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Parthen Rasithen
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| Parthen Rasithen | |
|---|---|
![]() Poster | |
| Directed by | Saran |
| Written by | Saran |
| Produced by | S. Thiruvengadam |
| Starring | Prashanth Simran Laila |
| Cinematography | A. Venkatesh |
| Edited by | Suresh Urs |
| Music by | Bharadwaj |
Production company | Serene Movie Makers |
Release date |
|
Running time | 166 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Parthen Rasithen (transl. I saw and admired) is a 2000 Indian Tamil-language romantic thriller film written and directed by Saran. The film stars Prashanth, Simran and Laila, while Raghuvaran, Jai Ganesh, Vinu Chakravarthy, Vaiyapuri, Charle, Dhamu, Lawrence Raghavendra, Fathima Babu and Jyothi play supporting roles. It narrates Shankar's love story with Sarika, but problems and misunderstandings plague their romance. Bhanu, Shankar's best friend, also falls in love with him, and schemes to get Shankar to fall in love with her and break his love with Sarika.This film is based on Hollywood film My Best Friend's Wedding.
The film was released on 11 August 2000,[1] and received positive critical reception with Simran's performance receiving acclaim. The film became a sleeper hit and achieved blockbuster run at the box office. The film was remade in Telugu as Naa Manasistha Raa (2001).[2] The Kannada remake Love Lavike (2002) began production,[3] but was never released.[4]
Plot
[edit]Shankar is a graduate of BSC nautical science waiting for a job in the shipping industry. He is a tenant in the house of Bhanu, a medicine student, who is also his good friend and confidante. They spend almost all their time together, and she seeks him out as a refuge due to her stepbrother Panneerselvam, whom she dislikes but is forced to live together with. One day, while dropping off Bhanu at a bus stop, Shankar sees a pretty girl Sarika and likes her. He tells Bhanu about Sarika, and they soon find out that Sarika is also interested, and they both eventually fall in love during their daily commute in the bus. Meanwhile, Shankar's rude and abusive father Chidhambaram lands in Chennai for his wife's heart surgery and tells Shankar that his marriage with a girl is being arranged swiftly and the same situation happens in Sarika's house simultaneously. However, both Shankar and Sarika are unaware that they themselves are the prospective suitors arranged for each other by the parents and thus avoid the formal meeting ceremony. Chidhambaram gets irritated and creates a ruckus at Sarika's house and after a huge argument, both the parents cancel the marriage arrangements.
Meanwhile, Panneer misunderstands the friendship between Bhanu and Shankar and assumes they are in love. He reveals this to Shankar's parents and asks their approval for the marriage. Shankar and Bhanu are surprised at this turn of events, but Bhanu makes Shankar temporarily accept this proposal in order to pacify his ailing mother until her surgery is over. Further misunderstandings occur between Shankar and Sarika when Panneer finds them together, and he exposes Shankar's wedding arrangements with Bhanu to Sarika. She is devastated and breaks up with Shankar. To solve the problem, Shankar asks Bhanu to explain the truth to Panneer, but she surprisingly refuses, revealing that she has been secretly loving Shankar for years and she merely used the arranged wedding plans to work in her favor. She explains that she initially sacrificed her love after realizing that Shankar is in love with Sarika. However, after so many confusions including a failed marriage arrangement with Sarika, Bhanu feels that she is rightfully destined to be with Shankar. Shankar tries to explain that he has no such feeling towards her but Bhanu simply refuses to listen. Meanwhile, Sarika learns about Bhanu from the bus driver Vellaisamy and realizes Shankar is innocent and reconciles with him. Bhanu is infuriated, and in order to keep Sarika away from Shankar, she threatens her with the help of Doss, Sarika's stalker whose advances have been refused by her in the past. To celebrate their reconciliation, Shankar presents a saree to Sarika, but on the advice of Bhanu, Doss and his friends tease her and remove the saree forcefully in public. Bhanu, who witnesses this event, brings the humiliated and shaken Sarika home on the pretext of consoling her and getting her new clothes, but to Sarika's horror, she reveals her true identity and blackmails her to leave Shankar alone. Devastated and embarrassed by this incident, Sarika tries to commit suicide by consuming poison. Meanwhile, Panneer, who eavesdropped on the conversation, realizes his mistake and condemns Bhanu for her selfish actions. Sarika is brought to the same hospital where Bhanu studies, and because of the ongoing doctors' strike, she is unable get any treatment. Bhanu, who happens to be there, is forced by her friends to help save Sarika. Shankar gets to know about Sarika's condition and furiously goes after Doss and thrashes him and his men.
