Vaanam (soundtrack) explained

Vaanam (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Type:soundtrack
Artist:Yuvan Shankar Raja
Cover:Vaanam (soundtrack).png
Released:30 March 2011
Recorded:2010–2011
Venue:Prasad Studios, Chennai
Genre:Feature film soundtrack
Length:23:25
Language:Tamil
Label:Venus Music
Producer:Yuvan Shankar Raja
Prev Title:Kadhal 2 Kalyanam
Prev Year:2011
Next Title:Jolly Boy
Next Year:2011

Vaanam is the soundtrack album composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja for the 2011 Tamil film of the same name directed by Krish and stars Silambarasan, Bharath, Anushka Shetty, Santhanam, Sonia Agarwal and Saranya Ponvannan. The film featured five songs with the lyrics of Silambarasan, Yuvan, Abhishek–Lawrence and Na. Muthukumar.

The song "Evan Di Unna Pethan" was released as the lead single from the album on 1 December 2010 and achieved significant commercial success. It received widespread popularity amongst youngsters while also drawing notable attention and criticism for its lyrics. The album was released on 30 March 2011 through the Venus Music label to positive reviews from critics.

Background

Yuvan Shankar Raja was assigned to score music for Vaanam; he previously scored for Silambarasan's Manmadhan (2004), Vallavan (2006) and Silambattam (2008) whose albums being chartbusters. Silambarasan wrote lyrics for the song "Evan Di Unna Pethan", an "international level club mix" number that blended Tamil and English lyrics written by the composer himself.[1] The composer duo Abhishek–Lawrence wrote and performed the song "Cable Raja";[2] the remaining tracks are written by Na. Muthukumar. Yuvan and Simbu went to Bangkok in early 2010, to compose the songs for the film.[3]

Release and marketing

Single

See main article: Evan Di Unna Pethan. In an attempt to popularize the film and its music, the team launched the song "Evan Di Unna Pethan" as a single from the album.[4] According to Sify, it was the first time, a single was released ahead of the film's audio launch.[5] An event was supposed to be held at London on 17 October 2010, to release the single,[6] but after numerous complications and delays,[7] it was officially unveiled on 1 December 2010 at the Citi Center, Chennai.[8] The song achieved massive popularity amongst youngsters and set tremendous records in sales and digital downloads.[9] [10] A Hindi version of the song was composed under the title "Kaun Hai Baap Tera", featuring Silambarasan in his Bollywood debut.[11] [12]

Music launch

The album was launched on 30 March 2011 at the Residency Towers in Chennai with the attendance of the cast and crew.[13]

Reception

The soundtrack received positive reviews from music critics. Pavithra Srinivasan of Rediff gave a two and a half out of five rating and said "Like some of Yuvan's most recent albums, Vaanam too, scores in some areas: the number Vaanam and Who am I. The rest fall into the Yuvan template, while the appeal of Evandi Unnai Pethan is almost purely its in-your-face lyrics. For those who hoped for melodious numbers, this one might prove a dampener".[14] Vipin Nair of Music Aloud rated 6.75 out of 10 to the album and wrote "Yuvan Shankar Raja sticks to the regular Simbu template in Vaanam's soundtrack as well but fails to match the usual quality."[15]

In contrast, R. Richard Mahesh of Behindwoods rated three out of five stars and wrote "Vaanam can be regarded as one of the Yuvan’s better compositions and it is sure to make high waves now."[16] Karthik Srinivasan of Milliblog wrote "Despite all drawbacks, Vaanam remains a very listenable soundtrack".[17] Malathi Rangarajan of The Hindu wrote "Thought-provoking lyrics from Na. Muthukumar (‘Who Am I?' in particular) and Yuvan Shankar Raja's foot-tapping score are the other accentuating features."[18] Sify wrote "Music of Yuvan is just ok, but it is the background score which keeps you hooked to the narration."[19]

