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Why Ilayaraja's Music Does Not Appeal to the Younger Generation

Topic started by Gowri (@ 161.142.100.86) on Tue Mar 19 01:02:59 EST 2002.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

I have always wondered this.
If age factor is the issue, how is it that Deva who should be the in the same age group, is able to command quite a following?
Please do not insult the yonger generation by refering to deteriorating music taste.

Although there are some youngsters who prefer Ilayaraja, the number is very small.
Most youngsters prefer ARR, Deva, HJ, SAR, Vidhyasagar, etc.

Generally Ilayaraja's genre of music do not seem to hold the younger crowd. Why do you think this is?

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Responses:

• Old responses
  
• From: WhyNot (@ 134.7.134.15) on: Wed Mar 20 06:41:31 EST 2002
  
  There seem to be some good points here.
  
  1) it is that he has not had a chance to do many youth-movies... (cosmician)
  2) IR songs, are not that many of late, and most do not have brand promotion at all IMHO (eden)
  3) IR, by choice or compulsion, has worked with mature/aging actors or heavy/mature themes, and hence is not addressing this niche 'urban youth' segment (suresh)
  4) he refused to do things to impress the wider audience and went his merry way in creation and in the process gave us gems that perhaps only tamilians and south indians will ever be lucky to know (KSS)
  
  There seem to be a general consensus tat IR's music is not appealing to the younger generation tho some (eg. pov) are clearly opposed to tat sentiment.
  
  However admist the support for the general motion of this thread, I dont understand why there is so much resentment towards the starter of the thread.
  Actually this reminds me of another thread tat goes something like "Greatest Contribution of IR", which coincidentally was also started by Gowri. The same agreement towards the topic admist resentment towards Gowri for starting the thread. I can't help wondering if it wud have been better if an IR Fan had started it.
  
  
• From: WhyNot (@ 134.7.134.15) on: Wed Mar 20 07:00:24 EST 2002
  
  suresh, actually I found some of ur ARR topics interesting. If someone started threads like tat, I wudnt think they were being senile.
  
  "Why don't you, and similar others, stop such futile exercises aimed at garnering attention (and some excitement in a bored-as-hell life?) and tiring the heck out of others?"
  So r u saying tat this thread has excited u in ur bored life and has resulted in tiring u?
  Gowri, next time put a warning sign for ur thread.
  "Not for the easily exhausted or faint hearted".
  
  "Ninty percent of ARR's song focus on either of the three emotions/situations"
  twilight_zone, if i asked u how many songs ARR has done, wud u be able to answer me without refering anywhere? Actually magix asked tis qn in a thread "How Many".... I mean unless u knew how many songs make up 100%, how can u so confidently state that 90% belong to a certain category?
  
  "a)happy youth b) sad youth c)youth in love"
  An honest question: How do u differentiate between a
  a) "happy" theme from a "happy youth" theme?
  b) "sad" theme from a "sad youth" theme and
  c) "anyone in love" theme from a "youth in love" theme?
  
  I can imagine the answer for (a) but (b) and (c) puzzle me.
  
  "Why IR is not attractive to Simran while Kamal who's about his age makes merry with her"
  kozhuppu, the answer is straightforward. Kamal is a typical Scorpio man, whereas IR is jus a harmless Gemini. In fact another example of a Scorpio kizhadu is Gemini Ganesan. And coming back to our topic on why IR vs Deva, actually guess what? Deva is a scorpio too.
  :-)
  
  
• From: ROTFL (@ 203.106.70.72) on: Wed Mar 20 07:06:22 EST 2002
  
  ok, ok, it was meant to be ovation, but with an extra UL. Guess I was inspired by the "Greatest Contribution of IR." :)
  
  Suresh
  You are marvelous! Of course, when you perform before an audience you tend to try to impress. :)
  But a lot of things are fundamentally wrong with your opinions.
  
  1. Why must Gowri know it off? Because avunga puttu puttu vaikkirathu ungalai gathi kalanga vaikkirathanaal? :)
  None of the threads she has started is absurd. On the contrary, it is a fresh and welcome change from the 100s of jing-jaak thread in this forum. :)
  
  2. If her statements are superfluos, what are yours? Cheap? Performing for the thalaiyaatti bommaigal? :)
  Come on man, this is a democratic world. Not everyone shares your opinion and to think yours alone matters is the height of audacity. :)
  
  3. Look at the choices you gave: "Did ARR have a hit to equal "Chocklet" and "Shahjahan" in the last year? "
  Now compare that with what Gowri has given: "Why Ilayaraja's Music Does Not Appeal to the Younger Generation?"
  She has made a point on something that is global whereas you are nit-picking.
  