Shankar arrives at the hospital after Doss reveals the truth that Bhanu is the person behind all this. However, Shankar finds that Sarika is being treated by none other than Bhanu. He begs Bhanu to save Sarika and promises to marry her in return for Sarika's life. The operation is successful, and as they walk out of the room, Bhanu tells Shankar that her love for him is gone after she had seen the extent to which Sarika has gone for him and that it would be impossible for Bhanu to find a place in Shankar's heart. She apologizes to Shankar for her behavior, he forgives her, and gets united with Sarika. Bhanu also finally finds peace with her brother Panneer and realizes his affection for her.
Cast
[edit]- Prashanth as Shankar
- Simran as Bhanu
- Laila as Sarika
- Raghuvaran as Panneerselvam, Bhanu's brother
- Jai Ganesh as Sarika's father
- Shanmugasundari
- Siva Narayana Murthy
- Vinu Chakravarthy as Chidhambaram
- Raghava Lawrence as Doss
- Charle as Sophraj
- Dhamu as Vellaisamy
- Vaiyapuri as Bus Driver
- Jyothi as Shankar's mother
- Fathima Babu as Pinky Raja
- Manish Borundia as Sarika's brother
- Besant Ravi as Gaja
- Sridhar as Dancer in "Kedaikkala"
Production
[edit]Development
[edit]Saran created the plot of Parthen Rasithen combining two elements: his experiences of travelling in bus to college and incidents that happened in the life of his brother K. V. Guhan, which inspired him to make a script on it. Saran agreed to the film for the producers who were simultaneously doing Hello (1999) with Prashanth at that time.[5] The film was also reportedly inspired by the Hollywood film My Best Friend's Wedding (1997).[6]
Casting
[edit]Saran chose Simran for the role of Bhanu since he felt the "script needed a performer like Simran. Her character had a lot of suppressed emotions, which would burst out once in a while",[5] and also chose her after seeing her performance in Vaalee (1999).[7] Saran first offered the script to Simran and "gave her a choice between Bhanu and Sarika's roles" she chose Bhanu's character since she had never played a villainous role before.[5][8] Simran participated in a screen test and was confirmed for the role after she got good feedback from Saran.[9][10] Laila was selected to play the other lead after Saran was impressed by her performance in Rojavanam (1999) though Saran's initial choice for the role was Rambha.[5][8]
Filming
[edit]The crew bought a second-hand school bus, "and remodelled it for the shoot". They "removed the roof entirely and used acrylic sheets to let the light it, made the seats removable, and even had a trolley track inside the bus".[5] Parthen Rasithen became the first Tamil film to be shot in Kilpauk Medical College. One of the songs were shot at 99 extensive group of islands at Malaysia.[8]
Soundtrack
[edit]The music has been composed by Bharadwaj and the lyrics were written by Vairamuthu.[11] For the first time Prashanth lend his voice for a soundtrack.[8] Venky of Chennai Online wrote "A very good effort by Saran and Bharadwaj after their successful Amarkkalam".[12]
| Song | Singer(s) | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| "Vaa Endrathu" | Prashanth | 04:23 |
| "Parthen Rasithen" | Yugendran, Reshmi | 05:18 |
| "Enakena Yerkanave" | Unnikrishnan, Harini | 05:28 |
| "Poove Punnagai" | Sonu Nigam, Vasundra Das | 05:17 |
| "Kedaikkala" | Srinivas | 05:10 |
| "Thinnadhey" | Shankar Mahadevan, Anuradha Sriram | 05:05 |
Critical reception
[edit]The Hindu wrote, "It is a spectacular role for Simran and she has made optimum use of it. A well-etched character which is suspenseful at every turn. Simran's eyes sparkle with animus, jealousy and venom in the scene in which she confronts Laila. Laila as the docile, taciturn beauty is an appealing foil to the fiery and vibrant Simran. Prashanth's plausible reactions to Simran's unrelenting moves, saying that he cannot think of her as a venomous person, are natural, and his performance is laudable. Raghuvaran is his usual self as the brother of Simran. There is no scope for him to show his mettle because though the character floats limpidly there is not much depth".[13]
Malini of Chennai Online wrote, "The film begins promisingly enough and moves at an interesting pace in the first half. The script is well worked out, the director paying attention to minute details. But then he moves away from the main plot, brings in some twists and turns, gets confused and comes back to the story again".[14] Tamil Star wrote, "The movie has a good story that keeps us guessing regarding the path it is going to take, a genuinely surprising twist, some nice characterizations and good comedy". The critic added, "Prashanth has ways to go in the histrionics department but makes up for it somewhat with his stunts. Laila looks cute but is completely sidelined by Simran".[15]
