Bodhai Kodhai: Karthik and Madhan Karky on a musical high

Karky’s songs for Ondraga Originals are a true masterclass in Tamil for the urban youngster. After worthy additions like Koovai (owl), Ulaviravu (date night), Olinada (audio cassettes) to our vocabularies, Karky’s wordplay in Bodhai Kodhai are a delight. Take this one for an example — “Un Kuzhal (hair) Ezhiyil, ak kuzhal marakka (a pipe — suggestive of hookah pipes, cigars, cigarettes); Un kadhal porum penne kirukiruka.” (The fragrance of your hair is more than enough for me to forget the other toxic pipes. Your love is my drug.) Thiravangal (drugs), Mooligai saalakaalan (mushrooms), peetru kuzhalgal (syringes) — Karky’s Tamil versions of several toxic substances are poignantly addictive.

However, the video directed by Gautham Vasudev Menon and starring Atharvaa and Aishwarya Rajesh, is a letdown. It is easy to fall in love with Manoj Paramahamsa’s visuals and the warm world that Gautham sets up. But with a crux as lovely as this, his interpretation is too literal and mainstream. Koova remains his most interesting video with the filmmaker becoming increasingly mainstream with his visual interpretations. It still is heartening to see the videos get traction (we have product placements now!). We definitely need more Tamil indie music and Ondraga’s contribution to the space is quite significant. There is the usual Easter-egg for the next song in this video — let’s see what the trio comes up with this time.