Ponniyin Selvan - II Audio Review- Tamil (2023)

 Movie: Ponniyin Selvan- II (2023)

Director: Maniratnam

Production: Maniratnam

Cast: Vikram, Kaarthi, Jayam Ravi, Aishwarya Rai, Trisha & Others

Music: A. R. Rahman

Music Patner: Tips Official

"PS- II" the most sumptuous project slated to come to an end on April 28, 2023 & is prepping for a grandeur release in all languages. The magnum opus is an absolute eye feast for all the PS fans & already it has proved the above statement right with part- 1 & now is getting primed for part- 2. I though cannot wait to watch the "Fight for throne" on screen, my excitement is knowing no bounds. 

Maybe, Telugu audience & north regions weren't able to digest this masterpiece film, but still I feel it cannot get any better than this. 'A fight for throne' cannot get any better screen version other than PS- I like Maniratnam sculptured it. If, you feel commercial elements should get much more vivid preferences other than the main story or plot, then this film should'nt be your cup of tea. 

Everything apart, but like all other Kalki's PS fans, am just eagerly waiting for the open suspense to unviel on the screens on April 28, 2023. But unlike the precedent one, this part of film is getting the audio & trailer to the audience - 30 days in advance. 

Like all Maniratnam films, ARR is composing the music & am sure this is gonna be too melodious & smooth suiting to the context & keeping the period of happenings (i.e., 10th century) in mind. Alreday they released a first single & like said- the film is going to have 7 songs- EXCITED. No more delay, let's see what ARR & MR have kept on the shelf for us.

01. Aga Naga ⭐

Vocalist: Shakthishree Gopalan

Lyricist: Ilango Krishnan

Rating: 4/5

Am I in the era of Chozha now? Probably Yes! That is the A1-ism in this track. Beautiful notes of flute, solo violin just kick start to pick the pace, then suddenly an air of percussions just squalls like that & you all are startled by ARR's calibre & then the actual magic starts where Shakthishree takes over like just as smooth & soft as a rose petal, she sang the entire first stanza in one take!! This champ will never fail to impress with her voice nor songs. Ilango Krishnan has penned some great lyrics, which makes us all realise the beauty of Tamizh poetry. 

This song is the one picturised on Kundavai & Vanthiyadevan, and that is much much more exciting than anything. ARR's choice of instruments in the song is something that brings the house down. Veena, flute, tabla, tarang & violin- these all come into the frame to remind you all that this song belongs to that era- where chozhans lived. Though the song appears like the yesteryear's beauty- Nenjukkulle in Kadal- this comparision is maybe due to the same trio doing a similar kind of song again (ARR-MR-Shakthishree), yet the freshness in the song is intact & perfect. The instrumentation & vocals are too heavenly that you'll will be mesmarized. So, finally a thank you to all the team involved in making this wonderful song. 

Vocalist- Shakthishree Gopalan

02. Veera Raaja Veera ⭐

Vocalists: Shankar Mahadevan, K. S. Chithra, Harini & Chorus

Lyricist: Ilango Krishnan

Rating: 4.5/5

What's happening? Why is this track so good? Just one word- GOOSEBUMPS!! ARR shows how hardened he is by composing such stuff like this. This track is a rehash of styles, it reminds us of K. V. Mahadevan's classical touch, Ghantasaala's kind rendering power, Ilaiyaraaja kind thumping orchestration, P. Susheela/Leela kind melody oozing honey & the very rich Tamizh culture with the poetry- so an alloy of all such raw metals together is "Veera Raaja Veera"! Thanks to ARR. This is a track which represents the majestic psyche of the great Chozhans from the 10th century & also speaks about the liberal- rich- varied heritage of Tamizh literarture. Ilango Krishnan- here's a bow from my side for such master writings.

Coming to the constituent part of the song- the vocalists- Shankar Mahadevan, Chithra & Harini, the trio desrves a standing ovation! What a rendition & power in singing?! Just outstanding! Shankar Mahadevan the real chariot of the song, shook the entire song with his energy & enthusiasm. This is where & these are such songs where we miss legend like SPB, yet Shankar Mahadevan is there to fill that void now. ARR never fails to choose right singers for right songs, so no doubt the vocalists raged like fire with their pitching & scales. Chithra & Harini take the lead in singing a very special portion in between the song & that is the most beautiful part of the song too, the way Chithra maa says 'Paavaiyaar' is so haunting. However Chithra sings all that background chorale part in the beginning & end of the song, to everyone's surprise that too in lower scale with damn powerful voice which is an instant 'spine chills' stuff. It's really difficult song to these vocalists to maintain that harmony & still synch the song- but you know they are legends- so they ace the rendition. The instrumentation is another element to be discussed & praised- those fusion of Veena notes & tabla bring back the musical musings from Chozhan period. Once again- one final word- GOOSEBUMPS!!

