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Landmark films in IR's career

Topic started by Venkatesh CR (@ 212.72.11.66) on Thu Mar 28 05:49:07 EST 2002.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

Dear IR Fans,

This thread is for you. Let us list out and discuss the movies which were turning point / milestones
in Raja's career or IFM. We can also exchange information which was not known hitherto.

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Responses:

• From: Venkatesh CR (@ 212.72.11.66) on: Thu Mar 28 05:50:23 EST 2002
  
  To start with,
  I wish to mention the following films. There are 100s and 100s of other hit albums, which if mentioned,
  will be never-ending. Please correct me, if I have left out any important movie.
  
  1) Annakili (1976) - 'Isai - Ilayaraja (arimugam)' Panchu Arunachalam rechristens D.Raja as Ilayaraja
  (a new golden chapter is opened in the Indian/Tamil/Film- Music. His first folk album
  2) 16 Vayathiniley (1977) - Raja mentioned in a recent speech that in this movie only, he could come out with
  a new pattern for himself
  3) Kavikkuyil (1977) - for the famous song 'Chinna kannan azhaikkiran' by Balamurali Krishna - IR's viswaroopam into Carnatic music
  4) Chittukkuruvi (1978) - IR would have been proud after finishing the composing of 'En kanmani' Counterpoint - an
  important WCM technique brought to TFM in a true sense (it existed earlier also)
  5) Priya (1978) - first Indian(?) album done on Stereo recording, thanks to KJY for letting Raja use his new studio
  and equipment (i read somewhere he didnt charge)
  6) Sivappu rojakkal (1978) - a great thriller with western type BGM and songs
  7) Pudhiya varppugal (1979) - a village romance with great songs and BGM
  8) Moodupani (1980) - Raja's 100th movie - terrific songs and BGM, with western shades
  9) Nizhalgal (1980) - another movie with major focus on WCM, Vairamuthu introduced
  10) Alaigal oyvathillai (1981) - introduced an adolescent romance, IR came out with superb songs and BGM
  (Vikatan commented that Raja has done 10 movies' job in one movie (this one) in BGM dept)
  11) Kovil pura (1981) - total involvement by Raja in this movie, he expected a National Award for this movie
  12) Raja parvai (1981) - WCM, Hindustani & Carnatic meets in this movie (Raja was studying with TVG at this time)
  13) Kozhi koovudhu (1982) - a home production, 2 songs are special for IR - Edho mogam (appreciated by the
  western greats like Paul Mauriat, Poove ilaya poove - IR used his mother's thalattu as charanams)
  14) Payanangal Mudivathillai (1982) - start of 'mike' Mohan's era - the songs earned him the title "isai chakravarthy"
  15) Thai mookambikai (1983) - came in the same year as 'Sakalakalavallavan' see the contrast - deeply-carnatic-rooted
  songs, earned him applauds from MSV, BMK, etc. Landmark movie bcos of major change in his life & beliefs
  spiritually enlightened one
  16) Sadma (1983) - His first intro to Northern audience
  17) Sagara Sangamam (1983) - National award winning movie, excellent assocation with KV
  18) My dear kuttichattan (1984) - a new concept in the Indian films (3D) - a fantasy movie with excellent songs and
  BGM (mostly WCM)
  19) Mudhal mariyadhai (1985) - folk melodies and BGM
  20) Sindhu bhairavi (1985) - a Classical album & award winner, one of Chitra's earlier foray
  21) Amman kovil kizhakkale (1986) - Raja's 300th movie, melodious songs which became instant hit
  22) Kaveri (1986) - nice classical songs, co-MDed with his Guru Sri Dhakshinamoorthy
  23) Punnagai Mannan (1986) - first Indian movie, with computerised music
  24) Nayagan (1987) - 400th movie of Ilayaraja
  25) Agni Natchathiram (1988) - fully westernised music
  26) Rudraveena (1988) - another National award winner, social theme
  27) Geethanjali (1989) - So many hit movies in this year, I shall pick up Geethanjali as a representative of his range
  28) Anjali (1990) - Raja crosses 500 movies, another new chapter in his repertoire
  29) Kizhakku vasal (1990) - another musical year, I shall choose KV for the nice BGM themes and songs
  30) Chinnathambi (1991) - greatest hit of the year, but other musical hits of the year are Guna, Idhayam, En rasavin
  manasile, Gopura vasalile, etc.
  31) Thalapathi (1991) - another stylish score, 24 track recording at Mumbai, last film with Mani
  32) Devar magan (1992) - Raja at his peak doing 55 movies, other hits are Sembaruthi, Meera, etc.
  33) Nadodi thendral (1992) - Raja's film with story, lyrics and music by Maestro himself
  34) 1993 - There are many superhits in this year, but the highlight is his Symphony.
  35) Kaalapani (1996) - after so many films, this film gave me lot of satisfaction, saya Raja
  36) Guru - Malayalam (1997) - his first association with Hungarian musicians, the outcome was just great
  37) Kadhalukku mariyadhai (1997) - Raja enamours the youth once again, great BGM and songs
  38) Sethu (2000) - a film that enchanted Raja very much, he gave poignant music
  39) Hey Ram (2000) - revolutionery 'never before' sort of movie in the Indian Film industry
  40) Bharathi (2001) - Raja's one of the best period films
  41) Pandavas (2001) - this animation movie just got a different dimension bcos of Raja's music, says Sujatha
  
  HIS journey continues, so this list is always partial and incomplete. Bye for now.
  
  
• From: no jalra (@ 61.11.74.10) on: Thu Mar 28 05:53:36 EST 2002
  
  u missed out one film Venkatesh CR.
  the film's name is ROJA. it really turned raaja's career.
  
