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Illaiyaraja's unbelievable Dance songs and percussion bits

Topic started by Nithin Sreedevan (@ spider-wa042.proxy.aol.com) on Tue Feb 2 21:01:32 EST 1999.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

Friends, I was listening some of the spontaneous numbers of Illaiyaraja from Kamal and Rajini films. Guess what. Who said, Illaiyaraja did not give the world's best percussion phrases. (Phil Collins may fall at Raja's feat if he heard the bits) What about the dance numbers? You note the pattern and they are just the idiom that is required of such rhythms. Let us list them out. I feel this is one of the latent and subtle skills of IR that have escape the Indian ears of yesterday.

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Responses:

• From: Nithin (@ spider-wa042.proxy.aol.com) on: Tue Feb 2 21:13:49 EST 1999
  
  In the area of percussion, there is actually no one that I have heard in my life is really comparable to IR. Believe me, No one ever. Please enlighten me, if I am wrong.
  
  Top of the charts, Friends, for the best dance number and percussion ever in an Indian song.
  
  Dance Numbers:
  
  1. Yenge endhan Kadhali - Ennakkul Oruvan This is a song that SPB has given his best special effects. Truly an unparalleled world class dance number.
  
  2. Thungada Nenjam Ondru - Agni Natchathiram. Look at the violin phrasing and the song beat.
  
  3. Roja Poo Aadi Vandhathu - Agni Natchathiram. What a melody in a dance number. Unusual tune.
  
  Percussion bits:
  
  1. Vaanam Kizhey vandhal enna - Thoongathey Thambi Thoongathey (the song's evolving rhythm and the percussion in the interludes)
  
  2. Nandavanathil Nindra Mayile - Annai Oru Aaalayam. ( the rhythm of the song)
  
  3. Appane, Appane - Annai Oru Aalayam (second interlude percussion surprise)
  
  If you haven't heard these songs in a long time, hear them again. You will find a new depth in the songs. I have no more words to say.
  
  
• From: Nithin (simply amazed as if hit by lightning) (@ spider-tn064.proxy.aol.com) on: Wed Feb 10 01:20:10 EST 1999
  
  Friends, please don't ignore this topic. I am daily discovering so many songs of IR of the last 10 years that I have not heard at all.
  
  Has anyone heard of these two superb dance songs with tunes like it was there, but nobody could think of it.
  
  4. Vanna Nila, Vanna Nila Paadum Velli Nila, etc. sung by Chitra & Chorus (both wrong choices though by IR) in the film KATTALAI?
  
  (With a different singer and a signature tune like 'Take on Me' by A-Ha, this dance number could've stayed on top of the Grammy charts for years!)
  
  5. Muthirai Eppothu Endrume Thappathu Raja, Raja (SPB and Kavita Krishnamurthy - what a voice) Again, this song is a sure Grammy winning number. What is IR doing in Chennai? It is ARR's market there now.
  
  I am hearing these songs for the first time, by now probably a thousand times in my wonderful car stereo.
  
  This composer is unbelievable. I am all along thinking of his songs of the 70s and early 80s and here is this son of god continuing to peak even in the late 90s. Is he a man or a machine?
  
  Any more input, folks?
  
  The five dance songs can easily make a international dance album.
  
  
• From: MSK (@ ra5399b-port18.qualcomm.com) on: Wed Feb 10 03:05:30 EST 1999
  
  THe latest Telugu Hit Anthapuram has 2 very beatsy numbers.. Very catchy ..One by Shankar Mahadevan and one by Swarnalatha.
  
  THe song Paatenge in Poovizhi Vaasalile is another good one..
  
  There are more .. more !
  
  
• From: cram (@ 206.103.12.102) on: Wed Feb 10 05:13:25 EST 1999
  
  nithin,
  talking of percussion, IR did an outstanding job in songs like "aasai nooru vagai", "nEththu raaththiri yammmmmmaaaa" (what a song!), "pon mEni uruguthE" and of course, "aNNaaththe aaduraar", which drives me wild with the folk percussion bits.
  
