Neeye Oli

"Neeye Oli" (transl. You are the light) is the 2021 Tamil song composed by Santhosh Narayanan and Shan Vincent de Paul, who also recorded the track along with Navz-47; with lyrics for the track being written by Arivu and Shan Vincent de Paul. It is the second release from the upcoming studio album Made in Jaffna curated by Shan which was under production for four years. It released on 30 June 2021 by the music label/management Maajja, an independent platform launched by A. R. Rahman. The song is used as the theme track for Pa. Ranjith-directorial Sarpatta Parambarai.[1]

"Neeye Oli"
Single by Shan Vincent de Paul, Navz-47 and Santhosh Narayanan
from the album Made in Jaffna
LanguageTamil
Released30 June 2021 (Single)
16 July 2021 (Music video)
Recorded2017–2021
Studio
  • Future Tense Studios
  • Studio MOCA
GenrePop music, electronic dance music, rhythm and blues
Length3:57
LabelMaajja
Composer(s)Shan Vincent de Paul
Santhosh Narayanan
Lyricist(s)Arivu
Producer(s)Shan Vincent de Paul
Shan Vincent de Paul singles chronology
"Savage"
(2021)		 "Neeye Oli"
(2021)
Santhosh Narayanan singles chronology
"Enjoy Enjaami"
(2021)		 "Neeye Oli"
(2021)

Premise

The song was picturised on the character Kabilan (Arya), who had its share of ups-and-downs in his life, and eventually try to bounce back with all his might. While writing the song, Shan had found it "easy to connect with the song because it was reflective of his journey" and considered it as him channeling the inner Muhammad Ali.[2]

Production

The song was one of the two singles being released from Made in Jaffna, curated by Shan Vincent de Paul for four years. The album song also featured composer Santhosh Narayanan who also worked on the track, along with Navz-47, whom Shan collaborated in the 2019 single "Heaven" which is also released on the same album.[3] It also marked Santhosh's second release through the platform Maajja after the viral song "Enjoy Enjaami".[4]

The song was pitched during Shan's tour to Chennai in 2019, where he eventually met composer Santhosh Narayanan.[2] During the conversation, Santhosh sent the initial minutes of the song and told the idea and theme of this song, which Shan had liked it. The song marked their major collaboration for the album as Shan credited Santhosh that "he was the first major producer in India to bring him (Shan) into the Tamil music scene".[5] The song was synced to the Pa. Ranjith-directorial Sarpatta Parambarai, being one of the two songs from the film.[5][6]

Music video

"For me, the visual was more so giving people a glimpse of this world I’m constantly creating. I consider myself a world creator, my art is not necessarily limited to music. Visuals are as important as the music, fashion is as important. I wanted to create this world where the ancient past meets a sci-fi distant future filled with interesting diaspora characters with black and brown characters in avant-garde fashion. This surreal, magical sci-fi world is what I was going for, and I’m still creating visuals I’m working on now. That’s what I wanted to introduce people to. The other important thing for me is to highlight fashion in general [...] It’s important for me to highlight those two specifically in this video."

Shan Vincent de Paul about the music video of "Neeye Oli" and its themes.[6]

The music video for the single is directed by Shan Vincent de Paul and Kalainithan Kalaichelvan.[7] He added that "I wanted the aesthetic of this video to represent me and my collaborators, and fashion was that catalyst. This is Toronto meets Tamil Eelam. It's a place where couture meets the ancient past, avant-garde intersects with traditional gowns[...] it's the meeting point of all these different identities".[8] The video song was filmed at Studio MOCA, in order to create a "fantastical sci-fi world driven by fashion".[7] As of September 2021, the promotional video song of "Neeye Oli" featured about 2.8 million views in YouTube.[9]

The music video was nominated for the 2022 Juno Award for "Video of the Year".[10]

Film version

For the film Sarpatta Parambarai, Santhosh composed a different set of strophe without the rap versions crooned by Shan Vincent (in English) and Navz-47, but featured vocals by Santhosh himself, with Arivu writing the lyrics.[11] However, the original version was also featured in the end credits of the film.[12]

Track listing
  1. "Neeye Oli" (Original) by Shan Vincent de Paul, Navz-47 and Santhosh Narayanan – 3:57[9]
  2. "Neeye Oli" (Film Version) by Santhosh Narayanan – 4:28[13]

Rolling Stone cover issue

On 20 August 2021, the magazine Rolling Stone India published a cover edition for the month July 2021, featuring the singer Shan Vincent de Paul and Dhee, who gained immense popularity after the song "Enjoy Enjaami". However, Arivu, the co-contributor of these songs were not featured in the edition.[14] This gained the attention from Pa. Ranjith, who went on criticise the executives of the magazine and music platform Maajja, for failing to credit the lyricist and interviewing him.[15][16] Netizens pointed Arivu's erasure as a significant example of caste-based discrimination as he belonged to the marginalised Dalit community.[17]

