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

[sivasub]

Talking about Atul and Ajay, is this right?

The music composer duo, Ajay – Atul, were very enthusiastic to work on Ram Gopal Varma’s movie Shock, because they got a chance to work with Ilayaraja on the soundtrack

http://www.planetradiocity.com/music...jay%20-%20Atul

[V_S]

Not surprising as both the songs are of same ragam Brindhavanasaranga

Thanks thumburu. Good know that my first instinct worked even though I deviated later to some other songs.

[V_S]

Suresh ji,
Please check your pm.

[Sureshs65]

Thanks V_S. Got some links to 'Sengathu Bhoomiyile'. Loving the songs. Will write my thoughts in a day or two.

[Sunil_M88]

Here is another site to hear the samples.

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/ilaiyaraaja33

[Sunil_M88]

Finally got the album

Initial thoughts, my one liner take on each song:

Oram po - The persian / middle eastern influenced synth is the highlight of the song.
Sikkikichu - Sounds a bit like Maaman kurai in the pallavi and Pollatha Madhana Paanam in the charnams.
Kaathiruppen - Definitely in the league of Nee partha and one of the few instances where the first interlude is better than the second interlude.
En Usuru - The core melody seems to be modified around Kaathiruppen with minute alterations but those pads are very soothing
Thiruvizha 1 and 2 - The former has nothing new to offer while the latter's percussion is very coercive

...now back to drowning into the album once again.

[kiru]

Atul-Ajay - my immediate reaction to Natrang was - that it betrays an admiration for IR style of music. And immediately thereafter you guys have dug up the interview. Not only I like their music, but these guys are genuine musicians I think. They say - we like rural/folk music and rock/jazz in purest form, nothing in between.I think IR also would be in the same bucket. I also believe these two (rural/folk and rock/jazz) is where real music originates. Everything in between is a only a concoction.
(personally, classical music I believe is just a refined form of the raw music people come up with in folk).

[V_S]

Oram Po - Remix of yesteryear classic. Old one starts with Raja asking his friends to clear the road. The instruments used in that song sync's up to Raja and chorus voices. The guitar chords in that song is amazing. Interludes were outstanding. The kezhavi's voice still I can hear. That bubbly young Raja's voice perfectly suited the village. That's a classic. For those who missed the original
Here everything is same except the first dialogue is not there. Starts singing straightaway, with synth-based rhythm. Kezhavi's voice here could not match up with the original. The female singer sings very well (Anitha or Priya?) compared to male singers. This song begs for Raja or MV, if not, as Jai pointed out earlier I would also prefer MV's junior, Tippu. At the end of second charanam when he used "Ithukku poi allatikalaama" (reminds me of Rajini's Ennada pollatha vazhkai in Thappu Thalagangal) and also 'Kizhakke Pogum Rayil'. Can't beat the original.

Sikkikichu Sikkikichu - After a long time again a fun folk song, the speciality here is, it is not just a duet, double duet (for two couples) and double bonanza. The prelude gives a feeling of icing on the cake, something like we are sliding. Beautiful and young feeling! Raja has chosen singers from Sangeetha Maha Yuddham -2. Not from 1 and not sure why. I think Anitha and Prassanna starts the proceeding. Santoor (synth based) again takes us back to those Kumbakkarai Thangaiyya days, glorious days were they. Anita and Prassanna sing the first charanam. Haricharan comes to sing the pallavi after the first charanam followed by Priya. I liked the voice of Prassanna compared to Haricharan. Most of them (including chitra chichi) were saying that, their heart beats faster when singing before Raja. But this song didn't give that impression, they were on their own and singing freely.

Kaathiruppen Kaathiruppen - With a subdued start and Reeta picking up straightaway, there is no looking back thereafter. One of the best longing song from Maestro after a long time. You cannot take a note out of this song or cannot add any additional note or instrument. What a precision and this is why he is called a Maestro. As Vicky usually says, 'no straying away business', it just flows without any distraction until it reaches the destination. How long it's been we have listened to such a flute in the interludes. In the second interlude while the flute plays, he suddenly stops the underlying rhythm and flute continues, beautiful thinking. Very good lyrics. The way he finishes the charanams and connection to pallavi is seamless. This is where mostly many music directors lose to him. You give just one bar or two bars wherever he is, he will come back stunningly without any jerks! Just because of the flute this is my pick of the album. Any thirst will be quenched with this song! Reeta has done a fantastic job! Wonderful lyrics!

En Usiru - The guitar prelude resembles me of 'Pani Vizhum Malarvanam' , but this is a meloncholic song. Beautiful song on the lines of Viduthalai Kuyil Naan, Kalagane. Much much better than Viduthalai Kuyil Naan. Reeta again, beautifully sang. As expected the interludes pulls your heart strings. The rhythm is interesting and uneven for this song.

Thiruvizha song1 - Continuation of Adiye Ivale song, very brisk song. Singers and arrangements have all gone crazy with all those whistles, nadhaswarams, dhavil etc.
Thiruvizha song 2 - Gave a divine feeling I was in front of their temple and their prayers. Only Maestro! But very short.

Raja took me to a nostalgic trip to 90's folk films like Puthu Nellu Puthu Naathu, Chinnavar, Kumbakkarai Thangaiyya with Sengaathu Bhoomiyile. Very pleasant soundtrack and synth works beautifully here. Two outstanding songs which we I can keep with me for a long time to come. Lyrics were good too. Singers did extremely good job, especially Reeta. First song could have been sung by better singers. Still ASK, still Kuthikkira and still that special 'Hai' which Maestro utters at the end of first pallavi is the one to beat!

[skr]

Fantastic Review VS..Eagerly looking forward to hear the songs once i get back from office today..

[Plum]

Think it is Gangai Amaraen(or whatever spelling he uses these days) in the original oram po