Mankatha (soundtrack)

{{Infobox album

| name = Mankatha

| type = Soundtrack

| artist = Yuvan Shankar Raja

| cover = Mankatha (soundtrack).jpg

| border = yes

| alt =

| caption = Original CD cover

| released = 10 August 2011

| recorded = 2010–2011

| venue =

| studio =

| genre = Feature film soundtrack

| length = 38:51

| language = Tamil

| label = Sony Music India

| producer = Yuvan Shankar Raja

| prev_title = Avan Ivan

| prev_year = 2011

| next_title = Panjaa

| next_year = 2011

| misc = {{Singles

| name = Mankatha

| type = soundtrack

| single1 = Vilaiyaadu Mankatha

| single1date = 20 May 2011

}}

Mankatha is the soundtrack album, composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja, to the 2011 film of the same name, directed by Venkat Prabhu starring Ajith Kumar. The album features eight tracks, with lyrics penned by Vaali, Gangai Amaran, and Niranjan Bharathi.{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/62433.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101219130715/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/62433.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 December 2010 |title=Bharathiyar's kin in 'Mankatha' - Tamil Movie News |website=IndiaGlitz |date= |accessdate=2011-08-23}} Following a number of postponements,{{cite web|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news-1/jul-11-04/mankatha-yuvan-shankar-raja-26-07-11.html |title=The Wait For Mankatha Goes On - Mankatha - Yuvan Shankar Raja - Ajith - Venkat Prabhu - Trisha - Arjun - - Tamil Movie News |website=Behindwoods.com |date=2011-07-26 |accessdate=2011-08-23}}{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/mankatha-audio-release-confirmed-news-tamil-lh1pKcdaaed.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728005411/http://www.sify.com/movies/mankatha-audio-release-confirmed-news-tamil-lh1pKcdaaed.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2011-07-28 |title=Mankatha audio release confirmed |website=Sify |date= |accessdate=2011-08-23}} it was finally released on 10 August 2011 by Sony Music India.

The soundtrack was described as a "mélange of techno, melody, a couple of duets and a mass song".{{cite web|title=FIR on 'Mankatha' music|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/69003.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024025818/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/69003.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 October 2012|work=Indiaglitz.com|accessdate=25 July 2011}} The album features eight tracks, including one Theme music track and one club mix.{{cite web|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news-1/mar-11-02/mankatha-ajith-14-03-11.html |title=Mankatha Songs Ready! - Mankatha - Ajith - Trisha - Yuvan Shankar Raja - Venkat Prabhu - Tamil Movie News |website=Behindwoods.com |date=2011-03-14 |accessdate=2011-08-23}} The first track of the album, "Vilaiyaadu Mankatha" was launched as a single release in mid-May 2011, three months prior to the soundtrack release.{{cite web|url=http://behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news-1/may-11-03/ajith-mankatha-19-05-11.html |title=Mankatha's Spectacular Solo Number - Ajith - Mankatha - Venkat Prabhu - Yuvan Shankar Raja - Tamil Movie News |website=Behindwoods.com |date=2011-05-19 |accessdate=2011-08-23}}

Production

In mid-October 2010, during Navratri, Yuvan Shankar Raja started composing the first tunes for the film.{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/60741.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101013023717/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/60741.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 October 2010 |title=Yuvan starts playing 'Mankatha' - Tamil Movie News |website=IndiaGlitz |date= |accessdate=2011-08-23}}{{cite web|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news-1/oct-10-03/mankatha-ajith-yuvan-shankar-raja-12-10-10.html |title=Mankatha - Tamil Movie News - Mankatha first tune! - Mankatha | Ajith | Yuvan Shankar Raja | Venkat Prabhu |website=Behindwoods.com |date=2010-10-12 |accessdate=2011-08-23}} The "introduction song" of Ajith Kumar, "Vilaiyaadu Mankatha", for which he had taken "special care",{{cite web|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news-1/oct-10-03/yuvan-mankatha-14-10-10.html |title=Mankatha - Tamil Movie News - Yuvan's second tune for Mankatha - Mankatha | Yuvan Shankar Raja | Ajith | Venkat Prabhu |website=Behindwoods.com |date=2010-10-14 |accessdate=2011-08-23}} and the item number song "Machi Open The Bottle...", labelled as a "mass song", were recorded first. In March 2011, sources claimed that a song titled "Vaada Bin Lada" was recorded with Krish and Suchitra,{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/64678.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110310133927/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/64678.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 March 2011 |title=Bin Laden in 'Mankatha' - Tamil Movie News |website=IndiaGlitz |date= |accessdate=2011-08-23}} which was called a "funky techno duet" and referred to as the "present day version" of the song "Sorgame Endralum", while Yuvan Shankar Raja described it as a "futuristic duet". The song's basic tune was based on the Carnatic raaga Madhuvanti.{{cite news|title=Twice as nice|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/twice-as-nice/article4081104.ece|work=The Hindu|date=9 November 2012 |accessdate=10 March 2013}} Later that month, Venkat Prabhu made an announcement via Twitter, disclosing that the soundtrack album would consist of nine tracks, including one promotional track, one theme music track and one club mix, further adding that six songs had been composed and three out of them recorded already.{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/64895.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110316180232/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/64895.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 March 2011 |title=Yuvan's 'Mankatha' music all set to rock - Tamil Movie News |website=IndiaGlitz |date= |accessdate=2011-08-23}}{{cite tweet|number=47194915934978048|user=vp_offl|title=Six songs composed!!! Three songs recorded!!There will be a promo song!!! One club mix and a mankatha theme music!! 9tracks!! U1 rocks!! |date=14 March 2011}} The remaining songs were recorded from mid-June only,{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/mankatha-delayed-news-news-lgrlyjjfgfb.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110618143729/http://www.sify.com/movies/mankatha-delayed-news-news-lgrlyjjfgfb.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2011-06-18 |title=Mankatha delayed? |website=Sify |date=2011-06-17 |accessdate=2011-08-23}} with Yuvan Shankar Raja informing the following month, that he had scrapped one of the songs, since he was not satisfied with its tune, and composed a new song, starting from scratch.{{cite web|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news-1/jul-11-03/mankatha-yuvan-shankar-raja-21-07-11.html |title=Yuvan – The Reason For Mankatha Audio Launch Delay - Mankatha - Yuvan Shankar Raja - Ajith - Tamil Movie News |website=Behindwoods.com |date=2011-07-21 |accessdate=2011-08-23}}

Reports in July 2011 revealed that the album would feature two more duets; "Nee Naan", which was sung by S. P. B. Charan and Yuvan Shankar Raja's sister, Bhavatharini,{{cite web|title=Bhavatharini sings again for Ajith|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news-1/aug-11-01/bhavatharini-ajith-05-08-11.html|website=Behindwoods.com|accessdate=23 August 2011}} while Madhushree and Yuvan Shankar himself had sung the other one titled "Nanbane". The song "Nee Naan" was revealed to be the replacement for the scrapped song, which Yuvan Shankar Raja had composed within ten minutes of time,{{cite web|year=2011 |title=The wait is over for 'Mankatha' - IG's exclusive tidbits on each song |website=IndiaGlitz.com |url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/69596.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120427192302/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/69596.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 April 2012}} with the composer going to pick that song as his favorite from the album.{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/others/news-interviews/Mankatha-audio-launch/articleshow/9562887.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120923130835/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-08-11/news-interviews/29875481_1_idhu-semma-hot-machi-yuvan-listeners |url-status=live |archive-date=2012-09-23 |title=Mankatha audio launch! |date= 2011-08-11|work=The Times of India |access-date=2011-08-23}} Karthik and Vijay Yesudas had performed another song in the album, titled "Balle Lakka", which also features vocals of Anusha Dhayanidhi, wife of producer Dayanidhi Azhagiri, debuting as a playback singer.{{cite web|title=FIR on 'Mankatha' music|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/69230.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111016002222/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/69230.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 October 2011|work=Indiaglitz.com|accessdate=25 July 2011}} She was persuaded into playback singing by Venkat Prabhu who had seen her performing on her wedding reception and was impressed by her voice.{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-07-30/news-interviews/29832559_1_mankatha-song-wedding-reception |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106002152/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-07-30/news-interviews/29832559_1_mankatha-song-wedding-reception |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-11-06 |title=Ajith gets a Ballelakka! |date= 2011-07-30|work=The Times of India |accessdate=2011-08-23}}{{cite web|title=They know their game|url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/showbiz/kollywood/they-know-their-game-161|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011205959/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/showbiz/kollywood/they-know-their-game-161|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 October 2012|publisher=Deccan Chronicle|access-date=23 August 2011}} The planned promotional track was excluded from the album in last minute.{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/68949.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726014632/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/68949.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 July 2011 |title='Mankatha' - Audio alert - Tamil Movie News |website=IndiaGlitz |date= |accessdate=2011-08-23}} Earlier reports suggesting that one of the song would feature Yuvan Shankar along with his father Ilaiyaraaja's vocals, and that Andrea Jeremiah had sung another song,{{cite web|year=2010 |title=Yuvan sings with dad for first time |website=IndiaGlitz.com |url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/60835.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101017011346/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/60835.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 October 2010}} turned out to be false. Further Venkat Prabhu disclosed that S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and Shankar Mahadevan were approached to render one number in vain, with the former declining, explaining that the song was too high-pitched for his voice, and the latter being unavailable.{{cite web|url=http://indiainteracts.in/videos/64463/Mankatha-Exclusive-Venkat-Prabhu-Interview.html |title=Mankatha Exclusive: Venkat Prabhu Interview videos |publisher=Indiainteracts.in |date= |accessdate=2011-08-23}} The "Machi Open The Bottle..." song and the club mix of "Vilaiyaadu Mankatha" were notably orchestrated by Venkat Prabhu's brother Premji Amaran.{{cite web|title='Machi open the bottle...' for 'Mankatha'|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/68193.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110703062337/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/68193.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 July 2011|work=Indiaglitz.com|accessdate=3 August 2011}} The theme music was revealed to be inspired from a song by 50 Cent, with Prabhu and Yuvan Shankar adding that due credits had been given in the film.

