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1999 a glance: in your words

Topic started by Udhaya (@ 205.218.142.217) on Thu Nov 4 15:41:21 EST 1999.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

In this thread I would like people to editorialize their feelings about the state of TFM in 1999. What's the reason for this thread? I'm just craving that time in the Discussion Forum when thoughts were actually exchanged and posts had something to say. I bemoan the current state of discussions that are about clan forming and hurling insults from behind anonymous names. If you want to theorize, you can, if you want to vent you can do that too. Just make them palatable and classy however deep-seeded your put downs get. I prefer you write at length; brevity is for obituaries and classifieds. And please for the sake of progress, use a spell checker.

A simple tip to keep this thread from sinking to the pit: Just write your thoughts about the TFM in 1999. Try not to address another Dfer's post.

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Responses:

• From: Udhaya (@ 205.218.142.217) on: Thu Nov 4 15:42:32 EST 1999
  
  1999 symbolically places TFM at the precipice of change. The old stalwarts changed their ways for the better. The up and comers struck out on their own and found a new path for themselves.
  
  Music Directors:
  There were signs of life earlier in the year in one or two songs in, "Desiya Geetham", "Bharani"and "Sendhooram", but mostly it was a wasteland for IR considering his rich history. But after floundering for some time in futile projects, a resurgent Ilayaraaja reinvented himself with grace in "Kaakkaich Chiraginilae" and the ominously titled, "TIME". What a gush of fresh air! I guess those horsd'oeuvres that he said he has been serving us all this time are over, I'm getting ready for the feast to follow.
  
  A.R.Rehman after the hits, misses and inbetweens of last year (Jeans, Ratchagan, Uyirae) worked at a record pace (for him it is a record pace) and delivered some gems (En Swasak Kaatrae, Jodi, Sangamam) where he charted new territory for himself. Then came the embarrassment (Padayappa--a failure in every way, composition, singing, lyrics you name it!), the lesser effort (Kaadhalar Dhinam) with classics "Kaadhalenum" and "Nenachapadi" mixed with the MSV inspired/copied pallavis of "Roja Roja" and "Enna Vilai Azhagae". Of course Vairamuthu and Vaali helped the downslide in both those movies. "Mudhalvan", "Thaalam", and "Taj Mahal" are this year's inbetweens, one or two great songs saddled with one lousy techno song, one lousy folk song and other lackluster songs. And what's with the routine assault on Thamizh in at least one song in every movie? Mu dhal vanae vanae vanae, what on earth is that?
  
  Vidhyaasaagar remained awful quiet after a stellar year previously with "Nilavae Vaa". "Pooparikka Varugiroam" and "Ethirum Puthirum" left a lot to be desired. Even "Uyiroadu Uyiraaga" had only two noteworthy songs. And does everybody have to follow ARR's missteps? Hire some Thamizh singers man!
  
  Bharathwaj showed much improvement since "Kaadhal Mannan". "Amarkalam" had two very pleasant songs in "Saththam Illaatha" and "Unnoadu Vaazhaatha". Look for more from this relative newcomer.
  
  Deva promised some good stuff in "Unnudan" with the great "Vaanam Tharayil" and "Azhagaa Kallazhagaa" from "Kallazhagar" but didn't do much besides those. I wish he would stick to his Carnatic, folk roots instead of techno piracy.
  
  S.A.Rajkumar showed he knows how to create catchy tunes. Following on the heels of his rousing success, "Thullaatha Manamum Thullum", he gave the respectable "Nee Varuvaai Ena". But will this guy ever go back to the standards of "Pudhu Vasandham" and concentrate on instrumentation and interludes?
  
  But the one who showed the wave of the future and awed me was Yuvan Shankar Raja. What a startling surprise his "Poovellaam Kaettuppaar" was! Yes, I realize the naysayers are going to pick apart the bad choice of singers. True he's not flawless, he did hire "Sickwindher Can't-Sing" against better judgement, Nithya Sree for the wrong song and the obligatory song to his sis. But please, if you can shed your loyalties for just a half-hour and listen to "Iravaa Pagalaa", "Sevvaanam", "Chudithaar", and "Senyo Reettaa", you will catch a glimpse of TFM's ideal future. This guy knows interludes. He knows transitions within saranam. The voices reign supreme, the lyrics are audible, and the music flows with it like a creek to a hill. This is where TFM needs to go.
  
