Maestro Ilaiyaraja New Albums 2011 - Hello Jaihind / Sri Rama Rajyam

[Sunil_M88]

The song that had the least of my attention on first hearing is now the most heard out of the playlist. Yes, Poovakkelu has won me over. I love how the ghatam pauses when Karthik iterates the poovakkelu just before the new beat drops at the begining. The best part however is that military marching beat that comes along with Shreya Ghosal after the first interlude. This beat is also springs up when the second interlude is heard. I've never heard someone weave such a melodious romantic melody with a military, big band, kick and snare beat. It certainly is a nice marriage of sounds. I'm sure there are still plenty of things left to unearth in this number.

[Sunil_M88]

Could not resist mentioning about 'Poovakelu' and its orchestration. What is the instrument used in the end of first interlude?. Very beautiful. It also comes as a filler for the first two lines of both the charanams, lovely to hear that piece!
Similarly the last two lines in charanams is ornamented by a brief piano and flute respectively, wow! and all those backed up by perfect synth-based rhythm. Raja's synth rhythms haven't been so bold and beautiful. Tune in charanams is heavenly. Very sweet and soothing song!
The overall recording quality of the soundtrack is outstanding, if we listen this in original CD, it should be even more satisfying! Waiting to buy! It seems Sony has packaged it well

I believe it is the violin.

[V_S]

I believe it is the violin.

Thanks Sunil. Since it is synth, I could not clearly identify. But it sounded very new and fresh to me. Very good mix of Ghatam and synth arrangements makes this one special. Fantastic song and I kept listening almost 50 times yesterday! Classic!

[venkkiram]

பின்னி பெடலேடுதுட்டாருய்யா.. பெடலேடுதுட்டாரு நம்ம ராசா..

லயத்திற்காகவே இப்படப் பாடலை கேட்டுக்கொண்டே இருக்கலாம். குதிக்கிற குதிக்கிற, பூவைக்கேளு இரண்டும் முதலிடம்.. அடியே இவளே - இரண்டாவது இடம். குதிக்கிற குதிக்கிற...துள்ளலான தாளக்கட்டு..ரொம்ப நாளாச்சி இப்படியெல்லாம் கேட்டு. ராஜாவின் குரல் அதகளம்..குதிக்கிற குதிக்கிற என அவர் ஒவ்வொரு சரணம் முடியும் தருவாயில் சொல்லும் விதம் அந்த எகத்தாளமும், துள்ளலும் ரொம்ப அழகா வந்திருக்கு.

[Sureshs65]

My review of the album.

1. 'kuthikira': This song starts with a wonderful prelude. Raja joins in with a 'new' voice. The rhythm seems to be that of a horse galloping but done in a very different way from the normal 'goda-gaadi' beats. Infact there is someone sound equivalent to horse breathing which keeps coming along. We are on the horse. The first interlude is terrific. I don't think anyone can create this amount of orchestration and beauty using the synthesizer. The synth violins backing the charanam help in sustaining the pace of the charanams and provide a wonderful effect. The charanam is wonderfully constructed with Raja freaking out with his voice. The horse breath keeps coming in the pallavi lines again. The second interlude uses a voice and the synth to create a very peaceful effect. We may just know the outline of the story but this song immediately paints a wonderful picture of the lead character. As Rajasaranam said in twitter, this is possible only for Raja. As Nerd mentioned, there is a possibility that people can interpret Raja's interpretation as going over the top. If we look at the visuals and the actual character in the movie, we can take a call if Raja did it perfectly or overdid it. It has been a while since a song brought a smile on my lips. This song does it and that sort of merges with whatever I have heard about the movie. It sort of sets the tone for the movie.

2.'adiye ivale': What a song!!! It immediately takes you right into the middle of the village trying to celebrate a 'tiruvizha'. The starting voice is superbly rustic. The tune is equally rustic. This is Raja's home ground. Use folk to freakout. And freakout he does by bring in the thavil and nadaswaram. What superb beats. Then he slows down for the charanam. Special mention needs to be made of the lyrics. Absolutely funny. The tune merges so well with the lyrics it reminds me of 'Jakkamma' from 'Solla Marantha Kadhai'. Raja freaks out in the second charanam by slowing it down a lot and then going full speed with nadaswaram and thavil. I don't think anyone else other than Raja can move a song this way. Speed it up, slow it down, make you laugh and still give you the intended effect.

3. 'poova kaelu': The ghatam starts this melodic number with a synth flute playing in the background. Then the synthesized beats start accompanying Karthik's singing of the pallavi. People have mentioned Malayalam like melody and 'odathandil'. I think we get the feeling because of Raja's recent work for Sathyan has such melodic elements and both Raja and Sathyan seem to be lovers of old Hindi melodies. Some parts of the pallavi remind me of 'tere sang pyar mein' from Nagin. The charanam has Shreya joining Karthik with the recent love of Raja for gaps in charanam being filled with the rhythm instrument. Otherwise the gaps are filled well by the synth violins.