Besides, Vaali and Gangai Amaran, who usually write lyrics for Venkat Prabhu's films, renowned poet Subramanya Bharathi's great great grandson, Niranjan Bharathi had penned one song ("Nee Naan"), becoming his first work in a feature film.{{cite news|last=Raghavan|first=Nikhil|title=Itsy Bitsy|url=http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article2330555.ece|publisher=thehindu.com|accessdate=23 August 2011|location=Chennai, India|date=2011-08-06}} The music rights were sold to Sony Music Entertainment who had reportedly offered {{INR}} 1 crores.{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/yuvan-s-mankatha-audio-to-rock-news-tamil-ldpjJeeciii.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110318055158/http://www.sify.com/movies/yuvan-s-mankatha-audio-to-rock-news-tamil-ldpjJeeciii.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2011-03-18 |title=Yuvan's Mankatha audio to rock |website=Sify |date= |accessdate=2011-08-23}}

Release

The release of the soundtrack album was initially scheduled for 1 May 2011, coinciding with Ajith Kumar's birthday,{{cite news| url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/A-bday-gift-for-Thala/articleshow/7814209.cms | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915014443/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-03-29/news-interviews/29357006_1_50th-film-ajith-gift | url-status=live | archive-date=2012-09-15 | work=The Times of India | title=A b'day gift for Thala! | date=2011-03-29}} but had to be postponed to mid-May,{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/sony-music-snatches-mankatha-news-tamil-leonlXehhaj.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110417093548/http://www.sify.com/movies/sony-music-snatches-mankatha-news-tamil-leonlXehhaj.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2011-04-17 |title=Sony Music snatches Mankatha! |website=Sify |date= |accessdate=2011-08-23}} which too was missed, with the launch being pushed back to June.{{cite news|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news-1/apr-11-04/ajith-mankatha-22-04-11.html | title=Mankatha postponed!|website=Behindwoods|date=22 April 2011|accessdate= 22 April 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news-1/may-11-03/mankatha-ajith-18-05-11.html |title=More Updates On Mankatha Release - Mankatha - Ajith - - Tamil Movie News |website=Behindwoods.com |date=2011-05-18 |accessdate=2011-08-23}} With the filming getting further delayed and the recording of the remaining songs not being completed yet, the projected release date of June had to be changed as well and Venkat Prabhu announced the new date as 18 July,{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/68103.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110630030942/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/68103.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 June 2011 |title=Mankatha da, this July 18 - Tamil Movie News |website=IndiaGlitz |date= |accessdate=2011-08-23}}{{citation|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news-1/jun-11-04/mankatha-ajith-28-06-11.html|title=Mankatha music to rock your world!|website=Behindwoods}} which however was not approved by producer Dhayanidhi.{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/no-news-on-mankatha-velayudham-audio-launches-news-tamil-lhok4Ahchhf.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715214346/http://www.sify.com/movies/no-news-on-mankatha-velayudham-audio-launches-news-tamil-lhok4Ahchhf.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2011-07-15 |title=No news on Mankatha & Velayudham audio launches! |website=Sify |date= |accessdate=2011-08-23}} The master CD was eventually handed over to Sony Music on 22 July 2011,{{cite tweet|number=94104319502204929|user=vp_offl|title=Mankatha master cd ready guys!! Reaching sony tomorrow!! Whatta relief!!! So very very soon it's "Machi open da bottle" time!! |date=21 July 2011}} which fixed the release date for 10 August 2011.

