Malaikottai Vaaliban is the soundtrack to the 2024 Malayalam-language film of the same name directed by Lijo Jose Pellissery and stars Mohanlal. A joint production of John & Mary Creative, Century Films, Maxlab Cinemas and Entertainments, Yoodlee Films and Amen Movie Monastery, the film's musical score and soundtrack were composed by Prashant Pillai and lyrics written by P. S. Rafeeque, Preeti Pillai and Varun Grover. The soundtrack was released by Saregama on 18 January 2024.
Malaikottai Vaaliban | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ||||
Soundtrack album by | ||||
Released | 18 January 2024 | |||
Recorded | December 2022–November 2023 | |||
Studio | ||||
Genre | Feature film soundtrack | |||
Length | 28:47 | |||
Language |
| |||
Label | Saregama | |||
Producer | Prashant Pillai | |||
Prashant Pillai chronology | ||||
|
Background
editPellissery's norm collaborator Prashant Pillai—who had worked on all of the director's films, excluding Churuli (2022)[a] and Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam (2023)[b]—had scored music for Malaikottai Vaaliban; it is also Pillai's maiden collaboration with Mohanlal.[1] The film features eight songs in both Malayalam and Hindi-languages. Screenwriter P. S. Rafeeque contributed for the lyrics in the Malayalam-language, while the Hindi lyrics were written by Preeti Pillai and Varun Grover. Besides composing, Pillai arranged and programmed the songs. The initial compositions for four of the tracks—"Punnara Kattile Poovanatthil", "Raakk", "Thaayum", and "Ezhimala Kottayile"—were composed by Rafeeque and later directed by Pillai.[2]
Pillai produced most of the songs in Canada, while the recording happened mostly in India across Kochi, Gurgaon and Pune. In a Facebook post, he revealed that it took him nearly a year to score music for the film, throughout December 2022–November 2023.[2]
Marketing and release
editMalaikottai Vaaliban's soundtrack preceded with four singles. The first of them—the instrumental theme used in the film teaser—was released as a single on 7 December 2023.[3] The second song "Punnara Kattile Poovanatthil", a romantic number, was released on 15 December, with a music video accompanying the track.[4][5] The third song "Raakk" was released on 22 December, with a lyrical video also released on the same date as the single.[6] The video featured snippets of a group of travellers carousing in a rest house with Mohanlal (who also sang the track).[7][8] The fourth song "Madabhara Mizhiyoram" was released on 8 January 2024.[9][10]
The film's soundtrack was released digitally on 18 January 2024 through the Saregama label,[11] whereas it was physically launched a day later, at an event held in Kochi with the presence of the film's cast and crew.[12]
Track listing
editNo. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Singer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Malaikottai Vaaliban Teaser Theme" | Prashant Pillai | 1:00 | ||
2. | "Punnara Kattile Poovanatthil" | P. S. Rafeeque | Prashant Pillai, P. S. Rafeeque | Shreekumar Vakkiyil, Abhaya Hiranmayi | 3:10 |
3. | "Raakk" | P. S. Rafeeque | Prashant Pillai, P. S. Rafeeque | Mohanlal | 2:50 |
4. | "Madabhara Mizhiyoram" | P. S. Rafeeque | Prashant Pillai | Preeti Pillai | 3:02 |
5. | "Thaayum" | P. S. Rafeeque | Prashant Pillai, P. S. Rafeeque | Palakkad Sreeram | 4:58 |
6. | "Ezhimala Kottayile" | P. S. Rafeeque | Prashant Pillai, P. S. Rafeeque | Preeti Pillai | 4:46 |
7. | "Madabhare Naina" (Female) | Preeti Pillai | Prashant Pillai | Preeti Pillai | 2:59 |
8. | "Madabhare Naina" (Male) | Preeti Pillai | Prashant Pillai | Suresh Wadkar | 2:59 |
9. | "Shabnami" | Varun Grover | Prashant Pillai | Sherrin Varghese, Mano, Prashant Pillai | 3:00 |
Reception
editPrincy Alexander of Manorama Online wrote Prashant Pillai's music is "perfectly blend in with the mood of the narrative".[13] Latha Srinivasan of Hindustan Times complimented Pillai for the "rich cultural elements" in the music production and instrumentation.[14] S. R. Praveen of The Hindu described the music as "catchy" and "immense repeat value".[15] Janani K. of India Today wrote that Pillai's music "elevates the sequences and gives the much-needed hype in many important sequences".[16] Hari P. N. of Koimoi said the music "ignites the film's narrative" and "harmonizes with the story’s mood effortlessly", but was also critical on its lack of impact needed to "forge a profound emotional connection with the characters or the narrative".[17] Nirmal Jovial of The Week praised the background score being "outstanding in places" but criticized the songs as they were "not memorable" and "irrelevant".[18] Anandu Suresh of The Indian Express wrote Pillai's music sets the "perfect tone" and evokes the "atmosphere of spaghetti Western films".[19]