Accolades
[edit]At the PACE Trust Cine Awards 2000, Prashanth won the Best Actor award.[16]
Legacy
[edit]In 2016, Vijay Sethupathi was asked about his favourite romantic moments in cinema and what Valentine's Day means to him. He commented, "I've always been a huge admirer of Simran. I loved her in films like V. I. P., Kannedhirey Thondrinal and Parthen Rasithen".[17] Simran's performance was featured in JFW magazine's list of "5 Heroines Who Stunned Us By Playing Negative Roles".[18]
References
[edit]- ^ "Parthen Rasithen (2000)". Screen 4 Screen. Archived from the original on 3 July 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
- ^ K, Sangheetha Devi (24 August 2001). "Some love stories are not always pleasant". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 3 July 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
- ^ Tulika (14 March 2002). "No remakes please". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 19 January 2025. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
- ^ "Naveen Mayur dies at 32". Bangalore Mirror. 5 October 2010. Archived from the original on 15 September 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Suganth, M.; CR, Sharanya (12 August 2020). "#20YearsOfParthenRasithen: How the romantic thriller Parthen Rasithen became the darling of fans". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 22 December 2020. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
- ^ "Jay Jay". Chennai Online. 19 November 2003. Archived from the original on 11 December 2003. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ "சரணுக்கு கிடைத்த கிரண்!" (PDF). Kalki (in Tamil). 28 October 2001. pp. 8–10. Retrieved 1 August 2023 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ a b c d "ரம்பா போனார் லைலா வந்தார்!" (PDF). Kalki (in Tamil). 20 August 2000. pp. 24–26. Retrieved 1 July 2023 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ "Interviews – Part II". simranoline.tripod.com. Archived from the original on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
- ^ Rangarajan, Malathi (9 November 2001). "A success story unfolds". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 23 June 2012. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
- ^ "Parthen Rasithen / Kushi". AVDigital. Archived from the original on 2 July 2023. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
- ^ "Review of Paarthaen Rasithen". Chennai Online. Archived from the original on 24 October 2004. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
- ^ "Film Review: Parthaen Rasithaen". The Hindu. 18 August 2000. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
- ^ Malini. "Parthein Rasithein". Chennai Online. Archived from the original on 24 August 2000. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
- ^ "Movie: PAARTHEN RASITHEN". Tamil Star. Archived from the original on 22 September 2005. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
- ^ Ahmed, Feroze (16 April 2001). "And the winner is..." The Hindu. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
- ^ Srinivasan, Sudhir (13 February 2016). "Reel Romance". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 14 February 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
- ^ Srinivasan, Sudhir (21 July 2016). "5 Heroines Who Stunned Us By Playing Negative Roles". JFW. Archived from the original on 3 December 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
External links
[edit]Parthen Rasithen
View on GrokipediaSynopsis
Plot
Shankar, a recent graduate in nautical science, is awaiting recruitment into the shipping industry while living as a tenant in the house of Bhanu, whose rowdy stepbrother makes her seek constant company for protection.[1] Unbeknownst to Shankar, Bhanu secretly harbors deep romantic feelings for him and cherishes their close friendship as a way to stay near him.[2] Shankar meets Sarika, the daughter of a local family, during a bus commute to college and instantly falls in love with her, prompting him to pursue her.[4] Their romance blossoms through interactions on bus rides, with Sarika initially responding shyly but gradually reciprocating his advances, leading to a budding romance filled with lighthearted moments on bus rides and family gatherings adapted to everyday Tamil life.