Overall a wonderful album. One which takes cognisance of the fact that the songs are meant for the film and not for caller tunes. Not something which will go well with many youngsters or with the producers of the album. But Raja seems to be uncompromising in this aspect. All those accusing him of arrogance must take a minute to ponder. Here is a man which is supposed to have been 'pushed over' by the new wave, here is a man whose own fans are asking him for 'hits', whose own fans want him to do stuff which other younger MDs do, here is a man who is not 'in demand'. Yet whenever an opportunity presents itself, he doesn't do anything which will make his fans happy or the producers happy. He just keeps giving exactly what the film, the story, the director demands. Not what he wants. This album is proof for that. Two songs out of three are done keeping the milieu and the film characters in mind. As soon as I sent out the link to songs on twitter I had almost instant reaction from a couple of people saying 'song are mokkai' etc. Here is where Raja stands head and shoulders above others. He understand what the film needs and gives that as a priority. Everything else is secondary. That is the reason why lot of us still respect him and defend him tooth and nail. I am sure the songs would have been: one, picturized and two, picturized well. By all accounts the story is supposed to good. So lets hope that the movie succeeds in the box office.

[Sunil_M88]

The interlude that comes around 3:15 of Kuthikkira Kuthikkira is by far the best interlude of this year so far. The naaaa/ la la humming by Raaja sir is soooo cute and youthful, and the song develops a rock feel with those high eccentric guitars. This is the most urban part of the song before the ethnic atmosphere arrives. The way Raaja has modulated his voice makes it feel though as if, even if he were to sing this song in his early days he wouldn't sound as young and hyper, as he has displayed in this number. The mastery and experience is clearly glaring in this one, so here's a big to him.

It's just one of them interludes that you want to extract from the song and listen to for ages and ages.

[jaiganes]

பின்னி பெடலேடுதுட்டாருய்யா.. பெடலேடுதுட்டாரு நம்ம ராசா..

லயத்திற்காகவே இப்படப் பாடலை கேட்டுக்கொண்டே இருக்கலாம். குதிக்கிற குதிக்கிற, பூவைக்கேளு இரண்டும் முதலிடம்.. அடியே இவளே - இரண்டாவது இடம். குதிக்கிற குதிக்கிற...துள்ளலான தாளக்கட்டு..ரொம்ப நாளாச்சி இப்படியெல்லாம் கேட்டு. ராஜாவின் குரல் அதகளம்..குதிக்கிற குதிக்கிற என அவர் ஒவ்வொரு சரணம் முடியும் தருவாயில் சொல்லும் விதம் அந்த எகத்தாளமும், துள்ளலும் ரொம்ப அழகா வந்திருக்கு.

அவதாரம் படத்தில் 'ஒரு குண்டுமணி குலுங்குதடி' - அதற்கு பிறகு "குதிக்கிற குதிக்கிற".
(After Avathaaram's Oru gundu mani song comes"gudhikkira" from this movie).
As far as poovakkelu song - let me separate the influences in this song..
The Ghatam usage is the nod to "Lesa parakkudhu manasu" from Vennila Kabadi kuzhu - Selvaganesh must be ecstatic about the nod from Raja.
The Phrase " Onnodu naan " in the pallavi is a nod to "Avaaram poovu" song from Poo by SS.Kumaran - he too can tell everyone about the postcard of appreciation from Raaja.
A nod to himself by taking "Odam thannil" from Pazhassi raaja which was not used at all in the film.
Another nod to himself from the Hari haran - sadhana sargam gem from "En Mana vaanil" - "Enna solli paaduvadhO".
This is one blender of Raaja where influences and nod mix left right and center, yet this song is unique in its own way..
Still, My fave is kuthikkira and "Adiye ivale" - the thavil saththam is enough to beat any blues...

[V_S]

Excellent review Suresh ji! Well said about what to expect in Raja's film songs and how he addresses exactly the vision of the director. I would also like to add that Raja did not add more songs to the soundtrack just for salability. But these three songs are equivalent to 30 songs if dwelled deeply. Can't wait to watch the songs on the screen!.

[venkkiram]

குதிக்கிற குதிக்கிற - பதப்படுத்தாத ராஜாவின் குரல் உண்மையிலேயே பாடல் உருவாக்கத்தினை உச்சியில் கொண்டு வைக்கிறது... மேற்கத்திய கருவிகளின் இசை பக்கபலமாக இருந்தாலும், பாடலின் ஜீவன் அந்த குரலின் குழைவு, துள்ளல், பரிகாசம் வழியே தெரித்தோடுகிறது. பல்லவி முடியும் தருவாயில் ராஜா "ரொட்டி வைக்கத்தான் ஜோடி கட்டிவைக்கத்தான்" என ஒத்தையடிப் பாதையிலேயே ஒரு பெரிய U turn அடிக்கிறார் பாருங்க..அசந்துட்டேன்.. சந்தத்திற்கு ஏற்றவாறு பாடலின் வரிகளும் நல்லா நெய்யப்பட்டிருக்கு.

[V_S]

குதிக்கிற குதிக்கிற - பதப்படுத்தாத ராஜாவின் குரல் உண்மையிலேயே பாடல் உருவாக்கத்தினை உச்சியில் கொண்டு வைக்கிறது... மேற்கத்திய கருவிகளின் இசை பக்கபலமாக இருந்தாலும், பாடலின் ஜீவன் அந்த குரலின் குழைவு, துள்ளல், பரிகாசம் வழியே தெரித்தோடுகிறது. பல்லவி முடியும் தருவாயில் ராஜா "ரொட்டி வைக்கத்தான் ஜோடி கட்டிவைக்கத்தான்" என ஒத்தையடிப் பாதையிலேயே ஒரு பெரிய U turn அடிக்கிறார் பாருங்க..அசந்துட்டேன்.. சந்தத்திற்கு ஏற்றவாறு பாடலின் வரிகளும் நல்லா நெய்யப்பட்டிருக்கு.

Excellent post venkki sir! A very very different song from Raja in recent times. Absolute merry listening to it!