Grandmaster – Music Review (Malayalam Soundtrack)

You can listen to the soundtrack here.

The unplugged-like interplay between the piano and strings leading to an explosive rock-base around the title hook – the arrangement of Doore Engo is strikingly familiar. But the hauntingness in the minimalist portions and the soul in Sanjeev Thomas’s rendition are good enough to mitigate the déjà vu.  Given how Deepak Dev used singer Krishnakumar in Puthiya Mukham (Yadukula Murali), it was with much hopes that I started listening to My Moment from the same combo. And the song does start well, Krishnakumar at his fluent best rendering what seems like another fusion song with some beautiful usage of veena et al. But halfway through the composer starts attempting to cram too many sounds into too little a space, turning the song into an incongruent mess. Akaleyo Nee borrows a lot of its feel-good-ness from the breezy touches that the composer provides in the interludes – particularly appealing being the harmonica et al, even as Vijay Yesudas does a neat execution of his part. Suchitra’s Aaraanu Nee falls victim to a dated template, though the lady does a killer rendition on her part. The Club Mix doesn’t improve matters either. The composer does bow out on a higher note though, with a lovely instrumental theme, something Deepak Dev has aced in the past too.

After an engaging score for Padmasri Bharat Dr. Saroj Kumar, passable fare from Deepak Dev for Grandmaster.

Music Aloud Rating: 6/10

Top Recos: Doore Engo, Akaleyo Nee, Theme