[5] However, Bhanu's unrequited love turns to jealousy as she witnesses Shankar's growing attachment to Sarika, motivating her to orchestrate a series of schemes to sabotage their relationship. These include fabricating misunderstandings, such as staging fake encounters to portray Shankar negatively and manipulating events to create rifts, all while pretending to support his pursuit.[2][5] As the deceptions escalate, Sarika becomes increasingly distraught by the mounting conflicts, culminating in a devastating incident that embarrasses her publicly and leads her to attempt suicide by jumping into the sea.[6] She is rescued but ends up in a hospital during a crisis. In the ensuing chaos, Bhanu, overwhelmed by guilt, saves Sarika's life, confesses her secret love for Shankar and reveals the full extent of her manipulative actions, exposing how her schemes stemmed from her fear of losing him.[2][4] This emotional revelation allows Shankar to reconcile with Sarika, forgiving the past interferences and affirming their bond in a heartfelt reunion and marriage, while Bhanu steps back to accept the outcome and reconciles with her stepbrother.Themes
One of the central themes in Parthen Rasithen is unrequited love, embodied by Bhanu's obsessive affection for Shankar, which evolves into internal conflict as her feelings remain unreciprocated.[2] This unreturned devotion drives her actions, highlighting the emotional turmoil of longing and the psychological toll it exacts on personal relationships.[2] Jealousy further intensifies this motif, as Bhanu's envy toward Sarika manifests in manipulative behaviors, transforming her from a supportive figure into an antagonist.[7] The narrative delves into the tension between friendship and romance, portraying how platonic bonds can fracture under romantic pressures, leading to betrayal. Bhanu's shift from loyal companion to rival underscores the fragility of male-female friendships in the story, where unacknowledged emotions erode trust and loyalty.[2] Redemption emerges as a counterpoint, with the characters navigating the consequences of their conflicts toward potential reconciliation, emphasizing the possibility of healing in strained interpersonal dynamics.[8] Cultural elements reflective of 2000s Tamil cinema are woven into the plot through pressures of arranged marriage, as Shankar faces familial expectations that clash with his personal choices, illustrating traditional obligations versus individual desires.[4] Gender roles are highlighted in Sarika's family dynamics, where societal norms constrain women's agency in romantic decisions, mirroring broader conventions in Tamil society at the time.[8] Bhanu's portrayal as a complex, vengeful female character challenges typical gender stereotypes by assigning agency and moral ambiguity to a woman, a departure from more conventional heroine archetypes in the era.[7] As a romantic thriller, the film balances suspense from Bhanu's elaborate schemes with moments of humor derived from comedic misunderstandings, culminating in tragic undertones that underscore the perilous intersection of love and obsession.[2] This blend creates an emotional layering, where lighthearted elements contrast the darker impulses of jealousy and betrayal, heightening the narrative's impact.[2]Cast and Characters
Lead Roles
Prashanth portrays Shankar, an optimistic young graduate who is eagerly awaiting job placement after completing his studies, leading a simple life as a tenant in Bhanu's house to support her while pursuing his own dreams.[9] His character's romantic pursuit is central to the narrative, particularly in scenes where he woos Sarika amidst the growing tensions from his living arrangement, showcasing his earnest and lighthearted charm that draws both women to him.[2] Prashanth delivers the role with effortless charisma, making Shankar a relatable everyman whose reactions to romantic entanglements feel authentic and engaging.[2] Simran plays Bhanu, a multifaceted friend to Shankar who initially ropes him into her home to shield herself from her stepbrother's unwanted attention, but whose unrequited affection evolves into scheming jealousy as she attempts to sabotage his budding romance with Sarika.[9] Despite her antagonistic actions, Bhanu's character reveals redeemable depth in poignant confession scenes during the climax, where her suppressed emotions erupt, highlighting her vulnerability and inner conflict.