  
• From: Venkatesh CR (@ 212.72.11.66) on: Thu Mar 28 06:04:59 EST 2002
  
  no jalra, it turned his career for good :)
  
  
• From: Prabhu (@ 203.124.139.195) on: Thu Mar 28 06:55:09 EST 2002
  
  Great collection Venkatesh!!
  
  One correction - Wasnt Udaya Geetham's maestro's 300th film???
  
  
  Kadalora Kavithaigal(1986) and Ninaivellam Nithya(1982) also deserve mention. KK was too good(songs+BGM)
  
  Prabs
  
  
• From: Common Friend (@ 203.197.141.186) on: Thu Mar 28 06:56:28 EST 2002
  
  >>>no jalra, it turned his career for good :)
  
  So you mean all the films U listed are bad..right.?
  
  No Jalra:
  Please, do not ignite a fight here. Lets have their picnic in this thread.
  
  The list he has given is really wonderful.
  That chittu kuruvi film, I came to know from a 1000 song list. I happened to hear it accidently in TV. It was a gem of a movie by IR. No doubt.
  
  
• From: peeps (@ 12.162.224.6) on: Thu Mar 28 07:01:01 EST 2002
  
  In my life it required ARR's entry in TFM to know IR's value..
  I was mad of Roja and Kadhalan songs at that time..which made me to concentrate more on TFM..i never gave any importance to songs before..
  but slowly got hooked towards IR..and now a BIG fan..
  
  
• From: cosmician (@ 194.170.127.161) on: Thu Mar 28 07:09:40 EST 2002
  
  Hi Common Friend...there you are ! Where have you been man ? We have missed you in the TFDFer's Reunion !
  
  
• From: Venkatesh CR (@ 212.72.11.66) on: Thu Mar 28 07:50:54 EST 2002
  
  Prabhu,
  You could be right abt Udhaya Geetham. In that case, Amman kovil... is 350th movie.
  
  Peeps
  Thanks for your mail. Yes, we required ARR's entry to realize IR's music. Thats why I mentioned it changed IR's career for better.
  
  
• From: G.Ragavan (@ 202.144.44.225) on: Fri Mar 29 00:20:25 EST 2002
  
  Muthal Mariyaathai
  
  
• From: Guru (@ 65.56.136.234) on: Fri Mar 29 01:21:21 EST 2002
  
  Excellent. I would also include Guru (Tamil), Pagalil Oru Iravu (Ilamai Enum Poongatru; Poovanum Kannorum, etc.. are classics of the first order)
  
  
• From: punch (@ 61.11.73.84) on: Fri Mar 29 03:07:39 EST 2002
  
  
  no jalra
  the film's name is ROJA. it really turned raaja's career
  
  this film made everbody to forget good music including you.IR's value increased after roja was released.
  
  
• From: hseham coleman (@ 202.71.151.0) on: Fri Mar 29 03:15:54 EST 2002
  
  long live IR
  
  
• From: Udhaya (@ 63.89.188.151) on: Fri Mar 29 13:02:20 EST 2002
  
  Finally, a worthy thread on IR.
  22) Kaveri (1986) - nice classical songs, co-MDed with his Guru Sri Dhakshinamoorthy
  
  Is Kaveri in Thamizh? I've never heard of this. Please give more details on this soundtrack--list of songs, singers, lyricists, links on the web if any.
  
  
• From: Peter Pan (@ 64.213.155.229) on: Fri Mar 29 16:28:00 EST 2002
  
  Udhaya, Kaveri was an 80's Malayalam film. Balamurali Krishna sang for this film's soundtrack, after a long gap.
  
  IMO, the other landmark films in IR's career include:
  
  Enga Ooru Paattukkaaran: (started [G]ramarajan's era)
  Johnny (yet another successful Mahendran-IR venture that brought the attention of a lot of people to some excellent BGM work and the songs!! Wow! Way ahead of its times!)
  naNdu: yet another Mahendran-IR combo. This album was special for TFM, which had 2 of the 5 numbers in Hindi (singers: Bhupinder & Janaki)
  Ethanai KONam Ethanai PArvai
  Sadly the movie never got released I think... It had as many as 11 songs, mostly Classical numbers
  Kaadhal Oviyam: A Musical masterpiece!! The same thing can't be said about the movie though, which had some insane plot and pathetic performances.. The leading lady Radha, supposedly a Bharatanatyam dancer in the movie didn't know the ABC of dancing! And made viewing an eyesore ;)
  better not talk about the one-film Hero, Kannan!
  The songs were all fabulous... Very rarely you get such a movie where every song is a gem!
  MOha MuLL : same reason as above.. All classical gems for a movie based on a literary classic.
  Thendrale Ennai Thodu: It was one Sridhar movie which ran mainly because of the songs! They were such a rage at that time!
  varusham 16: The songs were an integral part of this fine movie (with an awful climax) and were a big hit!
  Panneer PushpangaL: This movie debut by Bharati-Vasu (who later worked independently as Santhana Bharati and P. vasu) on puppy love had some excellent, refreshing music
  MundhAnai Mudichu: The biggest Bhagyaraj-IR hit ever!
  Tik-Tik-Tik & Sigappu ROjakkaL: Two of the experimental fushion scores taht worked. Interestingly both were urban thrillers and had IR-BharatiRaja-Kamal-combo
  OlangaL: The Malayalam industry welcomed IR with open hands with this movie's successful music score.
  Avathaaram: A fine mix of rustic folk melodies combined with sophisticated orchastration. "Thendral Vandhu Thoongum Bothu" remains one of my all-time favorites...
  
  more later ;)
  
  
• From: s0 (@ 128.119.85.50) on: Fri Mar 29 17:50:27 EST 2002
  
  karakaatta kaaran - even IR mentions them as being one of his successes
  
  

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