IR's composing technique

Vijay,

you have to realize that it is not just IR fans who listen to Ir songs. just because others are not self proclaimed IR fans that does not mean their opinions do not matter. It is the general public which decides which songs become popular and which does not. So do not keep harping that it is only fans like you who have the accurate measure of which can be called IR's classic and which is not. Also does every good song have to be classic ? I do not think so. The song has to sound good hummable and soulful. It does not matter if it remotely resembles some other song or it does not feel fresh as long as the tune is good. Now yes that means even Shanker Ganesh's songs can be classified in this category. I would say yes why not? Now IR apart from producing such good/popular songs has also experimented and came up with innovative compositions which others have not been able to atleast not to the level of IR. This is what differentiates him from other Md's. Now the percentage of such songs might be low. It hardly matters since not everyone can notice such nuances in a song. But again the bottomline, the common people need a good song to remember and hum and IR has given a lot of those and i dare say in their mind these might be even classics. Sorry for the digression hope this discussion stops here. I feel i had to respond .

"Other than Nayakan(where the BGM was better than the songs) and to a certain extent Poovizhi Vaasalile can you pick a single other TFM album and say its overall quality is as good as Johny or Nenjathai KiLLaadhe or Ninaivellam Nithya?"

During the times of Johnny, Nenjaththai kiLLAdhE, and Ninaivellam Nithya, IR had to still possibly contend with MSV, who was giving some gems and was capable of the odd coup (eg. NinaithalE Inikkkum). Could that have been a factor for the heightened performance levels of IR? After 1984 or so, IR was the lord of everything he surveyed (until, arguably, 1992) and the lack of competition may have, arguably, lead to the perceived lowering of performance.

While it is true that a number of IR songs for unknown directors / producers have been very good (which can be attributed to the extraordinary skills of IR), it has to be admitted that he was fairly consistent in giving great songs when working with specific teams, especially specific directors. (Need I give examples...I hear the names of Bharathi Raja, Mani Ratnam, R Sundarrajan, Mahendran, Balachandar being shouted:-))

That could probably give a pointer to a successful albeit non-musical `composing technique'...i.e. working closely with a Project lead who is extra-sensitive for musical quality...and also a leader who pushes the MD for innovation...

A simple example will be `thamthana namdhana thALam varum'...much has been written about this song, long pallavi etc. in other threads. This song definitely includes lot of unique features (musically) and can easily be termed a `classic' without controversy:-)

However, there has to be considerable input from BR which influenced the structure of this song (the chorus that fits the situation, overlapping of female voices etc.) Since movie songs are not a sole property but the result of a team work, best results are obtained when the composer sits with a discernible director and spends reasonable amount of time...

While the above may not exactly fit the description of `technique' it's a major factor nevertheless, IMHO.

Music4Ever, I don't think so...for early & late 80s, songs of T Rajendar were very popular inside TN...though there were only a couple of albums each year from him, they reverberated through out TN, sometimes even overshadowing IR's sweet numbers because of the raw percussion power:-)

And late 80's had such immemorable films that he did with KB and Maniratnam e.g Agni*, punnagai mannan and others like mella thiRandhadhu kadhavu etc. MTK was in fact done in collab with MSV and not in competition with him...

'immemorable' to read as 'memorable'...sorry for the typo:-)

MTK - a milestone in TFM with the all-time classic `kuzhaloodhum kaNNanukku'...

Talking about IR's composing techniques, this film reminded me of a write-up by veteran DF'er Srikanth who witnessed the composing session for a song of this film, where mellisai mannar & IR sweetly colloborated, with absolutely no ego clash - infact with so much of mutual respect and friendliness...and the output is phenomenal...

Kind of supports my theory...in the world of art, it is not competition that brings out the best from an artiste (which is true in design, business etc. but not necessarily in music), but rather a nice team, happy colloboration, calm mind, good but exacting environment etc that brings out the best...

