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Is ARR Running out of Stuff?

Topic started by Ramesh Vaidhyanathan (@ gengw.gensym.com) on Fri Mar 13 15:14:51 EST 1998.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

I listened to VandeMatharam in which ARR recycled his own tunes from Kizhakku Ceemayile and a touch of a song from Indira.
Also ARR's recent movies for big time producers like Ratchagan and Iruvar (except one song) and Dhoud in Hindi did not have any notable music. Remember ARRs last hit Minsarak Kanavu music was done long time ago.

If for a major album for Sony released on 50th year of Indian Independence, ARR cannot produce original music, then I have to come to the conclusion that he is running out of stuff. I heard that ARR is planning to cut down on movies and concentrate more on albums. Thus he will have to produce less and earn more.

Right now I do not see any difference in the quality of music produced by ARR and Karthik Raja. In fact I think Deva is doing a better job of providing consistant good quality music.

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Responses:

• Old responses
  
• From: We need a quality successor of IR (@ chcgb202-31.splitrock.net) on: Mon Sep 7 13:06:34 EDT 1998
  
  ARR's audience is now seeing through his con music. While I liked his daring efforts to sound
  different (in my opinion, his music is totally indifferent to any reasonable expectations), the time has come for him to accept that because of the big void in Indian film music scene, his music
  is only bringing the void closer to a black hole.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• From: Murali Sankar (@ l-1d29-12.me.sc.edu) on: Mon Sep 7 17:44:16 EDT 1998
  
  A small digression:
  
  Has anybody seen IR or ARR mutually commenting or commending ? The only statement ARR hs made about IR is about the work they had done together fo the "Punnagai Mannan". But the Maestro had not said any word about him inspite of his winning two national awards. I basically feel that he must have congratulated him atleast. This is because MSV and other MDs senior to IR had always been encouraging him when he was coming up. Here we rasigas are allat war about who is the best MD in the TFM and there they maintain silence. Phew ! Velai Vetti Illama Naam Dhaan Irukkomonnu sila samayam thonudhu. Let us conclude (Hope everybody agrees):
  
  (1) Best commercial music director - ARR
  (2) Best composer - IR
  
  Is that okay for evrybody? (Sorry, it is too tiring to see many warring over this for too long a period.)
  
  
• From: Rex (@ doc.ise.ufl.edu) on: Mon Sep 7 18:00:56 EDT 1998
  
  When did ARR had stuff to run out off???
  He has stuff related to innovative music recording. But he has no sense of music appreciation..neither does he have any music related stuff.
  Just think how many movies, this guy did with a Muslim prayer type of sound coming in the back ground score....or think of his folly where he had used percussion instruments like Congo drums in movies like Kilakku Cheemayile (a village side story).
  So he had no stuff to run out off.
  
  
• From: Rex (@ doc.ise.ufl.edu) on: Mon Sep 7 18:03:39 EDT 1998
  
  MSV and the likes had commended IR in those days because they knew that IR had terrific stuff.
  IR did not commend ARR because he knows that this guy has no stuff at all. Period.
  
  
• From: Sriram Lakshman (@ sf-dnpqj-119.compuserve.net) on: Mon Sep 7 19:13:17 EDT 1998
  
  Let us agree upon one thing. ARR's music did have some freshness about it when he entered the field. But it was obvious right from the begenning that the melody aspect was not exactly his cup of tea...his tune compostion leaves a lot to be desired with very few impressive cases like "Margazhippoove","Putham puthu boomi" , "Narumugaye" .The saving grace in all the other cases was the freshness in the BGM and the interludes (good use of the flute). Even that seems to be missing now. He functions more as a clever composer rather than an inspired composer..in most of his movies , VM and he have adopted the strategy of inserting some catchy phrase that would go well with the common casual music listener like "Oorvasi","pettai rap" etc. That is what he is now, a strategic composer and should be squarely blamed for the abysmal standards of TFM tunes of today. Oru nalla mettu podurathukkulle avar muzhi pithungi poi vidum pola irukku...you can instinctively feel it when you listen to songs of his that have only one santham ... like Ennavale.
  
