Creativity of Ilaiyaraja

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Topic started by Bhaskar (@ ww-tk02.proxy.aol.com) on Sat Jan 3 00:48:33 EST 1998.
All times in EDT/EST +9:30/10:30 for IST.

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Old responses
From: Deepak.K.T (@ m33.pppmad.vsnl.net.in) on: Fri Jan 1 23:16:57 EST 1999

Folks,

I am writing this piece to share yet another titbit
of IR's creativity.

I was watching Raj TV on Jan 1st at about 9:30 AM.
They featured a music program, where the guests where
IR, SPB, Mano, Chitra etc.

Gangai Amaran was orchestrating.

After Mano, Chitra sang a few songs, IR was called upon
to sing. He came up the stage and sang "Empattu Empattu"
from Poomani.

Then when SPB came over to sing, he got a bit emotional
talking to IR. I will present a brief summary about
their dialogue. (The dialogue took place in Tamil.
I am translating it to English.)

SPB: There should not be anyone who knows Raja as
close as I do.

Raja: There cannot be any one else.

SPB: If you do not mistake me, can I ask you for a
favour.

Raja: I cannot mistake you. Ask what ever you want.

SPB: You have previously experimented with a variety
of things, like composing a song with only
rising swaras etc. Now you have to compose
a song that has only 3 notes in it.

Raja: Are you trying to test me? Okay, in which thalam
do you want the song to be in?

(SPB names a thalam, I do not remember which one.)

Raja: Okay, which three notes do you want me to use
in the song.

SPB: I leave that to you.

Raja ponders just for a very brief instance, turns to
the background musicians and instructs them about the
thalam. Then he starts humming the tune "Nisa, Nisa ni
.....". He turns over to SPB,

Raja: Ennapa, count pannu. Evvalavu notes achu.

SPB, counts and smiles acknowledgingly.

Raja: Pallavi mudingachu, adutthadu...

SPB: Charanam.

Raja effortlessly sings the charanam which the
audience appreciated with a round of applause.

SPB: One small request...

Raja: What? You want to test me again?

SPB: No. Include this song in a movie and make me
sing the song.

The program was concluded with Raja singing the
master piece from KM. "Ennai Thallata Varuvalo".
From: vijay (@ l-1d15-22.me.sc.edu) on: Sat Jan 2 00:58:24 EST 1999

deepak,
thanx for sharing this interesting event with us.
From: Ragapriyan (@ 202.54.37.18) on: Mon Jan 4 02:38:24 EST 1999

In the same Raj TV program, IR, for some reason
poked at Mano. After Mano had finished singing
shenbagamE, shenbagamE, IR walked on to the
stage and told Mano with a smile...

naan illaatti nee indha nilaikku vandhirukka
mudiyaadhu theriyum illayaa?

And then, looking at the embarassment in Mano's
face, IR went on to narrate some story about
King Janaka and said at the end that, of course,
without talent not anyone can come to the level
that Mano has achieved.. During all this,
Mano was at the best of his asadu vazhinjufying act!
What else can he do?
From: Sangeetha (@ bluebird.state.mo.us) on: Mon Jan 4 15:13:24 EST 1999

Would like to remind everyone about the five gems of IR-Deepan Chakravarthy Combination in early 80's.

1. Oh Nenjame Idhu Un Raagame - Enakkaga Kaathiru a beautiful duet with S.P.Sailaja. Pallavi, Interludes and charanam every thing is excellent.

2. Pani Mazhai Vizhum - Enakkaga Kaathiru again with S.P.Sailaja. This song will make you feel as if you are boating in Ooty Or Kodaikanal Lake.

3. Kaalai Nera Kaatre Vaazhthi Chellu - Bagawathi Puram Railway gate, with S.P.Sailaja. Guitar Chords with Veenai lead combination is a excellent work by IR.

