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

[Plum]

Shreya pAppavai koRai solla mudiyala. nallA dhAnE pAdi irukku?
appuRam, "kaNNil pArvai"-la illAdha emotionA, nuance-A? pAppA "eeram thadhumbum"-nu solRachE, namma kaNNula eeram thadhumbalainA, namma manushanE illai, amAm!

[Sureshs65]

Here is my take on 'Ramarajyam'. Reviewing song by song will make it lengthy and also bore people. So will do a short take and then ramble on on related things

'Jagadanandakaraka', 'Sreerama Lera', 'Gaali Ningi Neeru', 'Kalaya Nijama' and 'Seetha Seemantham' are bound to impress everyone. 'Ramayanamu' is probably the best song of the album. Superb Sindhu Bhairavi and Chitra nails the emotion perfectly. The other songs are good as well but who will like which one and will not like which one, I cannot say. All in all, Raja has not given anyone any reason to complain.

Raja, as far as this movie is concerned, seems to have realized what Bapu expected from him. The idea seems to be to give what the listeners will perceive as songs for a mythological movie. Tunes which must be soothing, raga based and with classical instrumentation. Raja does that to most extent. He gives instantly catchy tunes, lot of raga based tunes and uses classical instruments like mridangam, tabla and veena (may not be all the while though.) In other words, one of the recent albums of Raja were the expectation wrt to music has perfectly matched what was delivered. This is a surprise for me, because for the last couple of years, with the possible exception of 'Sengaathu Bhoomiyile', what I expected from a particular film were never in sync with what was actually delivered. Of course what was delivered was far better than what I expected but there was a mismatch. To give some examples, people expected some old style songs for 'Jaganmohini' but he delivered a knockout of a rock album, when people expected another 'Guru' he delivered a very different 'Pazhassi Raja', who expected the youthful exuberance of 'Paa'? Or that he would knock us out this way with 'Thandavakone'? So in a way 'Sreeramarajyam' is different in the sense Raja just decided that he will deliver what is expected by the people. That is one reason everyone is quite happy with 'Sreeramarajyam'. Our expectations have been fulfilled. And to be the contrarian, that is why I am a disappointed, though I am happy with all the songs. (Confusing people is what I do well )

To be honest I was not sure how 'Sreeramarajyam' would turn out to be basically because Raja's bhakthi albums on Ayyappa, Ramana Maharishi and on Saibaba were definitely not in tune with what people expected from a bhakthi album. They were bhakthi as seen by Raja and not as perceived by most people. So the expectations never matched. I love each of those albums because I like Raja's approach to the subject but I know for sure for the general public, they find it better to listen to lot of L R Eshwari and others. So whether Raja will take his own route or will follow the standard path I wasn't sure. He has followed the standard path and that has ensured a wider audience now. Everyone is liking this album without reservation. That is good.

Even though synth and other modern instruments are used, Raja hides them quite well. K had an interesting point that Raja was using store bought loops in one song. (Raja fans must now think of newer factors to accuse other MDs ) In this song too, Raja immediately hooks you to the tune, SPB's singing helps, and you don't realize that a store bought rhythm loop is playing in the background. Also Raja very nicely uses some folk tunes. 'Rama Rama Rama ane Rama Mandiram' has a nice charm of its own. Overall, Raja manages to get the Telugu touch completely in this album. Knowing Raja, this is something expected. The virutham in Mohanam by SPB, the 'rama rama', the 'Devulle Mechina' rhythmic pattern, everything is close to the Telugu people's heart. So getting their approval is not going to be hard. Going by all reports people seem to quite happy with the songs.

This album interests me more for the alternate possibilities. First: Jonnavidhula's lyrics are nice but not something to shout about. He is done the needed job. What if Veturi was alive and was given the job. Or what if Bapu had asked Sirivennela to pen it. What would have been the quality of lyrics? Would it have been a level higher? We don't know. The second possibility is: how would the tunes have turned out had Raja been asked to tune first and then lyrics were written? That to me, is an interesting possibility. An unfettered Raja can surprise you by what he can do. That is why I see beauty in this album, melody in this album, freshness in this album but not surprise. Having said that I must say that this album is mint fresh. Everything sounds so fresh, the tune, the voices, the orchestration. That is one more reason why people are liking this album in large numbers.