  
• From: Ran out of the Stuff for ARR (@ chcgb105-15.splitrock.net) on: Mon Sep 7 20:23:42 EDT 1998
  
  I feel ARR has to run for 'the' stuff. It is time!
  
  
• From: Peacelover (@ 129.252.23.231) on: Mon Sep 7 20:24:28 EDT 1998
  
  Ayyayyo Rex, Marupadiyum Aarambichuttingala?
  
  
• From: S.P MAHENDRAN (@ 161.139.38.120) on: Tue Sep 8 01:07:50 EDT 1998
  
  AR is a rubbish music director.We can't compare him with IR(God Of Music).IR is a genius.This one already told by AR himself.IR is original one.There is nobody can challenge IR even MSV.
  
  
• From: yy (@ 195.72.87.177) on: Tue Sep 8 07:36:04 EDT 1998
  
  SP Mahaendran....
  hold you words dear.
  first tell me what you know about music (other then to listen). IR is a genius, no doubt about it for anyone. you need not prove it in such a bad way.
  
  
• From: Murali Sankar (@ 129.252.23.157) on: Tue Sep 8 11:47:04 EDT 1998
  
  Dear SP Mahendran,
  
  It seems your verbal approach to the newtfmpage has changed. You never used to make a bad comment about any of the MD . Please understand that only songs and skills DISPLAYED UNTIL NOW need be commented upon and not the MD on the whole. I request you not to make any further harsh comments like this in the future for it may offend our ARR fan - friends in the page. Hope you shall accept my plea.
  
  Regards
  
  Murali Sankar
  
  
• From: Hrishikesh (@ 202.54.33.57) on: Tue Sep 8 12:48:28 EDT 1998
  
  Hello Mahendran,
  Please stop spoiling IR's name by bringing out his qualities in such a shabby way.Though IR may be a genius , it is the hard-truth that ARR holds the reins of TFM now.
  
  
• From: Srinivas (@ scproxy2.sc.intel.com) on: Tue Sep 8 14:42:50 EDT 1998
  
  I agree with SR Kaushik that ARR's music has been following an exponentially declining curve. His initial output was no doubt excellent, but I always had a nagging feeling about the theatricality of his music. His tunes, though good by themselves do not seem to blend very well with the situations. As an example, the tune "Kadhal Rojaave", though very well composed and orchestrated did not inspire any feeling of pathos in me! "Uzhavan" is another film, where I was totally surprised by the songs. The songs "Kangalin...", "Paatu paathu" etc are very well composed, but I was shocked to know that they were composed for folk-situations, because they have rich western style orchestrations. I have yet to hear any good folk music from ARR.
  A very common complaint about ARR is that of repetitivenes and this is very true. He definitely seems to be running out of tunes, which is very evident even from his latest offering "Dil Se". The only thing that can be said in the favor of his recent endavors is that he is exploring other genres of music (Daud and Dil se have heavy doses of PUnjabi folk music).
  
  
  
• From: Sriram Lakshman (@ sf-dnpqj-106.compuserve.net) on: Thu Sep 10 22:32:40 EDT 1998
  
  SPM , thayavu seithu MSV-ai ithil izhukka vendam. You need to posess some sensitivity to appreciate the nuances of his creations and his spirit of pioneership in all facets of film music. All aspects of film music making that are in vogue today (except to some extent fusion music) had their origin in MSV that too in the late 50's and early 60's. I will stop now as I do want this thread to change its course.
  
  
• From: Sriram Lakshman (@ sf-dnpqj-106.compuserve.net) on: Thu Sep 10 22:33:54 EDT 1998
  
  Sorry..missed out a "not" after "do" nt he last sentence
  
  
• From: madhu (@ 207.15.187.10) on: Sat Sep 12 21:51:04 EDT 1998
  
  I am really shocked to see people dismissing ARR as guy with no stuff. Probably they think that so many crores of people cutting across all languages, state boundaries, all over the nation who are in love with his music , morons.
  
