Raja's Gems - the latest one you heard...Part 3

[mappi]

'Manjal Nilaavukku' (Film: Muthal Iravu - 1979).
A haunting humming by Susheela, mimicking the sound of train

மஞ்சள் நிலா: ரயில் வரும் ஓசையை கொண்டே பல்லவியை ராஜா சார் இந்த பாடலை அமைத்திருக்கிறார்.

An Odyssey of Rhythm

There are several songs composed by Ilayaraja assuming the sound made by a locomotive. His collaboration with Mani Rathnam has quite a few blends of the train noises (inside the cabin, as well as from the platform) knitted together into a fabulous rhythm. Couple of examples : Raja Rajathi Raja from Agni Natchathiram, Chinna Thai Aval from Thalapathi. Other than that, Ilayaraja had often associated himself to pick up the grainy noises and turn them into music, one such song is Thaalaattu Ketkatha from Paattukku Naan Adimai.

Ilayaraja, apart from being a versatile composer and an enthusiastic conductor, is an excellent director of music (I always admire this golden profile of the Maestro).

The opening of the film Gopura Vaasalile is the departure of a train. We hear the industrial noises of the engine, train whistle and wheels screeching on the metal tracks. Once the locomotive wheels out of the platform, the whistle is replaced by a flute, the engine and the wheel sounds are taken over by keys. Pattern of a moving train sound is not broken, but arranged into a fabulous rhythm. As the title of the movie suggests - an entrance - the journey of the train moves into several tunnels, and the acute beats mingle with the flute. Throughout the crossing, different instruments cover the tracks and finally the entrance of the train passing through a misty atmosphere (the past) into a dark tunnel (symbolizing the entrance into a new stage of life) is welcomed by violins that slowly opens to a bright gateway - the other entrance of the tunnel.

Ilayaraja would have gone through the silent visuals. Without any other inputs, just understanding the theme of the movie, the magician produces a music transcript. When each musician follows his arrangement, An Odyssey of Rhythm is what the viewers cherish: