ZitaKight7091 at 22:47, 21 January 2026

2026-01-21T22:47:38Z

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{{Short description|2022 soundtrack album by A. R. Rahman}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Cobra
| type = [[Soundtrack]]
| artist = [[A. R. Rahman]]
| cover = Cobra album cover.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Soundtrack album cover for ''Cobra''
| released = 16 July 2022
| recorded = 2019–2022
| studio = {{Plainlist|
*[[Panchathan Record Inn and AM Studios]], [[Chennai]]
*Panchathan Hollywood Studios, [[Los Angeles]]
*[[KM Music Conservatory]], Chennai
}}
| genre = [[Feature film soundtrack]]
| length = {{Duration|m=21|s=15}}
| language = Tamil
| label = [[Sony Music India]]
| producer = [[A. R. Rahman]]
| prev_title = [[Iravin Nizhal]]
| prev_year = 2022
| next_title = [[Ponniyin Selvan: I (soundtrack)|Ponniyin Selvan: I]]
| next_year = 2022
| misc = {{external media
| audio1 = {{YouTube|g141mj-vPI4&t|Official Audio Jukebox}}}}
{{Singles
| name = Cobra
| type = soundtrack
| single1 = Thumbi Thullal
| single1date = 22 June 2020
| single2 = Adheeraa
| single2date = 15 April 2022
| single3 = Uyir Urugudhey
| single3date = 4 July 2022
}}
}}
'''''Cobra''''' is the [[soundtrack album]] composed by [[A. R. Rahman]], to the 2022 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[psychological fiction|psychological]] [[action thriller film]] [[Cobra (2022 film)|of the same name]],<ref>{{Cite news|date=2019-12-26 |title=Vikram's next with Ajay Gnanamuthu titled 'Cobra' |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/vikrams-next-with-ajay-gnanamuthu-titled-cobra/article30400818.ece |access-date=2020-07-04 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=26 December 2019 |title=Vikram's character and cobra have a link: Ajay Gnanamuthu|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/vikrams-character-and-cobra-has-a-link-ajay-gnanamuthu/articleshow/72966924.cms|url-status=live
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220514152614/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/vikrams-character-and-cobra-has-a-link-ajay-gnanamuthu/articleshow/72966924.cms|archive-date=14 May 2022 |access-date=27 May 2022 |website=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> directed by [[R. Ajay Gnanamuthu]], starring [[Vikram (actor)|Vikram]], [[Srinidhi Shetty]], [[Miya George]], [[Mirnalini Ravi]], [[Meenakshi Govindarajan]], [[Irfan Pathan]], [[Roshan Mathew]] and [[K.S. Ravikumar]] in lead roles. The film marks Rahman's fourth collaboration with Vikram after composing for ''[[Pudhiya Mannargal]]'' (1994), ''[[Raavanan (2010 film)|Raavanan]]'' (2010) and ''[[I (2015 film)|I]]'' (2015).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-14 |title=AR Rahman to compose music for Vikram's next with Ajay Gnanamuthu |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/ar-rahman-compose-music-vikrams-next-ajay-gnanamuthu-105417 |access-date=2021-01-03 |website=The News Minute}}</ref> The songs for the film featured lyrics written by [[Thamarai (Lyricist)|Thamarai]], [[Pa. Vijay]], [[Vivek (lyricist)|Vivek]] and [[Jithin Raj (singer)|Jithin Raj]].<ref name="The2019">{{Cite news |last=The Hindu Net Desk |date=2019-07-13 |title=AR Rahman joins team of 'Vikram 58' |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/ar-rahman-joins-team-of-vikram-58/article28420538.ece |access-date=2021-01-02 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> The soundtrack was released at the audio launch held on 15 July 2022 at [[Phoenix Marketcity (Chennai)|Phoenix Marketcity, Chennai]].

