Vishwaroopam (soundtrack)
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Vishwaroopam/ Vishwaroop
| type = soundtrack
| artist = Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy
| cover = Vishwaroop Audio Cover.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Hindi album cover
| released = {{start date|2012|12|7|df=y}} (Tamil)
{{start date|2012|12|28|df=y}} (Hindi)
| recorded = 2012
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = Feature film soundtrack
| length = 23:25
23:35 (Hindi)
| language = Tamil
Hindi
| label = Sony Music India
| producer = Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy
| prev_title = Chittagong
| prev_year = 2012
| next_title = Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
| next_year = 2013
}}
Vishwaroopam is the soundtrack album, composed by the music trio Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy, for the Tamil film of the same name, directed by Kamal Haasan. The album features five tracks, with lyrics penned by Vairamuthu and Kamal Hassan himself. The soundtrack's Hindi version Vishwaroop, has lyrics penned by Javed Akhtar.
Production
Initially, Yuvan Shankar Raja was rumored to compose the film's musical score since the film was supposed to be directed by director Selvaraghavan, a frequent collaborator of Raja.{{cite web|title=Kamal hits the gym for Selva|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news-1/feb-11-02/selvaraghavan-kamal-haasan-11-02-11.html|website=Behindwoods|accessdate=29 August 2011}} However, later Kamal was confirmed to direct the film himself and signed in the musical trio Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy to compose music for the trilingual, who had, in their early days, composed music for his trilingual Aalavandhan.{{cite news|title=Kamal Haasan signs Shankar for next|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/movie-details/news-interviews/Kamal-Haasan-signs-Shankar-for-next/articleshow/7734632.cms|newspaper=The Times of India|date=18 March 2011|accessdate=17 August 2020}} Lyricist Vairamuthu was confirmed for the Tamil version of the film,{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/vairamuthu-to-write-songs-for-viswaroopam-news-news-lk3ldogefbd.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111031190959/http://www.sify.com/movies/vairamuthu-to-write-songs-for-viswaroopam-news-news-lk3ldogefbd.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=31 October 2011|title=Vairamuthu to write songs for Viswaroopam|website=Sify|date=29 October 2011|accessdate=2011-11-04}} after Kamal Haasan had approached him and narrated the entire plot, to which he immediately agreed to work upon. Javed Akhtar has penned lyrics for the Hindi version,{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00AQZ64UO/ref=dm_sp_alb|title=Vishwaroop: Shankar Ehsaan Loy|publisher=Amazon.com|date=21 December 2012|accessdate=2012-12-22}} while Ramajogayya Shastry has done the lyrics for the dubbed Telugu version.{{cite news|author=Sangeetha Devi Dundoo |url=http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/an-idea-whose-time-has-come/article3504938.ece |title=Arts / Cinema : An idea whose time has come |newspaper=The Hindu |date=9 June 2012 |accessdate=5 December 2012}}
Release
The audio was initially expected to release on 7 November 2012, coinciding with Haasan's birthday. The audio launch was planned to be launched simultaneously in Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai. However, due to Cyclone Nilam, it was postponed.{{cite web|url=http://content.ibnlive.in.com/article/02-Nov-2012south-cinema/cyclone-nilam-is-such-a-spoilsport-kamal-haasan-303552-71.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103190848/http://content.ibnlive.in.com/article/02-Nov-2012south-cinema/cyclone-nilam-is-such-a-spoilsport-kamal-haasan-303552-71.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 January 2013 |title=Cyclone Nilam is such a 'spoilsport': Kamal Haasan |publisher=CNN-IBN |date=7 November 2012 |accessdate=5 December 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://businessofcinema.com/news/sandys-desi-cousin-nilam-alters-kamal-haasans-plans/53308|title=Sandy's Desi Cousin Nilam Alters Kamal Haasan's Plans|date=1 November 2012|publisher=}} The film's audio rights were sold to Sony Music.{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/tamil/news-interviews/Sony-bags-Vishwaroopam-audio/articleshow/17214972.cms|accessdate=2012-11-14|title=Sony bags Vishwaroopam audio|work=The Times of India|date=2012-11-14|quote=Sony Music has grabbed the audio rights of Kamal Haasan's ambitious Vishwaroopam.}}