  Lyricists:
  Pazhani Bhaarathi deserves an honorable mention for shedding his sophomoric English lyrics and going after poetic pop expressions. He had his coming out party in Poovellaam Kaettuppaar.
  Vaasan of "Poonthoattam" fame passed away. This is a great loss for IR and a greater loss for lyric enthusiasts.
  
  Singers:
  Hariharan delivered some unforgettable numbers getting his pronunciation and enunciation together:
  -Anbae Anbae (Uyiroadu Uyiraaga)
  -Kurukka Siruththavalae (Mudhalvan)
  -Iravaa Pagalaa (Poovellaam Kaettuppaar)
  
  Srinivas and Srikumar lend a much-needed hand to the pining romantic tunes. Shankar Mahadevan proved himself a real find for voicing the rustic charms of folk songs. I can't help but think back to all the Malaysia Vaasudevan tunes from IR's early years, just imagine Shankar singing them, wow. Unni Krishnan and Unni Menon continued their solid careers with worthy additions. Chitra rocked my world with, "Azhagaa Kallazhagaa", "Thirakkaatha Kaattukkulae", and "Theendaai". Speaking of "Theendai", could anyone forget the inimitable SPB? Velli Malarae, Kaadhalenum Thaervezhuthi, Azhagaana Raatchasiyae, Saththam Illaatha Yuththam, Paarthu Paarthu Kangal. . . this man keeps shedding his age.
  
  
• From: MS (@ 129.252.25.60) on: Thu Nov 4 16:40:23 EST 1999
  
  Udhay, I think the thread stops here as you have collectively put all the aspects in a nut shell :-)
  
  Good write up and good thoughts.
  
  Regards
  
  MS
  
  
  
• From: Kooththan-II (@ dhcp-css-consult-12.lg.informix.com) on: Thu Nov 4 17:03:13 EST 1999
  
  Udhaya,there is not much to write now :-). I think '99 witnessed the resurgence of SPB. There was a time in '98 when coming accross his name in a new album was not all that common whereas now, there seems to be a generous sprinkling of the same. He sounds much younger/fresher than he used to , in the early 90s .
  ARR, pretty much consolidated his position further as the numero uno of Indian film music industry.
  
  
• From: Srikanth (@ 216.32.18.74) on: Thu Nov 4 17:33:37 EST 1999
  
  MY 3 POINTS......
  In 1999,
  Good things to note:
  1. Arr won the MTV awards, this is a rare achivement for a tamil musician.
  2.But as far I am concerned, best thing so far is -- Raja trying to make a come back -- after hearing the songs in TIME, (at least 20 times now), expect the KR number others songs are good, especially the spb/swarna songs and the slow 3/4 song sung by sujatha is worth talking about.
  3. Yuvan Shaker though people say great about this album, his movie score are better that the album. So far so good.
  
  Sad things to note :
  1. KR not doing well,
  2. Deva still doing well (very sadistic of me)
  3. ARR trying hard, not to be himself. He is being forced towards traditional tamil music.
  
  
  
  
• From: Swami (@ proxy2.ericy.com) on: Thu Nov 4 18:24:02 EST 1999
  
  Done and said Udahya & Srikanth, IR is indeed trying for a big show again, but I missed one great thing from him (except in kakai chi....), those lovely violin and flute interludes/progressions. where are they?? They are buried by the (lousy I would call them) synth he's tring to impart in his songs. Revive that back IR.
  
  
• From: vijay (@ 129.252.25.56) on: Thu Nov 4 18:58:23 EST 1999
  
  Udhaya,
  Nicely written. May be they should have had u instead of DS Ramanujam in The Hindu;))
  
  
• From: vijay (@ 129.252.25.56) on: Thu Nov 4 19:11:45 EST 1999
  
  Udhaya,
  Enjoyed your sukhwinder 'cant-sing' comment;))
  
  My picks of the year reg IR is
  
  1 'alai meedhu' from KK. A brilliant sudha dhanyaasi composition with trademark IR violins as swami had wished in his post. The violins play the same piece successively in 2 different scales in this song, if u notice, and it elevates the listener to a new level. If swarna or chithra had sung that song instead of Bhava, it would have been a classic. Short but sweet.
  
