Kochi: As Mohanlal-starrer 'Devadoothan' is set to hit theatres again after a gap of 24 years, its music is being discussed as much as its intriguing plot. Though the unusual horror thriller failed to make a box office hit when it was released way back in 2000, the songs composed by Vidyasagar for the film have managed to remain in the playlist of many. While Vidyasagar’s original tracks such as ‘Aleena’ and ‘Poove Poove’ earned fanbase for their magical melody and enchanting lyrics, for many his re-imagination of the Carnatic classic ‘Entharo Mahanubhavulu’ remains the signature piece of ‘Devadoothan’.
Vidyasagar made a fusion out of the song, originally composed by Tyagaraja, for one of the initial sequences in the film which introduces the protagonist, Vishal Krishnamoorthy, a renowned musician, played by Mohanlal. Vidyasagar painted the Carnatic composition in Sri raga in western colours with a brilliant background work in violin and flute and some impeccable interludes in ghatam. The track helped the film, which has music at its core, set its tone and establish the character.
Mohanlal’s character presented the globally acclaimed piece as a tribute to his master whom he hails as the ‘king of music’. The choice of the Telugu composition proved to be a brilliant move and the makers of the film has given its full credit to Vidyasagar. Raghunath Paleri, who wrote the film, told Onmanorama that he had chosen another Carnatic kriti for the sequence and i.