4. Idhu Kanavugal Vilaindhidum Maadham - Nizhal Thedum Nenjangal, with S.Janaki. A typical early IR's westerinised Duet with Guitar, Flute and Violin. Don't know how many of you guys heard this song. I sincerely recommend this for everybody to listen. It's my all time favourite.

5. Sevvandhi Pookkalil Seidha Veedu - Mella Pesungal. A classical style duet with Uma Ramanan.

Don't know why IR didn't want to use Deepan Chakravarthy a lot.
From: Udhaya (@ 205.218.142.217) on: Mon Jan 4 17:29:20 EST 1999

Sangeetha,
I'm a huge fan of DC. You left out the classics, "Poongathavae Thaazhthiravaai", and "Thaagam Edukkura Neram", by the same combo.
I had forgotten your #4 song, thanks for bringing it to mind.
From: neels@w-o-i.com (@ 202.54.125.190) on: Tue Jan 5 08:13:55 EST 1999

Sangeetha,

I love the numbers you mentioned there. Thanks for reminding about the old gems. I regret having not listened to the 4th song!!!!!
Is it available on any site as a real audio file?

One of the toughest(and probably his best solo attempt) songs, sung by DC is from Kadhal Oviyam and it is: 'Poojaikkaga Vaazhum Poovai Chooraiyadal Murayo'.

Where is he now? Don't know why he hasn't been used by the MDs post 80s (including IR)!

Neels
From: Sangeetha (@ bluebird.state.mo.us) on: Tue Jan 5 13:21:25 EST 1999

Udhaya,

Since "Poongathave Thazhthiravai" is a mega hit I had completely forgotten that it was sung by DC.

I never heard about "Thagam Edukkura Neram", what's the name of the movie?

Neels,

I bet you won't get #4 song on any site. Get it recorded when you go to India.

There is one more song of DC with S.Janaki, "Ramanukke Seethai" in Rani Theni. DC himself acted as hero in this movie. Though this song is not equally comparable to the song I've mentioned before, I liked this too.
From: rs (@ janus.uk.ibm.com) on: Wed Jan 6 07:52:25 EST 1999

When talking about 'kallukkul Eeram', in addition to siru ponmani, another song with superb music is ennathil Etho sil endrathu

Other movies i like the most are
1. Sigappu Rojakkal

Other song, i can die for Raja's music is
Andhi mazhai pozhigirathu
ayyO! evvalavu thadavai kettalum alukkathu!
From: rs (@ pandora.uk.ibm.com) on: Wed Jan 6 07:55:04 EST 1999

Also music in Idhaya Kovil!!
From: rs (@ epimetheus.uk.ibm.com) on: Wed Jan 6 07:59:29 EST 1999

In 'Gopuravasalile'
dhevathai pol oru penn ingu vanthathu thambi thanga kambi

One of the singers is DC!!
From: Neels (@ 202.54.125.136) on: Wed Jan 6 10:12:13 EST 1999

rs,

Is he also one of the 4 singers in a similar chorus song, "Hey Raasathi Raasathi" from 'En Uyir Thozhan'? It's a great chorus song, has excellent harmony and innovative use of folk and WC music.

Neels
From: mks@ArmediaLabs.com (@ ppp36-91.bng.vsnl.net.in) on: Wed Jan 6 13:54:29 EST 1999

Is the song "Aayiaram malargal paniyil nanaindhu"
in the movie "Sparisam" song by Deepan
Chakravarthy? Ofcourse, the music director of this
movie was not Illayaraj but news reader Shobana
Ravi's husband Ravi [ If my memory serves well
:-))]

Also have you guys/gals heard "Siriya paravai
siragai virikka ninakirathe" in "andha oru
nimidam"? The first stanza is based on
Arabic/Persian music, the second is full carnatic
and third stanza is based on westernlight music.
Who else can do this stuff other than Illayaraja?
From: Sangeetha (@ bluebird.state.mo.us) on: Wed Jan 6 15:56:20 EST 1999

How many of you guys know about Kovai Murali? He was introduced by IR in Kazhugu. It's an excellent Number "Kaadhal Ennum Koyil Katti Vaithen Nenjil". Again it's an westernised solo with Violins, Guitar and Bass flute. Even now, this song sounds like energetic ARR's tune.

