IR's New albums - Ver 2008/2009

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Originally Posted by raja_fan

app_engine,


Yes, I was thinking on the similar lines..

How can a guy come out with fresh music even after thousands of sittings spanning over 33 years ?!

It is a wonder that this guy's brain has not yet gone mad !!

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I want to respond with two points to above:

1. May be it did impact his brain. You can see this by his erratic behaviour. I am not saying this to criticize...but just realize the fact that this is the other side of the eccentric talent he has.

2. I do not at all wonder when he comes up with fresh music like this. I do get inspired that he has the energy to do it when he does it...but clearly the past few years songs pale in comparison to his prior experiments and output. So when a Vaalmiki comes along...it is the same raaja we knew that shows up. So, I cannot complain on one side and then wonder at same time how he does it. More importantly, the 'wonder' factor was when he was at 300 movies type of score. Despite so many movies...and so many every year ..he still generated gem after gem. So, all the wonder is all at that time...and he is past that. If he went past all that...the rest of the 100s landmarks are only more 'count' as he was beyond belief long time ago.

In the wake of Valmiki, I think 'Unnai Ennaku' from Azhagar Malai has been under appreciated. Wonderful song with superb orchestration. Listen to the bass in this song. Though it seems to be synth bass, the bass lines are well written. The keyboards also play a nice part in this song. Added to it is Raja's lovely handling of Hamsadhwani. Worth a very keen listen. (As usual the rediff reviewer said this was a mildly interesting song :)

app_eng,

I am not sure if it was you or irir123, who had earlier suggested that Raja needs to do a lot of films, like he did in 80s, and his form will return. Turns out to be true :) The more he does the more innovative he will be. Innovation is in his blood and given do more, he is bound to come up with newer ideas and if the directors are able to impress him with their stories, we have a feast ahead.

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Originally Posted by ananth222

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Originally Posted by raagas

there has always been that 'new sound' advent in Indian films. ... It doesnt mean new 'Music', as IR often defines it.it doesnt mean that the 'change' is in same dimension too.The 'new sound' is just the demarcation between how things were and how things are. Ilaiyaraaja too did that.So i dont think its complete nonsense.

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That is exactly my point. There was a contention that IR songs are better due to (or worse, for lack of) new sounds. A song does not become good or bad just because of "new sound". Its like changing font - we don't use old style fonts now, but that doesn't make the text much better. Just makes it easier to read for the current generation. Someone who comes up with a "new font" can't be credited with changing literature just for that contribution.
And when did IR define "new sound" as "new music"? I mean, did he say that somewhere?

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Thats right. A song can be good by its own inherent aspects. Sound is actually related to the crispness of the packaging, if i can call it that way.Ofcourse, it also has to do with the instruments used.Karthikraja once remarked (in 1997) that he would credit ARR for bringing in a new sound to Indian films...Fairly true, bcoz the overall sound of the indian film music changed after 1992 and he had a role in it (Lyricists Javed Akhtar & Gulzar too pointed out the same). Now coming to Ilaiyaraaja, i think he did exactly what ARR did in 90s, to the sound.He brought in new sensibilities of sound that other composers eventually adopted that sound culture. Thats why we at times get confused if a certain song is by IR or Shankar-Ganesh (there were some similar songs isnt it). Ofcourse, the trademark ideas could never be replicated and thats why IR was/is IR.
The time zones are different, but otherwise IR was very modern in 80s, when he was scoring bigtime. I think the only negative aspect was that the quality of sound or the emphasis he gave to sound, in 90s, was inconsistent. Like a Agni Nakshtram or Mouna Raagam had much more crisp (and modern) sound than couple of albums in 90s. That inconsistency did become apparent in 90s.
Yet, he always surprised me with a ultra-modern fusion-ish sound at times, like in Meetadha Oru Veenai. That was class apart. IR is IR guys... anyday.

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Originally Posted by ananth222

And when did IR define "new sound" as "new music"? I mean, did he say that somewhere?

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In one of the recent interviews, IR asked "Can anyone create new music?... nobody can.." ofcourse... his answer was in the larger context.. and what he said was a fact.. because the notes are always the same... and scales are always the same..a Bhairavi 50yrs ago will be the same bhairavi now.. That was what he was meaning.

But i think, the interviewer didnt put the context properly. I think the interviewer meant to ask about "new styles of music and new sounds", which seem to be norm.But lookslike the interviewer didnt get those right keywords and IR gave a larger context answer. :)

suresh, I think it was Kiru who suggested that

Thanks Plum for the correction. I knew one of the regulars had spoken about it but didn't know which thread to search :( As they say in Hindi, whoever said it, 'Uske Moo Mein Ghee Shakkar' :)

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Originally Posted by Sureshs65

he is bound to come up with newer ideas and if the directors are able to impress him with their stories, we have a feast ahead.

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The feast is already ON... I am only waiting for more non-film instrumental albums. Once he gives 1 or 2 albums.. i guess that makes the platter complete. I really wish he does some orchestral or fusion stuff.

I am hopeful about good songs in Chal Chalein , SRK and Pa.

And what happened to Jaganmohini? There was one more commercial telugu film i think, apart from Singeetham's Thyagaraja.

And in Malayalam, Pazhassi Raja is there.

For some reason, vAlmIki songs (at least two of them) bring back the 'azhagi' feeling. 'poo sirikkudhu' of 'pAttuchcholli' and 'oLi tharum sooriyan' of 'oLiyilE therivadhu'.

May be the arrangements. Ofcourse, the melodies are new and definitely fresh. However, I can't help getting the feeling / nostalgia of azhagi.

Hope the film does full justification to the songs. My hunch feeling is the tunes of the songs will dominate the background music for related situations - played in different paces / instruments etc. If the film is taken aesthetically, the BGM combo will be a treat :-)

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Originally Posted by Sureshs65

Thanks Plum for the correction. I knew one of the regulars had spoken about it but didn't know which thread to search :( As they say in Hindi, whoever said it, 'Uske Moo Mein Ghee Shakkar' :)

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Suresh/Plum, it is just not my observation. I was told by people close to IR that he accepts all sorts of assignments mainly because he wants to keep the "juices flowing".
BTW, I am slowly getting on the wavelength with you guys on vaalmiki songs. I now like kooda varuviya..initially I got put off by the first two words :-) . Still I cannot figure out why rs thinks it is Rahmaneque. It is not the same groove that is repeated. IR modifies it in the charanams and as his usual practice he completely gives a different rhythm in the second interlude. Maybe the "conscious flow" of the tune seems like Rahmanish ( compare this with the "unobstructed flow" in oLI tharum) or (my best bet) it is the way the singer sings it - non-native speaker, not distinguishing between words in a sentence :-( I noticed the lyrics only after I saw it in text here. My pick though is oLi tharum..vintage IR ..very fitting rhythm, strings and piano backing..amazing ..notice the string bridging parts of the charnam when another singer starts over. As already observed pronounciation is terribly wanting in this song by the female singer. She is focussed on getting kizhakku right, she messes up viLakku.

Overall, It is a very, very fresh album, even though I notice some traces of kaathal jaathi in kooda varuviya (btw, seems like kalyani, with traces of kaaRRil varum gethamE song from srikanth movie) and rekkai katti parakkudhu.
As others have observed, I am also amazed that IR can give fresh tunes even after so many tunes have been given out already..Math teachers should cite him as example when teaching permutations !!!!! Students will understand the concept better with this real life example (actually I feel I would have appreciated math or music better, if I had been exposed to music technicals much earlier in my childhood).