Impact

Following the success of "Evan Di Unna Pethan", filmmakers and music directors capitalized on the resurging trend of releasing singles before the music launch.[20] [21] Yuvan followed the similar strategy for Mankatha (2011),[22] with Vijay Antony did the same for his film Naan and Dharan Kumar for Podaa Podi (both 2012), also starring Silambarasan.[23] [24]

Controversy

Despite its success, the song "Evan Di Unna Pethan" faced opposition for its lyrics.[25] [26] A women's right organization in Chennai issued a statement against Silambarasan for the lyrics being "chauvinistic" and "demean women",[27] and demanded to censor the song, albeit several prominent people from the film industry came in support for the actor.[28] The debate against the misogynistic lyrics saw a resurgence after the Swathi murder case,[29] [30] with activists and cinephiles who speculated that the cinematic portrayals of women and romance in Tamil films deemed to be unrealistic and dangerous for women in real life situations.[31] [32] In May 2017, a video was published by three women police offers expressing their awareness about misogyny in films and used a snippet of the song "Evan Di Unna Pethan".[33] [34] [35] The song "Evada Unna Petha" from the C. S. Amudhan-directorial Tamizh Padam 2 (2018) was named after this song and considered to be a spoof on it as well as the other "soup songs" in Tamil films.[36] [37]