== Production ==
The album is reported to have five tracks. Out of which, "Thumbi Thullal" was the first song composed by Rahman for this flick in mid-2019.<ref name="Lakshmi2020" /> Gnanamuthu mentioned he wanted the track to have celebratory tunes with lyrics that have "a deeper meaning and are emotional". [[Shreya Ghoshal]] provided female vocals and [[Nakul Abhyankar]] provided male vocals on track.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Singer Nakul Abhyankar on working with Shreya Ghoshal for Thumbi Thullal from the Vikram-starrer Cobra |url=https://www.indulgexpress.com/videos/celebs-and-entertainment/2022/jun/02/singer-nakul-abhyankar-on-working-with-shreya-ghoshal-for-thumbi-thullal-from-the-vikram-starrer-cob-452.html |access-date=2022-08-23 |website=www.indulgexpress.com |language=en}}</ref> Abhyankar only song the scratch portions of the track, until his version was finalised for the album.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sudevan |first=Praveen |date=2020-07-08 |title='I thought I was singing only the scratch track': Nakul Abhyakar on ARR's 'Thumbi Thullal' single |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/i-thought-i-was-singing-only-the-scratch-track-nakul-abhyakar-on-arrs-thumbi-thullal-single/article32020642.ece |access-date=2022-04-19 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> He worked on ''Cobra''<nowiki/>'s soundtrack and sang chorus portions of the songs until the male [[charanam]].<ref name="Lakshmi2020">{{Cite news|last=Lakshmi |first=V |date=27 June 2020 |title=Nakul Abhyankar recorded Shreya Ghoshal's voice for ARR's Thumbi Thullal song |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/music/nakul-abhyankar-recorded-shreya-ghoshals-voice-for-arrs-thumbi-thullal-song/articleshow/76776489.cms |access-date=2020-08-18}}</ref> As per him, the vocal harmony was recorded to sound like "gumbala paadara maadhihri irukkanum" ({{Translation|It should sound like chorus singing}}).<ref name="Lakshmi2020" /> He further added the track "is a new age track with a tinge of classical Indian music and he [Rahman] is the master of doing such music, right from ''[[Roja (film)|Roja]]'' (1992), where he was able to mash up and seamlessly blend two different genres".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-07-21 |title='Thumbi Thullal' is a straight-from-heart melody: Nakul on singing for AR Rahman |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/thumbi-thullal-straight-heart-melody-nakul-singing-ar-rahman-129132 |access-date=2022-04-19 |website=The News Minute |language=en}}</ref>

Initially, the track was recorded with gibberish and hummings.<ref name="Lakshmi2020" /> The lyrics were penned later. For the Malayalam lyrics, playback singer [[Jithin Raj (singer)|Jithin Raj]] brainstormed with the team (Rahman, Vivek and Gnanamuthu) who briefed him to centralise lyrics on a festival theme. Later, he was called to record vocals in Malayalam.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Ramamoorthy |first=Preethi |date=2020-07-24 |title=Jithin Raj on penning lyrics for AR Rahman's 'Thumbi Thullal' |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/jithin-raj-on-penning-lyrics-for-ar-rahmans-thumbi-thullal/article32179668.ece |access-date=2020-07-28 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> Raj said that, he had no idea on writing lyrics for the tracks, but, as he was a Malayali, he went with the overall theme of the song, that could fit with the film's music.<ref name=":0" /> The track spans around 4 minutes and half more; is spaced with orchestral strings, the score transcriptions were written by Shubham Bhat.<ref name=":1">{{Citation|title=Cobra – Thumbi Thullal Lyric {{!}} Chiyaan Vikram {{!}} AR Rahman {{!}} Ajay Gnanamuthu {{!}} 7 Screen Studio |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dj6DPX53Vfk |access-date=2021-10-08}}</ref> The improvised [[nadaswaram]] notes written were based on composition by [[Sheik Chinna Moulana]].<ref name=":1" /> Further, prominent instruments on the track are [[flute]], [[sitar]], [[thavil]] and [[Continuum Fingerboard|continuum]].<ref name=":1" />

The original song was recorded by Vagu Mazan and rap verses by Thoughts for Now (Shiv).<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |title=It was a special feeling to perform with Rahman sir: Nakul Abhyankar - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/music/it-was-a-special-feeling-to-perform-with-rahman-sir-nakul-abhyankar/articleshow/92009365.cms |access-date=2022-08-23 |website=The Times of India |language=en|last1=Swaminathan |first1=Prakash }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-22 |title=Cobra song Adheeraa: Vikram comes across as a shapeshifter in AR Rahman musical |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/cobra-song-adheeraa-vikram-comes-across-as-a-shapeshifter-in-ar-rahman-musical-7881831/ |access-date=2022-08-23 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> Abhyankar did choral arrangements for the track, alongside programming and mixing,<ref>{{Cite web |last=India |first=The Hans |date=2022-05-24 |title=Nakul Abhyankar releases 7 songs in 5 languages in last 2 months |url=https://www.thehansindia.com/karnataka/nakul-abhyankar-releases-7-songs-in-5-languages-in-last-2-months-744482 |access-date=2022-08-23 |website=www.thehansindia.com |language=en}}</ref> and called that it was "so energetic", that he could imagine it as "a very powerful and thumping track", when being composed in the initial stages.<ref name=":3" /> Rahman also performed vocals for the track "Uyir Uruguthey".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-04 |title=Uyir Uruguthe Song From Vikram Starrer Cobra Set to Release Today |url=https://www.news18.com/news/movies/uyir-uruguthe-song-from-vikram-starrer-cobra-set-to-release-today-5488279.html |access-date=2022-08-23 |website=News18 |language=en}}</ref> "Tharangini" was performed by Sarthak Kalyani, a contestant of Rahman's YouTube show ''ARRived'', who described it as the "song of the year".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ramanujam |first=Srinivasa |date=2022-08-02 |title=Meet Sarthak Kalyani, the singer who wowed AR Rahman |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/meet-sarthak-kalyani-the-singer-who-wowed-ar-rahman/article65680774.ece |access-date=2022-08-23 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

