 Harris Jayaraj scores in Anniyan
 It's not easy to break free from a set of patterns, from a winning combination and strike a new path. In a sense, director Shankar took an enormous risk in opting out of the A R Rahman mode and seek a new music director. All said and done, Rahman's name still is a big draw for big music companies, his CDs still sell, although there is a decline in numbers, and film distributors tend to go for a film blindfold if AR provides the music.
Shankar, in fact, could not afford to take risks in the wake of the 'Boys' fiasco. Rahman's numbers were on top of the charts even with 'Boys'. So, there was no reason to seek new pastures.
MGR went along with Devar Films' choice of K V Mahadevan in the 'Th' series, while the Sivaji-Viswanathan Ramanurthy combine worked magic in the 'Pa' series.
Bharatiraaja-Ilayaraja-Vairamuthu was a winning combination for over five years, while Sridhar-MSV-Kannadasan was a formidable trio too.
In Hindi films, Raj-Mukesh-SJ-Shailendra wove magic while Rajendra Kumar and Shankar Jaikishen too churned hit after hit.
So, why change when we have something good going? Unless there are problems of compatability and a change is necessitated. As has happened in the past. Perhaps, Rahman could not provide the time sought by Shankar.
Whatever be the reason, Shankar gambled on a new music director for his next film 'Anniyan'.
 The end product? Shankar couldn't have asked for more. Harris has done a commenable job with some peppy numbers and a couple of good melody numbers too. The pick of the songs is Shankar Mahadevan's 'Kumari' (Vairamuthu), a take-off on Tyagaraja Bhagavathar. There couldn't have been a better choice for this song than Shankar Mahadevan and Harini (this girl has come to acquire a reputation for melodious numbers in classical style).
Vairamuthu is at his naughtiest best -
"Andha Kadavulai Vidavum Periyavan Oruvan Boomiyil Ullavan Evan?
Penn Kangalai Paarthu Kaadhalai Sollum Dhairiyam Ullavan Avan!"
The other enchanting number is the Hariharan-Harini duet 'Ayyangaru Veettu Azhage'. Vairamuthu's power of imagination and ability to link two streams of thought in a few simple lines are evident in the following lines:
"Ayyangaru Veettu Azhage;
Un Pola Azhagi
Pirakkavumillai
Inimel Piranthaal
Adhu Nam Pillai"
(Oh beautiful Iyengar girl - the world has not seen a beauty of your kind;
If the world sees another beauty in future, it will be our child!)
The other songs have some trendy music and lines from Kabilan and Na
Muthukumar.
'Kannum Kannum Nokia, Nee Kollai Kollum Mafia, Capucchino Coffeeya, Tofeeya' of Kabilan will be a surefire hit with the youth in particular. Sung by Leslie Lewis, Vasundhra Das and Andrea, words like Cool Honey, Apple Laptop, Atom Bomb, Cyanide Vizhiyaal, Top 10, Octopus Viralgal, dominate the song.
'Kaadhal Yaanai' is another catchy number from Na Muthukumar, sung by Nakul, Melwyn and G V Prakash. Obviously, Shankar feels that with the success of 'Shakalaka Baby', the trend in Tamil films is Tanglish. So, you have words like Sten Gun Remo, Heartil Ringtone Remo, Kind Cobra Remo, and Ramp Walk
Remo.
'Andagkaakaa' has a delightful cocktail from Vairamuthu, drawing on his rich experience of folk and nativity themes (sung by Jassie Gift, KK, Shreya Goshal and Saindhavi). 'Tent Kotta Interval Murukke...Randakka...Randakka' is an example of how Vairamuthu can create a feeling of nostalgia even while sitting in an air-conditioned cabin in a metropolis.
 There is a Western-style number too from Sunitha Sarathy (Stranger in Black).
Harris Jayaraj has proved yet again that he is quite at home handling different styles of music in a single film, and even within a same song.
For those who wonder if music, which has always been a strongpoint of Shankar's films, will be a let-down in 'Anniyan' with Rahman absent, they have nothing to fear. Harris Jayaraj has done a tremendous job, knowing the requirements of Shankar and his brand of film-making.
Knowing Shankar, the songs will sound even better in the theatres, with some rich visuals backing them.
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R Rangaraj
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