Maamannan (soundtrack)

Maamannan
Soundtrack album by
A. R. Rahman
Released1 June 2023
Recorded2022–2023
GenreFeature film soundtrack
Length34:27
LanguageTamil
LabelSony Music India
ProducerA. R. Rahman
A. R. Rahman chronology
Ponniyin Selvan: II
(2023) 		Maamannan
(2023) 		Pippa
(2023)
External audio
audio icon Official Audio Jukebox on YouTube
Singles from Maamannan
  1. "Raasa Kannu"
    Released: 19 May 2023
  2. "Jigu Jigu Rail"
    Released: 27 May 2023

Maamannan is the soundtrack to the 2023 Tamil-language political drama film of the same name directed by Mari Selvaraj and starred Vadivelu, and Udhayanidhi Stalin. The music and original score is composed by A. R. Rahman, replacing Selvaraj's norm composer Santhosh Narayanan, for their first-time collaboration. Lyrics for the songs were written by Yugabharathi, while one song was written by Arivu. The album was released on 1 June 2023 at an audio launch event held in Chennai.[1]

Background

Rahman, in an interview to The New Indian Express writer Chokita Paul, explained his stance on scoring Maamannan as it was "essential to venture beyond comfort zone" and attributed that the "emerging talents bring a fresh perspective to the table and possess a striking vision and an innovative approach to storytelling that invigorates him" calling it as a "liberating feeling", as the film discusses about several themes including inequality.[2] He began recording the score for the film on late-October 2022. In May 2023, Vadivelu had recorded a song for the film called "Raasa Kannu",[3][4] which released as a single on 19 May 2023.[5] Vadivelu also performed the song at the film's audio launch event.[6] While discussing with Selvaraj, Rahman had expected the music to be on the lines of Kizhakku Cheemayile (1993), however he asked him for a song that sounds similar to Bob Marley's "Zion Train", which resulted him to compose a reggae number "Jigu Jigu Rail". Since Selvaraj felt that the stories are not only meant for the people who are familiar with them, but also from foreigners to experience and understand them, and the effective tool when taking local stories to the world is music.[7]

Release

"Raasa Kannu" released as the first single on 19 May 2023, followed by "Jigu Jigu Rail" on 27 May.[8][9] The film's audio launch event was held on 1 June 2023 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai, with the presence of the cast and crew, along with noted celebrities such as Pa. Ranjith, A. R. Murugadoss, Mysskin, Pandiraj, H. Vinoth, Vijay Antony, Kavin, Kamal Hassan, Sivakarthikeyan, Vetrimaaran, S. J. Suryah, Pradeep Ranganathan, Soori, Vignesh Shivan and Boney Kapoor attending the event.[10][11] Rahman and his musical team performed the songs from the film live.[12]

A reprised version of the song "Nenjame Nenjame" performed by Deva, was released as a single on 12 July 2023.[13]

Track listing

No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Kodi Parakura Kaalam"YugabharathiKalpana Raghavendar, Rakshita Suresh, Deepthi Suresh, Aparna Harikumar4:00
2."Nenjame Nenjame"YugabharathiVijay Yesudas, Shakthisree Gopalan6:50
3."Utchanthala"YugabharathiDeepthi Suresh, Sireesha Bhaguvatula, Pavithra Chari4:59
4."Manna Maamanna"ArivuArivu3:36
5."Veerane"YugabharathiA. R. Ameen4:13
6."Raasa Kannu"YugabharathiVadivelu5:27
7."Jigu Jigu Rail"YugabharathiA. R. Rahman5:17
Total length:34:25
Bonus track[14]
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Nenjame Nenjame" (Reprise)YugabharathiDeva1:18
Total length:35:43

