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Could Illaiyaraja compose for Ravi/Anoushka Shankar, Guitarist John Williams and other Famed Performers?

Topic started by Maybe Indian film music is a glorious past! (@ spider-wm013.proxy.aol.com) on Thu Feb 11 00:07:24 EST 1999.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

I am wondering if it was possible for IR to work with famous world musicians? Isn't it more rewarding given that film production is on the decline (I am told not more than 200 films per year, one third of what was in the 70s and 80s) in Tamilnadu. In addition, Tamil pop is seeking to supplement the dearth of interest in film music. I think IR and KR can work together and produce exotic albums. In fact, we already have really well trained singers, like Anuradha Sriram.

Currently, what are the possibilities for IR to go break out of his current critical mass and be more available to a global audience?

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Responses:

• From: Shankar (@ webgate0.mot.com) on: Thu Feb 11 09:19:25 EST 1999
  
  Albums like jaya jaya jaya hE are good signs of Raja trying to go global.
  
  But the problem is ,there's NO international brand sponsoring his album.
  
  Probably that's the reason why he's blocked the release of his symphony. If companies like SONY think daler and ARR are musically better (or they might 've thought that these guys can make them more money than Raja ,since the taste of indians is deteriorating at an alarming rate and releasing Raja's album won't get them big profits) then his works might NOT reach international audience at all.
  
  With this kind of a scenario , the chances are remote.
  
  The only way is he shud first do an album with people like paul mauriat (whom he personally knows) to show the world that one such genius is around.
  
  Then probably he shud do albums on his own for selected audience (who don't get attracted by cheap stuff like nachuku..nachukku or tunuk..tunuk..tun or thththtthAi..mmmmmmmmaNNNNE..vaNakkkkOm )
  
  If he doens't do that then the chances are remote.
  
  If at all marud makes it BIG (meaning , it shud get nominated for Oscar atleast), then I'm sure raja's work will be globally appreciated , for ,there are lots of instances where the MD gets international recognition thanx to the BGM of the movie.
  
  
  
• From: Geetha (@ gatekeeper.oracle.co.uk) on: Thu Feb 11 09:48:32 EST 1999
  
  IR has done a great job on Talvin Sing's latest album - Talvin is a very popular tablist in the UK and has given various concerts, using singers like Hariharan. I guess that IR should corraborate with these big International names, but do a solo album, which means that that type of album will 'educate' the Western mass to his 'seemless' fusion - Carnatic and Western, for example. Another good name to work with is Trilok Gurtu, who is very popular amongst the European listeners and I believe that IR can really add to the style of music that he produces. The other person who he'll work very well with is Zakhir Hussain, I guess.
  
  
• From: bb (@ schubert.crhc.uiuc.edu) on: Thu Feb 11 10:05:41 EST 1999
  
  geetha: talvin is just a more sophisticated version of bally sagoo.. his type of music is definitely not the way to go for IR.
  
  
• From: Geetha (@ gatekeeper.oracle.co.uk) on: Fri Feb 12 07:52:36 EST 1999
  
  bb: Don't you think that it will get his foot through the door though? It may also give him confidence to release the Symphony to Western audiences, as I've read that he's not too confident about the Indian audiences liking it?!?!? I wonder if this is the reason that it's not been released..... However, if it comes through a big label, I feel it'll be a hit, as marketing plays a big part in these things. Look at Colonial Cousins - The way we do it, Sony took it on and we saw posters for it everywhere(in the UK, I can't say for other parts of the world) and it's been a sell-out..... What do you think? Do you think that Trilok would be a better person to utilise IR's skill? Trilok is well versed in the Hindustani/Carnatic Tala system, so he'll complement IR well?!?!? I also think that Talvin is so much more talented than Bally, Talvin on the Tabla is a real treat to the ear, Bally does more remix type of work.
  
  But, you have a real valid point, it will be great if IR corraborated with some of the fusion groups(or people involved in fusion, like Zakhir, perhaps.....), as IR is one of the few who has fusion to a fine blend, as opposed to the usual 'talented musicians', no blending capabilities.....
  
  
• From: Neels (@ 202.54.125.216) on: Fri Feb 12 13:03:50 EST 1999
  
  Geetha,
  You said IR has worked with tavlin Singh on his latest album. Which one is it? Earlier, I had picked up this CD 'Sounds of the Asian Underground' in Paris which had ARR's Bombay theme score in it. Otherwise it was just an okay album. (some songs sounded like a group of DJ's playing 5 CDs at a time with an untrained Hindustani singer trying her aahh...laap in the background)
  
  Neels
  
  
• From: Shankar (@ webgate0.mot.com) on: Sat Feb 13 03:04:24 EST 1999
  
  geetha,
  
  FYI, Raja's Symphony no-1 named "symphonic fantasy" was played in some place in London in Dec '97.This certainly is a reliable info ,as I read it in Limca Book of records ('98).
  
  It seems the RPH Orchestra holds the rights for the symphony and it can be released only if they wish to do it.
  
  Is it possible for u to get more info on that ,since u r in UK ???
  
  
• From: Geetha (@ gatekeeper.oracle.co.uk) on: Sat Feb 13 15:59:45 EST 1999
  
  Shanker: I will try to do so. I too heard about this, it's just that nothing else was said, nor was it publicised in the UK press much as far as I know.....
  
