Alai Payuthey (soundtrack)
Alai Payuthey is the soundtrack album, composed by A. R. Rahman, to the 2000 Indian Tamil film of the same name. The soundtrack album consists of nine tracks in original Tamil version of the albums whereas the Telugu version of the album has seven tracks. The soundtrack of Alaipayuthey was unanimously hailed as a Mani Ratnam film soundtrack turning for rhythmic fusion using modern synthesizers. A film, initially planned with film score, the recording of the songs eventually took place.
| Alai Payuthey | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Soundtrack album by | ||||
| Released | 12 January 2000 | |||
| Recorded | Panchathan Record Inn, Chennai | |||
| Genre | Feature film soundtrack | |||
| Length | 47:45 (Tamil) 36:14 (Telugu) | |||
| Language | Tamil Telugu | |||
| Label | Sa Re Ga Ma Star Music Cee (I) TV Audio | |||
| Producer | A. R. Rahman | |||
| A. R. Rahman chronology | ||||
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The soundtrack was well received by the audience and received a number of awards held in the subsequent year.[1] The original soundtrack sold over six lakh cassettes, and A. R. Rahman won the Filmfare Award for Best Music Director in 2000.[2][3] The film score achieved cult status after the release of the film.[4]
Development
Initially, director Mani Ratnam wanted A. R. Rahman to compose only the film score. However, by the end of filming, nine songs were recorded.[5] The lyrics of the track "Pachchai Nirame" are based on colours.[5] The track is influenced by the instrumental works of Kitaro. The song is based on the raga "Kharaharapriya" and brings out the relaxing effect by using the facets of the musical scales.[6] Cinematographer P. C. Sreeram used different color lenses as per the lyrical lines while filming this track.[7] The song uses reverberating effect throughout its length.[1] However, Rahman used light percussion, gently strummed acoustic guitars and layered the acoustic and synthesized versions of the same instrument.[1] Additionally, the track has sounds of flute, violins and percussions.[1] For Pachchai Nirame, Rahman ensured to use the timbres effectively[1] so that the picturisation of the song matches to the tune. The track was filmed at Taj Mahal, village, lake, forests of Kashmir.[1] The track "Snegithane Snegithane" is an ode by a wife to the husband. The track is based on the Shringaar rasa.[5] "Snegithane Snegithane" has a video edit version, with additional opening vocals by Ustaad Rashid Khan. The video edit version was released only as a bonus track on the soundtrack and cassettes of Alaipayuthey (Original version) and not on Sakhi (Telugu dubbed version). However, the video edit version was used in all the three film versions. "Kaadhal Sadugudu" consists guitar riffs, based on the IndiPop[8] and coming of age genre.[5] The song was regarded as 'Beach Song' by Ratnam.[9] The track "September Maadham" is a funky[8] track, loosely based on fast-paced R. D. Burman music.[5] "Yaaro Yarodi" is a rustic number that blends of folk instrument sounds appearing intermittently.[5] The track was used in the 2008 film The Accidental Husband.[10] "Maangalyam" song consists of nuptial mantras interspersed with lyrics of "Endrendrum Punngai".[8] The title track "Alaipayuthey" was originally composed by the Carnatic music composer Oothukkadu Venkata Subbaiyar, who also set it to the raagam 'Kaanada'.[5] Rahman added additional beats to the track.[5] The track "Evano Oruvan" which has an Egyptian base to its composition.[5]
Singer Bombay Jayashri recorded for the film score. Rahman made her sing the raag Sindhu Bhairavi for half an hour whose portions were used in a scene when the lead actress was hospitalized in the film.
Critical response
Original version
Critic based at The Hindu asserted, "A. R. Rahman's numbers are already a hit – be it "Pachchai Niramae'' zestfully rendered by Hariharan or the melodious "Snegithanae'' or "Yaaro Yaarodi''. Now they come with added flavour in the form of excellently captured visuals and scenic presentations."[11] However, the song "September Madham'' was criticized to obstruct the smooth flow of scenes with music.[11] Methil Renuka of India Today praised the music of the film, calling it 'great'.[12]St. Louis International Film Festival, critic Rich Cline called the music exuberant and colourful.[13] Based on the 5.1 surround DVD release, James Grey stated, "The soundtrack is obviously heavily dubbed, which is not the disk's fault, and while the music doesn't have particular weight it comes across nicely enough. the music surprisingly (to me, anyway) accessible (with one tune going round my head even now)."[14]
Track list
Original version
All lyrics by Vairamuthu, except track "Alaipayuthey", written by Oothukkadu Venkatasubba Iyer and rap portion of "Endrendrum Punngai" written by Praveen Mani.[15] The order of track listing is according to the music cassette or soundtrack CD. The order of tracks in the listing differs in the digital download websites.
| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Endrendrum Punnagai" | Clinton Cerejo, Srinivas, Shankar Mahadevan, A. R. Rahman | 4:00 |
| 2. | "Pachchai Nirame (Sakiye)" | Hariharan, Clinton Cerejo | 5:21 |
| 3. | "Kadhal Sadugudu" | S. P. B. Charan, Naveen | 4:35 |
| 4. | "Evano Oruvan" | Swarnalatha | 5:56 |
| 5. | "Alaipayuthey" | Harini, Kalyani Menon, Neyveli Ramalakshmi | 3:34 |
| 6. | "Snegithane Snegithane" | Sadhana Sargam, Srinivas | 6:05 |
| 7. | "Maangalyam" | Clinton Cerejo, Srinivas, A. R. Rahman | 1:41 |
| 8. | "Yaro Yarodi" | Mahalakshmi Iyer, Vaishali Samant, Richa Sharma | 5:46 |
| 9. | "September Madham" | Asha Bhosle, Shankar Mahadevan | 5:08 |
| Total length: | 42:52 | ||
| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10. | "Snegithane Snegithane (Film version)" | Ustad Sultan Khan, Sadhana Sargam, Srinivas | 4:53 |
| Total length: | 47:45 | ||
Telugu
All lyrics by Veturi. The order of track listing is according to the digital download websites.
| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Kailove Chedugudu" | Naveen, S. P. B. Charan, A. R. Rahman | 4:38 |
| 2. | "Snehithuda" | Sadhana Sargam, Srinivas | 6:07 |
| 3. | "Yede Yedeydey" | Sujatha, Subha, Vaishali | 5:49 |
| 4. | "September Maasam" | Shankar Mahadevan, S. Janaki | 5:11 |
| 5. | "Alai Pongeraa" | Harini, Kalpana, Kalyani Menon | 3:38 |
| 6. | "Kalali Poyenu" | Swarnalatha | 5:59 |
| 7. | "Pachhadanamey" | Hariharan, Clinton Cerejo | 5:21 |
| Total length: | 36:14 | ||
Album credits
Credits adapted from A. R. Rahman's official website.[17]
Original
Backing vocals: Dominique Cerejo, Clinton Cerejo, Srinvas, Febi, Noell James, Kanchana, Ganga, Chandran, Sriram
Personnel
- Flute: Naveen kumar
- Guitar: Kabuli
- Nadaswaram: Vasu
- Bass guitars: Keith Peters
- Veena: Vishwamohan Bhatt
- Sarangi: Ustaad Sultan Khan
Hindi Version
Backing vocals: Karthik, Tipu, Chandran, Clinton Cerejo, Raqeeb Aalam, Febi, Feji, Poornima
Personnel
- Flute: Naveen
- Bass guitars: Keith Peters, Viji
- Dilruba: Saroja
- Sarangi: Ustaad Sultan Khan
Additional programming: Pravin Mani (for the tracks "O Humdum Suniyo Re" and "Chori Pe Chori")
Strings conducted by V. J. Srinivasamurthy
Additional sound design: H. Sridhar
Sound Engineers, H. Sridhar, S. Sivakumar
References
- Booth, Gregory D.; Shope, Bradley (1 January 2014). More Than Bollywood: Studies in Indian Popular Music. OUP USA. ISBN 9780199928859.
- Kamath, Vinay (25 August 2000). "Gramophone pitch gets louder in the South – Acquires rights for Telugu songs from Sea Records". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Archived from the original on 4 February 2014.
- "The Hindu : Trophy time for tinseldom". www.thehindu.com. Archived from the original on 13 January 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- Ramnath, Nandini. "'Mozart from Madras': New documentary celebrates AR Rahman". Scroll.in. ScrollIn. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
- "Mani Ratnam's films musically::Situations and Raagas::Mani Ratnam with Ilayaraja and A R Rahman". geocities.ws. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
- "A Raga's Journey – Kingly Kharaharapriya". The Hindu. 13 April 2012. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
- "THE ONE AND ONLY MANI RATNAM – Tamil Movie Visitor Coloumn – Mani Ratnam | Sridhar | Bharathiraja | Manisha Koirala". www.behindwoods.com. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
- "Chords & Notes". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 12 March 2003. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
- "Weaving emotions into celluloid". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 16 October 2014. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
- "Hollywood gets at-tuned to Bollywood". mid-day. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
- "Film Review: Alaipayuthey". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 12 January 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
- "Movie reviews of Alaipayuthey; Stuart Little; and Uttara : SOCIETY & THE ARTS – India Today". indiatoday.intoday.in. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
- "Shadows on the Wall: FILM FESTIVAL REVIEWS". shadowsonthewall.co.uk. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
- "Alai Payuthey | DVD Review | Film @ The Digital Fix". Film @ The Digital Fix. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
- "An interview with composer / Musician Pravin Mani".
- "Sakhi (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)". iTunes (India). Retrieved 31 October 2015.
- "ALAIPAYUTHEY – A. R. Rahman – The Official Site". arrahman.com. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
