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Analysis of Maestro Ilayaraaja's works

Topic started by Music fan (@ 208.154.130.13) on Tue Oct 10 14:34:19 EDT 2000.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

Dear fans of music

Of late, there have been many threads in this forum discussing about IR and his music in general. I don't deny that. But many have been just discussing his new albums, his new projects or in general very superficial which does not delve much into the analysis of his compositions. Maestro Ilayaraaja is a peerless composer and he is one of the very few to compose around 4000+ songs and compose music for around 800 movies. He writes music and his creations show his ingenuity. In this topic, I request the musically learned people to analyze some of his great works.

As a starter, please analyze the song "thendral vandhu theendum bodhu" from Avatharam. Please let us know the intricacies the Maestro has used to create this number. Since I am a lay man in music, I do not have much to say about this song, except that the song is in the lines of western classical music. The song is harmonious and great to listen to.

Needless to say, I believe this topic is never a waste of time. Not many have the opportunity/skill to analyze a great composer's music. So, on behalf of music lovers and fans I request people to participate here and analyze many of the gems given by Maestro.

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Responses:

• Old responses
  
• From: SL (@ 208.49.174.40) on: Wed Oct 11 15:01:59 EDT 2000
  
  rjay, good posts!!!! Could somebody analyse 'Raaja kayya vachcha' in a similar fashion.
  
  
• From: PG (@ 216.160.139.79) on: Wed Oct 11 15:46:04 EDT 2000
  
  Good job rjay.
  
  "vaLaiyOsai" from Sathya was a flute piece reserved for flute Maestro HPChaurasya in NBW. It so happened that Chaurasya could not play that due to some reasons (time constraints) and the piece was not added to the NBW album. When Mr Kamal wanted Mr Raaja (as usual) to do a different fast paced song for Sathya, Mr Raaja was reminded of the flute piece of NBW and immdtly played that for Kamal. Kamal OKed the tune and we all got "vaLayOsai". The fun here is IR requested the lyricist (vaali?) not to use "kadina" words for the tune. (IR writes a pallavi with kadina thamizh words like 'kadakada kudukudu' and sings for me in the car in just a few minutes!!!)...Then comes a mellina/mellisai song "VaLaiyOsai" (IR says: "Kamal yennOda paramarasigar")To me this IR-Kamal Alchemy is the best thing that could happen to tfm in the last 15 or so years...
  
  IR was quite interested in narrating the "birth" of this song. rjay and folks, why not dissect this one too?
  
  Mr Fan, Udhaya et al: We can request him to do private albums. But this day he is deeply engrossed in Western Classical Music in Buda and is enjoying every moment of his stay in Buda. Why dont you pen down your ideas to admin@raajangahm.com? I can tell that IR is NOT interested in tfmusic anymore:-(( But first, we should all get together:-) to make an impact in his mind.
  
  His aim now is to orient WCM and Indian classical/epic structures like "Manikavachagar's Namachivaya Vazhga" and this Buda trip could see something happening in that direction...there could be more Buda trips:-)
  
  As Music Fan has explained, Maestro is extempore...he has so many songs, anecdotes to recollect from his head:-)) A genius is independent of situations....I could not believe my eyes and ears when I watched him tune the songs for "kannukkuL nilavu", the bgm for KKPoove, Barani, Time, Kaatrukkenna vEli, Hey Ram...etc.....hmmmmm.........abirami abirami:-)))
  
  
  
  
• From: SL (@ 208.49.174.100) on: Wed Oct 11 15:49:51 EDT 2000
  
  ...and PG, say something more about other anecdotes, watching him compose. Quite exciting!!
  
  
• From: RameshG (@ 206.175.176.2) on: Wed Oct 11 15:53:45 EDT 2000
  
  Rjay
  
  Appa, Oru Paatulae evalluvvu Veshayam Irrukka.
  