Reception

Vipin Nair of Music Aloud rated four stars out of five indicating "Rahman's incredible run of form continues" with this film.[15] Siddharth Srinivas of Only Kollywood highlighted it as "another solid offering from Rahman" giving 3.75 out of 5.[16] Gopinath Rajendran of The Hindu called the songs as "ear-pleasers" but criticized the background score as "tad underwhelming".[17] K. Janani of India Today claimed that "Being a rural film, Rahman, with his Western tunes, has given a new colour to the film."[18] Bharathy Singaravel of The News Minute commented that Rahman's "flawless music" complemented the cinematography, with the tracks "Raasa Kannu" and "Jigu Jigu Rail" being demanded "repeat listening".[19] Lakshi Subramaniam of The Week wrote "A.R. Rahman's background music is top-notch as it expresses the anger and pain within a man who is oppressed by societal norms."[20]

References

  1. ^ "Mari Selvaraj-Udhayanidhi Stalin's Maamannan tracklist is here". Cinema Express. Archived from the original on 8 June 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  2. ^ "A dance of Raasa: A R Rahman's new song from 'Maamannan'". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 7 August 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  3. ^ "Vadivelu lends his voice for a song in AR Rahman-Mari Selvaraj's 'Maamannan'". The Hindu. 8 May 2023. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 18 May 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  4. ^ "Vadivelu sings AR Rahman's composition for Maamannan". The Indian Express. 8 May 2023. Archived from the original on 10 May 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  5. ^ "Raasa Kannu song from Maamannan out". Cinema Express. Archived from the original on 7 August 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  6. ^ Scroll Staff (2 June 2023). "Watch: Actor Vadivelu and AR Rahman perform the song 'Raasa Kannu' in Chennai". Scroll.in. Archived from the original on 8 June 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  7. ^ "Mari Selvaraj Interview: Vadivelu suffers once again, but this time, we don't laugh". Cinema Express. Archived from the original on 28 June 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  8. ^ "First single 'Raasa Kannu' from 'Maamannan' sung by Vadivelu". The Times of India. 19 May 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 28 May 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  9. ^ Bureau, DT Next (27 May 2023). "AR Rahman's Reggae - A new classical combo in making". DT Next. Archived from the original on 27 May 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2023. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  10. ^ "Highlights from 'Maamannan' audio launch". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 25 June 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  11. ^ "'Maamannan' audio launch: Five highlights from the music celebration of this upcoming Vadivelu, Udhayanidhi-starrer". The Hindu. 2 June 2023. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 29 June 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  12. ^ "AR Rahman to perform live at Maamannan audio launch event". The News Minute. 30 May 2023. Archived from the original on 7 June 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  13. ^ ராணி, ஜான்சி (12 July 2023). "Nenjame Nenjame Song: தேனாக இனிக்கும் தேவாவின் குரலில் 'நெஞ்சமே..நெஞ்சமே.. வைரல் வீடியோ". ABP Live (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 13 July 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  14. ^ "Nenjame Nenjame (Reprise) [From "Maamannan"]". Spotify. 14 July 2023. Archived from the original on 10 August 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  15. ^ "Maamannan – Music Review (Tamil Movie Soundtrack)". Music Aloud. 25 June 2023. Archived from the original on 29 June 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  16. ^ Srinivas, Siddarth (3 June 2023). "Maamannan Songs Review". Only Kollywood. Archived from the original on 8 July 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  17. ^ "'Maamannan' movie review: Vadivelu and Fahadh Faasil's impeccable performances save Mari Selvaraj's weakest, politically-charged film". The Hindu. 29 June 2023. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 30 June 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  18. ^ "Maamannan Movie Review: Political correctness triumphs over story in Mari Selvaraj film". India Today. Archived from the original on 29 June 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  19. ^ "Maamannan review: Vadivelu is the soul of this superb Mari Selvaraj film". The News Minute. 29 June 2023. Archived from the original on 29 June 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  20. ^ "'Maamannan' review: Mari Selvaraj's take on social justice and discrimination lacks punch". The Week. Archived from the original on 14 July 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2023.