Shan Vincent also came in support for Arivu, calling out Maajja for his removal, but also criticised Pa. Ranjith for creating a rift between the artists.[18][19] He released the rap song titled "Take Cover" which had verses criticising the director, for not including his version in the film Sarpatta Parambarai, and had denied composer Santhosh Narayanan's requests on his inclusion in the album.[20][21] Following the controversy, Rolling Stone India published another edition in August 2021, featuring Arivu and other artists, that following week.[22]

Noel Kirthiraj, CEO of Maajja, released a statement in response to the issue regarding Arivu's erasure, saying:[23]

The cover has nothing to do with the songs Enjoy Enjaami and Neeye Oli, but I understand the confusion as they were promoted along with it. When stories are written about Arivu and there is no mention of Dhee and Santhosh Narayanan, it is absolutely fine. Maajja’s intentions are quite clear and one thing Maajja won’t do is play politics or do something to please people."[24]

Personnel

Credits adapted from Maajja[13]

  • Shan Vincent de Paul – Vocalist, composer, album producer, lyricist
  • Santhosh Narayanan – Composer, album producer, playback singer, sound engineer (Future Tense Studios, Chennai)
  • Navz-47 – Playback singer
  • Arivu – Lyricist
  • Joseph Vijay – Guitar
  • RK Sundar – Sound engineer (Future Tense Studios, Chennai), percussions, drums
  • Sai Shravanam – Sound engineer (Resound India, Chennai), audio mixing, mastering
  • Pranav Muniraj – Additional programming, music supervision
  • Meenakshi Santhosh – Music co-ordinator

References
  1. "Pa Ranjith on Amazon Prime film Sarpatta Parambarai: 'It is my strongest work, one I'm really confident about'". Hindustan Times. 14 July 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  2. "Neeye Oli is me channelling Muhammad Ali: Shan Vincent De Paul - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  3. "Fierce and unfiltered: Toronto-based Tamil artist Shan Vincent de Paul's releases new single 'Savage'". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  4. "New platform maajja announces talents and plans for 2021". www.radioandmusic.com. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  5. "Neeye Oli by Shan Vincent de Paul, synced to Pa Ranjith's next release, is finally out!". www.indulgexpress.com. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  6. "Shan Vincent de Paul | "Neeye Oli," Fashion & Forthcoming Album 'Made In Jaffna'". Flaunt Magazine. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  7. "Rapper Shan Vincent de Paul dons director's hat with cinematic music video for his track 'Neeye Oli'". www.radioandmusic.com. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  8. "நீயே ஒளி: சந்தோஷ் நாராயணன் இசையமைப்பில் மாஜாவில் வெளியான பாடல் (விடியோ)". Dinamani (in Tamil). Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  9. Shan Vincent de Paul, Navz-47, Santhosh Narayanan - Neeye Oli (from Sarpatta Parambarai), retrieved 12 September 2021
  10. "2022 JUNO Award Nominees". The JUNO Awards. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  11. "Santhosh Narayanan's new track 'Neeye Oli' features Shan Vincent de Paul, Navz-47". The News Minute. 18 July 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  12. "Sarpatta Parambarai Movie Review: Ranjith's love letter to Ekalavya makes for compelling viewing". Cinema Express. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  13. Neeye Oli, retrieved 15 July 2021
  14. "Pa. Ranjith criticises Rolling Stone for excluding Arivu from its cover". The Indian Express. 24 August 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  15. Janani K. (23 August 2021). "Pa Ranjith calls out Rolling Stone and Maajja for sidelining rapper Arivu on magazine cover". India Today. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  16. TK, Smitha (24 August 2021). "AR Rahman's Maajja Criticised for 'Not Paying' Rapper Arivu for 'Enjoy Enjaami'". TheQuint. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  17. "The politics of convenience at the centre of Arivu's recent erasure". Firstpost. 30 August 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  18. TK, Smitha (27 August 2021). "Rapper Shan Vincent de Paul Hits Out at Pa Ranjith for Rift Among Tamil Artists". TheQuint. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  19. The Hindu Net Desk (26 August 2021). "Rolling Stone controversy: Canadian rapper Shan supports Arivu, criticises Pa. Ranjith". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  20. "Shan Vincent de Paul releases rap track criticising Pa Ranjith, accuses him of hypocrisy". Cinema Express. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  21. "Shan Vincent de Paul's new rap addresses social media abuse, accuses Pa Ranjith". The News Minute. 27 August 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  22. "Rolling Stone now features Arivu after last week's outrage!". Sify. Archived from the original on 27 August 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  23. TK, Smitha (27 August 2021). "'Won't Play Politics:' Maajja Responds to Rolling Stone Controversy on Arivu". TheQuint. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  24. Sudevan, Praveen (26 August 2021). "Arivu and Rolling Stone India controversy: Music platform maajja responds". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
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