I feel IR's composing was at its best when he had strong partners / friends / exacting but appreciative environment etc...OTOH, rivalry / jealousy / dog-eat-dog /ego clashes, business-like-working-style, business-like-competition and such things spoilt the quality IMHO...

idhu thaeraada discussion,... and idhu thaeraada case ( you know whom and what I mean)

Prabhudas

Quote:

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Originally Posted by vijayr

Anyways, thumburu those films you have listed I have songs in the collection from all of them. Again they constitute about 20% of the overall output. I had listed some films earlier in this thread, go ahead and see them. You might not have even heard of some of them. Or you can check 1987 discography, for instance, yourself.
http://www.raajangahm.com/ric/film/FL-1987.html

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Thanks Vijayr, for providing us with the link of discography for the year 1987
Iam afraid that its not so grim a year For IR as you have said. a very succesful year IMHO.
The list
Kaamaagni Hindi
Aalappiranthavan Tamil
Aanand Tamil
Chinna Kuyil Paattu Tamil
Chiraipparavai Tamil
Dhoorathu Pacchai Tamil
Enga Ooru Paattukkaaran Tamil
Graamathu Minnal Tamil
Iniya Uravu Poothathu Tamil
Jallikkattu Tamil
Kaadhal Parisu Tamil
Kadamai Kanniyam Kattupaadu Tamil
Kalyaana Kachcheri Tamil
Krishnan Vandaan Tamil
Manadhil Orudhi Vendum Tamil
Manaivi Ready Tamil
Nayagan Tamil
Ninaikka Therinda Maname Tamil
Ninaive Oru Sangeetham Tamil
Paadu Nilave Tamil
Per Sollum Pillai Tamil
Poo Vizhi Vaasaliley Tamil
Puyal Padam Pattu Tamil
Rettai Vaal Kuruvi Tamil
Theertha Karayinile Tamil
Ullam Kavarntha Kalvan Tamil
Vazha Vazharka Tamil
Velaikkaaran Tamil
Andharikandey Kandhudu Telugu
Aradhana Telugu
Maharshi Telugu
Sankeerthana Telugu

27 Tamil, 4 Telugu and 1 Hindi movie
Leaving apart telugu, hindi and Kadamai kanniyam kattupadu which had no songs we are left with 26 movies of which
Aanand, Enga ooru paatukkaaran, iniya uravu poothathu, kaadhal parisu, manadhil urudhi vendum, manaivi ready,nayagan, ninaika therintha manamae, ninaive oru sangeetham, paadu nilave, per sollum pillai, poo vizhi vaasaliley, Rettai vaal kuruvi, Ullam kavarntha kalvan, and Velaikaaran forming around 15 movies were albums which were huge commercial hits making 57-58% success rate
The rest of the albums had songs like
'nillada vennila' and 'etri vacha nerupinilae' - Aalapirandhavan
'Hey raaja' - jallikattu
'Vel muruganukku' - puyal paadum paatu which were big hits too
I have a strong doubt over the songs from 'theertha karayinilae' 'krishnan vandhan' and 'gramathu minnal' i have heard of these movies cant recollect the songs as of now
Of these movies i have never heard of vaazhga valarga, kalyana kacheri, thoorathu pachai making only 11-12 % of unheard songs, Hopefully there are some classics lying in the bin.:wink:
However we see, Raja had been commercially succesful for more than 60% of the movies he had scored in 1987. what more should we IR fans need. :)
Iam stressing over the commercial aspect as you had said earlier that the dhandams were 80% and were not even commercial hits.

Getting on with 1988 will me much tougher for you as this had been a prosperous year for IR fans with more classics and commercial Hits with a national Award too. :D

Digression
rs, grAmaththu minnal, a Revathy starrer, had a few very melodious village songs. I had seen the forgettable movie in a junk theater in Palakkad, but the songs were quite popular in villages when it got released...most had KSC...

'nee pOgumidamellAm manasu pOguthE mAnE' is one I can quickly recall (I think MV-KSC)...but there were a couple other better songs...solo's by KSC, I think...

End-digression

"Gramathu minnal" has some melodious music by Maestro.
"kalyanam...'MVasu,SNS enthusiastic chorus song
"rettai kili..." Raaga Devan with Chithra. What a Pathos song!! Raaja extensively used his violins appadiye crying, consoling flute pieces, Raaja's emotional humming, singing with Chithra, very soothing pathos. My fav
"kanney en...." Solo chithra. Listen to that prelude, chithra's haunting humming followed by flute, it has awesome pacy violin & flute interludes..
"Nee pogum paadhaiyil..." Mvasu,Chithra. Catchy tune. Again song has excellent romantic violin, flute interludes.
"Vatti yedutha.." By Raaja
Flute ,Flute ,Flute... Upbeat prelude & interludes!!
Raaja has used the flute extensively in this album. Very soothing.
Raaja's gramathu music is always special and lively!! ennoda aasai rasa maadhiry varaadhu! Okyaa!!

http://project-gem.tripod.com/releases/release8.html