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Creativity of Ilaiyaraja

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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Responses:

• Old responses
  
• From: yEnyA_paduthareenga??? (@ webgate0.mot.com) on: Wed May 12 02:47:10 EDT 1999
  
  Raja fan,
  I understand , u r trying to make some point. but posting it in all the threads is irritating.
  
  
• From: eden (@ 202.54.71.138) on: Wed May 12 08:44:22 EDT 1999
  
  A lovely feature of IR's creativity is his nice arrangement of brilliant instrumental pieces to complement the vocals! I don't know what is called, is it `accompanied interludes' or something like that? These are not used much by other seasoned MD's though; for IR, they are a must (example : The violin piece that follows `Panivizhum malar vanam' or the veena piece after `selai moodum ilanjolai' in the same song or the flute piece after `maalai soodum malar maalai' in the same song)
  
  Apt selection of instruments and brilliants notes in appropriate places -sometimes at places not expected by ordinary listeners like me e.g. the ending instrumental of `solaippoovil malaithendral' song.
  
  Consider the few notes that follow immediately after ..vaanil mazhai varumo, the `ting ting ting'... in the Thogai ilamayil song. Same song has some breathtaking bits in the saranam as well. Boomiyengum poonthottam,**** naam kaana vendum******, pudhu thendralo, pookkalil vasikkum******.....'
  
  A standard, enjoyable feature of IR songs. The recent `Vaanathil aadum or nilavu' has a lovely piano accompaniment. At times, he uses vocals too very effectively. (Edho moham a great example)
  
  Can anyone miss the organ (or is it accordian) piece that immediately follows `Raasathi manasile...
  
  
• From: kiru (@ surf0004.sybase.com) on: Wed May 12 15:08:48 EDT 1999
  
  Eden,
  the technique IR uses are all standard Western Classical Music techniques. He knows WCM like no other MD in India. You are mainly referring to his polyphonic sounds. These are done with instruments in WCM but IR uses them with vocals also. Choral singing is another technique he has excelled in.
  
  It is also a fact that IR understands the essence of every rAgam. So he can do a song with less swaras than the original rAgam but still make it sound same or better, in the process creating a janyam or something.
  
  Since he understands both schools he can merge them very well. So his songs to an Indian listener will sound Indian but to a western ear it will sound like a Western classical.
  
  Oh ..he just a master at playing tricks like this !!
  
  
• From: kiru (@ surf0004.sybase.com) on: Wed May 12 15:13:22 EDT 1999
  
  BTW, this is what makes IR music enjoyable for long and repeated listenings. This is what classical music is all about - enduring music. Other MDs in Tamil Films do the equivalent of pop songs. Stay on top of the chart for a few weeks and then disappear for ever.
  
  If you like IR you will surely like Mozart or Bach. Try Mozart's Eine Kline Nachtmusik. Last time I was shopping in a Titan shop in India they were playing it.
  
  
• From: eden (@ 202.54.71.147) on: Thu May 13 00:54:37 EDT 1999
  
  Kiru,
  Thanks for enlightening me. This will probably help me to understand what my kid learns from his WCM tutor.
  
  BTW, I'm also a great fan of Paul Mauriat & love his orchestrations. I should, however, attribute to the fact that my listening to PM started after IR writing about him in Kumudam long back. (even though I have earlier heard 1000 times the demo cassette given with Panasonic audio which played the PM orchestrated version of Mozart's symphony -for just 3-4 minutes!!!)
  
  
• From: Sree (@ tarka.cs.concordia.ca) on: Mon May 17 23:03:03 EDT 1999
  
  Guys,
  
  Background clips from the movie 'Housefull'
  are available at:
  
  http://members.tripod.com/Ilaiyaraaja/
  
  Enjoy listening to them.
  
  Sree
  
  
• From: SitaRam (@ portal.ameritech.com) on: Tue May 18 14:58:38 EDT 1999
  
  Could anyone recall some of the best choral works of Tamil films? Polyphonic choral sounds that is.
  