  
• From: PG (@ 216.160.139.79) on: Wed Oct 11 15:58:23 EDT 2000
  
  SL
  
  I will get back:-))
  
  
• From: rjay (@ 208.51.40.112) on: Wed Oct 11 15:58:33 EDT 2000
  
  Thanks guys that was a rough sketch and we will
  work more with fan and other musicians to see it
  more accurately and learn more.
  
  Valaiyosai is one of my alltime favorites and I
  remember to have shared my analysis of that and
  Poongathavae in an earlier thread.
  
  
• From: Anand Mahadevan (@ 192.11.226.104) on: Wed Oct 11 16:20:07 EDT 2000
  
  PG,
  If you do get a chance to communicate with IR, ask him why he still undertakes projects of the likes of Kasturi raja. I know his folk roots is one of the factor but he can really cut that crap out.
  It would be great if he can completely stop doing TFM and concentrate on making WCM albums.
  
  rjay,
  great analysis on the "Thedral vandhu theendum" song. There is a bass run at the end of the pallavi, which gives a feeling of elevation.
  
  Anand
  
  
• From: rjay (@ 208.51.40.112) on: Wed Oct 11 16:32:23 EDT 2000
  
  I am tired of people asking for more WCM from Raja and asking for private albums.
  
  Man, there are thousands who write that style of music.
  
  What he needs to do he has done in TFM. The only
  request I have for him is to capture folk melodies
  that his mother and other villagers sang, with
  authentic ethnic (simple) orchestration without
  much distracting effects. Just clear recording.
  
  He does not have to release albums. He can sing
  the songs with his voice and we can record and
  upload on to Rajangham as mp3.
  
  "Adi rakkayee, mookkayee" - listen to this from
  the prelude of muthuchamba. Pullarikkudhu.
  He should do this to preserve the tradition.
  In his spiritual inclination he may be inclined
  to do thiruvachagam and adi sankarar, but
  if he records his authentic roots that would be
  his lasting contribution, the things that only he
  can do, besides his treasure of film music.
  
  
  This is not meant to be a agenda writing for Raja,
  but I felt he should set up a folk music institute
  first.
  
  
  
• From: PG (@ 216.160.139.79) on: Wed Oct 11 16:37:31 EDT 2000
  
  Add a digression:-)
  
  Anand
  
  I have told him about that, many many times...IR is NOT interested in tfm anymore. He is just resolving his commitments back home and his future projects would be different. Just wait and see...
  
  SL
  
  I think I have told this already, yet, this is for you:-))
  
  I am seated with Maestro in his private chambers in Prasad Studio. To my right is RaajaNGAHM "work horse" Madhan Raghavan. We are discussing Maestro's various works...a listing is a tough job. Suddenly, Maestro's Secretary barges in and says, "saar, ungaLai paakka moonu pEru bangalore'lEndu vandhirukkaanga. ungaLai paathu photo yedukkAma pOgamAttAngaLaam. wait panna sonnEn."
  
  IR: naan ippO recordingkku pOganumE, purappattukittE irukkEn..."
  
  Sec: sonnEn saar, neenga pAkka maRuththa, ingEyE, ippavE, kerosene pOttu theekkuLippOmnu bayamuRuththarAnga saar..."
  
  IR: (no reaction)sari, varrEnnu sollunga...
  
  Outside, the three fans are from Bglre. They are auto drivers who migrated to BGL from TN long long ago, and no sooner they saw the Maestro emerging from his chambers than the three flew over at his feet and called, "GuruvE, vanakkam, vanakkam". An embarrassed Maestro asks them to get up..."thalaiva, yengaLukku unga kuralum, paattumdhaan saapaadu, ungaLai paththi pEsaadha naaL kedayaadhu, guruve".....this act cannot be explained. They were again at his feet, clinging to his dhoti, one guy was to the left of IR, one to the right, and one was ready to snap a photo with the camera they had brought in. The three took turns, and our friend Madhan helped all three stand near nay kneel down near Maestro's feet...It was chaotic with the fans going crazy, into a sort of delirium.....for the few minutes they were with Maestro...It looked as if Lord Hanuman was at the feet of Sri Raama....The maestro readily agreed for photos without any hesitation. The guys wanted to kiss Maestro's feet, hands, pull his hands, etc., and Maestro should have thanked us deep inside as we somehow pulled the three guys away from Maestro and rescued him from a mob frenzy! Man!!!! When people look at him, they are spellbound!!
  hmmm.......
  
