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Stranger in the mirror...

Topic started by Srinath (@ socks11d.raleigh.ibm.com) on Wed Jun 17 11:47:34 EDT 1998.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

Hi,
This DF is replete with arguments over who is better - IR or ARR. More often than not, IR fans end up bashing ARR fans in personal terms and vice-versa. For a change, I would like to hear what IR fans actually like in ARR's music and what ARR fans like in IR's music. Again, the discussion could be more interesting if fans from opposite sides also come up with what they dislike in their idols as compared to what they like in their rivals idols. I would expect a lot of fans to surprise themselves seeing a Stranger in the mirror...

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Responses:

• Old responses
  
• From: S.Suresh (@ dwarpal.wipsys.soft.net) on: Thu Jun 18 02:12:15 EDT 1998
  
  Hi Krishna,
  
  Cool man. This thread is basically meant to cool tempers. I think flexibility and verstality are two entirely different things. No one seems to be doubting IR's versatality.
  
  Here is my lisr.
  
  A R Rahman :
  
  1. Simple Tune
  
  Strength : Catches you the very first time. Attracts the maximum number of people. Is eminently hummable. Just check out how fast children take to a Rahman tune. Ex: Chinna Chinna Aasai was a country wide hit
  
  Weakness : Wears off after some time. Ex:Chinna Chinna Aasai
  
  2. Excellent Rythm
  
  Strength : Though there has been a regular debate on the source of his rythm, it is an undisputed fact that he knows which rythm to use in order to make a song a big hit. Almost all his rythm based songs have been big hits. Ex:Mustafa, Humma and many many more
  
  Weakness : Lacks depth in the tune because of overdependece on rythm. How many would consider Mustafa, Humma or Columbus to be great songs composed by Rahman.
  
  Youth
  
  Strength : Understands technology very well. Understands the taste of the new urban generation. Consequently sound recording of highest order. Use of synthesizers.
  
  Weakness : Unable to cater to the audience seeped in the melodies of MSV-TKR era. They consistently feel that Rahman lacks melody. (Dig: But old people keep complaining dont they? :-)))
  
  Different Perspective
  
  Strength :Rahman was definitely responsible for giving a different perspective to TFM. Used lesser instruments during interlude. His style of tuning is very different from Raja's. It is always good to have different dimensions to music than stick to a single one. As with ice creams, the more the flavours the better.
  
  Versatality
  
  Weakness : This is his major weakness. Has worked mostly on films which are urban in nature. Hence all his songs cater to this type of audience. Has two movies of Bharathiraja but was not able to successfully capture the rustic flavour. Similarly in Iruvar he was unable to capture the MSV-TKR times though the songs were OK. Think of Rahman giving music for a devotional!! Maybe he will surprise us one day.
  
  Classical Based Tunes :
  
  Strength : Tries to give classical raga based tunes. In fact some of his best like "Malargale", "Nila Kayudu", "Narumugiye" , "Ennavale" are based on Classical ragas. Nice to see new MDs sticking to our traditional music.
  
  Weakness : Either experiments or doesnt understand the structure of the raga. So most of the time it is impossible to find out which raga it is based on. Doesnt make any difference for a lay listener who thinks of it as a good tune but can be frustrating for someone interested in classical music.
  
  
  
• From: badri raghavan (@ 206.103.12.125) on: Tue Jun 23 05:48:03 EDT 1998
  
  a refreshingly different topic that makes me want to participate.
  
  Raja had that wonderful combination of orchestration and melody (remember those heady tunes in needhane endan pon vasantham, manidha manidha ini un etc)
  he also dabbled in innovations: there are many who swear that tyagaraja wrote mari mari ninne in saramathi and use that as a benchmark to recognise the raagam
  
  what i find distasteful about him is his creating a precedent for mukkal, munagal and hardly discerning ucharippu.
  
  about rahman, i like his use of technology and creating lilting tunes (albeit shortlived) but i do not find variety in his compositions. many of his songs bear resemblance of his earlier numbers (not only in the base flute but also in rthymic interludes- if you compare the bgm in kannalane and fifty kg tajmahal you will notice the similarity)
  
  overall i am happy that there was no vacuum between Raja's waning and rahman's bursting into the scene
  
  
  
• From: Srikanth (@ 161.225.48.3) on: Tue Jun 23 14:16:48 EDT 1998
  
  (Buy the VM Cd in the US, has 2 new scores
  -- but one is a remodeled Ota gatha katiko...)
  AR freaks out in the another song.
  Srikanth
  
  
• From: SRIKANTH (@ 161.225.48.3) on: Tue Jun 23 14:32:04 EDT 1998
  
  Hi Srinath,
  
  I am trying to build a midi file for panivizum malar vanam - chords raja uses are awesome, since it is a 100% guitary type of chord whamping I am not able to get the chords right.. Can you help me in this, email me the chords..
  I have done all the parts expcept the chords, but it the heart for a song...I am loosing my way here totally.
  (I think my ears have become old ...
  After hearing ARR more...)
  Srikanth
  
  
• From: Srinath (@ socks8d.raleigh.ibm.com) on: Tue Jun 23 15:24:15 EDT 1998
  
  Hi Srikanth,
  I'm sorry, I completely helpless at this point. I don't have my guitar with me, and nor do I have a keyboard :-( And since I have just invested in a new computer, I cannot even buy one this month. I can, however, try to get in touch with my friends in Madras and find out if somebody has the chords for "Pani Vizhum Malar Vanam". Being a popular culturals song, I am sure some guys back home would have the chords. Sorry about that... :-(
  Srinath
  
  

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