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

[K]

No, Suresh. In Singara Chennai now.
ooroorA pOgum indha udambu...

Thanks for reminding the Great song .

[rprasad]

I agree with Plum in that this is not be viewed as devotional film at all in the sense that even though Rama is a divine character for us, this is a film about the king Rama and his kingdom after the war . Ofcourse there is devotion for some of the characters in the movie like Hanuman towards Rama. But Rama in this case is a normal king and the songs reflect the story during his time as a king of Ayodhaya. Annamayaa and Ramadasu are typical devotional movies where the central character is a devotee and expresses it through his songs and poems. This is not the case here. So trying to look for devotional element in these songs might not be be the correct way though there is some element of it but is not the predominant theme here.

[Plum]

I am not able to pick one song, like many have done, and say this is it = this is the best in the album.
One can leave aside the dhandakam and some of the folk songs. They are apt, add a rich telugu colour and are functionally good.

Leaving aside those, the following are all equally good and inseparable at the top:

Ramayanamu
Gali Ningi Neeru
Sita Seemantham
Sri Rama Lera
Devulle mechindhi
Kalaya Nizama
Sita Rama Charitam
Evadunnadu

V_S - good post on Evadunnadu.

Actually, coming from a doyen of the Telug Film industry, Akkineni Nageshwara Rao - although he is just narrating it as a second-hand info for us as Narada's opinion - the lyrics can also be taken as the doyen's stamp on IR himself

evadunnAdu I LokamlO - who else is there in this world?

I tend to complete that as ANR saying "evadunnAdIlokamlO ee chitrAnikki sangeethamu chEyadAniki I mA Ilayaraja thappa"

[jaiganes]

Been busy with the birth of my second daughter.. In the meanwhile had no time for anything.. yet squeezed a little time for Sri rama Rajyam from Raaga site.
Largely template songs - if you are a Raaja fan - yet that is what makes this album a treat. Every song is simple on the surface, yet layers of swara transitions which
show case the best musical instrument in Films - human voice and on that account - the fare is terrific with rich voice talents led by legendary SPB himself. Chitra and Shreya rule their zone with
pitch perfect rendering of "story telling songs" - These story telling songs are difficult beasts - the composer has very little freedom to meander into his/her forte area in these songs typically, but Raaja given the tradition upholder he is, sticks to Vijaya Vauhini studios era conformity to "simple catchy" pallavi charanam structure jaibreaks effortlessly riding on the voices of ShreyaG and Chitraji.
On the orchestral front, it is not totally accoustic, but the synth usage is efficient, nuanced masking in layers of rich violins, doesnt stand out too much to expose the composer's offstump.
Need further more listens to write more.
On the bhaava front, the emotional pain of a "Conquering King - separated from his queen" and that of royal princes and queen separated from their father and spouse is what Raaja has targeted and that has come out spot on without too much of "chest licking".

[jaiganes]

@Plum gaaru - "Maa Ilaiyaraaju thappa" from mana vaadus is echoed by mallus and kannadigas alike.
Was there any music composer before Raaja who can claim to similar reputation? Or will there be one from now on?

[Sureshs65]

Jai,

Congrats on the new arrival. Nice post. And yes, as you say, Raja is not an external factor in any of the southern language. For all the states he is a 'manavadu'

[app_engine]

Congrats Jai & very best wishes for the exciting project!

[jaiganes]

Thanks Sureshji.
Seetha Seemandham - this song - I get a distinct Sudhdha Dhanyaasi feel. A light song that traverses into "heavy" portions in between and the music aptly reflects the character and situations.
After hearing this song, I am beginning to doubt the emotional caliber of the actors involved in this project who can react to such songs. In the hands of bad actors, these songs can lose their steam in picturisation - but Raaja from his side has done a Zaheer by taking more wickets at lesser RPO in his opening bowling - then comes the ominous task of slog over bowling (BGM) to salvage the situation..

[V_S]

Many congratulations Jai

Thanks Plum. This is one soundtrack which immediately gets you on your first listen, but that's not all. Few listens will not help for me, will need the rest of the year to completely get the essence of it. Only crossed few songs so far.

As you rightly explained that these songs are not intended to be purely divine/devotional purpose unlike other films/soundtracks, as these compositions are for a historical king who ruled Ayodhya and his people, but the beauty is Maestro and lyricist has preserved so much sanctity in every composition, that even though they are customized for above (and/or sub-customization as a telugu king ), the divinity aspect cannot be ruled out.

That's where Maestro is different and way ahead from the rest. He caters to everyone's interest, whatever you can grasp from it, grasp it. I certainly hope this year NA for music should got to Sri Rama Rajyam.

[AravindMano]

//dig - jai - congratulations! //