  
• From: S.Janakiraman (@ m52.chn.vsnl.net.in) on: Wed Feb 10 08:42:35 EST 1999
  
  Hi,
  
  We should not miss out the following songs.
  
  asaiya kathulla thoothu vittu - Film Jhony
  Poo potta thavani podayil aduthu - Film Kakki sattai
  Adum neram ithuthan ithuthan(i love this number) - film Sorasamharam.Deva used the same tune in his film Kalki ..song is Singapore sela
  Katti vachukko enthan - some karthik film
  puthiya paravai siragai virikka thudikirathe - Sung by SPB
  
  
• From: Udhaya (@ 205.218.142.217) on: Wed Feb 10 15:38:40 EST 1999
  
  guys,
  You are missing the penultimate in IR's dance music:
  -"Sandhaikku Vandha Kili" --the array of drums, the hand in hand skipped beats of tabla, melam, and other folk rhythm instruments, a colossal piece indeed.
  
  and of course,"Mannguyilae Poonguyilae"
  
  other forgotten treasures:
  -pooththu pooththu kulunguthadi
  -mayilae mayilae machchaan illaya
  -aaththu maettula oru paattu
  -vizhiyil un vizhiyil oru poo pooththathu
  -peraich chollavaa adhu gnyaayamaagumaa
  -vaalibamae vaa vaa
  -kuyilae kuyilae poonguyilae mayilae mayilae
  -kai vechchaalum vekkaamap ponaalum mallivaasam
  -thaai ariyaatha thaamarayae (great African drum-and-whistle interlude)
  
  IR undoubtedly has his signature rhythm vocabulary that's varied and rich, but I certainly won't call him the best rhythmatist in the world. You will have to hear Afro-Cuban jazz (like tasting flavors you never knew existed), Tito Puente (check out "The Mambo Kings" soundtrack, this guy has Jackrabbits for fingers), Prince (brings out the most fluid drum sounds that I've ever heard, digital or real drums)and choice pieces by other Indian and TFM MDs. I could go on but that would be digressing and be outside the realm of this thread's topic.
  
  
• From: vimal (@ gwcmacn3.inre.asu.edu) on: Wed Feb 10 16:01:46 EST 1999
  
  Havw you heard that song from the Telugu Movie Shiva? That song that goes like 'Adalgalo.. Padalgalo.." when dubbed in Tamil? Listen to it and tell me.
  
  
  
• From: vijay (@ 129.252.22.246) on: Wed Feb 10 17:57:36 EST 1999
  
  the song from my dear maarthandan which has often been overlooked is 'ilavattam kai thattum inge'. it starts with a brilliant percussion piece.
  
  
• From: Viswa (@ webgate0.mot.com) on: Wed Feb 10 18:53:22 EST 1999
  
  Some more good instances of percussion by IR :
  
  * "NEththu orutharu oruthara pArthom" - very rhythmic song right through...
  
  * The second charanam of "rAjAdhi rAjA un thndhirangaL" - actually, the beats start right at the beginning of the second interlude and continue until the end of the charanam.
  
  * "VanithA maNi" - the charanams have a very pacy percussion support that elevates the mood of the song.
  
  * "Hey, AthA AthOramA vAriyA" - beats supported by bass guitar in this dabAnguthu number...
  
  * "AdiyE manam nilunA nikkAdhadi" - this song has some amazing beats - there is right from thavil to drums...
  
  * "Kavidhai pAdu kuyilE kuyilE"
  
  * "MAmAvukku kudumA kudumA" - The song starts with the beats, that set the pace for the whole song...
  
  * "VAngadA vAnga en vaNdikku pinAlE" - the beats accompany the motion of the horse-cart as the song unwinds...
  
  * "Karuththa machchAn"
  
  And talking of beats in dance songs, some good instances to cite would be :
  
  * Hey, unnai thAnE (Kadhal parisu) - the beats go on right through the song, and particularly the second interlude (after SJ comes in, in the song) is foot-tapping. I'm talking about the piece that comes before "peNNE peNNE vA vA kaNNE"...
  
