"Pathala Pathala" is an Indian Tamil-language song composed by Anirudh for the soundtrack of Vikram. The song was written and sung by Kamal Haasan[2] The song lyrical version was released on 11 May 2022 through the record label Sony Music India,[3] while the full video song was released on 1 July 2022.

"Pathala Pathala"
Single by Kamal Haasan
from the album Vikram
LanguageTamil
Released11 May 2022
Recorded2022
Studio
Length3:33 (lyrical version)
2:49 (video version)[1]
LabelSony Music India
Composer(s)Anirudh
Lyricist(s)Kamal Haasan
Vikram track listing
  1. "Pathala Pathala"
  2. "Vikram Title Track
  3. "Wasted"
  4. "Porkanda Singam"
  5. "Once Upon A Time"

The song was also released in Telugu as "Mathuga Mathuga", with lyrics written by Chandrabose[4] and in Hindi as "Badle Badle" with lyrics written by Raqueeb Alam which features an extended demo with rap verses performed by Raftaar[5] and Haasan too sang himself for the dubbed versions also.[6] Haasan revealed the song as "one of his favourites from the album".[7]

Composition edit

Both Anirudh and Kamal have collaborated for Indian 2, although the film is yet to be released.[8] As a result, this marks the first collaboration of Anirudh with Kamal, and also marks his second collaboration with Lokesh Kanagaraj after Master.[9][10] Kamal himself wrote the lyrics after previously doing the same for so many of the songs like "Raja Kaiya Vacha" and "Sandhu Pottu".[11]

According to reports, it is a kuthu number, also featuring lines about politics and social issues.[12] The lyrics of the song are in Madras Tamil slang.[13] The song was recorded during May 2022 at Anirudh's Albuquerque Records studio in Chennai.[14]

Music video edit

The song features Haasan dancing for the song. The song was choreographed by Sandy Master, and was shot at the outskirts of a railway station in Chennai.[15][16]

Records edit

The first single "Pathala Pathala" received several million views with 770K+ likes and was the most viewed song on YouTube and has also been trending on the top.[17][18]

Release and reception edit

The lyrical version was released on 11 May 2022 and opened to a rousing response from audiences.[19][20] The full video song was released on 1 July 2022.[21][22]

Reviewing about the song Daily News and Analysis wrote that: "Kamal Haasan's vocals with music director Anirudh's composition have struck the cord straight into the heart of actor fans". It also praised Haasan's hook step performed in the track, which adds "a massy feel to the song".[23] Manoj Kumar R. of The Indian Express wrote "'Pathala Pathala' again shows Kamal’s command over Madras’ slang, something which he had perfected during his collaboration with late iconic screenwriter Crazy Mohan. The song is riddled with expletives that are very native to the slang and packs some political commentary which we have come to associate more with Kamal since his debut in electoral politics."[13]

The News Minute, stated Kamal Haasan's rendition of "Pathala Pathala" in the Madras slang, makes reminiscent of the actor's previous songs "Kandasamy Madasamy" from Pammal K. Sambandam (2002) and "Alwarpetta Aandava" from Vasool Raja MBBS (2004).[24] Siddharth Srinivas of OnlyKollywood reviewed it as "a stylish album, packed with energetic tracks that would be a feast on screen". He further picked "Pathala Pathala", "Porkanda Singam" and the film's title track as his favourite picks and gave a three-and-a-half rating to the album.[25]

Controversy edit

A day after the first single "Pathala Pathala" was released, on 12 May 2022,[17] a police complaint was filed against the track and its singer-lyricist Kamal Haasan, by social activist named Selvan, claiming that the song mocks the Central government, by referring them as "thieves" and depicts their management of COVID-19 and its funds in the exchequer in a negative light, concerning that the lyrics might instigate caste-related conflicts.[26][27][18] He also claimed that, a petition will be filed at the High court to stall the film's release, if the objectionable lyrics were not removed.[28] In an interview with India Today, Kamal Haasan stated that:

"Every Union government should be [targeted], whatever party it belongs to. The state should look at it and comment, critique it. That's democracy. Any government, anybody, whichever party it is. I am centrist. So I will think like that and you must let that kind of thinking grow. That's a quality of leadership, to take criticism when it comes and check it out whether it's justifiable instead of just quashing or silencing it."[29][30]

Track listing edit

The track "Pathala Pathala" was released as "Mathuga Mathuga" in Telugu (lyrics written by Chandrabose),[31] and in Hindi as "Badle Badle" (lyrics written by Raqueeb Alam).[32]

Digital download
  1. "Pathala Pathala" (Tamil) - 3:33[33]
  2. "Mathuga Mathuga" (Telugu) - 3:33[31]
  3. "Mathu Padaikel" (Malayalam) - 1:59[citation needed]
  4. "Mathile Mathile" (Kannada) - 1:59[citation needed]
  5. "Badle Badle (Rap Extended Version)" (Hindi) - 4:20[32]

