Home   Forum   Wiki   Notes   Register   FAQ   Sitemap   About Us   Contact Us  

Apart from Ilayaraja who is well versed in Tamil literature, no music director understands simple Tamil words leave alone poetry

Topic started by Guru (@ 129.49.80.172) on Sun Sep 29 07:09:39 EDT 2002.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

Quality of film songs has gone down: Lyricists
Our Staff Reporter
Chennai, Sept 29:

Leading film lyricists who participated in the centenary celebrations of lyricist and poet Udumalai Narayanakavi organised by the Sahitya Akademi and Kavya Circle in the city yesterday were unanimous in their opinion that the quality of film songs has degenerated. While veteran lyricist Vali candidly remarked that films had nothing to do with aesthetics or arts and that it was purely a business, popular lyricist Vairamuthu blamed it on the changing times. However, poetess Thamarai provided some comfort to those seeking improvement in film songs when she said lyricists should not bow to the whims and fancies of producers and directors who expect abject verses from them. Thamarai said she declined to pen a song on fashion shows and beauty contests recently. Although she had earned a bad name by such acts, she had successfully avoided writing vulgar and obscene lines. Lyricists should have social responsibility as films and its songs have considerable impact on the people especially youth, she said in a soft but determined tone. Film industry was not purely a business and it had artistic value too, she observed. She hailed Narayanakavi as a poet who propagated rationalism and social reforms and vowed to follow in his footsteps.

Thamarai said all Tamil poets from Ilango who created the epic Silappadhikaran were emotionally attached to Cauvery. Cauvery is not only a river. It is our cultural symbol and the origin of of our civilisation. Poets should be in the forefront of an agitation to secure the release of Cauvery water, which is our right, Thamarai said.

Vairamuthu who spoke later said the deterioration of films songs was a reflection of the changing times. He speculated that he would have penned good songs with quality in both content and form if he was in the film industry four decades earlier. He came out with a revelation that the most popular lyricist Kannadasan had planned to take up journalism after he returned from US (where he died) suggesting that the most successful lyricist who reigned supreme in the Tamil celluloid world was not able to cope with the pressures of modern film industry.

Vairamuthu justified English words in Tamil songs saying that they were used only for humour and fun. Only Tamil words were used for serious situations, he said.

Unlike Vairamuthu who offered several excuses and tried to defend the lyricists, Vali who spoke earlier said film songs were penned for loaves and fishes. Those who claim that they are doing yeoman service to arts and literature by producing films are deceiving people. It is all defrauding the common man. I am in this field for more than 45 years and I know what is happening, he observed.

The other lyricist Muthulingam who also spoke, attributed the deplorable standard of film songs to the lack of Tamil literary knowledge among music directors, producers and directors. Apart from Ilayaraja who is well versed in Tamil literature, no music director understands simple Tamil words leave alone poetry, he remarked.

Muthulingam recalled the achievements of the Justice Party and the association of Narayanakavi with the Dravidian movement. Earlier, a book titled Udumalai Narayanakavi written by K Shanmugasundaram was released by Vali and the first copy was received by Lion V Balakrishnan. Muthulingam also released Udumala Narayana Kaviyin Paadalgal, a collection of Narayanakavis songs. Malayalam writer S Gitendranath delivered the introductory address.

http://www.newstodaynet.com/29sep/ld8.htm

---

Responses:

• Old responses
  
• From: OISG (@ 193.188.97.152) on: Thu Oct 3 01:07:34 EDT 2002
  
  Hihi
  
  Arivumathi,GA,IR Your lyricist list puzzles me.Honestly i have not heard Arivumathi s name.
  
  GA s Apart from "Paneer Pushpangale" (Aval Appadithan) his lyrics always bordered on mediocrity.Lets take two of his hit songs " En iniya pon nilave" (moodu pani)and "Naan ennum pozhtuthu"(Azhiyatha kolangal).
  
  "Vennela vanil athil ennene megam" how do you explain that Tamil.Something pretty basic.
  "Nejil itta kolam ellam Azhivathillai,endrum athu kalaivathiallai,ennangalum mariavathiiali" -What is this?
  
  IR well "idhayam oru koil" -
  
  "Avar paadalin jeevan athuve avaranar
  En paadlain jeevan ethuvo athu neethan
  
  Certainly i have reservations in calling this good lyrics.The lyricist virtually played into the hands of the composer in these lines.Azhuthamatra varthaigal.
  
  "Uyiril kalandhu paadumpothu"- Dont You see a VR Style?
  
  Vairamuthu is the only one doing a decent job.Not great tamil lyrics but he is the best among the lot."Vidai kodu engal nade" has the feel among the recent songs.As BB puts it algorithmic songs constitute 50%.
  
  
  
• From: Karthik S (@ 164.164.82.29) on: Thu Oct 3 03:01:20 EDT 2002
  
  I've not checked the complete set of older responses, but going by the flow here, I dont think this aspect has been touched upon so far...
  
  Now, who is responsible for approving the final set of lyrics?
  
  The composer, who merely provides a musical background to sing the verses?
  
  The lyricist, who merely writes the words or as in most cases, tries to fit in the words to pre-set tunes?
  
  Or the Director, who knows more about the movie's theme and plot than anybody else?
  
  I felt, it isnt important that Ilayaraja or Vidyasagar is a pundit in tami literature...shouldnt it be the Balachanders and Maniratnams who should be deciding what should go into the songs as verses?
  