Notes
edit- ^ composed by Sreerag Saji (score only)
- ^ The film did not feature the use of background music and mostly consisted natural sounds
References
edit- ^ Nagarajan, Saraswathy (23 January 2024). "Malayalam director Lijo Jose Pellissery interview: Mohanlal's 'Malaikottai Vaaliban' narrates a universal story". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 24 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ a b "Prashant Pillai speaks about composing the music for 'Malaikottai Vaaliban'". The Times of India. 24 January 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 25 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ "Malaikottai Vaaliban Teaser Theme (From Malaikottai Vaaliban)". Spotify. 7 December 2023. Archived from the original on 25 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ ETimes.in (15 December 2023). "'Punnara Kattile Poovanatthil' song from Mohanlal's 'Malaikottai Vaaliban' exudes an old-world charm". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 18 December 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
- ^ "Punnara Kattile Poovanatthil song from Malaikottai Vaaliban is out". Cinema Express. 15 December 2023. Archived from the original on 25 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ Entertainment Desk (22 December 2023). "Raakk: New song from Mohanlal's Malaikottai Vaaliban is a frenzy-inducing number". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 8 January 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
- ^ "Malaikottai Vaaliban New Single OUT: Mohanlal croons for a folk-styled song called Raakk". Pinkvilla. 22 December 2023. Archived from the original on 1 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ "Malaikottai Valiban's New Song Raakk Out: Mohanlal's Voice Adds Oomph To This 'Thumping Number'". News18. 23 December 2023. Archived from the original on 30 December 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ "Madabhara Mizhiyoram, song from Malaikottai Vaaliban, will be released tomorrow". Cinema Express. 7 January 2024. Archived from the original on 25 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ Menon, Akhila (8 January 2024). "Madabhara Mizhiyoram – Mohanlal unleashes his romantic side in Malaikottai Vaaliban's third single". OTTPlay. Archived from the original on 25 January 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
- ^ "Malaikottai Vaaliban (Malayalam)". Spotify. 18 January 2024. Archived from the original on 25 January 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
- ^ Janam Web Desk (18 January 2024). "Big update: Audio launch for "Malaikottai Vaaliban" film to be held tomorrow at Kochi". Janam TV. Archived from the original on 25 January 2024. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
- ^ "'Malaikottai Vaaliban': Visual extravaganza, not strong storyline, holds this LJP film". Manorama Online. Archived from the original on 25 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ "Malaikottai Vaaliban movie review: Mohanlal is the backbone of this fantasy entertainer". Hindustan Times. 25 January 2024. Archived from the original on 25 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ Praveen, S. R. (25 January 2024). "'Malaikottai Vaaliban' movie review: Lijo Jose Pellissery and Mohanlal's epic is nowhere closer to the sum of its parts". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 25 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ K., Janani. "'Malaikottai Vaaliban' Review: Mohanlal's superhero-like act saves the day". India Today. Archived from the original on 25 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ P. N., Hari (25 January 2024). "Malaikottai Vaaliban Movie Review: Technical Brilliance Overshadowed By Weak Plot". Koimoi. Archived from the original on 25 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ "Malaikottai Vaaliban review: A bout with boredom". The Week. Archived from the original on 25 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ "Malaikottai Vaaliban movie review: Mohanlal enters the Lijo Jose Pellissery world where the real and unreal blend, but not marvellously". The Indian Express. 25 January 2024. Archived from the original on 25 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.