  The fact that ARR has held the attention of the entire nation for over 6 years and is still going strong is proof enough of ARR's talent.
  
  I am sorry to say that IR's fans sound like MSV's fans when IR took over from MSV,in their illogical criticism of ARR. Nostalgia is the reason for both. They are still hung up in the past. But the present belongs to ARR.
  
  
• From: A Fan (@ chcgb112-46.splitrock.net) on: Sat Sep 12 22:52:05 EDT 1998
  
  Madhu
  
  Today crores of people are being thrust with music 24 hours by many TV channels. Young kids love ARR's music because he started off his career through national tv. Their intro to music is ARR's music. Attitudes and pretensions are also in abundance.
  
  
• From: DORAI.K> (@ proxy3.ksc.net.th) on: Sat Sep 12 23:52:31 EDT 1998
  
  I can't understand ppl comparing IR and ARR. IR is not over 60 years old. LEAVE him alone. He has done everything for music and he is a legend now. IR fans themselves are insulting IR by comparing him with ARR. There is nothign to compare. Music knowledgewise IR is far superior. But in tamil cinema , music knowledge doesn't count. Composers have to produce music to the taste of the masses. The fact is ARR music is more popular now. Ppl like to here ARR kind of music becos of western influence through many TV channels. ANd ARR brought some freshness to tamil cinema music. It doesn't matter how good ARR is as long as his music are well appreciated by the ppl. ARR is a clever music composer. Composing music to the likes of ppl.
  
  
• From: Murali Sankar (@ l-1d29-03.me.sc.edu) on: Sun Sep 13 10:54:34 EDT 1998
  
  Remember IR's piece in How to name it -"Don't compare".
  
  
• From: HCIRF (@ webgate0.mot.com) on: Sun Sep 13 23:44:00 EDT 1998
  
  Madhu,
  guys here (i mean IR fans) r not saying ARR is not talented. He's talented in sthg else (which we all know) and not in "Composing" music.
  
  
• From: Ramani (@ gatekeeper.wipsys.soft.net) on: Tue Sep 15 06:51:28 EDT 1998
  
  ARR cannot score music for non-Vairamuthu songs.
  It is only because of Vairamuthu's lyrics that ARR
  songs are popular (ofcourse tunes do matter). Tell me
  few song/films of ARR which are hit but not of Vairamuthu. (except Vaali - Mukkaabala etc).. Vaali is
  not writing more nowadays. While Vairamuthu has hits-superhits etc with all types of MDs ( IR/DEVA/SAR etc) ARR's hits are only because of Vairamuthu.
  From
  - Chinna Chinna Aasai
  To
  - NenjinilE (Uyire)
  
  Credit should go to Vairamuthu for writing such
  wonderful lyrics. Ask Vairamuthu not to write for ARR
  for 6 months. ARR will not be there in the TFM.
  Any comments..?
  
  
• From: Sriram Lakshman (@ sf-dnpqh-076.compuserve.net) on: Tue Sep 15 16:29:22 EDT 1998
  
  I do not agree that VM is the sole factor for the success of ARR. ARR is an astute business man and knows how to position his songs well within the audience. VM might have added another facet to his songs, that is all.
  
  Coming to ARR's attitude, he is more intent on creating a temporary sensation now. Let us hope that he blossoms fully in the coming years and changes his attitude and concentrate on the melody aspect , now that he carved a niche for himself in the industry. Drawing comparisons between ARR and IR till such time is improper.Why do Tamils posess this "political thondar" attitude even towards musicians ? Saying things like ARR is rubbish or that he 1000 miles behind IR only because he has dethroned IR (commercially) is a chauvinistic attitude fit for condemnation.
  
  

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