  But again, going by what I see is the process of composing music, the composer plays sample tunes to the director approves them, with or without lyrics. The lyrics might be added later even without the presence of the director. But I've also heard people like Mani, ARR and VM having an extended sitting some secluded place to finalise the songs and verses. Even Subash Ghai used to sit with ARR for the music of Taal, but I'm not sure if the lyricist accompanied them.
  
  So how important is the fact that IR is well versed in tamil literature? It might be, in case of a smaller league director who could not exert the necessary control over IR...it'd most probably be..."Raaja sir kitta 6 situation sonnen, avar AVM'la 3 mani neram ponaaru, thirumbi vantha pothu 6 arumayana paatu readiya irukkuthu...Raaja Raaja thaan."
  
  To sum up, I think the onus of good (better) lyrics falls upon the Director-Lyricist duo and I dont think the composer needs to have a big say in this. I think the composer needs to focus on his job...i.e., compose!
  
  
• From: Karthik S (@ 164.164.82.29) on: Thu Oct 3 03:09:21 EDT 2002
  
  Missed a point, sorry.
  
  IR is a part-time lyricist and that could be the reason he's being discussed here. But the fact is that he's much more of a composer than a lyricist. My above message was in response to Muthulingam's statement attributing the deplorable standard of film songs to the lack of Tamil literary knowledge among music directors, producers and directors. Was merely wondering why the 'music director' was being dragged here when literature is not supposed to be his core competence.
  
  In western music (pop, rock, whatever) people who do everything together, say, like George Michael, do the words and music on their own. In such case, I understand that this person is responsible for the words and music. But when we do have a seperate person to pen the lyrics, I dont think the composer comes in the loop to up hold the standard of tamil literature.
  
  
• From: vengayam (@ 203.200.84.67) on: Thu Oct 3 04:10:24 EDT 2002
  
  To smiling person :-) (@ 67.241.76.73)
  I thought that this threadhads served it purpose, IRkku vensamaram visum gumbalin panni thodarathum. But because you had specifically addressed me I am constrained to reply. How did you divine that I am anti nattupura paadal & even more amusingly how do you asume that i am pro carnatic & barathanatiyam. And even if I were how relevant is it to this thread?If you can classify vaadi en kappakazhangu has the standard to measure folk songs naan enna solla.. You can find out from Pushpavanam Kuppusamy or Dr navaneethakrishnan. That is all.Alla vidunga.
  
  
• From: vengayam (@ 203.200.84.67) on: Thu Oct 3 04:17:34 EDT 2002
  
  Karthik S,
  Wittingly or unwittingly you have hit "the problem of being IR "today when you wrote that "I think the onus of good (better) lyrics falls upon the Director-Lyricist duo and I dont think the composer needs to have a big say in this. I think the composer needs to focus on his job...i.e., compose!" IRkku banner vaithu, gnani pattam kuduthappin most directors do not assert what is their right & IR surrounded by numerous yes men has had his tiff with Vairamuthu & Bharathi Raja- two people who would have contributed more to IR.
  So because of all this TFM is the loser. the pity is HCIRFs still do not see it.
  
  
• From: Awe (@ 65.69.56.17) on: Thu Oct 3 04:44:49 EDT 2002
  
  Karthick It ought to be the job of Music Director to see if the lyrics fit or not. You exactly got the opposite. Director only explains the situation. It is the job of MD to get the lyrics by explaining the situation to the lyricist. So he is the bridge between director and lyricist. This is the standard scenario. But nowadays lyricists and MDs and Directors work independently. They don't work as a tight unit.
  MD doesn't care about lyrics. Only those songs gel with movie and also remembered for long time.
  The female like vocals singing "peravellai peravaelli" which we should interpret as "Paravyillai Paravyillai" .. We have to live with lyrics like "Telephone mani pol sirippaval" .. what a lame comparison.. "Zakkir hussain tabala".. comparing the legendary Tablist's Tabla is compared with Manisha's ass. This is ridiculous. Even Rap songs will make more sense than some of Tamil lyrics. "Zha" and "LLa" have disappeared from Tamil after the entry of some MDs. Indeed the standard of lyrics is deplorable these days. It is the primary job of MD to get the right lyrics for the right situation. No matter how modern the beat is, we should make sure there would be no english words as much as possible. I feel like bashing the heads of these north indian singers with a baseball bat who literally murder tamil language with their lady voices. Vocal, Pronunciation, Lyrics all are at rock bottom these days. "Ayyo Ayyo doctor Oosi podu sister" lyrics from Mala Mala song. We should hang deva upside down and beat him for these kind of lyrics to be part of his songs.
  
  
• From: Karthik S (@ 164.164.82.29) on: Thu Oct 3 05:08:56 EDT 2002
  
  Anga thaan I wanted to point out that the director is the best person to decide and finalize lyrics that suit his theme and mood...the composer's core competence is something different...that of the tune to suit the mood and theme of the movie, not lyrics per se. For Malai malai I'd rather bash up Chocolate's director Venkatesh (IIRR) than Deva. From Deva's side I think the tune was catchy enough and he justified his job perfectly. Its the lyrics and picturisation that make one squirm in his seat (or excite, Mumtaz brings out different emotions in different people!). Similarly in Telephone Mani I think Shankar should be taken to task...for that horrible uvamai.
  
  

---

List all pages of this thread

Post comments