[2] Simran's acclaimed performance in this negative-shaded role marked a departure from her typical bubbly personas, earning praise for its emotional intensity and versatility that surprised audiences and solidified her range as an actress.[10] Laila embodies Sarika, the innocent and vulnerable girl next door who becomes Shankar's primary love interest, bringing a sense of purity and shyness to her interactions that contrast sharply with the film's escalating drama.[11] Her character's family-oriented scenes, such as tender moments bonding with her mother, underscore her relatable warmth and emotional fragility amid the romantic turmoil.[2] Laila's natural and engaging portrayal fits seamlessly, emphasizing Sarika's docile appeal as a foil to Bhanu's fiery complexity.[2]Supporting Roles
Raghuvaran portrays Panneer, the stepbrother of lead character Bhanu (Simran), whose obsessive and overprotective behavior creates significant familial tension and drives much of the central conflict in the narrative.[2] His performance adds emotional depth to the thriller aspects, portraying a misunderstood figure whose actions force Bhanu to seek refuge with tenant Shankar (Prashanth), heightening the suspense through familial pursuit and isolation themes.[12] Jai Ganesh plays Sarika's (Laila) father, a traditional patriarch who enforces rigid family expectations, opposing her romance with Shankar and escalating the plot's obstacles.[13] His stern demeanor contributes to the film's conflict by arranging an unwanted alliance, underscoring cultural pressures that amplify the thriller's stakes around forbidden love and deception. In ensemble scenes, Ganesh's authoritative presence contrasts with the leads' youthful rebellion, enriching the story's exploration of generational clashes.[13] Vinu Chakravarthy plays Chidhambaram, Shankar's rude and verbally abusive father, whose interactions add tension to Shankar's personal life and decisions.[11] Fathima Babu enacts Sarika's friend, contributing to family-oriented subplots with her lively reactions and supportive schemes to aid the romance, while adding levity in group settings like bus travels.[2] Raghava Lawrence plays Doss, an antagonist and Sarika's stalker involved in manipulative schemes that propel the thriller forward, his menacing yet comedic edge enhancing side stories of betrayal and pursuit.[13] Together, these supporting performers bolster the film's pacing by reacting to the leads' dilemmas—such as Shankar's tenant life amid escalating threats—creating layered suspense through interpersonal reactions and parallel intrigues.[1]Production
Development
Director Saran conceived the story for Parthen Rasithen by drawing from his personal experiences traveling by bus to college and anecdotes shared by his brother, cinematographer K. V. Guhan, which particularly shaped the character portrayed by Simran.[2] This foundation allowed Saran to develop a narrative centered on a love triangle unfolding aboard a bus, emphasizing suppressed emotions and interpersonal dynamics.[2] Serving as both writer and director, Saran crafted the screenplay to fuse romance with thriller elements, creating a tale that explores themes of unrequited love and deception through a mix of emotional tension and suspenseful twists.[2] His approach to scripting prioritized screenplay structure over entirely original plots, incorporating flexibility for on-set improvisations influenced by the music composition and actor inputs.[14] The project was announced as Saran's third directorial effort, with scripting completed by late 1999 and pre-production underway into early 2000, when work officially began.[14] Produced by S. Thiruvengadam under the banner of Serene Movie Makers, the film marked a continuation of Saran's collaboration with familiar talents, including lead actor Prashanth from his previous project Hello.[14] The script's emphasis on contrasting character arcs in the love triangle directly informed initial casting decisions for the principal roles.[2]Casting
