Songs and musician credits at the end.
Anwar Ali’s lines paint a nice picture of the protagonist Kuttan Pillai’s family and his love for jackfruit in Chakka Paattu (meaning jackfruit song), even featuring a handy listing of food items made from our state-fruit-to-be. If the lines weren’t colourful enough, the video (linked at the end) does an almost word-for-word depiction of the song! Adding to the delectable mix is Sayanora Philip’s folk melody (delivered in style by Sannidhanandan and RJ Nimmy), and a fine interweaving of the shingaarimelam (by Ponnan and team) and Rony George’s guitars. The use of guitars (coupled with something sounding like a rabab) is even better in Naadottukku, also written by Anwar Ali. It is Job Kurian heading the vocal department in this one, doing a fab job as usual, even as an ethereal turn the song takes in the second verse briefly showcases Prarthana Indrajith’s (daughter of actors Indrajith and Poornima) singing chops. Love the arrangement in this one – there is something very comforting about that rusty creak setting the rhythm.
The movie’s main man Suraaj Venjaramoodu turns singer with Ente Shivane (Ente Sivane is incidentally a phrase popularly associated with Suraaj, albeit with a humorous connotation unlike in this song) where Sayanora doubles up as lyricist as well. The dainty melody once again rides on a lovely strings base (Sandeep Mohan and Sonu Prasad on the plucked ones, Rithu Vysakh on violin) and that earworm of a whistle tune – combined effect of which is that at the end of it you are bound to feel as wistful as Suraaj sounds in the song, for the composition being so short. An alternate version of the track retains its soulful feel while replacing most of the background elements with electronic sounds. Sayanora herself handles the singing here; while it isn’t surprising that she does a better rendition of the song, it is Suraaj’s voice that seems to more sincerely convey Kuttan Pillai’s sorrow.
Kuttanpillayude Sivarathri. Malayalam has seen multiple playback singers turn composers in recent times; Sayanora Philip pulls off one of the best debuts among the lot. It helps, of course, that she has people like Yakzan Pereira, and Varkey (of Varkey and Friends) handling the production/mixing departments.
Music Aloud Rating: 4/5
Musician Credits
Song: Chakka Paattu
Music: Sayanora Philip
Lyrics: Anwar Ali
Singers: Sannidhanandan, RJ Nimmy
Music production: Yakzan Gary Pereira
Shingarimelam: Ponnan’s Shingarimelam and team
Guitars: Rony George
Recording Engineers: Nishanth (NHQ), Sai Prakash (My Studio)
Mixing Engineer: Shreeshankar (Muzik Ministry)
Mastering: Ben Feggans (Studios 301, Sydney)
Song: Shivane
Music & Lyrics: Sayanora Philip
Singer: Suraj Venjaramoodu
Music production and Mixing: Varkey
Guitars, Ukulele, Bass: Sandeep Mohan
Strings: Rithu Vysakh
Additional guitars: Sonu Prasad
Recording Engineer: Shreeshankar (Muzik Ministry)
Mastering: Ben Feggans (Studios 301, Sydney)
Studios: Varkey’s Station (Tvm), NHQ (Kochi), Collective Phase One Studio (Kochi), 2 Bar Q Studios (Chennai)
Song: Shivane Lounge Mix
Music, Lyrics & Singer: Sayanora Philip
Music production and Mixing: Varkey
Guitars, Ukulele, Bass: Sandeep Mohan
Recording Engineer: Shreeshankar (Muzik Ministry), Jithin (Collective Phase one)
Mastering: Ben Feggans (Studios 301, Sydney)
Studios: Varkey’s Station (Tvm), NHQ (Kochi), Collective Phase One Studio (Kochi), 2 Bar Q Studios (Chennai)
Song: Naadottuku
Music: Sayanora Philip
Lyrics: Anwar Ali
Singers: Job Kurian, Prarthana Indrajith
Music production: Yakzan Gary Pereira
Guitars: Rony George
Recording Engineers: Nishanth (NHQ), Sai Prakash (My Studio)
Mixing Engineer: Shreeshankar (Muzik Ministry)
Mastering: Ben Feggans (Studios 301, Sydney)
