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

[raj_musing]

For me a music composer is somebody who can make people look at your music,irrespective of language or nativity. You need to satisfy all strata of people alike(be it an elite class,middle class ,the poor or a street beggar; A layman or an expert!)

In other words you need not be a technical analyst to enjoy good music. Technical review of music is different and “Acceptance” is entirely a different aspect. Somebody who don’t have “any knowledge in music” also should be able to hum that song infinitely and say “wonderful” and that is where you succeed as a composer.

In the best phase of Raja’s career this was one of his strengths. I could see even street beggars singing some of his songs. To site an example:-“Thooliyile adavantha”
For me that “mass appeal” is something that should come naturally without any promotions and I find that missing in some of his recent compositions(especially in Tamil) and hence his “so called hits “ are mostly confined to forums like TFMPage or some other threads.

This is strictly my opinion and I do not wish to annoy or agitate anyone in this forum.

I can only wish that ASK or PS becomes accepted by the public. Let’s wait and watch.

[kiru]

Great reviews and insights everyone. I especially like Suresh's review (getting somethings out of the way first style ) . Re: synth - I feel, especially in the kannai padithEn song.. it is the timing that is probably bothering you all. Atleast that is what bothers me.. it is too perfect ..completely programmed loop. The natural playing of a drum is not there.. even though it is a drum kit, albeit electronic. I feel thedi vandha devathaiyE is the most original and fresh and flowing. great effort to make the northie singers sing it in a folkish way. IR has adopted Shreya and projecting her all the way. Whether we like the songs or not... it is clear sign .. that there is no sign of the fountain of the music drying up anytime .. never.. the competing young fellows .. might sound cool ..stylish .. even successful commercially .. but in their hearts know the shadow of the giant is still over them.

(Re: Synths.. I have given up either the synths are going up in quality and sound like real instruments and/or IR is totally bent on using the drum kit for everything now. Even the muslim song in pazhassi raja had a drum kit in it, I think. Anyways, as Suresh mentioned, I just convince myself it is all the same thing but just sound a little different ).

[raagas]

Fantastic review Suresh! I too felt that Kanni Padithen had some hamsadhwani feel somewhere but then it is not pure! I think it is a super amalgamation. The song being an inspiration from "Hai apna dil" is an interesting perspective although we dont know if it is indeed that song or any other song. No matter how much I am enjoying that song, there is that tinge of dissatisfaction (despite me giving it a 10/5) about one aspect - the synth violin ensemble. The violins have multiple layers and all the layers are from synthesizer only. Pch! If only............

But overall, a nice album. Still, I am waiting for another classical oriented album. Been over 2 years since Uliyin Osai came.

[balaji]

Raagas wrote: But overall, a nice album. Still, I am waiting for another classical oriented album. Been over 2 years since Uliyin Osai came.

==> May be the Telugu film "Sri Ramarajyam?"

[V_S]

CD Cover says Kunal Kanchanwalai
http://www.grantimage.com/show.php/2...-back.jpg.html

Even the first song Kodi Kotti Koduthalum song is sung by Satyan Mahalingam with Haricharan, not Chinmayee. It's sad the actual singer is not seen on the cards.

[jmahesh]

Annanmar kathai
I am another supporter of this song like sunil.I do not have any indepth knwoledge of music but still even the first time i heard this song i was just completely drawn into it. Madhu balakrishnan's voice suits the song very well and his pronounciation is very good.The way he alters the mood and tone in his voice from a story telling koothu kattara person to kuri sollum pusari and then the pathos at the babies fate , and as jaiganes said the music that flows along during these lines is excellent and it brought tears to my eyes.
The chorus portions about ' thamarai nachi ' her marriage 'kattina thaimamana thaan kattuven' ( i am no supporter of marrying thaimamans),'thamarai nachikku thanga valaikaapu' are excellent.I think its probably super singer Anitha who is part of this chorus.
Malarvillile reminded me of 'Poongatre theendathe' from kungumachimizh.

[jaiganes]

For me a music composer is somebody who can make people look at your music,irrespective of language or nativity. You need to satisfy all strata of people alike(be it an elite class,middle class ,the poor or a street beggar; A layman or an expert!)

In other words you need not be a technical analyst to enjoy good music. Technical review of music is different and “Acceptance” is entirely a different aspect. Somebody who don’t have “any knowledge in music” also should be able to hum that song infinitely and say “wonderful” and that is where you succeed as a composer.

In the best phase of Raja’s career this was one of his strengths. I could see even street beggars singing some of his songs. To site an example:-“Thooliyile adavantha”
For me that “mass appeal” is something that should come naturally without any promotions and I find that missing in some of his recent compositions(especially in Tamil) and hence his “so called hits “ are mostly confined to forums like TFMPage or some other threads.

This is strictly my opinion and I do not wish to annoy or agitate anyone in this forum.

I can only wish that ASK or PS becomes accepted by the public. Let’s wait and watch.

True to an extent. Those days we had one "oliyum Oliyum" programme which every single person in Thamizh naadu tuned to. nowadays, that kind of concentrated focus is not there. The reach of the song is highly dependent on radio stations beaming out the songs at regular intervals . If that does not happen (RJs listen and say what the heck some kind of "dance beat" less semi classical? let me push it to afternoon 2 O clock slot?) then songs might never be heard by beggars to go hummin.

[Sureshs65]

RM,

While I understand what you are saying, the fact is that everyone singing a song is one criteria. I know of so many Hindi songs of 80s which lot of people were singing but no one sings nor listens to them any more But I do agree that Raja's reach has reduced but so has the reach of most of the MDs. They work only in urban centres most of the time. In the rural centre it is still MSV and Raja most of the time. Infact the type of songs which reach a larger audience has reduced a lot. The last song which I know made such an impact was probably James Vasanthan's "kangal irandal". Sung by every age group and every income group All the new beat / hip ones are heard and sung by the urban youth and that is where the market is for the music companies. It is not that these companies want everyone singing it. They just want every cell phone ringing it. That is where the money is. So the main job of the MDs nowadays is to create 'ring tone' worthy catchy pallavi. The charanam, flow of the melody, innovation etc be damned.

[app_engine]

Also, reach of songs from flop movies seems to be a thing of the distant past.

Decent songs by any composer, not necessarily IR, that had the misfortune of being in flops - regardless of the movie's budget etc - had some air time during my youth - people too opted to "record" or get the record / cassette. I don't think hubbers who visit this thread need samples as proof, as they are old enough

Nowadays, for flop movies, unless the album is by ARR or otherwise hyped to abnormal levels, the possibility of it getting heard by most public is remote. Music addicts probably search for them and comment in internet etc but general public hardly cares it appears.

That's a definite negative thanks to sat channels and possibly FM stations.

(For that matter, even hit songs aren't sought after with craze for CDs -like in early 90's- as most CD players are only for decorative purposes in many homes I'm told...)

[venkkiram]

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