IR's New albums - Ver 2008

Thanks RS !

Mayilu seems to be better than Dhanam..

My confidence grows on Raja coming back in a big way.
Unfortunate that Mayilu is held up :( :(

One thing to note is Raja's new enthusiasm in tamil films :)

Anyways, we have atleast

Mallepoovu - August
Pazhassi Raja - Onam ( Sep )
Azhagar malai - Deepavali (oct)
Jagan Mohini - December.

The second half of 2008 is going to be musically great !

How can u forget Nan Kadavul and that 7 minutes song in that

I'm definitely stirring a hornet's nest here, but what we....nah, make it, I, expect from Raja these days is not exactly rocket science. Regardless of his age, I'm not keen on getting highly complex/ experimental stuff from him.

If I may take an example (bzzzz....sound of hornet's nest being shaken vigorously), Vidyasagar's body of work reminds me of Raja's peak output - standard, predictable and almost instantly likeable backgrounds, simple melodies and neat lyrics. Raman Thediya Seethai is just one example - songs like Ippave, mazhai nindra...Jayam Kondaan's Naan varaindhu vaitha etc. They bring back - to me at least - the joy of a simple, 80s Raja tune!

Karthik

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rprasad

Guys,

As i have posted repeatedly before in this forum, there is no point in expecting some classic experimental or popular scores from IR for some average movie he does. Those times are long gone. He is no longer the young Raaja who had the unbridled enthusiasm for any and every movie he did during 80's and early 90's. Even though music has no age, but age does play a role in a music directors capablilties. He is now 65 years old and no longer feels the need to push himself to create some magical score for each song for all the average movies he does. So his best is only reserved for some close freinds/good directors who can push or cajole him to come up with something new or an exicting new script. As to why he does these average movies , maybe he just cannot stop and he needs to keep composing even if its not anything special. I guess its difficult for a man immeresed in film music his whole life to just give up doing film music and focus on non film music. And also he cannot say No to directors/producers who need him to score music for their movies. Its probably going to continue till he feels physically he cannot do this anymore.

Till then guys enjoy the good melodies he still comes up with. I personally enjoyed the kannanuku number very much in Dhanam and also the two other songs. Just dont keep comparing with his classics. I know its hard since IR with over 800 movies has filled our minds with so many gems that we unconciously start comparing or expecting someting new and also find similarities with his old songs and start lamenting about it.
Keep this in mind , new md's like Harris Jayaraj who i guess is quite popular keeps repeating the same pattern in most of his songs, but people still lap it up and enjoy it( he is not even 100 films old). Even Rahman(who has still not done that many movies even though he has been for 16 years now) for all his good scores keeps repeating his patterns and rehashes hindi songs to tamil and vice versa. But you still expect IR to come up with new tunes for some mundane movie. Stop it guys and keep enjoying any good number from IR. It is still cut above the junk that is being dished out these days.

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inetk,

I agree with you on VS.

Vidyasagar after he came out of his obsession with Bhangra music in his initial films, started to be IR's hier in melodies and orchestration ( Yuvan and KR are not his hiers for sure on this ).

And if you notice there is a mysterious connection between IR and VS. It will appear like both are exchanging tunes sometimes.

When I heard "Ennai thaalatta.." from KM for the first time, it sounded similar to "Poongaatru veesum.." of VS from Mr.Madras. Even some people find some similarity between "Ayya voodu.." and "Thamarai poovukkum thannikkum.." from Pasumpon ! :)

And VS's "Thanthana thanthana.." from Thavasi has a strong resemblence of "Sempoove.." from Siraichaalai. And "Aadiyile.." from Villain ( I think ) to "Thenpaandi seemaiyile" from Nayagan :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by inetk

Regardless of his age, I'm not keen on getting highly complex/ experimental stuff from him.
Karthik

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Some of his best compositions that lasted big time , i guess were experimentations when they were released !

Donno why people compare all new IR songs to 80s songs..To add, even if IR gives a song that is of better quality than his 80s classics, Many of the hubbers here are not going to accept that.I find many of the hubbers in that mindset.

As an IR fan, i make it a point not to miss any of the new songs from him and appreciate the good ones,while also longing for better ones.

We are discussing here about his songs reaching out to the masses,which is missing (in TFM) for the past few years.All IR fans would want to rejoice IR's success (interms of reaching masses) and we all are hopeful that it will happen soon.

I enjoyed the good numbers from dhanam (unakullae, kannanukku, ilamai) and am ahppy about that.If any of these songs reach the masses,that will make me even more happier.

why complain,enjoy the good things and don't expect every song to be a classic..(is any other MD in TFM serving that now?)

Guess I am out of the loop. Is 'Mayilu' a unreleased movie?

RS - did you record that in the recording studio or radio?

hope somebody can provide info.

Inetk,

There is a difference in IR giving 80's style songs again today and VS giving those styled songs. VS has a lower level of expectation among the masses and fans and hence any good 80's style melody number irrespective of whether it resembles IR's styled tunes will be lapped up by the masses(infact that is the great irony here people like IR styled songs from VS but not a similar one from IR himself). That is not going to happen with IR. People will immediately start to lament that its an often heard tune and it resembles his some other tune and so forth. So this is kind of a no win situation for IR. Even you if i remember correctly have written off some tunes as outdated/archaic 90's or 80's style in some of your reviews of IR albums.