In August 2022, during his concert tour at the [[United States]], Rahman began working on the mixing and re-recording of the film's score.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AR Rahman works on Vikram's Cobra tunes during US concert tour |url=https://www.ottplay.com/news/ar-rahman-works-on-vikrams-cobra-tunes-during-us-concert-tour/dd43608a74890 |access-date=2022-08-23 |website=OTTPlay |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-05 |title=AR Rahman Gives Final Touches To Chiyaan Vikram-Starrer Cobra |url=https://www.news18.com/news/movies/ar-rahman-gives-final-touches-to-chiyaan-vikram-starrer-cobra-5692831.html |access-date=2022-08-23 |website=News18 |language=en}}</ref>

== Release ==
''Cobra'''s soundtrack was led by three singles, with the first track from the film, "Thumbi Thullal" was released on 22 June 2020.<ref>{{Citation|title=A.R. Rahman – Thumbi Thullal (From "Cobra") |date=22 June 2020 |url=https://tidal.com/browse/album/146816479 |publisher=[[Tidal (service)|Tidal]] |access-date=2020-07-04}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|date=2020-06-22 |title=AR Rahman's festive 'Thumbi Thullal' from Vikram's 'Cobra' is out |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/ar-rahmans-festive-thumbi-thullal-vikrams-cobra-out-127600 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702031242/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/ar-rahmans-festive-thumbi-thullal-vikrams-cobra-out-127600 |archive-date=2 July 2020 |access-date=2021-01-03 |website=The News Minute}}</ref> Two years later, the second single "Adheeraa" was launched on 15 April 2022,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Desk |first=Online |title=Cobra second single: 'Adheeraa' became a melodious party number |url=https://www.dtnext.in/cinema/2022/04/17/cobra-second-single-adheeraa-promises-to-be-a-melodious-party-number |access-date=2022-04-19 |website=DT next |date=17 April 2022 |language=en}}</ref> followed by "Uyir Uruguthey" was released on 4 July.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-05 |title=AR Rahman's soul-stirring melody from Chiyaan Vikram starrer 'Cobra' is here! - Tamil News |url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/ar-rahman-chiyaan-vikram-cobra-third-single-melody-song-review-release-viral-latest-update-tamil-news-319232 |access-date=2022-07-10 |website=IndiaGlitz.com}}</ref> The audio launch was held at the Palladium Mall in [[Phoenix Marketcity (Chennai)|Phoenix Marketcity]], [[Chennai]], on 15 July,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-09 |title=Grand Audio Launch of Vikram's Cobra on July 15 in Chennai |url=https://www.news18.com/news/movies/grand-audio-launch-of-vikrams-cobra-on-july-11-in-chennai-5521357.html |access-date=2022-08-23 |website=News18 |language=en}}</ref> featuring the cast and crew in attendance, and a live musical performance from Rahman and his team.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-12 |title=Actor Vikram attends Cobra audio launch, dispels rumours of heart attack |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/actor-vikram-attends-cobra-audio-launch-dispels-rumours-heart-attack-165766 |access-date=2022-08-23 |website=The News Minute |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=AR Rahman to perform live at 'Cobra' audio launch; Vikram to grace the event - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/ar-rahman-to-perform-live-at-cobra-audio-launch-vikram-to-grace-the-event/articleshow/92801407.cms |access-date=2022-08-23 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref>

