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How is Deva Surviving ?

Topic started by Srikanth (@ 161.225.48.3) on Wed Jun 24 10:28:53 EDT 1998.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

Survival Technique of DEVA

I have been wondering how is he surviving. Agreed he is lifting scores, in spite of all the magazines bashing him for coping - raja's scores etc, still he is the busiest MD in TFM.
People listen to his score more, all the producers and directors approach Deva
he is the top of the order composer .
How is he able to do it ?
Has people's taste come down, or is DEVA really giving better music.... ?
Let us discuss ....

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Responses:

• From: Srinath (@ socks6d.raleigh.ibm.com) on: Wed Jun 24 11:22:23 EDT 1998
  
  Hi Srikanth !,
  I think Deva is recording all old songs in a digital format. Since old songs are always popular, people like to listen to them ! We should be thankful to Deva for providing those sweet melodies with clear recording ! I would also like to know if any songs from Annamalai were copied. I liked "Oru Penn Pura" very much, especially the prelude piano piece. I even thought the re-recording (BGM) was very good for that movie. Of course, I saw it a loooong time back and was in a partially inebriated state ;-) at that time, so I could be mistaken. Anyone care to enlighten ?
  
  
• From: Srikanth (@ 161.225.48.3) on: Wed Jun 24 11:27:58 EDT 1998
  
  Hi ,
  All the TFM MDS have moved to digital..
  There is no studio which does not have Digital
  Recording..
  But DEVA impresses all the producers , nods his head for anything, does what the directors and producers - There is no EGO,
  it is very easy for the producers to deal with him.
  This is one of the main reasons for his survival. Also, He does music for any price.
  is not bothered what people say about him and his score
  On Musical side...????..
  Srikanth
  
  
  
• From: Sridhar Seetharaman (@ 128.96.140.26) on: Wed Jun 24 11:28:15 EDT 1998
  
  From what I understand, Deva goes to any extent to satisfy his client. He make sure that they get their money's worth. His rates are very flexible and he never says no to any producer. Deva and his borthers literally slog to make sure that they can satisfy all their clients. For e.g, Raja or Rahman would never agree to do a BGM of hindhi movie after they had composed music for the original tamil movie. Avvai Shanmugi was major hit in tamil. Deva scored the BGM for Chaachi 420 upon kamal's request. Deva felt that it was a great achievement for him to have been considered for the hindhi movie. Deva is extremely clear that "Make hay while the sun shines". I do not like making this statement. But it is true that he has perfected the art of imitating any good music composer. Nobody has done a better job in imitating Raja than Deva. "Satisfying the clients is key to his success"
  
  
• From: Srinath (@ socks6d.raleigh.ibm.com) on: Wed Jun 24 11:42:24 EDT 1998
  
  I think we can call Deva the 'Poor man's ARR' :-) because he produces a poorer version of ARR's music. Maybe there was a clue in my last posting...perhaps if total prohibition were introduced in TN, Deva's songs would lose their popularity ;-)
  
  Another thing is that though all MDs are using Digital Recording these days, nobody is producing really good music (as it was in the olden days). Deva is the only one who is doing this - only difference is that instead of producing music similar to olden melodies, he is reproducing those same melodies...in digital format !
  
  But seriously speaking, yes, I think the ability to appreciate good music has come down drastically. People don't seem to have time to sit and analyze songs these days (DFers excluded :-)). Maybe they don't realize that part of the fun comes out of analyzing those songs.
  
  
• From: Srionath (@ socks6d.raleigh.ibm.com) on: Wed Jun 24 11:44:26 EDT 1998
  
  Srikanth:
  Is it true that Sabesh and Murali stole music from IR when they left his troupe and that is how Deva got his super hit music for "Vaikasi Poranthachu" ?
  
  
• From: Prakash Balakrishnan (@ gate1.ca.us.ibm.com) on: Wed Jun 24 13:14:48 EDT 1998
  
  Deva came to industry around 91. Isn't it? Before that he was doing music in AIR & DD. Some of Deva's songs are very good. His music is much much improved. Ofcourse he copied music from others. He even steals music from ARR & Raja.. but then you look into the source with analysis then it will be from English, Meridian, Japaneese and from Europian Languages. He knows the "art of copy". He utilised them very well. He can do music with Dappanguththu as well as very very mellodious songs like "Nalam Nalamariya aaval", "Kadhala Kadhala...","Manam virubuthE...".
  