  And finally, understand a basic thing. Ilayaraja may be the greatest for you, thalaiyile thooki vachu aadunga, vendaam-le. But you have absolutely no right to challenge another person's view just because it contradicts yours.
  Please.
  
  
• From: ROTFL (@ 203.106.70.72) on: Wed Mar 20 07:11:36 EST 2002
  
  WhyNot
  You don't know why HCIRF's hate Gowri and take everything she says personally?
  
  Unmai endrum kasakkum, athunaalthaan.
  
  You see they have placed IR on a pedesatal and right before their unbelieving eyes, they find him crumbling - in this forum as well as in the real world - and they are unable to accept that.
  
  So, the next logical step is to lash out.
  We must actually sympathise with these guys.
  Ayyo paavam. :)
  
  
• From: magix (@ 203.199.231.151) on: Wed Mar 20 07:47:42 EST 2002
  
  Deva. A scorpio??
  Noooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!
  Ash, SRK, Sush, Jodie Foster, (oh alright) Kamal
  No probs.. but deva?
  noooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!
  
  
• From: magix (@ 203.199.231.151) on: Wed Mar 20 07:49:00 EST 2002
  
  u r right ROTFL.
  It is indeed bitter! YUCK!! :P
  
  
• From: ROTFL (@ 203.106.70.72) on: Wed Mar 20 08:07:10 EST 2002
  
  Don't get excited magix. One-twelfth of teh world are scorpios. :)
  Now, go back to your studies. :)
  
  
• From: magix (@ 203.199.231.151) on: Wed Mar 20 08:13:00 EST 2002
  
  Naalaiku English-2.
  Padichadha saritharame illai!!(for this subject only!)
  i'm not excited. Just sad. :(
  
  
• From: magix (@ 203.199.231.151) on: Wed Mar 20 08:13:58 EST 2002
  
  adutha vaati yarauthu enna thorathineenga......
  
  
• From: suresh (@ 202.88.155.34) on: Wed Mar 20 08:24:53 EST 2002
  
  Quick, crawling out of the woodwork, and talking of 'jing-chak' and 'thalayatti bommaigal'! ROTFL, take a hard look at yourself. You're the one that made such 'objective' statements such as 'IR is a dead horse', right? Show me an equivalent statement such as this that I've made on ARR or whoever, and then we can talk on even terms..
  
  Let me get this straight with you; I've worked with ARR well before his film debut, and contrary to what you think, I've thrilled at his phenomenal success cos' I know in some small way, I've been part of his early days in the music industry.
  
  My friends still work with him in diff. capacities, and professionally my work takes me to projects that have his imprint. I've never let my admiration for IR cloud appreciation for ARRs work in this forum, if you'd ever cared to notice. Instance, I'd said 'manmada maasam' was the most innovative work in IFM for 2001.
  
  All I say is, the sooner you folks realise the futility of provoking and challenging the genuine following that IR has, this forum will see a return to some substance. And let me sprinke some liberal smileys just so it gives me the look of reason :):)
  
  
• From: twilight_zone (@ 202.88.152.159) on: Wed Mar 20 08:34:45 EST 2002
  
  ROTFL, can u double check again on actually which MD's pedestal [and not pedesatal, another correction :-)] is crumbling real fast ? I think u shud find someone else's name, definetly not IR :-))
  
  >>>>"Ninty percent of ARR's song focus on either of the three emotions/situations" twilight_zone, if i asked u how many songs ARR has done, wud u be able to answer me without refering anywhere?
  ..I mean unless u knew how many songs make up 100%, how can u so confidently state that 90% belong to a certain category? <<<
  
  As if the person who started the thread,"greatest contribution of IR" actually had the total tally of IR's songs in his/her fingertips and knew exactly the proportion that had "mukkals & munagals" in them :-)
  
  <<<<"a)happy youth b) sad youth c)youth in love"
  An honest question: How do u differentiate between a a) "happy" theme from a "happy youth" theme? b) "sad" theme from a "sad youth" theme and c) "anyone in love" theme from a "youth in love" theme? I can imagine the answer for (a) but (b) and (c) puzzle me.<<<
  
  cool. Let me give examples,
  
  a)IR has umpteen "happy themes" for all age categories, ARR predominantly has "happy youth themes" (95% of the cases)
  
  b) IR has umpteen "sad themes" for all age categories, ARR predominantly has "sad youth themes" (90% cases)
  
  c) IR has umpteen "anyone in love" across age categories, ARR only has "youth in love theme" (100 % cases). [IR for instance has scored for preteen love in azhaghi/panneer pushpangal, oldie love in mudhal mariyaadhai/rishimoolam, extra marital love in sathileelaavadhi]
  
  The point i made is, ARR has a niche focus for "youth" themes only, while IR has a very diverse range of "themes" that he has attempted, and the "emotions/situations set" addressed by IR spans across age groups. So, "youth" is naturally just a part of IR's target segment, while in ARR's case, youth is the only target segment (or atleast predominantly, in 90% cases). So youth shud naturally line up in favour ARR than IR.
  
