoyed it thoroughly.

02. Chozha Chozha

Vocalists: Sathyaprakash, VM Mahalingam, Nakul Abhayankar & Chorus

Lyricist: Ilango Krishnan

Rating: 3/5

This song is talking about Aditya Karikalan the eldest son of Sundara Chola. Vikram being casted as Aditya Karikalan. All the songs in the album are almost like folk typical Tamizh songs, but one who has expected alot from ARR & Mani combination will definitely get disappointed. Track sounds fresh & new, but the grandeur wasn't achieved. I can simply term this as an energetic number or a dance number with typical tamil orchestration & lyrics. 

If not for our expectations or something else, this song cannot be any better. I however enjoyed the keen sense of rhythm in the track. The flute with bass guitars & electric percussions as prelude dominate the song's flavour. May be the hook music of the song, it loops till the song ends & definitely sounded great. At last, will opine saying that this is a typical Rahmanic track with great support from Chorus, Vocalists & orchestration. People craving for excellence in song, can listen to Telugu version sung by Mano & Chorus which is sounding a bit greater than this one, may be Mano did the magic there.

03. Ratchassa Maamaney

Vocalists: Palakkad Sriram, Mahesh Vinayakarm, Shreya Ghoshal & Chorus

Lyricist: Kabilan

Rating: 5/5

One more typical Rahmanic track. The backdrop of this song something very very intriguing. The peculiarities in the song are something to long for. Palakkad Sriram & Vinayakarm rocking at the chorale part in making the roaring sounds suiting to the Ratchassan gives an eerie feeling. And the best' in the track - Shreya Ghoshal - Godddd!!! How perfect is she?! Her Tamizh accent & pronounciation gave spine chills & also as I was saying the peculiarities in the song made it much more majestic & Shreya Ghoshal at helm was simply amazing. Her heavenly vocals & expressions were a main plus to the song. The way she said 'Maamaney' was sonorous. This song needed a typical expression of a mixture between sensuous feelings with melodious rendering & in all ways Shreya Ghoshal was a perfect choice. Her effortless attack on dynamics made my heart skip, not just one, but many beats. That harmony at the end, those Thathkaarams by Vinayakarm & Shreya Ghosha's "Ma ma ma ma Maama" surgam kind 'Magaaram'  just exploded like a mini atom bomb. Felt like Shreya was having a blast singing this number. Thanks to Rahman sir, for this beautiful track. 

The princess of melody - Shreya Ghoshal 

The folk beats added on to the song. Overall it was an mellifluous treat to the listeners. 

04. Sol

Vocalist: Rakshitha Suresh

Lyricist: Krithika Nelson

Rating: 3/5

Is it a lullaby?! May be felt like that! Picturised on Shobitha as Vaanathi the Kodumbalar Ilavarashi. This song has nothing much, but simple orchestration & heavenly vocals. May be clicks on while viewing on screens. As of now, it's on a boring side however. 

05. Alai Kadal

Vocalist: Antara Nandan

Lyricist: Siva Ananth

Rating: 4.5/5

Yet one more beautiful melody from the Isai Puyal. I though really loved the magic in the song. The instrumentation was simple but tune had some greater potential to take all the listeners to heaven. Antara- what a great voice this lady has got?! She reminds me of Chithra for her soul in the rendition. I have nothing much to speak, just go listen to this & droop in magical ocean of melody. Not a typical Rahmanic number, but clicked. 

06. Devalar Attam

Vocalists: Yogi Sekhar & Chorus

Lyricist: Ilango Krishnan

Rating: 4/5

This song starts & ends in a similar manner & the rest everything in between is left to audience to judge about. Rahman is a legend & he proves time & again. A kind of Acapella but fused with some folk beats. Yogi Sekhar gets to sing few lines in between of the song, & those are the best verses in the entire song. My words are falling in short to describe about this track. Rahman however reminded me of Ilaiyaraaja with this track. Waiting to watch this on the big screens. 

Picks Of The Album: Ratchassa Maamaney, Alai Kadal & Poni Nadhi 

OVERALL RATING: 9/10