A.R. Rahman
Thiruda Thiruda (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Album · Tamil · 1993
Rahman borrowed generously and globally for his influential soundtrack to Tamil escapade Thiruda Thiruda (Thief! Thief!). South African mbaqanga inspired "Rasathi", the first a cappella song in South Asian film. While jazzy vocalese and fusion underlie "Kannum Kannum" (Eye and Eye), most of Rahman's influences come from European orchestral music, especially the grand operatic gestures cutting across Anupama's "Konjam Nilavu" (A Little Water) and "Veerapandi Kotayyile". Everything comes together in "Thee Thee" (Fire Fire), a kitchen sink's worth of rhythmic surprises with a lusty thrust.