  
• From: rjay (@ 208.51.40.112) on: Wed Oct 11 16:38:01 EDT 2000
  
  Next time PG gets to travel in a car with
  Raja, please carry a recorder.
  
  
• From: rjay (@ 208.51.40.112) on: Wed Oct 11 16:40:57 EDT 2000
  
  Clarification: the recorder is for getting him to sing
  something that can be heard on the net.
  
  
• From: MS (@ 129.252.23.185) on: Wed Oct 11 17:18:15 EDT 2000
  
  Maestro's choice of songsla 2 guru songs. I am surprised he chose "dhEvasangeetham" instead of "aruna kirana". Thaththaaram has no equal in the IFM as of now. Have you guys heard "maayi maayi magamaayi" from puNNiyavathi ? The orchestration for this song is a combo of "thaththaaram" and "mannan korai chelai" (though the interludes are a bit out of place). The melody is very similar.
  
  
• From: rajaG (@ 208.24.179.201) on: Wed Oct 11 17:19:21 EDT 2000
  
  PG: urimaiyOdu solrEn, dhayavu seidhu thappaa eduththukka vEndaam- unga kitta anecdotes nu edhirppaarththadu sangeedha vishayamaa. indha "NTR kaalla Edukondalavaadaa" nu vizhundha samaachchaaram ellaam inga thamizh film MUSIC forum la thEvaiyaa? 'Raajaangahm' has proximity to Raja - with it comes a responsibility too. oNNum vishayam illai OR irundhaalum solvadharkkillai nnaa appdiyE direct aa sollungaLEn. ippdi kELvi kEttavanEy (SL), yEndaa kEttOmnu
  ninaikkira maadhiri thuNukku seidhi taruvadhu nyaayamaa?
  
  
• From: Music fan (@ 208.154.130.13) on: Wed Oct 11 17:22:38 EDT 2000
  
  rajaG:
  I could understand that PG was narrating one of the experiences he had with the Maestro. May be he would be writing more on many of his musical experiences with the genius. Let us wait and see !!
  
  rjay:
  
  Thanks for the analysis for the songs for "thendral vandhu" and "aedho mogam". Your explanation was very understandable.
  
  PG:
  
  It was wonderful to hear about Maestro. Thanks for the info. Please let us know more about the way he does re-recording and also anecdotes.
  
  A note to Music gurus:
  For novices like me, technical words like beats, bars... sound complex. My request to people who write technically is that when you post the analysis, when required to use such technical words, if simple explanations could be given in between, it would be helpful.
  
  Since Maestro has 4000 songs for his credit, I do not know where this topic would go if we start analyzing each number of his. So, as a suggestion, for starters, how about identifying the counter point songs Maestro has so far composed in TFM. Suggestions, please.
  
  
• From: Anand Mahadevan (@ 192.11.226.104) on: Wed Oct 11 17:26:46 EDT 2000
  
  PG,
  Thanks for the insight. Also the anecdote was interesting. When did this happen?
  
  Back on the thread. One more fascinating song to analyze, which is unprecedented, was "chinna kannan Azhikiran". Just immediatlely after the flute intro, a keyboard/piano progression culminates with a tabla start. Amazing conception.
  
  Also when Balamurali starts singing chinna kannan a bass run follows him. Am not sure how many noticed it but the bass run was simply outrageous. How the hell did he conceive it!. The song was composed, I guess in his early foray into the film world and am still amazed at the flow.
  
  IR's muscial work analysis, IMHO would qualify for a thesis. One can take about 50 of his best compositions and bring it out as a workbook for students and in general for music enthusiasts. Only wish, I had more time to spare.
  
  

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