Director Saran selected Prashanth for the lead role of Shankar, capitalizing on the actor's rising popularity from successful romantic films such as Jodi (1999), which had established him as a heartthrob ideal for a character entangled in a love triangle.[15] Producers facilitated his casting due to his availability following the completion of Hello (1999), aligning with the film's need for a youthful, charismatic lead to drive the romantic thriller narrative.[2] For the female leads, Saran offered Simran the choice between the roles of Bhanu and Sarika, ultimately assigning her to Bhanu to leverage her ability to portray complex, suppressed emotions, marking Simran's first venture into an antagonistic character after predominantly romantic parts.[2] This decision highlighted a deliberate shift in her typecasting, drawing on her dramatic range to add depth to the film's interpersonal conflicts.[2] Laila was cast as Sarika after Saran reviewed her performance in her debut Rojavanam (1999), appreciating her fresh appeal for an early-career role that required vibrant energy.[2] The ensemble cast, including veteran Raghuvaran as Simran's stepbrother and Raghava Lawrence in a supporting role, required careful coordination of schedules amid the actors' commitments to multiple projects, though specific audition details for supporting roles remain undocumented in available accounts. Raghava Lawrence was cast after Saran encouraged his acting debut, following his dance performance in Amarkkalam (1999).[2] This process reflected Saran's vision to blend established stars with emerging talents, inspired by the film's core theme of unexpected romantic entanglements.[2]Filming
Principal photography for Parthen Rasithen began in early 2000, with the film in production by February of that year, and concluded ahead of its August 11 release.[14] The production primarily shot in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, utilizing real locations to enhance the film's romantic thriller atmosphere. Key hospital and medical sequences featuring Simran were filmed at a medical college in the city, marking a notable use of an authentic institutional setting for dramatic effect. Most exterior scenes took place in Besant Nagar, while extensive bus interiors—central to the plot's tension—were captured using a remodeled second-hand school bus, modified by removing the roof, installing acrylic sheets for natural lighting, and adding a trolley track for dynamic camera movements inside the vehicle.[2][2] Cinematographer A. Venkatesh handled the visuals, focusing on techniques to build suspense in the thriller elements, such as fluid tracking shots within the confined bus space to heighten claustrophobic tension.[16] One song sequence was filmed in Langkawi, Malaysia, adding an exotic backdrop to the musical interludes.[17] During the beach shoot for "Poove Punnagai Kaatu" in Besant Nagar, lead actress Laila encountered an on-set mishap when she sank into the sand up to her ankles and fell, though she recovered quickly to continue.[2] The cast, including Prashanth and Laila, fostered camaraderie by sharing lunches under trees on location, adapting to the absence of modern amenities like vanity vans.[2]Music and Soundtrack
Composition
Bharadwaj composed the music for Parthen Rasithen, marking his second film score following his debut with Amarkalam (1999).[18] The soundtrack features six songs that blend melodic structures suitable for the film's romantic elements.[19] The lyrics were written by Vairamuthu, focusing on themes of love and longing to complement the plot's emotional core.[20] Recording sessions for the album occurred in 2000, with the songs integrated into the narrative through picturized sequences, such as the title track featuring the lead actors.[19] Bharadwaj's background score incorporates tense orchestration to underscore the thriller aspects, enhancing suspense during pivotal scenes.Track Listing
The soundtrack for Parthen Rasithen consists of six songs composed by Bharadwaj with lyrics by Vairamuthu. The album was released prior to the film's theatrical premiere in 2000 by Five Star Audio.[21][22]| No. | Title | Singers | Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vaa Endrathu Ulagam | Prashanth | 4:23 | Solo by lead actor Prashanth; energetic opening number.[23][24] |
| 2 | Parthen Rasithen | Yugendran, Reshmi | 5:18 | Title track; duet featuring romantic duet vocals by Reshmi.[25] |
| 3 | Enakenna Yerkanavey | P. Unnikrishnan, Harini | 5:28 | Melodic duet highlighting emotional themes.[3][26] |
| 4 | Poove Punnagai Kaattu | Sonu Nigam, Vasundhara Das | 5:16 | Upbeat duet with lively female playback by Vasundhara Das.[25][27] |
| 5 | Kedaikkala Kedaikkala | Yugendran, Reshmi | 5:02 | Playful duet with Reshmi providing female vocals.[28][26] |
| 6 | Thinnadhey Thinnadhey | Shankar Mahadevan, Anuradha Sriram | 5:10 | Energetic duet closing the album.[29][30] |

