Finally. Got the tape in Bangalore and heard the songs.
To be honest, I had stopped expecting much from Illayaraja's Tamil albums and generally look forward to his Malayalam albums. Initially when I heard that Illayaraja was composing for a Mu.Ka. film I wasn't very enthused. Only when I heard the clips did I think this album was probably worth buying!!!
I haven't heard all of them fully yet but here are my initial impressions.
Agandhayil Aaduvatha: Starts off with the raga Rasikapriya. (Honestly I didn't recognize this. A musician friend of mine told this). Then in the charanams it shifts to Mayamalavagowla. The excellent and sophisticated way that Illayaraja introduces the instruments in the background when he is reciting is something new to Tamil songs I guess. Because they generally go "Veena" and there will one person playing the veena, just in case you missed the hint. This is not the in-your-face-you-are-dumb type music. The same way he recites the names of swaras in Tamil (equivalent to the Sadhja-Rishaba etc) he sounds the note at the exact point. A very nice way of doing it.
Pulagindra Pozhudu: The initial prose starts in Bouli and the song shifts to Kalyani. Just when you are wondering if this is one more Kalyani song, the first charanam shifts to Dharmavati. Then you think, "I have also heard quite a few Dharmavathis" and Illayaraja shifts to Vasantha in the second charanam. A very nice song. I wish K J Yesudas at his prime sang this !!!
Abhinayam: I wasn't sure of the raga. I could hear Charukesi but thought I heard some vivadhi usage as well. My friend confirmed that this raga is called Ragavardhi using a different Rishabam compared to Charukesi. The latter part of this song turns into a ragamalika as well. I could hear Karaharapriya, Sudha Dhanyasi and Hamsanandi. Need to listen more keenly to this.
Kalathai Vendra and Kallai are melodious songs. As mentioned by Krish the orchestration is modern. 'Kallai' is Illayaraja melody in the lines of 'Ilan Katru Veesudu' and 'Unnavida'. It is like a gentle breeze.
Choza Vala Nadu: A decent song. I liked the way he starts the song on slow beat and in the last stanza shifts to a folk beat and finishes the song in a robust way. You dont notice the shifts at all.
'Azaghi Vara' is 'drishti parikaram'.
What is evident throughout is the sophistication that Illayaraja brings to the album. The raga changes and the beat changes happen so very naturally. All in all, an album in Tamil from Illayaraja I am very happy with.
