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{mosimage}When malayalam movie directors make their films in Tamil, they have one musical force to rely on according to their melody music tastes - none other than "Maestro" Illayaraja. Still we are being haunted and entertained by Fazil - Illayaraja combination that brought us many eternal scores like "Poove Poochooda Vaa" , "Kadahalukku Mariyadhai" and latest by "Oru Naal Oru Kanavu" irrespective of their box-office status. When Priyadarshan debuted in Tamil movies with "Gopura Vaasalile..", Illayaraja greeted him with some evergreen melodies. Now it is Malayalam script writer Lohitadas's turn to present with some Tamil melodies. Coming to Tamil "Kasthurimaan", most of the song situations are faithful to its original situations, one new song has been added. This is Meera Jasmine second chance of lip syncing to Illayaraja's songs.

1. Vaanin Kaadhal devadhai:- Kartik & Mathangi
This is the introduction song of Meera Jasmine as a bubbly and effervescent girl. The song celebrated romance and there is love and love... all over the song. E.g "Ingu pookkal poopadhe kaadhal solla thaan.... Ilaikal ellame kaadhal thoranam thaan... (Flowers are here to say love only). Illayaraja's composition takes a diversion towards a hardcore choir based western orchestration. Since this happens to be a campus song, there is ample scope for chorus renditions. Sung by Mathangi & Kartik, this song will echo in your heart even after you switched off the tape.

In Malayalam the song goes like this, "One Plus one.... two is Maths.. One plus One... one is love.." sung by "livewire" Jysotsana and MG Sreekumar. I simply love that song still and it is like a pop song. It was beautifully picturised one also and a delight to watch on screen. Meera Jasmine was ravishing in that one. Kunchacko Boban was simply cute and lovely with innocent face.
2. Ennai ketkum Kelviyai:- Tippu & Manjari
{mosimage}This situation goes like this Meera Jasmine pranks on the hero by an impromptu announcement that he'll be performing on stage. Hero is a violinist and starts with violin amidst the ragging whistles. The words come out of frustration saying Meera not to tease with him. I believe Lohitadas wanted the same pattern that there is a similiarity in Tamil and Malayalam versions. The songs is fast paced with heavy drum beats and programmed rhythms. Tippu has expressed the angst beautifully in his voice and Manjari just breaks in for a brief interlude as Meera's voice.

Rakkuyil Paadi - KJ Yesudas & Chitra sung beautiful number was in the original. In this song there is a small "keerthana" interlude like "Omkara pancharamura..." sung by Chitra. On screen it was so real as if Meera was singing for herself. The chorus parts were "inspired" by Mozart theme that is one of the famous Nokia ringtones.

3.Kekkalaiyo...:- Manjari (New situation in Tamil)
{mosimage}In Malayalam movie the milieu was of christian one. There is one situation in church when Meera & Kunchacko Boban exchange love stares at the church function. There was no song but beautiful BGM was there. I think a song had been composed by Dr. Illayaraja for that situation in Hindu set up Tamil. The orchestration is typically traditional and there is a divinity in the romance. It starts as "Oh! Shyama varna hare... Kekkalaiyo kekkalaiyo kannanathu gaanam, pookalaiyo pookalaiyo pookkal nenjil naanam, ennai vittu enge ponaalum intha ullam mattum unnai vittu engum pogaathu". It is like conveying love in the "bhajan" format which lends a dignity to the affair. Kannan Radhai backdrop is apt for conveying that longingness. Illayaraja's "blue eyed girl" Manjari and Tippu comes together for this number.

4. Nerthu varaikkum muzhicchu:- Sujatha
{mosimage}This situation goes like that when Meera hears the news that hero is coming back to see her after an year. It was a full fledged female solo that was rendered by Sujatha in both Tamil and Malayalam editions. This song is something like Illayraja's tribute to the songs of 1980's. The orchestrations are similiar and nice enough to make for a bed time listening. The lyrics were beutiful "Thandavaalathile kaadhu vacchu ketpein nee varum rayilu sattham kekkuthaannu..." I think this one line is enough to convey the essense of the whole song.

In malayalam Sujatha crooned as "Karkuzhali then kuruvi... kinnaram ketto nee (Oh! honey bird, did you hear my dreams?) for Meera's excitement towards her lover's arrival. It is one of my all time favourites and in this song only for the first time I saw Meera in all docile dresses I wanted to see - Paavadai Dhavani, Kasavu Set Mundu, Paavadai chattai.... In that way it still holds some sweet memories.

5. Oru Porkalam:- Tippu & Manjari

{mosimage}Karthik starts with his mesmerising voice "Oru Porkalam thodangum.... (Nice times will start)" and Manjari joins much later that their minds cometogether for what was not taught at class. Somewhere this song reminded "Ennai thaalatta varuvala..?" Since in the situation protagonists were in a kind of emotional states the song also takes a melody route to reach your hearts. A nice song to hear but the shelf life depends on its popularity after the movie being released.

Manjari is slowly becoming the voice of Meera Jasmine it seems. After the stupendous success of her songs in "Acchuvinte Amma" playbacking for Meera Jasmine, this is her second attempt in Tamil.

Azhage Kanmaniye... Meera Jasmine in orange churidar and Kunchacko Boban in maroon sherwani made a nice pair. In malayalam this song came at one of the most beautiful proposing scenes that malayalaee audiences have ever witnessed. Kunchacko Boban proposes Meera Jasmine and she breaks into tears gracefully sliding into his arms.

{mosimage}Since the Malayalam songs are still hot favourite to me, I think I couldn't judge the Tamil version immediately. I believe I am very much biased towards the Malayalam version because it has my all time favourites Kunchacko Boban in it. Also the chemistry between Kunchacko and Meera is terrific and doubtful whether Prasanna will match it in Tamil. First time when I heard I felt that Malayalam songs are better but after repeated hearing "Kekkalaiyo.. " slowly entered my heart followed by "Oru Porkalam" and "Vaanil kadha devadai.." respectively. I am humming some of these numbers unconsciously and I believe once the movie is released, the songs will become popular.