Maestro ilaiyaraaja news & titbits

[kj]

I know how annoying this lack of IR cd's in shops is. This problem has started since AGI music was handed over the rights to all of Raajs's works from 1976 to 2000. In my opinion AGI has made a total mess of things. Initially, I thought they were quite professional, but they have turned to be the total opposite. Atleast, when Oriental records had the rights, they used to make CD's available everywhere and even the quality used to be decent (especially with the 24-bit remastered CD's). But this AGI is just sitting with all the rights and doing nothing. They released some compilations with so-so audio quality. These compilations don't end up in stores either. You have to buy them online. They have realsed a large number of film albums but only in nokia OVI again with a so-so quality.(sounds like a direct transfer from echo tapes to mp3). Downloading from Nokia ovi is possible only for those having a nokia mobile. Can you imagine my frustration when even upon repeated requests to AGI they have not done anything to ensure availability of these albums on other sites like cdbaby or amazon. The only good thing AGI has done so far is giving licence to western companies like finders keepers who have brought out some compilations with stupendous audio quality. Sometime I wish if finders keepers would get all the rights to Raajas full catalogue and release it after meticulous restoration. AGI sucks big time. Sorry, this is just a ranting of an IR fan who is frustrated at the unavaibility of Raajas works in decent audio quality and legally even in this age where so much progress has been made in the field of technology.