I don't remember when I heard the malayalam songs last. Looking back last year I liked and bought only three albums - Vadakkumnathan, Chanthupottu and Ananthabhadram. Besides these all the music dished out in malayalam movies are pucca trashes. Except Vidyasagar, who became very choosy about Malayalam projects, nobody is good in Malayalam music industry among the current generation. With Raveendran Master passing away, gone are the days where Malayalam songs had melody, soul and sensitivity.
The problem is now no Malayalam movies do well in Kerala and all movies that run are Vijay & Surya's movies and Mamooty's movies that are made in Tamil formats. (Remember his "Thommanum Makkalum" was made as Majaa, recent hit "Rajamanickam" being remade with Sarath Kumar in Tamil) Since the movies are written with an eye on fancy priced remake rights & impressing Tamil, Telugu heroes, there is no nativity and utterly nonsense music that pains the ears in the name of "adipoli" songs, that get "inspiration" from Tamil & Telugu songs.
When the originals (Tamil & Telugu songs) are very much around why I need to hear the junk Malayalam copy songs? "Ee divasathil ettavum vrutthi ketta paattukkal Malayalathil undagunnatha.." (As of date the most shameless songs are what is done in malayalam). Previously while driving it was a pleasure to hear Malayalam FM channels Radio Asia 94.7 & Hit 96.7 FM, but I no longer hear those channels.
With "Ninne Pelladtha" rekindling the passion of Telugu movies all again, I am returning back to my first crush - Telugu songs. Even though I have been away for past 6-7 years, I have a fair idea of what is happening in Tollywood. There has been a shift in sound patterns and trends with rise of new talents like RP Patnaik, Mani Sharma and Devi Sri Prasad. No matter what happens or not, I can always fall back on one force to reckon with - M.M Keeravani (alias Maraghadamani in Tamil, a.k.a M.M Kreem in Hindi). When I wanted to restart hearing Telugu songs he was a best starting point all again. Right now I am hooked to his all girls album "Anukakonda Oka Roju", "Okkariki Okkaru (That impressed ShahRukh to sign him for his Paheli)" and evergreen "Maina".
Manisharma's old albums "Seenu", "Okkadu" and recent "Gudumba Sankar" , "Athadu" were very good while it is Devi Sri Prasad who surprised me with his series of hit scores in "Khadgam", "Manmadhudu", "Varsham" and "Shankardada MBBS". Now I am actively following Telugu songs. Among the new releases I liked "Jai Chiranjeeva" and "Andhrudu".
I no longer want to be associated or remembered as someone who had an obsession for Malayalam movies / songs. It is a distant past. I am very much happy with rediscovering Illayaraja's songs for melodies and Telugu songs for racy mubers. Atleast they are unapologetic and true to their styles & nativity. This honesty appealed me. Also I used to watch Malayalam movies for the beautiful heroines who were previously working in malayalam movies alone, but with the current scenario that whole of South India only they are ruling, why the hell should I touch Malayalam movies even with a barge pole?