  Neels: The sounds of the asian underground was not so good.... The one with IR's work is called O.K, it's a lot better, IMO.
  
  
• From: Geetha (@ gatekeeper.oracle.co.uk) on: Sat Feb 13 16:15:32 EST 1999
  
  Neels, please take a look at this web page, for more about OK. Also, it's one of the few that has highlighted that IR worked on the album.
  
  
• From: Geetha (@ gatekeeper.oracle.co.uk) on: Sat Feb 13 16:18:11 EST 1999
  
  Neels: Sorry, here's the URL.....
  http://www.desisound.com/html/ok.htm
  
  
• From: Ilango (@ 213-42-100.ipt.aol.com) on: Tue Feb 16 03:18:52 EST 1999
  
  Hello Geetha,
  
  SO what exactly did IR do in Talvin's album ?
  You wrote "IR has done a great job". Would
  love to know more..
  
  and btw,
  
  Talvin Singh ? A big international name ??
  And working with him will give IR the confidence
  to release his symphony ???
  
  Oh ! Please !!
  
  
• From: Ilango (@ 213-42-100.ipt.aol.com) on: Tue Feb 16 03:22:08 EST 1999
  
  
  
  IR should compose for Anoushka, of all the people ??
  
  Have you ever seen her play ?
  
  If anyone, Bhavatharani should do the composing
  for Anoushka, since their careers seem a little too similar..
  
  they are where there are because of their illustrious fathers..
  
  
• From: Geetha (@ gatekeeper.oracle.co.uk) on: Tue Feb 16 11:24:59 EST 1999
  
  Ilango: Talvin's very very big in the UK and Europe.... I think I made a generalised statement, thinking he was well known in the US or rest of the world. Please forgive me. If you read the link that I gave Neels, you'll see that IR's name is mentioned amongst many that Talvin used in OK. Having heard the album, it's hard to say exactly what IR did, his name is on the credits. I presumed that it was the Carnatic based stuff that he did with the veena player, I may be wrong. Also, I think that I got the 'Indian shop' version of the album and that there is an original, which may have more details of IR's work. Please take a look at the URL.
  
  Also, I read that IR is not feeling too confident to release the symphony - I think it was on an article on one of the many web sites dedicated to him. I'll try and find it for you. I didn't say that working with Talvin ALONE will give him the confidence, please read what I said. "IR should corraborate with these big International names, BUT do a solo album, which means that that type of album will 'educate' the Western mass to his 'seemless' fusion - Carnatic and Western, for example." I also stated that doing corraboration work will 'get his foot through the door - Of Western Audiences'.....
  
  
• From: Geetha (@ gatekeeper.oracle.co.uk) on: Tue Feb 16 11:30:11 EST 1999
  
  Ilango: I think the starter of this thread meant that IR should go international, just because Anoushka's name is in the heading, doesn't innotate that IR should compose for her, it was more in the line of Ravi Shankar, now there's no disputing that he's an 'international' artist. The creator mentions Anoushka's name because she tours with Ravi Shankar a lot, nowadays.
  
  
• From: Geetha (@ gatekeeper.oracle.co.uk) on: Tue Feb 16 13:06:09 EST 1999
  
  Ravi: Sorry this is being discussed here, I guess it should go to the Hub?
  
  
• From: Neels (@ 202.54.125.166) on: Wed Feb 17 11:48:52 EST 1999
  
  Thanks for the URL Geetha.
  IR figures among the list of many musicians there.
  
  You're right, to 'get his foot through the door' he can depend on these sources. But the question is: Will he do it?
  
  I can definitely welcome him joining hands with genuine musicians like ravi Shankar or L Subramaniam or Stephen Graphelli. May be he can get Zubin Mehta to conduct his symphonies...
  
  But Tavlin Singh??? He calls himself a Tabla Virtuoso... Has he performed on the professional stage in Hindustani music? At least on the Indian musician's UK visits? I doubt it.
  
  Also, as I can see with albums like "O.K", Tavlin Singh must be taking all the credit (a la Bali Sagoo for all the remixed versions of Hindi Film Hits) and people like IR who are not media savvy will have to be content with a mention in the credits.
  
  I saw this guy Tavlin Singh performing for the Channel V awards functions last year. He has the right contacts alright! He played the Tabla (in quite an ameteurish fashion) for none other than STING! He sure knows how to ensure his presence in the right places at the right time. But what made me feel better about this was the fact that right after the above number, STING was singing along with one bum called Shyamak Davar (he is a choreographer for Hindi films who wanted to make our lives miserable by trying to sing! and released his own album :(( )
  
  My point is:
  
  Which one will IR choose?
  1. Poovodu Sernda Naarum Manam Perum? OR
  2. Pandriyoda Sernda Pasuvum ..... Thinnum?
  
  Neels
  
  
• From: Raj (@ master.hyd.deshaw.com) on: Wed Feb 17 11:55:38 EST 1999
  
  I know definitely that anyone who joins hands with IR will experience (1) . He is too good to be a "naar" that will manandhufy only in the company of "poo". His music certainly has spread its fragrance amongst music-lovers with a 'good nose' for fragrance. To call him naar is blasphemous, though I am sure Neels didnt mean it that way.
  
  

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