Kovai Murali also had another song with S.Janaki in Garjanai. "Varuvai Anbe Tharuvai Ondru Sevvai Mutham Rasippoma". Another excellent duet by IR.
From: Suresh (@ bowerbird.qut.edu.au) on: Wed Jan 6 23:15:53 EST 1999

I do, Sangeetha..
Kaadhal ennum is my all-time favourite IR solo, ranks right up there with Uravugal Thodarkathai. Great coincidence, I'm listening to it right now; a sheer mindblower. The Garjanai song is a good one as well, pity I don't have it with me :(
From: Neels (@ 202.54.125.178) on: Thu Jan 7 02:11:13 EST 1999

Kaadhal Ennum Kovil has a very rustic, natural feel to it. Somehow it reminds me of the 'deep-exhaling' Malaysia Vasudevan's song, "Kodai Kaala Kaatre". Thanks for the info. on the singer Kovai Murali. I didn't know!

Sangeetha, do you know any song sung by one Dr. Kalyan Kumar (I think he was introduced by IR)?

Neels
From: UV (@ webgate0.mot.com) on: Thu Jan 7 03:46:04 EST 1999

"this song sounds like energetic ARR's tune."

ha..ha...haaaaaaaaaaa
From: kiru (@ surf0004.sybase.com) on: Thu Jan 7 04:28:12 EST 1999

While talking about 'deep-exhaling' Malaysia Vasudevan it just struck me that IR has made singers sing in a 'different' way. There is some innovation/novelty in each singers's singing (except Mano - he sounded exactly like SPB to me). It is just not their voice sounds different.

This is something good about IR. I am noticing all these things pretty late, I guess.

Maybe all that 'IsaiGnani' title is not that generous a moniker.
From: Neels (@ 202.54.125.137) on: Thu Jan 7 10:23:26 EST 1999

mks,

I think the director of the film 'Sparisam' was Ravi (Shobana's hubby) and not the MD. If I remember correctly, it had SV Shekhar as the tragic hero !!! No wonder people never 'touched' it!
From: vimal (@ vos.la.asu.edu) on: Thu Jan 7 17:12:24 EST 1999

I think DC is one of the members of IR's "Aasthana" Chorus with people like Surendar, etc. I also want to know if DC's is the male voice in the song "Thalayai Guniyum Thamaraye". And who the hell was the female singer? Her voice was like that of a Brahmin Mami in the pree-independence era.
From: Sandeep (@ 166.37.105.63) on: Thu Jan 7 18:48:54 EST 1999

Neels,

I do have some 'Kallukul Eeram' cassette with me. If you want, I can record it and send it over.
From: Neels (@ 202.54.125.137) on: Fri Jan 8 01:11:11 EST 1999

Sandeep, may I have your email address so I can talk to you off-line?
Thanks
Neels
From: S.Karthigeyan (@ pearl.ge.com) on: Fri Jan 8 02:50:30 EST 1999

Listen to the following songs of IR, you will enjoy them.

1. Sri Ramaney Unnai seethai thedinal - KANGALIN VARTHAIGAL. (Tamil) IR and Chithra
2. Manikkuti Karumbullor - KALIYOONJAL -(Malyalam) K J Yesudas Masterpiece
3. Varnavrindavanam - by IR - KALIYOONGAL (Malayalam)
4. Kakkala Kannama SPB & M G SREEKUMAR Picture - YATHRAMOZHI music by IR (Malayalam)
5. Amman Pugazhai Pada enakku - written & music by IR film KANNATHAL - beautiful melody

Listen to it and tell me how you feel about these songs.

Wishing you all TFM lovers a great new year 1999.

S Karthik

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