  Yesterday I watched a movie "IniyavaLE". indha padathila Deva music-kkum cameravumthan padaththa pakkavechchudhu. Songs are good in this film.
  
  BTW Srinath,
  I doubt that Sabesh-Murali worked with Raja.
  
  Vaikasi Porandhachchu pattu ellam sariyana dappanguththu pattu (eg.) ThaNNi kodam eduththu Thangam N-ee N-adantha Thavikkudhu.. indha pattu super hit. Idhoda music-la Raja saayal irukkiradha theriyala.
  
  
  Deva gave a big break after Aasai. Again another break in Kadhal Kottai and Nerrukku Ner. When he is doing "Pattukku Mettu" he is realy good. Splly, in Kathal Kottai, Gokulathil Seethai and Nerukku Ner. Paattuku thaguntha maathri copy adikkirar. oru pattai kettavudanE sollidalam idhu 'Deva' musicnu. Deva oru padathula use paNNa tune innoru padathilaiyum use paNNarar idhu romba distinct-a theriyum.
  
  One more thing he never bother about people making comment about his "Copies". He agreed that his knowledge of music only "kELVi gyanam".
  
  
• From: srikanth (@ 161.225.48.3) on: Wed Jun 24 14:24:38 EDT 1998
  
  Sabesh and Murali :
  Murali was working for Raja ..he was playing the keyboards. As far as I know Score theft is true, Also I came to know Raja removed Murali from the recording after that.
  What ever it is. they are busy earning money..
  Srikanth
  
  
• From: sree (@ orchid.cs.concordia.ca) on: Wed Jun 24 15:00:10 EDT 1998
  
  SRIKANTH:
  Thanks for the info.It is really cheap on Murali for doing so.
  
  
• From: Udhaya (@ 205.218.142.217) on: Wed Jun 24 15:00:29 EDT 1998
  
  I feel that Deva and his brothers know enough about music to give enjoyable songs within their sphere of influence. Deva has certainly shown that he knows how to use classical ragams (En Manadhai Kollai), he can create simple songs that will keep you humming (Konja Naal Poru Thalaiva).
  It's only when he tries to compensate for his lack of Western sophistication in composing by inserting copied dissonant loops here and there in songs(Meenamma)that he gets into trouble. All you guys have touched on points that I agree, he has no EGO and he aims to please the producer and wraps up the recording duties economically. But I also feel he hasn't been praised enough for solid pop songs that he has given for lousy movies:
  1)Manimegalaiyae Mani Aagalaiyae
  2)Thookanaanguruvi Rendu Thooliyil
  3)Paanchaalangiliyae kiliyae
  4)Senguruvi Senguruvi Thaaramadai
  5)Sembaruthi Sembaruthi Poovapoala Pennoruthi
  6)Enakkena Pirandhava Rekkaikatti Parandhava
  7)Un Uthattorach Chivappae
  and many more.
  
  Nalam Nalamariya Aaval may not be a well constructed song but how does "Sigappu Loalaakku" rate musically, Srikanth? How about the hard rock guitar riff in the beginning of "Kaadhalaa Kaadhalaa"? Unless someone can clearly prove that was stolen too, I will hold that's one of the best guitar riffs in TFM.
  
  
• From: Srikanth (@ 161.225.48.3) on: Wed Jun 24 15:16:27 EDT 1998
  
  Hi,
  Kaadhalan Kadhalee - Back street boys
  Quit playing games with my heart...100% lift.
  
  But Sigapu lolaku is a ok score ...but again Spb takes most of the credit.
  Saranam is slight sothapal but still I agree it is nice to hear the song..it is a very simple score..
  Srikanth
  
  
• From: Udhaya (@ 205.218.142.217) on: Wed Jun 24 15:31:59 EDT 1998
  
  Srikanth, I don't know whether to laugh or cry about the Back Street Boys lift in Kadhalaa Kaadhalaa. It's hard to defend my man Deva, but I find the much-maligned guy endearing. You must be P'd off more than others, because as a musician you see him getting by on borrowed glory, but what do you feel about his simple pop songs that don't have western influences? A song like "Manimegalayae" (again it probably benefitted tremendously from SPB's rendering)it reminds me of the sweet melodies in film songs of the 70s from Hindi and Malayaalam movies.
  