== Track listing ==
The official track list was released on 13 July 2022, a day before the album release.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vikram's Cobra tracklist out |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2022/jul/10/vikrams-cobra-tracklist-out-32647.html |access-date=2022-08-23 |website=[[Cinema Express]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-15 |title=Track List of Vikram's Cobra Released, Grand Audio Launch Today |url=https://www.news18.com/news/movies/track-list-of-vikrams-cobra-released-grand-audio-launch-today-5531167.html |access-date=2022-08-23 |website=News18 |language=en}}</ref> Despite the physical launch event, the soundtrack album was released to digital platforms a day later, on 16 July.<ref>{{Cite web |last=A.R. Rahman |date=2022-07-16 |title=Cobra (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) |url=https://music.apple.com/in/album/cobra-original-motion-picture-soundtrack/1634155334 |access-date=2022-08-23 |website=iTunes |publisher=Apple Music}}</ref>
{{Track listing
| all_writing =
| headline =
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| title1 = Thumbi Thullal
| length1 = 4:43
| lyrics1 = [[Vivek (lyricist)|Vivek]], [[Jithin Raj (singer)|Jithin Raj]]
| extra1 = [[Shreya Ghoshal]], [[Nakul Abhyankar]]
| title2 = Adheeraa
| length2 = 4:19
| lyrics2 = [[Pa. Vijay]]
| extra2 = Vagu Mazan, Thoughts for Now
| title3 = Uyir Urugudhey
| length3 = 5:14
| lyrics3 = [[Thamarai]]
| extra3 = [[A. R. Rahman]], Sreekanth Hariharan
| title4 = Tharangini
| lyrics4 = [[Thamarai]]
| extra4 = Sarthak Kalyani
| length4 = 3:37
| title5 = Yele Ilanchingamey
| lyrics5 = [[Pa. Vijay]]
| extra5 = [[Rakshita Suresh]]
| length5 = 3:28
| total_length = 21:15
}}


== Reception ==
For the track "Thumbi Thullal", ''Humming Heart'' reviewed that "The song has a very busy arrangement of classical instruments throughout, complex structuring and a tune that is not often easy to follow amidst several sounds fighting for attention. But when Shreya Ghoshal lands the opening ‘Thumbi Thumbi’ note following a meandering tune and onomatopoeic sounds, the song materializes and how.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-06-24 |title=LISTEN {{!}} AR Rahman's 'Thumbi Thullal' from Cobra |url=https://ahummingheart.com/fresh/listen-ar-rahman-thumbi-thullal-cobra/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200906115524/https://ahummingheart.com/fresh/listen-ar-rahman-thumbi-thullal-cobra/ |archive-date=6 September 2020 |access-date=2020-12-13 |website=A Humming Heart}}</ref> ''[[The Indian Express]]'' stated "Thumbi Thullal is partially a Malayalam song like "Jiya Jale" from ''[[Dil Se..|Dil Se]]'' ("Nenjinile" from ''[[Uyire]]'') which has a catchy Malayalam chorus followed by Tamil lyrics."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-06-23 |title=Cobra song Thumbi Thullal: AR Rahman delivers a Jiya Jale-esque track |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/thumbi-thullal-cobra-song-ar-rahman-6481866/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200629164406/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/thumbi-thullal-cobra-song-ar-rahman-6481866/ |archive-date=29 June 2020 |access-date=2021-01-03 |website=The Indian Express}}</ref> ''[[The News Minute]]'' also wrote about the track, saying "This song has plenty of AR Rahman tropes in it, especially in its chorus, and comes across as a perfect blend of the evolution of his composing styles, from the '90s to now. One can discern a whiff of his ''[[Bombay (1995 film)|Bombay]], [[Uyire]], [[Varalaru]]'' and ''[[O Kadhal Kanmani]]'' albums mixed into this song."<ref name=":2" />

Reviewing for the soundtrack, ''Moviecrow'' wrote "Rahman made the soundtrack worthwhile with a couple of melodies".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cobra Songs - Music Review |url=https://www.moviecrow.com/News/30796/cobra-songs----music-review |access-date=2022-08-23 |website=www.moviecrow.com}}</ref> Calling it as a "terrific soundtrack", critic Siddharth Srinivas gave 3.5/5 and wrote that the album "has many hit numbers in it and is sure to fly higher with the visuals. The songs do not have much of noise in them, and still score superbly thanks to the variety that they come in. Rahman has interestingly delivered a solid soundtrack in his first combination with Ajay Gnanamuthu."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-18 |title=Cobra Songs Review |url=https://www.onlykollywood.com/cobra-songs-review/ |access-date=2022-08-23 |website=Only Kollywood |language=en-US}}</ref>

== References ==
<references />
{{A. R. Rahman}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:2022 soundtrack albums]]
[[Category:Tamil film soundtracks]]
[[Category:A. R. Rahman soundtracks]]
[[Category:Sony Music India soundtracks]]
[[Category:Action film soundtracks]]
[[Category:Thriller film soundtracks]]

Cobra soundtrack - Revision history

ZitaKight7091 at 22:47, 21 January 2026