And also comparing VS songs now to IR's 80'songs is clearly stretching it too much. IR's 80's songs were classics and unmatched in terms of melody, orchestration and experimentation. VS cannot come close to matching those classics which IR tuned in 80's. Terming those gems as simple standard and predictable is again totally incorrect statement. Most of IRs' experimental scores which turned into classics are all in 80's. And i think everyone will agree that IR's 80's songs period will probably rival MSV/TKR's 60's as a golden period of tamil film music.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rprasad

And i think everyone will agree that IR's 80's songs period will probably rival MSV/TKR's 60's as a golden period of tamil film music.

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:yes: :exactly:

Sir,



If you are at chennai then you can well enough get it from Musicworld - Spencers. The album {front}cover has an awesome picture of Raaja sir.



Ilamai kanavugal - Karthick and Rita. Lyrics - Valli

…..begins with spick and span voice of Rita. Soon after manual rhythm and funky synth bass give the lead for Pallavi. String orchestra and bass guitar are used as filler. Former for 1st interlude and later in betwixt the handsome Charanams. Normally, any music lover can extract hidden or candid pleasure in the 2nd interlude of any Raaja sir’s song. Very peppy/mind blowing interlude for melody songs. Soft native cadence/stupefying interlude for {electronic} rhythm oriented song. This song falls on the second huddle. Staggering synth chord progression and strings arrangement do follow call and response rule with live bass drum at 2nd interlude.

Interesting fact: It does have tines of turntable sound, might be made through synthesizer, which I have neva expected {at least in this album}. It does not bother the lead melody, though {smile}.

Ulagam kedakuthu – Sunitha sarathy. Lyrics – Valli

…begins alike contemporary electro funk song and changes path as energetic pop. 1st and 2nd interludes have interesting middle-eastern lute kinda instrument {Oudh…eh?}. At 2nd interlude, well structured Brass instruments along with bang band orchestra are more away from usual pattern. Programmed percussion and chipmunk voice mix change the color of the song. However, Sunitha’s put-on accent/slang let down the song.

Dhanam Dhanam – Karthick. Lyrics – Valli

It is not a normal run-of-the-mill kinda song. It does have interesting rhythm pattern with south Indian earthy instruments with Djembes and synth bass as bassline.

Koothu onnu – Raaja sir and Feji. Lyrics – Palani Bharathi.

I guess after the song - Velli kizhama from Shiva, Raaja sir’s attempt for de genre of the song. It has more tribal nuances say de flute prelude, peppy programmed & live rhythm during vocal part and Djembes at 2nd interlude and reed sound through synth. Stunning usage of bass guitar {synth bass…eh?} is simply rocking.

Unnakulle irukirein – Sriram parthasarathy – Bilsenday. Lyrics – Mu.Metha.

…yet another mesmerizing romantic composition from Raaja sir’s music factory. First a couple of lines strongly strike de melody de song Kommallo koyila - Ninnu choodaka nenundalenu, later so much of twist both in lead melody and rhythm/orchestra. Pallavi has both synth rhthym and manual percussion. Chord progression with piano/synth, bass guitar, string orchestra, live percussion at first interlude is Gorgeous. After 2nd line of Charanam, de melody, poly-rhythm wid miruthangam and synth bass steal the spotlight. Awesome, alluring, passionate, zeal and lovely 2nd interlude has mild accelerando of flute, string orchestra with embellishment of synth chord later dazzling live percussion joins to completely change the ambience so romantic. My pocket is already filled with so many numbers like this {of course Raaja sir} song. This song turns on greediness within me to acquire it as well {giggle}.

Kannanukku enna vendum – Bhavatharini, Prasanna and Sriram Parthasarathy. Lryics – Vishali Kannadasan.

Song of the album.

This semi-classical song would make your day very meaningful and momentous.

Charanam:

Nadhi vazhi oru oodam povathu pole, vithi vazhi en ullam un pugal {pugazhil} paadum.

As a boat goes according to de direction of stream, my soul would praise your overwhelming according to the destiny.

Thurigaigal theetatha oviyum neeye. Paaril unnai paadatha kaalangal veeney,

You are work of an art, which was not painted by brush. Day without singing about you is futile.

Unnai potra manin methu ullam undu khodi khodi, unthan ullam enna vendru sollu Kanna {smile}.

There are crore crore soul onto this earth to praise you. Kindly, tell us about your ideology.

Actually, I have just imposed Raaja sir on the place of protagonist {Krishnah} for the above lines. So, day without listening to your compositions/ not singing about you is meaningless.

Even, the second charanam has evocative lines as your melody through flute would evoke water flow even on moon and my desire is longing for that lullaby. Raajasaranam.

This song prevents me to lament about my misdemeanor and more like declaration of guilt. I should say it is a divine magnum opus.

Kattilukku thana pombala – Raaja sir. Lyrics – Muthuligam.

It is a very situational song with philosophical lines, which script depends. All about social issues of mercy/pities women and bad gestures of male-chauvinist. Interesting ethnic rhythm with synth bass and distortion guitar apt for this rational song.

A mixed album with many alluring interludes, contemporary output and fulfilling melodies.

always

~~Raaja rules!