Music review: Pasanga is no Subramaniapuram

It's only natural that after Subramaniapuram's melodious beginning, expectations should rise sky-high for music composer James Vasanthan's Tamil movie Pasanga (Boys), the next venture from Company Productions.

With the lyrics penned by Thamarai and Yugabharathi, here's what the album of a movie that carries the tagline: "The Secret Life of Kids," has to offer:

Anbaale Azaghaagum Veedu begins with a child's voice praising the merits of a joyful home and loving hearts reinforced by Dr Balamuralikrishna as well, to a brisk rhythm. The tunes have heard-it-before sound especially in the flute segment that forms a familiar interlude. It might have been something right out of A R Rahman's very early works. The first charanam even carries with it a strong sound of the 50s/60s, taking you back to a nostalgic past. A violin piece a little later adds some charm to the proceedings but still, only a feel-good number that's pretty much run-of-the-mill.

With a rather beautiful chorus that kicks off the proceedings, Oru Vetkam Varudhe picks up in style, courtesy Shreya Ghoshal's trademark sweet voice in company of Naresh Iyer, who carries on with the breathy voice that added so much pep in Vaaranam Aayiram. Despite the rocking pallavi, it looks like the composer has meandered a bit, trying to connect it with equally impressive charanams. It's would-be-enthusiastic, and despite trying to rise above mediocrity with a flute interlude and chorus, falls rather flat.

Drum-rolls and sonorous trumpets herald Nandhan Goppanda and then it's back to a staccato beats and a voice that spouts almost unintelligible lyrics, until you realise it's a group of young guys, jazzing it up with 80s disco music and funky beats reminding you, a bit, of the musical score from Anjali. Catchy enough -- the rhythm, taken separately, but its very loudness indicates that it's a number meant to make you have a blast, rather than scale musical heights.

Benny Dayal's Who's that Guy?, with its heavy-duty beats and raspy vocals comes as an almost welcome respite. But not quite. Still, it makes a better impact because of one merit: it's short.

You can see the effort put into making Pasanga a unique album and though it does try to scale heights in terms of musical excellence, another Subramaniapuram it certainly isn't.

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