Velaikkaran song Iraiva: Anirudh Ravichander’s two-in-one song is about love and the lord

A still from Velaikkaran

Anirudh Ravichander’s latest song from Iraiva does sound like two songs merged into one. While the first is a plea call to the Almighty, the second acknowledges the existence of love. The problem with Anirudh’s tracks are that you don’t have anything to complain about at the same you don’t have much to marvel about. There is always a sense of deja vu that accompanies his songs; a sense of ‘why does this sound familiar’. But if you look closely, they aren’t the same but different versions of his earlier songs. With Iraivaa, you get a feel of “Neeyum Naanum” during the melodic section while the chorus has a mild touch from Vivegam album, thanks to the blaring guitars. However, that doesn’t make Iraiva a bad listen, it just isn’t jaw-dropping.

Iraiva’s lyrics, however, are fascinating. A call to the almighty, it describes the helplessness of the layman or Velaikkaran (worker) in this context. The verses for the lover are even more interesting. “Thoivuperum Kadhalil Aadambaram Pogalaam; Naan Virumbi Adaiyum Pon Silaiye, Siraiye” (In a love that reaches a lull, the exuberance in love might leave; You are a prison that I have reached voluntarily). In a cinematic world that constantly romanticises love, in a welcome change the sacrifices the characters make are conveyed.

Helmed by Mohan Raja, Velaikkaran features Sivakarthikeyan and Nayanthara in lead roles. The film also has Fahaadh Faasil, his first film in Tamil. Bankrolled by 24 studios, the film is set to release on December 22.