The singer selection is good as well. SPB back with Raja has made many people happy and for good reason. SPB does deliver a good punch. (I felt that towards the end of 'gali ningi neeru' he became a bit over dramatic but we can forgive that .) Chitra as usual is rock solid. Shreya is sweet as ever though in the 'Seetha Seemanthamu' songs she has a few problems wrt pronunciation. I personally felt that song should have gone to Shweta, who does a wonderful job in the other songs. Sriram does a neat job in ' Sreerama Lera', while Tippu surprises everyone with a superb rendition of 'kalaya nijama'. Everyone associated with this album would be proud of their participation.

Overall a mint fresh, soothing, melody based album, which has everyone rooting for it.

[Sunil_M88]

Suresh ji, what a fantastic write up, sir! You might of not reviewed the album but the things you have brought fourth really do sum up how I feel, I cannot speak for others. Particular things you mentioned were well said like, “Raja has not given anyone any reason to complain.”

Thanks for sharing thoughts on other outcomes of the album due to change in lyricsts, tune, instrumentation.. Raaja saab does surprise once again and the album has a mint fresh was well put by you.

As you said the synth is subtle and hides away so that the album can be more in line with the expectations of a film of this genre. For me Jagadhananda completely overshadows the album and this one track is also in tough competition as it has surpassed the amount of times I heard the album, Thandavakone as a whole.

My take on Jagadhananda.

Although I’m a follower of the Telugu film songs I am completely oblivious of the language but this song has this charisma which strikes you on the first hearing. Usually what happens is when you hear a song repeatedly, give or take a few days it wears out? Although it has been two days, it is still early to say how the song will perform in the test of time. But my gut instinct says it has already passed the test of time with flying colours. IR has packed the whole world in this composition. He’s got harps and trumpets flourishing in the prelude, along with synths and bass smoothly intertwined with humming in the pallavi and other parts of the song. Making religious songs is not easy as it does somehow narrows the number of listeners but here this song has the appeal to entice everyone and IR here has outdone himself. The folk flute touch in the second interlude which is completely on the other of spectrum compared to the WCM prelude is not really conventional for bhakti sangeet, but this is where Raaja engages into his out of the box thinking and fires on all cylinders.

[Sureshs65]

Thanks Sunil. 'Jagadananda Kaaraka' and 'Sreerama Lera' have the potential of immediately impressing the listener.

[sivasub]

Currently loving the mood swings in 'Sitarama Charita....'. Part between 3.30 and 4.15 reminded me of 'Kannil Paarvai...', though.

[V_S]

Superb Sureshji. Excellent gist of the whole soundtrack, but with every minute and needed details. Yes telugu audience should be very happy. I just listened to one or two songs, but could not listen to it thoroughly due to various commitments. I was very curious about how the lyrics has come. It seems ok, not great. Surely as you suggested if we could get those legends back, it would have sounded more authentic. But tuning songs to this much depth and in various raagas for already written lyrics is not an easy achievement. Should get some time next week to listen to this masterpiece.

Nice to see Karthik's comments on Sri Rama Rajyam.

Sunil, excellently put your thoughts on Jagadananda kaaraka. One song which does not take any time to flow inside your heart, just one listen is enough. I remember Raja saying (I think in MOP Vaishnav college felicitation), that a song is loved/liked by you is because of a simple reason that it is already inside you. Just that I am reminding you. Golden words and how true. This is one such song!

[suresh]

Sri Rama Rajyam - Just to see SPB & Chitra in the album credits of a Raaja film is in itself a sweet surprise. Rest is icing on the cake. SRR, as my namesake has so precisely laid out in his review before, didn't quite hit me like the broodingly surreal "Thandavakkone" did, but nevertheless, looks guaranteed to become the big commercial success that has been eluding Raaja for quite sometime now. Fantastic vocals right down to Shwetha; 'Jagadanandha Karaka' and 'Sree Rama Lera' clearly my highlights, this is Raaja at his commercial best where the whole production is so watertight, not one note out of place. I only hope that the God on whom this movie is premised on, compensates for the scary casting (Balayya & Nayan! Bapuji, what were you thinking?) and the not so great luck for mythologicals of late.

