Audio Review : Kamal Hassan, Trisha's Manmadha Banam

Manmadha Banam is yet another movie from Kamal Hassan and K.S.Ravi Kumar combo after Dashaavataram. Music director Devi Sri Prasad worked in their last film only on the background music. However, this time he comes up with music for the songs too. Devi Sri Prasad is known for complete melody songs or dance songs in both of which he uses percussion instruments really well. It will be interesting to see how the audio of Manmadha Banam fares.

1. Dhagulu Dhanda
Singers: Kamal Hassan
Lyricist: Sahithi

The moment Dhagulu Dhanda starts you’ll know that Devi Sri Prasad is back with his best percussions. The song has communistic attributes, interlaced in jazz style and merged with Telugu film music. Though the trumpets are too loud, good lyrics and Kamal’s voice make the song listenable.

2. Who’s The Hero
Singers: Andrea Jeremiah
Lyricist: Ramjogayya Shastry

This number is even pure in Jazz style. Andrea Jeremiah has traits of Usha Uthup, and she carries the song exceptionally. Yes Ramjogayya’s lyrics elevate the hero, but it just goes on and on, and at a certain level you’ll start tapping your feet! Devi Sri plays to his strengths with the drums and keeps the entertainment quotient up.

3. Neelakasam
Singers: Kamal Hassan, Priya Hemesh
Lyricist: Vennelakanti

Now, this one is an interesting number, because it mixes an unusual composition with typical indie-movie style music in between. Kamal puts his soul into the words of Vennelakanti, giving it a very heavy feel. One thing that has to be noted here is that even the traditional blessings in Telugu, sound like that of a large choir singing together. This song might not go down well with everyone, but Devi Sri Prasad should be appreciated for coming up with a very unique piece.

4. Uyyala
Singers: Mukesh, Suchitra, Karthik Kumar
Lyricist: Sahithi

After the heavy lyrics of previous song, Uyyala is a welcome break. Purely folk lyrics make it thoroughly enjoyable and Devi Sri’s tune definitely adds to the fun. Again he falls back on his strength ‘drums’ weaving it with Karthik’s voice in the background. However, it is Mukesh who comes as a revelation in this song, whose voice is very close to that of Devi Sri’s. Suchitra is good too.

5. Kannu Kannu Kalisela
Singers: S.P. Balasubrahmanyam, Chinmayi
Lyricist: Ramajogayya Shastry

Another experiment where music and the poems are just an excuse for each other. This isn’t completely a song, but a conversation between a man and a woman, in poetry (not too poetic) from Ramajogayya Shastry. It’s a thought provoking experiment about what women expect from men. Interestingly, it is not the woman who is talking about it! Chinmayi reminds us why she was chosen as Samantha’s voice in Ye Maya Chesave!

6. Theme of Manmadha Banam
Devi Sri Prasad has been fully given freedom to come up with something that encapsulates the spirit of Manmadha Banam. Whether he does that or not, we’ll definitely know only after the movie releases. However, the music gives us hints at a certain foreign feel to it.

7. Manmadha Baanam
Artist : Devi Sri Prasad
Lyricist: Kamal Hassan

Finally, DSP comes up with a number that he is generally known for. Obviously it is a dance number, with funny lyrics by Kamal Hassan. After the seemingly different music this song will definitely leave you with a positive frame of mind about the album.

Final Point : The audio of Manmadha Banam isn’t for those who’d expect one dance number everyone, one item number, two romantic songs and a tragedy tune. However, anyone who has an ear for interesting lyrics, and has a positive frame of mind towards Kamal’s antics will definitely like it. Devi Sri manages it very well staying in the backdrop of his music, but he should definitely be appreciated for opening up a new side to him. It won’t be an exaggeration to say that this album has far more matured work from him than his earlier ones. Sooner or later he will thank Kamal for this album.