Since Ajith Kumar informed that he wouldn't attend any promotional events of his films,{{cite web|title=Ajith unlikely to attend Mankatha audio launch|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/ajith-unlikely-to-attend-mankatha-audio-launch-news-tamil-liikDShhebd.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022082342/http://www.sify.com/movies/ajith-unlikely-to-attend-mankatha-audio-launch-news-tamil-liikDShhebd.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 October 2012|website=Sify|accessdate=23 August 2011}} producer Dhayanidhi Azhagiri dropped the idea of a grand release function.{{cite web|title='Mankatha' audio to premiere at a radio station!|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/69529.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024054953/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/69529.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 October 2012|website=IndiaGlitz.com|accessdate=23 August 2011}}{{cite news|title=Ajith not part of Mankatha audio launch?|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-08-08/news-interviews/29863470_1_mankatha-thala-ajith-billa|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120923130850/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-08-08/news-interviews/29863470_1_mankatha-thala-ajith-billa|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-09-23|accessdate=23 August 2011|work=The Times of India|date=2011-08-08}} The album was eventually released in a "soft launch" {{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/mankatha-has-a-soft-audio-launch-news-tamil-liljyJhbbbf.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111123220722/http://www.sify.com/movies/Mankatha-has-a-soft-audio-launch-news-tamil-liljyJhbbbf.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 November 2011 |title=Mankatha has a soft audio launch |website=Sify |date=8 August 2011 |accessdate=3 December 2012}} at the Chennai station of Radio Mirchi during the breakfast show Hello Chennai, with Venkat Prabhu, Yuvan Shankar Raja, Vaibhav, Mahat and Ashwin being present.{{cite news|title=Mankatha audio launch!|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/others/news-interviews/Mankatha-audio-launch/articleshow/9562887.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120923130835/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-08-11/news-interviews/29875481_1_idhu-semma-hot-machi-yuvan-listeners|url-status=live|archive-date=2012-09-23|access-date=23 August 2011|work=The Times of India|date=2011-08-11}} All the tracks from the album were premiered on the channel and played repeatedly, with the event being simultaneously aired across Radio Mirchi's stations in Coimbatore and Madurai. Two days later, a press meet was arranged at a preview theatre in Saligramam, Chennai and a special screening of two songs and the trailer was held.{{cite web|title=Ajith was not the first choice for 'Mankatha' |url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/showbiz/kollywood/ajith-was-not-first-choice-mankatha-621 |publisher=Deccan Chronicle |access-date=23 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011210058/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/showbiz/kollywood/ajith-was-not-first-choice-mankatha-621 |archive-date=11 October 2012 }}

Response

The album received overwhelming response,{{cite web|title=Mankatha audio does whopping business!|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news-1/aug-11-02/mankatha-ajith-11-08-11.html|website=Behindwoods.com|accessdate=23 August 2011}} as did the release function itself, with reportedly over 7 lakh listeners having tuned into Radio Mirchi during the premiere.{{cite web|title=Record breaking sales of Mankatha film album|url=http://www.radioandmusic.com/content/editorial/news-releases/record-breaking-sales-mankatha-film-album|publisher=radioandmusic.com|accessdate=23 August 2011}} While the single track, "Vilaiyaadu Mankatha", had been declared a "smash hit" even before,{{cite web|title=Audio launch sans Ajith|url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/showbiz/kollywood/audio-launch-sans-ajith-176|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011210258/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/showbiz/kollywood/audio-launch-sans-ajith-176|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 October 2012|publisher=Deccan Chronicle|access-date=23 August 2011}} the full album had achieved record breaking sales, with the associate director of Sony Music India South, Ashok Parwani, noting in a press release that Sony Music had registered a pre-booking of 60%.{{cite web|title=Record breaking sales of Mankatha film album|url=http://www.afaqs.com/media/media_newslets/?id=50918_Record+breaking+sales+of+Mankatha+film+album|publisher=afaqs.com|accessdate=23 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814095041/http://www.afaqs.com/media/media_newslets/?id=50918_Record+breaking+sales+of+Mankatha+film+album|archive-date=14 August 2017|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Ajith fans against piracy|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/69751.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024055011/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/69751.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 October 2012|website=IndiaGlitz.com|accessdate=23 August 2011}}