'Makalkku' strikes poignant, cohesive tunes

Film: "Makalkku"; Music: Ramesh Narayan; Lyrics: Kaithapram; Director: Jayaraj; Music Co: Manorama Music

Director Jayaraj seems to have got out of his Jassie Gift hangover after the resounding failure of their last partnership "Rain, Rain, Come Again".

There was nothing wrong with the music of "Rain, Rain..." which came soon after the success of "4 the People". It was Jayaraj's misguided intention to cash in on the phenomenon of composer Jassie that ruined the final product. And the director seems to have learnt his lessons fast.

So for his latest venture "Makalkku", an offbeat subject about a mentally ill woman's daughter brought up by the authorities of a mental asylum, he has roped in Kerala's own exponent of Hindustani music, Ramesh Narayan. The film features Suresh Gopi, Sobhana and Baby Rehana.

Ramesh Narayan gives cohesiveness to the album without resorting to gimmickry or technical wizardry.

The album begins with a soft lullaby, "Chanjaadiyaadi", rendered by none other than Adnan Sami (the jacket of the album prominently says 'Adnan Sami First Time in Malayalam'). The Sami rendition leaves a lot to be desired. The same lullaby is repeated on Side B with the female voice of Gayatri, bringing out the musical scope offered by Kaithapram's lyrics.

The second song of the album is "Mukilin Makalayi", rendered poignantly by Manjari.

Then there is a poem, "Idavamasa Perumazha", by Anil Panachooran in the voice of another poet, Balachadran Chullikkad. This poem can be said to be the summary of the film. It is repeated on Side B in a child's voice (Dhanu Jayaraj), which helps nail the theme further in the conscience of the listener.

Jassie is not totally left out in the cold. He sings a fun song "Paavakali" along with Baby Madhusree Narayan. Fun songs with kids have become a norm in Malayalam films and this album does not buck the trend.

The culmination of this album is Urdu ghazal "Baharon Ko Chaman", penned by Rifat Sultan and in the voice of Hariharan. Ghazal aficionados may remember it in the voice of maestro Ghulam Ali, but Hariharan succeeds in giving it a distinct feel.

"Makalkku" certainly lacks the mass appeal of Jayaraj's previous albums. Composer Ramesh Narayan, a disciple of Pandit Jasraj, however, ensures the music's appeal for the lay listener by avoiding an excessive use of heavily classical notes.

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Makalkku