  
• From: neels (@ 202.54.125.207) on: Wed May 19 07:07:10 EDT 1999
  
  The first 3 songs of IR that come to my mind are:
  EdoMoham (Kozhi Koovudu)
  Hey Raasathi Rasaathi (En Uyir Thozhan)
  Thamthana Thamthana (Pudiya Vaarpugal)... though not in the league of the above 2 numbers, it had a mesmerising effect... when observed closely, you could make out the nuances in the chorus)
  
  Karthik Raja had done an excellent job in the song "veesum Kattrukku". Listen to the 'Yaaraval Yaaraval' chorus, apparently sung by a bunch of PS Senior Secondary School kids.
  
  ARR's Raasathi from Thiruda Thiruda is another gem. Well, we are dscussing Raja here. Sorry guys! ;)
  
  Neels
  
  
• From: Shankar (@ webgate0.mot.com) on: Wed May 19 12:21:59 EDT 1999
  
  one more ...
  
  ennuLLE...ennuLLE (vaLLi)
  
  
• From: kiru (@ surf0004.sybase.com) on: Wed May 19 15:29:59 EDT 1999
  
  If you guys have read the John Williams interview, you would have seen that John mentions using Sanskrit chanting in the BGM for Star Wars - Phantom Menace. He says that this gives a religious tone to this battle. This technique has been beaten to death by IR. He has used it for all kinds of situations, sad, happy, tension etc.
  
  I wanted to mention this because you should not miss this technique of IR in his BGM apart from using it in his songs.
  
  BTW, for assessing Music Directors BGM is the main thing and songs should just be considered a bonus.
  
  
• From: R.Balaji (@ 129.130.140.143) on: Wed May 19 21:30:07 EDT 1999
  
  Hi guys,
  If you don't mind could any of you explain what polyphonic sounds mean?
  
  
• From: aruLarasan (@ psiphi.umsl.edu) on: Thu May 20 14:41:11 EDT 1999
  
  GRE verbal :-)
  
  the following is a "loose" definition of certain terms. For a better understanding read any elementary book on the theory of music or Aaron Copland's "What to listen for in music" (or is it "how to listen to music"?)
  
  monophonic: one sound. a single melody line. ex., all ICM.
  
  homophonic: similar sounds. a melody supported by chord works. ex., almost all music one hears, especially modern pop (i mean TFM :-) ). the basic philosophy is that harmony (collection of pitches that sound as one) is more pleasing than a simple monotone.
  
  polyphonic: more than one melody at the same time. (this too has to follow the rules of harmony.) ex. many baroque and pre-baroque WCM and of course IR (he hides a lot of these in his songs). the best starting point is to listen to a lot of J.S.Bach compositions.
  
  
• From: R.Balaji (@ 129.130.140.131) on: Thu May 20 15:13:03 EDT 1999
  
  aruLarasan,
  Thanks for the information.I listen to music but to the depth of analysing as you have told.Hereafter I am going to follow what you have told and understand it better.
  
  
• From: SitaRam (@ portal.ameritech.com) on: Thu May 20 15:26:13 EDT 1999
  
  Arularasan:- what do you think of Rahman's use of polyphonic sounds. Is he as multilayered or harmonic or multimelodic as IR? I love Bach's Taccato and Fugue in D Minor just mindblowing.
  
  
• From: aruvi (@ tbefw1.scar.edu.on.ca) on: Fri May 21 13:48:21 EDT 1999
  
  Hi Friends
  
  I am not an expert on music but I can express my feelings as a 'paamaran' on the subjective of IR's creativity. About a few years ago, I marvelled at IR's songs and there creativeness. But in the recent past, his creatively has not shown out. I mean, changing voices of singers is not the only form of creativeness thank you very much. I love his 80's songs a lot and some of the nineties. But nowadays, he's just giving the same boring stuff again and again.
  