The album was released on 7 December 2012, at Chennai on a grand event at YMCA Royapettah, after launching the audio in Madurai and Coimbatore. The first copy of the audio was released by Ilayaraja, who had collaborated with Kamal on his previous productions.{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/tamil/news-interviews/Kamal-deserves-to-be-celebrated/articleshow/17554437.cms|accessdate=2012-12-10|title=Kamal deserves to be celebrated|date=2012-12-10|work=The Times of India}} The function was attended by various celebrities including Andrea Jeremiah, Pooja Kumar, Bharathiraja, A.R. Murugadoss, K.S. Ravikumar, Vasanth, Suresh Krishna, Prabhu Solomon, Dharani, Gautami, Lingusamy, Jayaram, Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy, Karthik, Karunas, and Prabhu.{{cite web|url=http://moviegalleri.net/2012/12/vishwaroopam-audio-launch-photos-stills.html?pid=357925|accessdate=2012-12-10|title=AR Murugadoss at Viswaroopam Audio Launch Photos|date=2012-12-10}}
Track list
{{Track listing
| headline = Tamil
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| total_length = 23:25
| length1 =4:22
| title1 = Vishwaroopam
| extra1 = Suraj Jagan
| lyrics1 = Vairamuthu
| length2 =4:42
| title2 = Thuppaki Engal Tholile
| extra2 = Kamal Haasan & Benny Dayal
| lyrics2 = Vairamuthu
English lyrics by Asif Ali Beg
| length3 = 5:35
| title3 = Unnai Kaanadhu Naan
| extra3 = Kamal Haasan & Shankar Mahadevan
| lyrics3 = Kamal Haasan
| length4 = 4:16
| title4 = Anu Vidhaiththa Boomiyile
| extra4 = Kamal Haasan & Nikhil D'Souza
| lyrics4 = Kamal Haasan
| length5 = 4:23
| title5 = Vishwaroopam (Remix)
| extra5 = Remixed by Shane Mendonsa
| lyrics5 = Vairamuthu
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Hindi
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| total_length = 23:35
| length1 =4:24
| title1 = Vishwaroop
| extra1 = Suraj Jagan
| lyrics1 = Javed Akhtar
| length2 =4:46
| title2 = Jung Hai
| extra2 = Shankar Mahadevan, Benny Dayal
| lyrics2 = Javed Akhtar
English lyrics by Asif Ali Beg
| length3 =5:39
| title3 = Main Radha Tu Shaam
| extra3 = Kamal Haasan & Shankar Mahadevan
| lyrics3 = Javed Akhtar
| length4 = 4:19
| title4 = Koi Kahin
| extra4 = Kamal Haasan & Nikhil D'Souza
| lyrics4 = Javed Akhtar
| length5 = 4:27
| title5 = Vishwaroop (Remix)
| extra5 = Remixed by Shane Mendonsa
| lyrics5 = Javed Akhtar
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Telugu
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| total_length = 23:25
| length1 = 4:22
| title1 = Vishwaroopam
| extra1 = Suraj Jagan
| lyrics1 = Ramajogayya Sastry
| length2 = 4:42
| title2 = Thupakee Thone Jeevitham
| extra2 = Shankar Mahadevan & Benny Dayal
| lyrics2 = Ramajogayya Sastry
English lyrics by Asif Ali Beg
| length3 = 5:35
| title3 = Undalaenandhi Naa Kannu
| extra3 = Kamal Haasan & Shankar Mahadevan
| lyrics3 = Ramajogayya Sastry
| length4 = 4:16
| title4 = Anu Vinasa Varshamidhi
| extra4 = Kamal Haasan & Nikhil D'Souza
| lyrics4 = Ramajogayya Sastry
| length5 = 4:23
| title5 = Vishwaroopam (Remix)
| extra5 = Remixed by Shane Mendonsa
| lyrics5 = Ramajogayya Sastry
}}
Reception
{{Music ratings
|rev1 = Musicperk
|rev1Score = {{Rating|8|10}}{{cite web |author=Siddharth K|title=Vishwaroopam|url=http://www.musicperk.com/vishwaroopam/|publisher=Musicperk|date=7 December 2012}}
|
|rev2 = Music Aloud
|rev2Score = {{Rating|8.5|10}}{{cite web |author=Vipin|title=Vishwaroopam – MUSIC REVIEW (TAMIL MOVIE SOUNDTRACK) |url=http://www.musicaloud.com/2012/12/07/vishwaroopam-music-review-tamil-movie-soundtrack/|publisher=Music Aloud|date=7 December 2012}}