  The topic sounds like -"Why water does not appeal to youth when compared to pepsi". IMHO :-)
  
  
• From: WhyNot (@ 203.24.100.132) on: Wed Mar 20 09:11:52 EST 2002
  
  twilight_zone, i dont remember gowri giving any figures or percentages (and even if she did, tat doesnt affect my qn to u...it was not me). However u did, hence my query. So u r jus estimating I spose??
  
  And I'm not satisfied wit ur answers to my qns (a), (b) and (c). You did not give me two examples of songs (by any MDs) to differentiate how a song meant for youth love/sadness cud be diff from a song meant for any kind of love/sadness.
  
  
• From: WhyNot (@ 203.24.100.132) on: Wed Mar 20 09:18:19 EST 2002
  
  "All I say is, the sooner you folks realise the futility of provoking and challenging the genuine following that IR has"
  Suresh, I'm not denying there are AIRs/ Anti-IRs in this forum (jus like there are A-ARR or Anti ARRs here).
  However from my personal observation, even stating an opinion, which happens to contradict the opinion of an IR Fan is more often than not, misinterpreted as provoking and challenging IR's following.
  
  
• From: s0 (@ 128.119.85.50) on: Wed Mar 20 09:37:31 EST 2002
  
  the title "Why Ilayaraja's Music Does Not Appeal to the Younger Generation" obviously assumes that he does not appeal to the youth. I strongly differ. If the popularity of the songs of Kaasi are any inclination, Raaja's songs are going great with everyone including the youth. Just as someone said, you are talking about the pseudo-tamil MTV generation living in Nungambakkam and Adyar that prefer listening to the western pop/techno genre. right now the style of TFM seems to be of the b.spears, b.boys variety. (An American listened to Endrendum Punnagai and said that it sounded like 'nsync. I'm not trying to bring ARR here. just an example of a youth-based song). but if you include rural and the real tamil-ish mann-vaasanai crowd, Raaja is definitely popular.
  
  However, assume that he is not popular. why has he lost his appeal? I'd say he has mellowed down. the choice of subjects that he has chosen is definitely not youthful. you cannot compose a techno song for a blind man in a village. his choice of films are reflective of his age and maturity.
  
  "It remains an undisputed fact that Ilayaraja is bending backwards trying to remain relevant."
  
  I dispute this statement. Please give examples of such behaviour by Raaja.
  
  "His recent statement about "copied songs," songs bragging about himself are all signs of fearing irrelevance."
  
  He has been mentioning his copied songs right from his early days. we are not disputing his personal virtues here. please leave all talk about his ego to some other thread. he has a good number of hits every year and there are a group that is still loyal to him. he does not need to feel irrelevant.
  
  "The most quoted "ennai thaatta varuvaala" is not only synthetic but carries Hariharan's voice as well. :) "
  
  so? what is your point? are you saying that Raaja is using Hariharan to attract youngsters? aren't the others guilty of it too. assuming HH attracts youngsters(???) ? also, do you mean that his score is synthetic or in other words derived from a computer/any other machine? as you might know, this is not new. he has done it in agni natchathiram, punnagai mannan etc.(don't bring arr here. Raaja was still the composer. arr just helped him)
  "If Ilayaraja is not doing any youth oriented movies, then the next question to ask would be, why?
  Is it because no one feels he can do that genre of music? Or that simply he cannot attract the youth of today? "
  
  or could it be because he is not interested in them? or could it be because the clan that is loyal to him (fazil, parthiban, thankar bachan) are not doing such movies?
  
  without making personal attacks, I would ask the anti-IR group to stop bashing him with endless threads and try to learn why everyone else (including some great musicians and lesser mortals like me) calls him great. it is definitely not "jing-jaak" or "thalaiyaatti bommai" or "thalaiyile thooki vachu aadunga" kind of appreciation. but as I write, I do know that any objective comments from me is not going to alter your prejudices against IR. but as an IR fan, en raththam kodhikkiradhu. I cannot let it pass.
  
  

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