Originally Posted by Sureshs65
Been listening to 'Ramana Saranam Saranam' album first thing in the morning for more than a week now. I had earlier posted regarding the songs of this album. I want to now post some thoughts on the devotional albums of Raja.
As everyone knows Raja has been releasing devotional albums at regular intervals. In his biography he says that he tuned 4 Kannada devotional songs and lot of people were touched by those songs. I searched hard for it and got it. Only to realize that I already had the Tamil versions of these songs in the album, 'Geeta Vazhipadu'. The devotional albums that Raja has released that I know of include: 'Illayarajavin Geeta Vazhipadu', 'Ramana Malai', 'Guru Ramana Geetham', 'Geeta Vazhipadu', 'Amma Paamalai', 'Manikanda Geeta Mala' and 'Ramana Saranam Saranam'. I am unable to procure 'Amma Paamlai' though I have tried hard. If someone lets me know where I can procure it, I will be grateful. I have heard the songs though on thiraipaadal.
When I hear these songs what I realize is that not only in the sphere of music is Raja an integrator, but also in the devotional field. What I mean here is that whenever people talk about devotional song or devotional album, they immediately have a standard template in mind. If it is a Hindu devotional, the expectation is that it will be based on some carnatic or a light hindustani ragam. The same way, the Christian and Muslim devotionals have their own templates. Everyone thinks that devotional songs are different from film tunes. A statement like 'That devotional song sounds like a film song' is usually made in the pejorative sense. Raja, in most of these albums, doesn't bother about such expectations. He seems to believe that 'bhakthi' is the same, whether you express it as a 'film song', or as a folk song or as a semi classical song. The overall feeling should be what the lyrics want to convey. To his credit, he does convey the sense, though at first people's reaction is somewhat confused as to what these type of songs are doing in a devotional album.
I remember the time when I bought 'Ramanamalai' tape in the ashram and drove back to Bangalore playing that tape. My wife's reaction was "This sounds like a film album." Later it went on to become a very important devotional album for her. Same was the case with 'Guru Ramana Geetham'. When she heard one song based on Mayamalavagowla, she remarked, "This sounds like 'Oru chiri kandal' " Slowly this album too went on to become a favorite. If you hear 'Manikandan Geeta Mala' you will have the same feeling. Infact one of the posters here had said that one song sounded like a Christian devotional. My feeling is that in these albums Raja wants to break that barrier of saying this type of music is suitable only for this type of songs. He wants to convey the 'bhakthi bhavam' in every possible way. Be it a filmy melody, be it a folk melody, be it a qawali beat based song or a christian choir like song. Raja goes beyond the brahminical version of bhakthi to try and incorporate the bhakthi bhavam prevalent in different strata of the society.
Well, atleast that is my theory :) Not sure how many of you will agree with it. Your views most welcome.