  2. Oranjaaram - SPB - another classic in the making spoiled only by the inane lyrical content.
  The flute prelude is too good.
  
  3. Thena odum - bharani - Madhyamaavathi from IR after quite some time. Fresh as a spring sung nicely by Sujatha, who has been blossoming recently.
  
  4. Niram pirithu paarthen- latest IR-Sujatha melody, but would not make it to the top of the charts probably.
  
  Srikanth, what do u think of the above songs?
  
  
  I would personally like IR to adopt a new year resolution of composing minimum songs using synth and more like song no 1 (peraasai?)
  
  I would say that this is a very average year for IR, what with him not delivering even a single hit as he did last year with Kaadhaluuku mariyaadhai.
  
  
  
  
• From: MPR (@ wks112.viveca.com) on: Thu Nov 4 19:16:11 EST 1999
  
  Udhaya,
  
  I too believe Yuvan Shanker Raja is the guy
  to watch out for. If you list tamil music
  directors, I guess he comes next to ARR. He is so
  much better than Deva & others. This year he has
  released PKP, The Blast, and UEU. All of them are
  listenable & enjoyale. But many people disregard
  him just because he is son of Raaja.
  
  Sorry for the digression though :)
  
  
• From: vijay (@ 129.252.25.56) on: Thu Nov 4 19:16:34 EST 1999
  
  Also, to add, Deva frankly surprised me (and perhaps many others) with 'Azhaga Kallazhaga' from Kallazhagar. So far no one has disputed the originality of this composition;)), though it resembles 'maanjolai kilidhaano' in parts. But unfortunately I feel that the TFM audience's taste has taken a dip further in 1999. Songs that have a hollow composition but a catchy tune are making it to the top quite easily.
  
  Bharadwaj is the newcomer of the year,IMO.
  
  Sad to note Vidhyasaagar's disappearance from the scene after terrific numbers like 'poothirukkum maname', 'Vaa Saki' etc. last year.
  
  
• From: Srikanth (@ 216.32.18.74) on: Thu Nov 4 19:57:09 EST 1999
  
  Vijay:Niram piruthu parthen....
  Really makes me feel good when I hear the score, though the parts sound like butterfly - what the heck, it is a wonderful score--- thank god Sujatha sang the song.
  The song just moves like a feather that falls slowly from a height. You never know which direction it will move next...you will never know when it started to fall and when it fell down...
  I would say A very very soft and smooth score from raja after 10 years.
  Noundu pona IR fansuku TIME songs will be a real boost
  
  
  
  
  
• From: bb (@ ts002d17.cha-il.concentric.net) on: Thu Nov 4 22:00:31 EST 1999
  
  some notes about 1999:
  1. ARR made great strides, with several movies and good songs. he established some big-time contacts and is in for more good projects.literally proved who is the biggest draw with taal. scored music for a rajini movie, did sangamam, has two movies lined up for deepavali.
  
  2.i guess for the first year, IR failed to have a single hit. some of his songs stand out (Oranjaaram ushaaraiyaa, niram piriththup paarththEn), but is sadly fading away from the mainstream. (TIME will tell:-)) ).
  
  3.SAR had a good year, with simple songs that became hits. bharatwaj is another guy to watch out. YSR came up with a couple of albums but has a long way to go.
  
  4.this may be the lowest point of VM's creative career. his lyrics for several songs were quite appaling. but there doesn't seem to be anyone in sight with his vocabulary and aaLumai over thamizh.
  
  5.HH continues to be the most sought after singer, with several new faces like srinivas making a good entry, and old ones like SPB and sujatha still alive and kicking.
  
  6.deva is on a roll, now with his brothers too getting established in the industry. has gone hi-tech with kanavE kalaiyaadhE.
  
  7.KR didn't have a single movie, aadhityan is nowhere to be found, SJ suffered personal losses and may not be her best again, SRS and vAsan passed away, ranjit barot couldn't hit it big, mahesh didn't get any chances, sukhwinder singh spit out thamizh, bhavadhaarini continues to sing( :( )..
  an average year with no great steps forward..
  
  

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