  * kAlakAlamAga kAdhalukku nAngaL arpaNam (Punnagai mannan)
  
  * rAjA rAjAdhi rAjan indha rAjA (Agni Nakshatram)
  
  * Punnagayil minsAram (Bharathan) - A pacy number where IR tries to match wits against SJ, and Vijayakanth tries to keep pace with Bhanupriya !
  
  More later....
  
  
• From: Viswa (@ webgate0.mot.com) on: Wed Feb 10 18:59:34 EST 1999
  
  Nithin Sreedevan,
  Are you still in 4nc.com, btw ?
  
  
• From: Viswa again ! (@ webgate0.mot.com) on: Wed Feb 10 19:04:43 EST 1999
  
  Janakiraman,
  Katti vachukko enthan is from En jeevan padudhu...
  
  
• From: raja (@ spider-te021.proxy.aol.com) on: Wed Feb 10 20:05:28 EST 1999
  
  Pesa Koodadhu from Adutha Varisu - had a good beat to it.
  
  
• From: vimal (@ vos.la.asu.edu) on: Wed Feb 10 20:12:07 EST 1999
  
  Nitin is talking about going to the Grammys and you guys contribute with a lot of Dappanguthu songs!!!
  
  
• From: Nithin (@ spider-tr081.proxy.aol.com) on: Wed Feb 10 21:32:35 EST 1999
  
  Udhaya:
  
  Thanks for the contribution. I have not heard the Afro-cuban rhythms that you have pointed out. I have listened to more popular African and Cuban rhythms. They are mind-boggling in themselves. But, being used to a complete package as in a song, I have to hear anything like IR's creations elsewhere.
  
  But, I am really impressed by your musical awareness. I will want to get those albums and broaden my darkening horizon that used to shimmer with various musical sounds from around the globe.
  
  Many thanks. If you have more to add, it would be great for many those who want to learn more.
  
  Viswa:
  
  I am still at 4nc.com!
  
  Vimal:
  
  Why not? I mean a more bigger audience should know of the greatest composer ever. While the world knows Viswa Mohan Bhatt, Zakir Hussain, Pandit Shankar, even Anoushka Shankar and Zubin Mehta, what is that IR is not given to the musical cauldron. I mean, this man has got to be more generous to the world audience and start looking for some glamor and publicity world-wide. As a fan, this is the only thing of IR that disappoints me. He does not care!
  
  All he needs to do spare himself from film music and go in the direction of his ever faithful fans like us spread all over the world, who want him to create music for a wider global audience.
  
  WHY NOT?
  
  
• From: Kamesh (@ pm-102-188.tm.net.my) on: Wed Feb 10 23:54:03 EST 1999
  
  Hey thozhas and thozi's(if any),
  
  How come you missed the pioneering song Saalaiyoran Solai ondru vaadum from Payanangal mudivathillai. Feel the pulse in the song man. Great.
  
  I remember another song with a great beat. OOps. Soory i cant get the words but i can give these clues. Its a Prashant , mohini starrer from Balu mahendra's stable. Song sung by Jesudas ... Prashant sings this song riding a bicycle. The song is about nature. Talking about nature what about malayaala karaiyoram kavi paadum kuruvi's beat. Beat me man.
  
  Great thread BTW
  Thanks
  
  
• From: yvs mani (@ hub.nic.in) on: Thu Feb 11 00:10:28 EST 1999
  
  Kamesh,
  Prashanth starrer- song - is - "Ilanenje vaa"
  
  
• From: RS (@ sungold7.uk.ibm.com) on: Thu Feb 11 08:19:23 EST 1999
  
  How about
  * chutti chutti un vaayai konjam from chinna gounder.
  
  * tholin mele bhaaram illai kelvi ketka from Ninaivellam Nithya
  
  * yelelakkuyile yela mara from ??
  
  
• From: nakkeeran (@ inet-fw1-o.oracle.com) on: Thu Feb 11 15:39:49 EST 1999
  
  'rambambam aarambam' from michael, madhana, kama rajan!
  
  

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