|
|rev3 = Behindwoods
|rev3Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|title=VISHWAROOPAM SONGS REVIEW |url=http://behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/vishwaroopam/vishwaroopam-songs-review.html|website=Behindwoods|date=7 December 2012}}
|
|rev4 = Tamil Music Review
|rev4Score = {{Rating|8.5|10}}{{cite web|title=Viswaroopam Music Review|url=http://tamilmusicreview.com/viswaroopam/|publisher=Tamil Music Review|date=7 December 2012}}
|
|rev5 = Haihoi
|rev5Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|title=Viswaroopam Music Review|url=http://www.haihoi.com/tamil/viswaroopam/music-reviews/|publisher=Haihoi|date=7 December 2012}}
|
|rev6 = IndiaGlitz
|
|rev7 = Rediff
|rev7Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web|title=Review: Viswaroopam Music is pleasant|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/review/review-viswaroopam-music-is-pleasant-listen/20121210.htm|publisher=Rediff|date=10 December 2012}}
|
|rev8 = Thamarai
|rev8Score = {{Rating|8.5|10}}{{cite web|title=Review:Vishwaroopam — Soundtrack Review|url=http://www.thamarai.com/news-details/450743450/vishwaroopam-soundtrack-review.html|publisher=Thamarai|date=11 December 2012}}
}}
The soundtrack was met with positive response from music critics upon release. Musicperk.com noted, "SEL are one of the very few versatile composers around the country and that explains Kamal’s choice for their music. This album would rank as one of the best albums of SEL...The songs are quite ahead of its time & by the passage of time, will get even better recognition.".{{cite web|url=http://www.musicperk.com/vishwaroopam/
|accessdate=2012-12-10|title=Vishwaroopam |date=2012-12-10}} Music Aloud's review called the album "a must listen"{{cite web|url=http://www.musicaloud.com/2012/12/07/vishwaroopam-music-review-tamil-movie-soundtrack/|accessdate=2012-12-10
|title=Vishwaroopam — Music Review (Tamil Movie Soundtrack)|date=2012-12-10|quote=Must listen!}} Pavithra Srinivasan of Rediff described the album as "a pleasant listening experience" Behindwoods said, "[Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy] bring their A-game to the party and it’s a highly focused effort with absolutely no room for fillers. Seriously good!" {{cite web|url=http://behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/vishwaroopam/vishwaroopam-songs-review.html|accessdate=2012-12-10|title=Vishwaroopam Music Review Andrea Jeremiah, Kamal Haasan, Pooja Kumar|date=2012-12-10}} IndiaGlitz praised the album saying,"[The] album draws a fine line between top-notch music and director-friendly music that prioritizes the storyline above everything else".{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/musicreview/13392.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120223055102/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/musicreview/13392.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 February 2012|accessdate=2012-12-10|title=Viswaroopam Music Review
|date=2012-12-10}} Thamarai.com praised the album for its "exquisitely-penned lyrics and brilliant vocal performances". Charulatha Mani describes "Unnai Kaanadhu Naan" as the "piece-de-resistance of raga Jaijaivanti" in Tamil film music.{{Cite news |last=Mani |first=Charulatha |date=2013-07-05 |title=A complex beauty |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/chen-arts/a-complex-beauty/article4884619.ece |access-date=2022-09-05 |issn=0971-751X}}
The soundtrack, within hours of its release, climbed up to #3 in iTunes Chart.{{cite web|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/vishwaroopam-songs-rock-the-itunes-chart/309710-71-180.html
|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130126002359/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/vishwaroopam-songs-rock-the-itunes-chart/309710-71-180.html
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=2013-01-26
|accessdate=2012-12-10
|title='Vishwaroopam' songs rock the iTunes chart|publisher=IBNLive|date=2012-12-10}}