References edit

  1. ^ Pathala Pathala Video | Vikram | Kamal Haasan | Anirudh Ravichander | Lokesh Kanagaraj, retrieved 1 July 2022
  2. ^ "'Pathala Pathala' from Vikram: Kamal Haasan back into the Kuthu mode". The Times of India.
  3. ^ "Kamal Haasan's Vikram first single release date out". Cinema Express.
  4. ^ "Lyrical Video of Mathuga Mathuga, 1st Telugu Single From Kamal Haasan's Vikram, Out". News18. 28 May 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  5. ^ "Kamal Haasan's Badle Badle rap version from Vikram OUT! Fans say, 'This man and his talent is endless'". Zoom TV. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  6. ^ "Kamal Haasan slays with vocals in Hindi single 'Badle Badle' from 'Vikram: Hitlist'".
  7. ^ "Kamal Haasan talks about his favourite song in Vikram". Behindwoods. 1 June 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  8. ^ "Vikram star Kamal Haasan is 'eager' to start Indian 2, shares crucial update on Shankar's film". DNA India. 18 June 2022.
  9. ^ "Lokesh Kanagraj's 'Vikram' audio to be launched in UAE". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  10. ^ "'Vikram is a fanboy sambavam'". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  11. ^ "Kamal Haasan pens a Kuththu song for 'Vikram'". The Times of India. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  12. ^ "Kamal Haasan goes Thara Local in politically charged 'Pathala Pathala' song from 'Vikram'". IndiaGlitz.com. 11 May 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  13. ^ a b "Vikram song Pathala Pathala: Kamal Haasan's rocking 'Madras' slang is the highlight". The Indian Express. 11 May 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  14. ^ K., Janani (10 May 2022). "Kamal Haasan sings Pathala Pathala song for Lokesh Kanagaraj's Vikram. Anirudh Ravichander shares pics". India Today. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  15. ^ "Pathala Pathala Vikram's first single opens to rousing response". DT next. Archived from the original on 28 May 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  16. ^ "Kamal Haasan Starrer Vikram's First Single 'Pathala Pathala' Out". news.abplive.com. 11 May 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  17. ^ a b "Vikram: Complaint filed against Kamal Haasan's Pathala Pathala for taking on Union Government". Cinema Express. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  18. ^ a b "Kamal Haasan's 'Pathala Pathala' lyrics land the actor in trouble; Police case filed against him".
  19. ^ "Pathala Pathala (From "Vikram") - Jiosaavn".
  20. ^ "Vikram's first single Pathala Pathala is out promising Kamal Haasan's impressive Madras slang".
  21. ^ "Pathala Pathala video from Kamal Haasan's Vikram is out sans controversial part".
  22. ^ "Pathala Pathala Video | Vikram | Kamal Haasan | Anirudh Ravichander | Lokesh Kanagaraj", Times of India, retrieved 1 July 2022
  23. ^ "Vikram song Pathala Pathala: Kamal Haasan's vocals, Anirudh Ravichander's music is a lethal combo". DNA India. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  24. ^ "Watch: Kamal Haasan's fun-filled track Pathala Pathala from Vikram is out". The News Minute. 12 May 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  25. ^ "Vikram Songs Review". Only Kollywood. 16 May 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  26. ^ "Complaint alleges Kamal Haasan's new song from Vikram insults Union govt". The News Minute. 13 May 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  27. ^ "Vikram: Complaint filed against Kamal Haasan's song Pathala for its controversial lyrics". Firstpost. 14 May 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  28. ^ Athimuthu, Soundarya (12 May 2022). "First Single of Kamal Haasan's 'Vikram' Courts Controversy; Here's Why". The Quint. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  29. ^ Patel, Dipali (27 May 2022). "Kamal Haasan says India has forgotten the word 'tolerant', reacts to Vikram's Ondriyam controversy". India Today. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  30. ^ Kamal Haasan Speaks About His New Movie Vikram, 'Ondriyam' Controversy & Cannes 2022, retrieved 27 May 2022
  31. ^ a b Vikram Hitlist Telugu - Mathuga Mathuga Lyric | Kamal Haasan | VijaySethupathi | AnirudhRavichander, retrieved 27 May 2022
  32. ^ a b Badle Badle (Rap Extended Version) | Vikram | Kamal Haasan | Anirudh | Raftaar | Vijay Sethupathi, retrieved 31 May 2022
  33. ^ VIKRAM – Pathala Pathala Lyric | Kamal Haasan | Vijay Sethupathi | Lokesh Kanagaraj | Anirudh, retrieved 11 May 2022

External links edit