| Yogi | |
| Type: | soundtrack |
| Artist: | Yuvan Shankar Raja |
| Cover: | Yogi small.jpg |
| Caption: | Album cover |
| Released: | 13 September 2009 |
| Recorded: | September 2007–2008 |
| Studio: | Kalasa Studios, Chennai |
| Genre: | Feature film soundtrack |
| Length: | 25:29 |
| Language: | Tamil |
| Label: | Sony Music India |
| Producer: | Yuvan Shankar Raja |
| Prev Title: | Gilli |
| Prev Year: | 2009 |
| Next Title: | Theeradha Vilaiyattu Pillai |
| Next Year: | 2009 |
Yogi is the soundtrack album to the 2009 film of the same name directed by Subramaniam Siva starring director Ameer Sultan in his debut as a lead actor. Yuvan Shankar Raja composed the six-song soundtrack with lyrics written by Snehan. Recorded during September 2007 – 2008, the production of the soundtrack delayed for a year and was released on 13 September 2009 through the Sony Music India label to positive reviews from critics.
Ameer's friend Yuvan Shankar Raja, who has been worked with in his previous directorials such as Mounam Pesiyadhe (2002), Raam (2005) and Paruthiveeran (2007), was recruited to compose the film's music. In September 2007, both Ameer and Yuvan travelled to France in order to compose and record the songs.[1] [2] It ultimately took them two years, due to Yuvan's commitments on other projects.[3] The music was centered on the traditional Indian string instrument sarangi, an essential part of Hindustani classical music, which is considered the hardest to Indian instrument to master. Noted Sarangi player Ustad Sultan Khan was therefore assigned to perform the sarangi pieces in this film. The re-recording of the film's score commenced on early-October 2009.
The soundtrack was released on 13 September 2009 at Sathyam Cinemas, Chennai.[4] The event saw the attendance of Sun Pictures managing director Hansraj Saxena, Tamil Film Producers Council president Rama Narayanan, producers Dayanidhi Azhagiri, R. B. Choudary, directors Karu Palaniappan, Cheran, Seeman, Bala, and actors M. Sasikumar, Jiiva and Silambarasan, amongst the film's cast and crew, along with Ameer personally inviting 225 assistant directors through email for the launch.[5]
The soundtrack received generally positive reviews. Karthik Srinivasan in his review for Bangalore Mirror wrote that "Barring one song, Yogi’s soundtrack is brilliant",[6] while a critic from Indiaglitz.com wrote it was "stylish" and "scintillating".[7] Pavithra Srinivasan of Rediff.com gave a mixed review, citing that Yuvan Shankar Raja "partially delivers in Yogi".[8] Malathy Sundaram of Behindwoods wrote "Yuvan’s penchant for percussive effects is evident again in this album [...] after Aegan, Yuvan springs a similar surprise on us here."[9]
Malathi Rangarajan of The Hindu wrote "Yuvanshankar Raja's title score is vibrant and the harmonic male voice in the re-recording is pleasing on the ear, while the song in the ‘Therukoothu' strains of the yesteryear film, Navarathri, is a different attempt."[10] Sify wrote "The Yuvan- Ameer team had always dished out great music in the past, but this time its not worked that well, with the mass number Sirmevum Koovatthulae..,the pick of the lot."[11]
Despite garnering favorable reviews, the songs failed to become prominent, due to the film's poor theatrical run.[12]