Vocalists- Shankar Mahadevan, K. S. Chithra & Harini

03. Chinnanjiru Nilave- M

Vocalist: Haricharan

Lyricist: Ilango Krishnan

Rating: 3/5

One more beautiful melody, this time in male vocals. This is a typical Rahman styled song- like that of 'Idhayam' from Kochadiyan or 'Jashn-E-Bahare' from Jodha Akbar. Rahman is always fond of these typical melodies. It works for me for the first time itself, because I know that Rahman composes such numbers like this which appear dull & frail for the first listen & later will start to be effective like slow poisons. Any ARR's fan just loves this track instantly but others need time for this one, otherwise it is an absolute brilliant stuff, it cannot be any better. Haricharn, ARR's template singer gets to croon yet another masterpiece composition from the genius of music himself. But, this is not a PS- II range song, it could have been a lot better in perspective of any PS fans.

04. Aazhi Mazhai Kanna

Vocalist: Harini

Orignal Credits: 

Composer: Aandaal 

Raagam: Varali [39th Melakartha Janyam]

Talam: Aadi,

Arohana:  S G1 R1 G1 M2 P D1 N3 S             ||

Avarohana: S N3 D1 P M2 G1 R1 S                      ||

Rating: 3.5/5

A short piece of carnatic keerthana adaptaded from the 'Thiruppavai'- works of Aandaal & it is quite natural to have these in this film. Youre' making a film about Chozha kingdom & without attributing anything to the Perumaal should be a sin, so is this beautiful song "Aazhi Mazhai Kanna" in the heavenly vocals of Harini. She reminds me of her first ever song for ARR in the film Indira & still her voice has that pure innocence like in past, she's a legend. Don't get dissappointed with this classical number, I feel this is how only we need to make songs when we attribute something to the legend writer Kalki for his works. Kudos to the team for their guts in taking the responsibility of restoring the Chozhan culture or I can say re-introducing the rich Tamizh culture to younger generations. It feels so happy for a musician or classical music lovers to listen to these gems of carnatic music in today's films.

05. Ilaiyor Sudaar

Vocalists: Keerthana Vaidyanathan, Niranjana & Vaishnavi

Lyrcist: Kudavayil Keerthanaar

Rating: 2.5/5

One more classical adaptation from Thanjavur scripts & with this ARR proves that he has not simply composed something like that, but has done a lot of research before attempting this project. I cannot review such masterpieces or we cannot vaguely talk about something that we do not hold much grip on right , so just enjoy the essence of classical music. 

06. Shivoham

Vocalists: Aravind Srinivas, Dr. Narayanan, Nivas, Sathyaprakash, Shenbagaraj G, Sreekanth Hariharan, TS Aiyappan & Chorus

Original Credits: 

Composer: Aadi Shankaraacharya

Rating: 4/5

The powerful 'Shivoham Shivoham' from Nirvaana Shatakam written & composed by the Hindu dharma legend- Aadi Shankarachaarya gets a dash from A. R. Rahman. A movie about Chozhans & Maniratnam getting the greatest works of legends on Perumaal & Lord Shiva shows the sensibility in is direction. This is just a beautiful adaptation & did'nt have any extra musical pieces to retain the originality in the slokam. Just get drenched into the beautiful trance world created by the vocalists.

07. Chinnanjiru Nilave- F

Vocalist: Khatijaa Rahman

Lyricist: Ilango Krishnan

Rating: 3.5/5

I liked this version more than the male. This is like the unplugged version & Khatijaa just weaved magic. The instrumentation strikes gold, loved those strings all around, maybe that is the additional flavour to this version.

TRIVIA:

This album of PS- II unlike the previous part is full of classical tracks & that is no where a wrong 

step from the team & which also indicates that there is much more drama than the previous part & also it is evident from the soundtrack that Maniratnam has sticked to his script & story rather than only conccentrating on commercial elements unlike something that is shown in the trailer of PS- II, I think there is much much more drama than the commercial elements. 

Rahman is a winner, he proves that he is a legend time & again. Did'nt expect such classical album from him like this, but he proves that is above genres & his music is for the story irrespective of audience & fan's feelings. I think there are still some songs in the film, may be there is a chozhan anthem that is yet to be released. Let's see on April 28.

PICKS OF THE ALBUM: Aga Naga & Veera Raaja Veera

OVERALL RATING: 7/10