Notes and References

  1. News: 2010-11-14 . Yuvan's track will rock: Simbu . 2010-12-12 . The Times of India.
  2. Web site: 2010 . Vaanam . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240406101133/https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/vaanam/OjNQhgXVw8A_ . 6 April 2024 . 4 October 2024 . JioSaavn.
  3. News: 20 October 2011 . Kollywood: Not on track . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131206100902/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-10-20/news-interviews/30302357_1_composers-music-audio-labels . 6 December 2013 . 19 November 2011 . . Yuvan Shankar Raja and Simbu went to Bangkok to compose for Vaanam.
  4. Web site: 3 October 2010 . Yuvan's Vaanam single track . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101007062915/http://sify.com/movies/yuvans-vaanam-single-track-news-tamil-kkgu7chbhcj.html . 7 October 2010 . 30 November 2010 . Sify.
  5. News: 2010-12-01 . Yuvan's single track for Vaanam . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110811185047/http://www.sify.com/movies/yuvan-s-single-track-for-vaanam-news-tamil-kl2kUcjdeej.html?scategory=tamil . 2011-08-11 . 2010-12-12 . Sify.
  6. Web site: 'Vaanam' audio on Oct 17 from London - Tamil Movie News . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101016232927/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/60826.html . 16 October 2010 . 2012-02-15 . IndiaGlitz.
  7. News: 19 October 2010 . Vaanam's audio launch postponed! . dead . https://archive.today/20120723233320/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-10-19/news-interviews/28256962_1_vaanam-producer-ganesh-visa . 23 July 2012 . 16 September 2011 . The Times of India.
  8. Web site: 2010-12-01 . Single special . live . https://archive.today/20241017083212/https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2010/Dec/01/single-special-207333.html . 2024-10-17 . 2024-10-17 . The New Indian Express . en.
  9. Web site: 2011-03-05 . Vaanam is on Cloud nine! . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110304195144/http://www.sify.com/movies/vaanam-is-on-cloud-nine-news-tamil-lddvE0gheid.html . 2011-03-04 . 2012-02-15 . Sify.
  10. News: 2010-12-27 . 'Vaanam'for Valentine's Day . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101228202341/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/62600.html . 28 December 2010 . 2010-12-27 . IndiaGlitz.com.
  11. News: 2011-03-09 . Simbu is busy with music video! . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20120603130754/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-03-09/news-interviews/28672142_1_song-music-channels-music-video . 2012-06-03 . The Times of India.
  12. Web site: 2011-03-10 . Simbu rocks in Mumbai . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121011034328/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/tabloids/simbu-rocks-mumbai-975 . 11 October 2012 . 2012-02-15 . Deccan Chronicle.
  13. News: 1 April 2011 . A star-studded music launch of 'Vaanam' . dead . https://archive.today/20120708114630/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-03-23/regional/29177288_1_vaanam-yuvan-shankar-raja-music . 8 July 2012 . 1 May 2011 . The Times of India.
  14. Web site: 15 April 2011 . Review: Vaanam music has mixed appeal . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20110829084753/http://www.rediff.com/movies/review/music-review-vaanam/20110415.htm . 29 August 2011 . 18 August 2011 . Rediff.com.
  15. Web site: Nair . Vipin . 2011-04-01 . Vaanam (Tamil Movie) – Music Review . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20140331183423/https://www.musicaloud.com/2011/03/23/vaanam-tamil-movie-music-review/ . 2014-03-31 . 2024-10-16 . Music Aloud.
  16. Web site: Mahesh . R. Richard . 2011-03-30 . Vaanam Music Review . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20110804062231/https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-music-reviews/review-1/mar-11-04/vaanam-music-review.html . 2011-08-04 . 2024-10-16 . Behindwoods.
  17. Web site: Srinivasan . Karthik . 2011-03-30 . Vaanam (Music review), Tamil – Yuvan Shankar Raja . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170616100323/https://milliblog.com/2011/03/21/vaanam-music-review-tamil-yuvan-shankar-raja/ . 2017-06-16 . 2024-10-17 . . en-US.
  18. News: Rangarajan . Malathi . 2011-05-01 . Stars stomp the sky – Vaanam . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110503142054/http://www.hindu.com/cp/2011/05/01/stories/2011050150050200.htm . 3 May 2011 . 18 August 2011 . .
  19. Web site: Vaanam – Review . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140130052925/http://www.sify.com/movies/vaanam-review-review-tamil-14968580.html . 30 January 2014 . 18 August 2011 . Sify.
  20. News: 2011-10-10 . Kollywood's 'single' success . live . https://archive.today/20241016173803/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/kollywoods-single-success/articleshow/10298769.cms . 2024-10-16 . 2024-10-16 . The Times of India . 0971-8257.
  21. Web site: 2020-08-31 . Happy birthday Yuvan Shankar Raja: 15 songs that prove why he is the most versatile composer ever . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220126151809/https://www.newindianexpress.com/galleries/entertainment/2019/Aug/31/happy-birthday-yuvan-shankar-raja-15-songs-that-prove-why-he-is-the-most-versatile-composer-ever-102500.html . 2022-01-26 . 2024-10-16 . The New Indian Express . en.
