What can you say about an aspiring music composer preening around in borrowed feathers? That is what Premji Amaran, son of music director Gangai Amaran has done in the forthcoming Tamil film, Thozha.

Almost half the tracks in Premji's Thozha album have been borrowed. It's not that the composer lacks talent as proven in the other half.

Anyway, Thozha is a film on male bonding which sees the successful team of Chennai-60028 -- Nitin Sathya, Premji Amaran and company, come together once again. Yuvan Shankar Raja's trendy music was the backbone of Chennai-600 028. However, music director Premji Amaran has not been able to do the same for Thozha.

Thozha album kicks off smoothly enough with the romantic duet Adiye En Annakkili ably rendered by Vijay Jesudas and Chinmayi. Vijay has definitely ceased being a clone of his illustrious father, K J Yesudas.

The track, with enticing instrumental beginning, is set in a catchy rhythmic pattern. Restrained accompaniment and melodious instrumentation add to its appeal. The tune, which has a folksy flavour has an old world charm as well. Snehan's lyrics with a playful, light-hearted touch (Azhagana kirukki) in between are interesting.

Next comes the remix of the Ilayaraja song Oru Nayagan from the 1984 Bhagyaraj film Davani Kanavugal starring Radhika and Shivaji Ganesan. S P B Charan who renders this remixed adaptation, has given off his best to match the original sung by his gifted father S P Balasubramanyam. His rendition is forceful and full of verve. Premji Amaran and Venkat Prabhu give effective support. High-pressure percussion and lusty rendition make this a lively remix. The number is repeated once again in the album. But the composer incorporating portions of the title song of the Kamalahasan starrer Sakalakalavallabhan has unnecessarily made a mocktail out of this piece.

Following this we have Kadhal Devathai, a melodious love duet by Haricharan and Sainthavi. Though Sainthavi gives adequate support, she is overshadowed by Haricharan's splendid rendition. The changing tempo of notes and the impressive tune along with captivating chorus in the beginning, in the interludes and at the end, are the other highlights of this piece. This track offers adequate proof of the composer's mettle.

Next comes, not a remix but reproduction as it is, without missing a note or a beat of Kutti pisase by Silambarasan and Suchithra from the recent film Kaalai. What else can you say about this deplorable practice?

Premji signs off with the fast paced title track, Thozha. Ranjith and Naveen along with the composer belt out this lively number with uncontrolled frenzy and vigour. The number has folk tunes incorporated in between creating a rural ambience and echoes of tunes from other films as in thozhanukku... (like Kandhanukku haro hara) make this another mishmash of a track. Originality and individual talent vanish in the bargain. Lyrics too are a concoction of words eulogising the thozhan (friend) as "Madhurai veeran", "MGR Peran", "Superstar thambi" and so on and so forth. Moreover orchestra drowns the lyrics in many places.

All this shows that Premji Amaran will have to learn to stand on his own feet to become a successful composer.

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