But "Thandavakkone" is clearly the thunderbolt from the blue. I can't understand Raaja's untiring effort to makeover Madhu B into a versatile, genre-hopping singer, but since I've kind of now begun to expect the album's weakest song from him, 'Kula Deivam' didn't deviate from the pattern. I find 'Aanukkulley' trite and predictable, given its pedestrian lyrics, boring rhythms, saved only by Haricharan's presence. But what a triple whammy Raaja delivers with 'Kattu Vazhi', 'Ennappol/Unnappol' and 'Neeral Udal Kazhuvi'! Outstanding singing (surely must rank among Tippu, Sriram P and Manickavinayagam's top 3), lyrics and orchestration combine to give us three songs that are so rich with musical ideas, wannabe MDs can milk dozens of hits from each one of them. Raaja's grainy vocal texture during the plaintive "Shambo Siva Siva", the way the charanams effortlessly glide towards the pallavi in these songs, the precision with which the soundscape has been designed to convey the mood and tenor of the film - even if the movie becomes yet another 'also-ran', this album is one for the serious film music lover's archives.

[Sureshs65]

I know lot of people like us are aghast at Balayya taking up Rama's role but almost every Telugu friend of mine feels that if there is one person now who can do mythological characters, it has to be Balayya. So the public sentiment is not too bad when it comes to Balayya. Not sure how Nayan will be accepted. Lets wait and see.

Raaja's grainy vocal texture during the plaintive "Shambo Siva Siva", the way the charanams effortlessly glide towards the pallavi in these songs, the precision with which the soundscape has been designed to convey the mood and tenor of the film - even if the movie becomes yet another 'also-ran', this album is one for the serious film music lover's archives.

Superbly put. Couldn't have said this better. For serious lovers of film music, 'Thandavakone' is by miles the best album of the year. Not just the 'Best Raja Album of the Year'.

[Sureshs65]

While Madhu Balakrishnan is just not suitable for these high energy songs, I find that Raja has made Tippu crossover from these 'kuthu' songs to deliver some poignant numbers and he has risen to the occasion. His songs in 'Thandavakone' and "SreeRamaRajyam' are very ear grabbing and he has done a very good job, though his voice still lacks the consistency across the range. I hope Raja stops giving these high energy songs to Madhu B. Earlier he used to give such songs to Arunmozhi, who had an approach very similar to Madhu B when he was singing such songs. That is, he also sang without any emotion.

[KV]

நீரால் உடல்கழுவி நித்தம்நித மூவேளை
சோறால் குடல்கழுவும் சோம்ப பிறவிமலை
சேறாம் இடர்கழுவ சேர்ந்தாயே அண்ணலடி
மாறாச் சுடர் தழுவவே.

நாறென வெள்லெலும்பை நன்கிணைத்து கட்டிவைத்து
நாறிடும் மூட்டைச் சதையொட்டி நீர்க்குருதிச்
சேரனதான எண்சான் உடம்பில் உன் நினைவே
சீருரும் தாமரை யாம்.

தொப்புள் கொடிபுடிச்சி தொத்திவந்த இப்பிறப்பு
எப்ப தொடக்கியதோ எப்போ தடங்கிடுமோ
செப்பவே யாரிருக்கா செப்பனிடா பாதையிலே
செப்பாமே போகுதே தப்பு.

எம்பாவக் கப்பலில் எங்கோ புறப்பட்டோம்
சம்சாரக் கடலில் சருகாய் இடர்ப்பட்டோம்
வெம்பினை காத்து வெரட்டுதே எம்மையே
தம்மபயம் எந்தருளை தா.

நான் கேட்டு உள்வாங்கியதை கொடுத்திருக்கிறேன். பிழையிருந்தால் திருத்தலாம். அடிக்கடி கேட்டு, இருக்கும் நான்கு வெண்பாக்களில் மூன்று (1, 3, 4) மனப்பாடம் ஆகிவிட்டது.

Arresting, disturbing, brooding. Pushing the envelope'mbaale.
Lyrics yaarunga? Raasa va, vaali ya? Can someone post a (rough) English translation of this please? I’m yet to comprehend this song wholly.