Raja's Gems - the latest one you heard...Part 3

[Gregorysab]

KV,

That Chamaku Chamaku is one amazing composition. It is probably the 'finest' example to show someone what kind of 'commercial' music did Ilaiyaraaja essentially give to telugu people. Ilaiyaraaja is probably the only composer, in Telugu film industry, who could strike that amazing balance between mass and class. This song, is actually a mass song because it was from a commercial potboiler film, with Chiranjeevi. The lyrics too underscore that. But what does this composer do? He chooses a classical raaga. Adds a thumping rhythm. inserts a mind-boggling slap-guitar and no, it is not just playing the same note - but its notes progress to higher scales and also lower. Bloody goose-bumpy. That slap-guitar is, according to me, the USP of the song. The interludes are stunning. And look at the way he allows the string orchestra to take an ascent as counter-melody in the background when the lines "Bandham vesthaava, alle andham tho". And the way he brings the charanam to a closure - ILAIYARAAJA ONLY! PERIOD! I am not much a fan of other songs in that film, but this particular song pretty much makes up for it!

PS: The outstanding opening of the song from 0:01...right to the point where vocals start... that entire portion - that piece is a ring-tone on my phone. And it is the first ringtone I ever made myself (i mean, cutting from a song), back in 2005.