  
  
• From: R.Balaji (@ 129.130.167.118) on: Fri May 21 17:59:17 EDT 1999
  
  Aruvi,
  I should admit to your views on IR's creativity. Nowadays he stopped giving such good music probably cos he is frustrated with the producers and directors who ditched him.
  we can see that almost all the big time directors have avoided him totally.
  Lately I happened to listen to IR's music in "Bhoomi Geetha" (kannada) and "Anthapuram" (telugu)
  I storblgy urge you tolisten to the songs.It was released dugint the early 99.
  It was really stunning!!!
  I don't why IR is doing so bad in tamil movies?
  His NMK is a failure-although many IR fans try to console themselves with some parts of the song as great et c(including me!!)
  I can see that IR is getting dejected with the tamil fans.
  Summa sollakudathu--nam thamil makkal (no offense) has the unique ability--if they like something they will dance with it (thalayil thukki vechu kondaduvargal) and if they don't like it they won't even bother to look at its past grace, or wahtever fame it had.
  THis is what happening in IR's history.He was at his peak during the 70,80 and early 90's and people rejoiced.
  When some new stuff came in they forgot about him ( including the producers/directors)
  
  
• From: aruvi (@ spc-isp-tor-uas-82-56.sprint.ca) on: Fri May 21 18:33:08 EDT 1999
  
  But come on RB
  
  IR has never needed these people to give great music. He never did before. Even if the producers and directors were new, he gave them good music. I love most of his songs, although I don't know much about background music. This is what I am trying to say. I haven't got any great music knowledge like a some people in this forum. I can't talk about chords and instrumental use and stuff like that. I can talk from a common music fan. I don't think people are trying to offend IR, either. Maybe the people in the industry but certainly not music lovers. If he gave really good stuff, anyone would go and buy the album. Music lovers have no prejudice, mostly anyways. Maybe some individuals. But you can't say that people put him on there head once and then dropped him. It would be like praising someone when he got a 'D' mark, and wondering why he dropped down from an "A". I listen to all these great songs of IR's of the past and wonder why he isn't giving them anymore. I don't understand any other languages other than tamil, english and french. I can't appreciate his kannada or telugu or malayalam songs fully. And it is not to say that he can't give such stuff in tamil. Why isn't he?
  
  
• From: The 13th Warrior (@ 165.21.83.141) on: Sun May 23 01:47:18 EDT 1999
  
  Did anyone notice Alan Silvestri's music from the movie RICOCHET in PADAYYAPA? Was it a complete lift or what? I also noticed a Jerry Goldsmith kind of choral work(from THE OMEN!) in ROJA.
  
  Don't the Indian MDs(except isaignani of coz!!) have self-pride. How can they plagarize from hollywood soundtracks!!! Even Deva uses a lot of Goldmith's CONGO & FIRST KNIGHT, among others, soundtrack music in a lot of his films. Absolutely disgusting & absolute cheaters. Do they think not one Indian viewer will notice this & that they can get away?!
  
  Gosh...these are con-artists!! And pls, if it is their assistants responsible for this....save it!! If they have no creavtivity & want to leave BGM to others then these so called MDs shouldn't be MD at all.
  
  I guess true music lovers & the world needn't worry as they are still enriched by Jerry Goldsmith, Ilayaraja & John Williams. Thnk God!
  
  
• From: verupetharangappa (@ pm-82-22.tm.net.my) on: Sun May 23 02:17:15 EDT 1999
  
  Only 3 people Jerry Gold Smith, Illayaraja & John Williams to cater to the whole world. Before thanking God please pray him to send more people with Devine Blessings to quench our thirst. And BTW just because some vague movie has a sound which is similar to Padayappa or any other movie dont go around calling ARR a con artist. Look back and see how many songs and tunes IR has lifted right from sound of music. (lets start at the very bigenning a very good place to start) Chee chee chee!!! :-(
  
  

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