144 – Music Review (Tamil Movie Soundtrack)

144 tamil movie posterSongs and full credits at the end.

144 soundtrack begins with a Sean Roldan-brand ode to Lord Ganesha. Vinai Theerkum Pillayada starts with a classical solo on naadaswaram (“Injikkudi” Subramaniam) before the guitars + folk percussion combo kicks in that you just cannot help bobbing your head to. Mr. Subramaniam’s services are put to excellent use throughout the song (shades of Kharaharapriya and anandabhairavi ragas in places) playing a role almost as key as the chorus (Sathyaprakash, Shenbagaraj, Aravind Srinivas) backing the composer’s brilliant lead vocals. Sean is behind the mic for Poove Pooviname as well, joined by the talented Chinmayi, both of whom do an excellent job. The gorgeous melody sits on a bed of guitars and other plucked instruments (bass by Mani Anna, rest by Sean), while the ghatam (Praveen Sparsh) and the tantalisingly short naadaswaram interlude (sri raga from the sound) represent the other end of the spectrum with their earthiness. Kenathakaanum seems to take the now commonplace electronic-kuthu route, but is made engaging by the wacky aspect and some smart touches from the composer like “Trumpet” Babu’s solos. Anthony Daasan understandably has little difficulty with the singing, assisting him an effective cameo is Malavika Sundar.

Despite following a similar format as Kenathakaanum and maintaining similar energy levels (and even featuring similar instruments – naadaswaram by D Balasubramani instead of trumpet), Anthony Daasan’s second song Kaasu Kadacha Loose Pudikkum isn’t as effective, something about the tune that gets daunting on repeated hearings. The exotic sounding (Vijay Gopal’s flute and Praveen Sparsh’s darbuka mainly) techno-infused arrangement and the Tamil rap should have made Aaga a fairly engaging listen, except the incessant repetition of the aaha/aaga phrase is getting on my nerves. Good singing by Hariharasudhan; accented English and all. Araikudi Bharathi Ganeshan’s short social message (presumably against alcoholism) is given a simple, traditional tune by Sean and arranged in a retro fashion, dramatic pauses et al. Sombre nature of the tune (revathi raga) adds to the gravitas of the song, and Shenbagaraj’s singing is also equally impactful.

  1. 144. Over a year since his last soundtrack, Sean Roldan makes a strong return to the industry with an engaging soundtrack.

Music Aloud Rating: 8/10

Top Recos: Vinai Theekum Pillayada, Poove Pooviname, Kenathakaanum

Full Credits

SONG 1:

VINAI THEERKUM PILLAYADA – penned by KABILAN
Singers: Sean Roldan
Chorus: Sathyaprakash, Shenbagaraj, Aravind Srinivas.
Musicians:
Nadaswaram – “Injikkudi” Subramaniam
Percussions – John peter’s “Salangai Oli” percussion ensemble
Bass – Mani Anna
Additional rhythm programming – Ravi G
Mixed by: Abin Paul

SONG 2:

POOVE POOVINAME – Penned by SEAN ROLDAN
Singers: Sean Roldan, Chinmayi
Musicians:
Nadaswaram – “Injikkudi” Subramaniam
Percussions: Praveen Sparsh, Sean Roldan
Plucked Instruments: Sean Roldan
Bass – Mani Anna
Mixed by: Bob Phukan

SONG 3:

KENATHAKAANUM KENATHAKAANUM – Penned by VIVEK VELMURUGAN
Singers: Anthony Dasan, Malavika Sundar
Musicians:
Trumpet – “Trumpet” Babu
Electric guitar – Keba Jeramiah
Percussions – Lakshminarayanan & Lakshmikanth
Bass – Napier Naveen
Mixed by: Abin Paul

SONG 4:

VELAMARAPATTAYUM (A social message) – Penned by “ARAIKUDI” BHARATHI GANESAN

Singer – Shenbagaraj
Arranged by – Sean Roldan and Kishan Mohan
Mixed by: Abin Paul

SONG 5:

AAGAA – Penned by Vivek Velmurugan
Singers – Hariharasudhan
Chorus – Abhiram, S Raghavendra, Gowrishankar.
Musicians:
Music producer: Kishan Mohan
Keys: Sean Roldan
Flute – Vijay Gopal
Percussions & Electro Rhythm – Praveen Sparsh
Mixed by: Abin Paul

SONG 6:

KAASU KADACHA LOOSE PUDIKKUM

Singers- Anthony Dasan & Gowrishankar
Chorus – S Raghavendra, Abhiram, Gowrishankar, Susha
Musicians:
Percussions: Vikram Rozario & Venkat
Hand Cymbals: Praveen Sparsh
Nadaswaram – D Balasubramani
Electric and Electronic bass – Sooraj Kumarr
Mixed by: Bob Phukan

Artiste management & Co-ordination / Talent Scouting: M Srinivasa Goutham

Recorded at 20db sound studio, Aura studio, Voice and vision studio and Roldan Records.
Mixed by: Abin Paul and Bob Phukan.
Mastered by Andee (Florida, USA)
SOUND TRACK CREDITS:
ORCHESTRA (STRINGS):

MAD4STRINGS (The orchestra from Madrid, Spain)
Arranged by: Alvaro Dominguez and Kishan Mohan
Conducted by: Alvaro Dominguez
Recorded by: Luis
Special thanks : Carlos Martin (orchestra co-ordintion)

Banjo, Mandolin, Guitars and other plucked instruments:
Sean Roldan, Praveen Sparsh, Pradeep and Kishan

Chorus:
Gowri Shankar
Abhiram
S Raghavendra
Susha
Sudha
Harini

Associate music producer: Kishan Mohan
Additional layers: Ravi G
All scores composed by Sean Roldan.
All scores produced and mixed at Roldan Records, Chennai, India.
Rhythm sections:
Praveen, David Joseph, Venkat, Vikram Rozario,
Soundtrack editors:
Abin Paul, Praveen, and Kishan. Special thanks to editor Leo John Paul.

Songs and Soundtrack on Think Music India.

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