  22. Web site: Janani . K. . 2011-05-10 . Just one song of Mankatha . https://web.archive.org/web/20110514174955/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/showbiz/kollywood/just-one-song-mankatha-574 . 2011-05-14 . 2011-05-20 . Deccan Chronicle.
  23. Web site: Kumar . S. R. Ashok . 2012-08-04 . Audio Beat: Naan . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20121012073433/http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article3727593.ece . 2012-10-12 . 2012-08-18 . The Hindu.
  24. Web site: 2012-09-08 . Simbu does it again . 2024-10-17 . The New Indian Express . en.
  25. News: 2021-03-28 . 5 times when lyrics in Tamil film songs courted controversy . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230924060805/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/5-times-when-lyrics-in-tamil-film-songs-courted-controversy/photostory/81726633.cms . 2023-09-24 . 2024-10-17 . The Times of India . 0971-8257.
  26. Web site: 17 February 2022 . Chennai High Court Quashes Beep Song Case Against Tamil Actor Silambarasan . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20241007010753/https://www.news18.com/news/movies/chennai-high-court-quashes-beep-song-case-against-tamil-actor-silambarasan-4783079.html . 7 October 2024 . 4 October 2024 . News18.
  27. Web site: Murali . Divya . Iniyan . Kollywood's brush with controversy . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20110506163244/https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-slide-shows/movie-4/controversy-films/vaanam.html . 2011-05-06 . 2012-02-15 . Behindwoods.
  28. Web site: Rajagopal . Srinidhi . 14 March 2011 . Simbu, controversy's child? . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110517164001/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/tabloid/chennai/simbu-controversy%E2%80%99s-child-989 . 17 May 2011 . 15 February 2012 . Deccan Chronicle.
  29. Web site: Vangal . Uma . 2016-07-09 . Swathi murder: Tamil cinema is a convenient villain, the roots of violence lie elsewhere . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221014091541/https://scroll.in/reel/811452/swathi-murder-tamil-cinema-is-a-convenient-villain-the-roots-of-violence-lie-elsewhere . 2022-10-14 . 2024-10-17 . Scroll.in . en.
  30. Web site: 30 June 2016 . Swathi was not the first...and she will not be the last . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210723185209/https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2016/jun/30/Swathi-was-not-the-first...and-she-will-not-be-the-last-886618.html . 23 July 2021 . 26 December 2023 . The New Indian Express.
  31. Web site: Rajendran . Sowmya . 3 July 2016 . Glorifying stalking and violence, when will Kollywood end this Kolaveri? . https://web.archive.org/web/20231027192652/https://www.thenewsminute.com/features/glorifying-stalking-and-violence-when-will-kollywood-end-kolaveri-45845 . 27 October 2023 . 26 December 2023 . The News Minute . en.
  32. Web site: Srivatsan . 12 October 2016 . Sivakarthikeyan's Remo to Dhanush's Kolaveri Di: When will Tamil cinema bid goodbye to misogyny? . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210721084449/https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/standpoint/story/remo-review-sivakarthikeyan-dhanush-kolaveri-di-simbu-beep-song-346113-2016-10-12 . 21 July 2021 . 21 July 2021 . India Today.
  33. Web site: 2017-05-04 . Tamil Nadu female cops release video condemning misogynistic portrayal of women in Indian movies . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20201112025629/https://www.indiatoday.in/watch-right-now/video/tamil-nadu-female-police-officers-sexist-portrayal-of-women-in-movies-sons-847859-2017-05-04 . 2020-11-12 . 2024-10-17 . India Today . en.
  34. Web site: Upadhyaya . Prakash . 4 May 2017 . These Lady IPS officers want 'misogynist' film industry to behave: Are Dhanush, Simbu, Sivakarthikeyan, GV Prakash listening? . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210525005945/https://www.ibtimes.co.in/these-lady-ips-officers-want-misogynist-film-industry-behave-are-dhanush-simbu-725426 . 25 May 2021 . 10 January 2021 . ibtimes.co.in . en.
  35. Web site: Staff . T. N. M. . 2017-05-03 . Filmmakers need to step up: Three women TN IPS officers take on misogyny in cinema . live . https://archive.today/20241017083144/https://www.thenewsminute.com/tamil-nadu/filmmakers-need-step-three-women-ips-officers-take-misogyny-cinema-61412 . 2024-10-17 . 2024-10-17 . The News Minute . en.
  36. Web site: Aiyyappan . Ashameera . 2018-03-08 . Tamizh Padam 2.0 song Evada Unna Petha: We finally get the soup song for women . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180411042051/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/tamizh-padam-2-0-song-evada-unna-petha-5090550/ . 2018-04-11 . 2024-10-17 . The Indian Express . en .
  37. Web site: Scroll Staff . 2018-03-08 . 'Tamizh Padam 2.0' song 'Evada Unna Petha' is an ode to the 'soup girls' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190903093656/https://scroll.in/reel/871232/tamizh-padam-2-0-song-evada-unna-petha-is-an-ode-to-the-soup-girls . 2019-09-03 . 2024-10-17 . Scroll.in . en.

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