  
• From: Srikanth (@ 161.225.48.3) on: Wed Jun 24 15:47:50 EDT 1998
  
  Hi Udhaya..
  I will help you..
  100% original deva song Nan Auto KAren
  ,Ruku Ruku, style style than,
  Metro channel - Crude pop..but clicked with B & C centers...
  I am not able to get more.... I will try..
  But the fact is still he is the top musician .
  in the current TFM industry.
  Musically : I will discuss from home..
  Srikanth
  
  
  
  
  
• From: NaNbaN (@ 205.214.209.10) on: Wed Jun 24 16:40:42 EDT 1998
  
  Srikanth ,
  
  I guess tune Kaadhalee Kadhalee is not from
  BAckstreet Boys. Only the Beat and ryhtm goes like that. The humming "ohho...ohho.." is from another Album I don't Remember. The tune is actually from KennyG. I have higlighted this
  in another thread. Even "Nalam Nalamariya aaval"
  is lifted from KennyG partially.
  
  And metro Channel is lifted from Micheal Jackson
  and as you said Crudely done.
  
  And Udhaya,
  
  a) The heavy Guitar Piece is also a LIFT.
  
  b) "Konja Naal Poru Thalaiva" is someway based on the song of "Thoopil oru Nadakam nadakuthu yeellaam..." . I think its Bhakiyaraj Movie. Even the ryhtm is very similiar. Sing IR's song fully thne you will be able to 'catch' DEVA. The First Interlude sounds like Instumental of the song "Thoopil oru Nadakam nadakuthu yeellaam...".Lot more sounds similiar. I couldn't make it out. Maybe you guys can help.
  
  Any help from carnatic experts and similiar raga
  or something like that...Please post and make us clear.
  
  IR rules & DEVA copies, (ARR both)
  NaNbaN
  
  
• From: Srikanth (@ 161.225.48.3) on: Wed Jun 24 16:58:15 EDT 1998
  
  HI,
  Deva song have multiple class (song)
  inheritance..,
  we can call him a object oriented MD, .with maximum reusablity of thrid party score - also . whose objective to earn as much as possible before the time comes for him to go
  .......I have nothing to say more..
  Srikanth
  
  
• From: Ramki (@ pm062-29.spindler.wmich.edu) on: Wed Jun 24 17:48:10 EDT 1998
  
  Srikanth and others : Deva has given a lot of good
  originals..but unfortunately most of them were for unkown films and hence didnt reach the masses. I can give u a lot of examples
  
  Listen to 'indhu maha samudhiramae'from Mannava..
  A beautiful piece with excellent orchestration and
  lyrics.
  
  'nilladi endradhu ul manadhu'from kaalamellam
  kaathirikiiren-one of the goodies of 97s(better than 'devadhai'songs -oops i forgot to add imho:))
  Chitra and SPB at their best. I would say that it is Deva who brings out the best from Chitra. Most of her songs under his music are very soulful.Listen to her 'porul thedum boomiyil'
  from kalki..i was really mesmerised when i first listened to that song.And 'then mozhi raadhai'from
  'thadayam'is a wonderful hindustani classical very well rendered by Chitra.
  'oh Ranganatha'from 'nesam'has very different orchestration(look out for the violin piece after the first charanam)
  'en manadhai kollai adithavalae'(kalloori vaasal)-this song doesnt require any introduction
  as it was discussed a lot of times in different threads.
  
  There are lot more songs that i can list.
  Im not denying that Deva imitates iraja and rahman, but he does come out with original stuff too.But paavam avar music kettalae engae,eppidi avar copy adichirkkarnnu parkka try panradhaliye we forget to appreciate the niceties of the song.
  
  Few years back subbudu was asked in SUNtvs 'nerukku nerukku' to name his favorite MD among IR,ARR and Deva.Guess who was his fav??:))
  
  

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