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Yesudas attacks ARR's version of Vandhe mataram

Topic started by Anand Mahadevan (@ tnt01-abe-119.fast.net) on Tue Oct 6 21:02:25 EDT 1998.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

http://www.tamilcinema.com/cinenews/news/cinenews.htm

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Responses:

• Old responses
  
• From: Geetha (@ gatekeeper.oracle.co.uk) on: Thu Oct 8 13:17:06 EDT 1998
  
  Wasn't the original Vandhe Matharam in DESH too? It's know as a Ragam that induces patriotism in oneself....I don't understand the KJJ Ragam connotations, what can he be talking about and why is he doing it so long after the release of the album? What about other people's attempts of the same thing? What has he got against rahman, who has flown his down from Florida on several occasions to sing for him, unlike most other MD's who have 'forgotten' him?
  
  I've been spending a lot of time with A.Sivamani, ARR's drummer. I'll ask him if he knows of any animosity between KJJ and ARR......I feel that this reporter is probably exaggerating a lot.....
  
  
• From: r.ravi (@ 119.dallas-04.tx.dial-access.att.net) on: Fri Oct 9 00:24:11 EDT 1998
  
  Geetha, Sivamani is Rajas Drummer under whom he perfecte his art who happens to be working for ARR now. Just a correction.Sorry guys
  
  
• From: The Fan (@ spider-te083.proxy.aol.com) on: Fri Oct 9 00:24:28 EDT 1998
  
  I think KJY is concerned that if no criticism now, then singers will start singing rap versions of our National Anthem and Bharathiyar songs. Better to show some concern and criticise this exploitation of popularity and money making schemes. ARR is trying to make hay while the sun shines and he probably does not what tomorrow is going to be like, since every ram, jikku and hari are computer wizards. it is not difficult to program rhythms and songs today. why, i am thinking of doing some quick composition on my 'yamaha (new brand) 986 shouldertop pro', just wait and see, what i will do to Jana Gana Mana, Adi..ye..............
  
  
• From: shankar (@ webgate0.mot.com) on: Fri Oct 9 01:54:20 EDT 1998
  
  Geetha,
  None of the MDs have "forgotten" KJY. It's just that he's reduced the number of songs he's making.
  2 terrific numbers of GURU were by KJY , FYI.
  Even now he's the highest paid PB singer.
  KJy is a person known for his magnanimity.He refused to take the state award for the best PB singer a few years back bcos they have been giving it to him every year. It was then given to M G Sreekumar.
  
  It was just his opinion that ARR has tampered the original song. He did not pass any derogatory remark as TMS did on IR in Dhina Thandhi.
  
  
• From: shankar (@ webgate0.mot.com) on: Fri Oct 9 03:19:35 EDT 1998
  
  Geetha,
  KJY has sung for IR's latest album -dEsiya geetham.
  
  correction:please read "making" as "singing"
  
  
• From: dhan (@ dajal.legato.com) on: Fri Oct 9 13:31:48 EDT 1998
  
  KJy is a person known for his magnanimity.He refused to take the state award for the best PB singer a few years back bcos...
  
  is n't the same KJY who went on to pulambals when he didn't get the national award for a tamil song(i guess it's sindhu bairavi) b'cos the national selectors felt KJY already had many nationals and will give to someone instead!
  
  What the selectors did is atrocious but KJY wasn't seen showing such magnanimity earlier!
  
  
• From: GV (@ d34-fx01-lond-pdi.attcanada.net) on: Fri Oct 9 18:34:48 EDT 1998
  
  I was staying out of this thread so far, but had to elaborate on dhan's statement. The national awards selectors initially decided to give all three music awards to SINDHUBAIRAVI that year (IR, Chitra & KJY). That was the year that KJY made a statement that he need not be considered for Kerala State awards anymore as he had won it 16 times already. The national selectors somehow misinterpreted this statement and believed that KJY will not accept the award even if offered.
  This made them change their minds and give the award to Jayachandran ("Upaasana..." in SRI NARAYANA GURU). Naturally, KJY was upset about this turn of events, especially for missing out on SINDHUBAIRAVI.
  
  BTW, KJY won the national award three more times after that.
  
  
• From: GV (@ d34-fx01-lond-pdi.attcanada.net) on: Fri Oct 9 18:46:38 EDT 1998
  
  "Upaasana..." was a great song and Jayachandran richly deserved the award. I was in no way trying to downplay that fact.
  
  Sorry about the distraction!
  
  
• From: shankar (@ webgate0.mot.com) on: Sat Oct 10 05:55:46 EDT 1998
  
  GV,
  thanks for that.I was about to quote that incident.
  neenga mundhiteenga :-)
  
  
• From: M VIJAY KRISHNA (@ pix030.eagle.org) on: Sun Oct 11 06:58:31 EDT 1998
  
  I totally agree with KJY, because the song Vande Mantiram is national patriotic song, one which every TRUE Indian gets the feeling of national pride & patriotism, ARR was given a great oppourtunity to compose for Indian's 50th GOLDEN Independence year, I heard ARR composition honestly I say I did not get any patriotic influence from ARR composition, when India made Nuclear tests most(99%) of the Indians felt proud and having a great Indian feeling. ARR has tried to do some of his crazy fusion music and wasted a good oppoutunity.
  
  
• From: Murali Sankar (@ 129.252.23.234) on: Sun Oct 11 17:39:59 EDT 1998
  
  Dear TFM lovers,
  
  The discussion on whether "Vande Mataram" evokes patriotic fervor or not ,in my opinion, is not to be debated. That the original "vande Mataram" has been tuned in Desh Ragam does not necessarily mean that the words of the song should not be used in any other decent song. The lyrics in the ARR's version are definitely inspiring. See for eg:
  
  "thaayae un peyar Sollumbothey Idhayathil minnalai Paayudhey"
  
  Whenever I hear this line I am filled with love for my country. The very next line says " Ini varum kaalam ilaignargal kaalam" and i feel that ARR has done a good job by making the youth love their country through his song. You can literally count the number of persons listening to the original classical version and feeling filled with patriotism (but, I admit that I am a lover of the original version especially at dawn) . At this juncture I would like to say a few words on "Jana gana mana". If it has to be maintained the classical way, then why is it being orchestrated in the military bands ? In fact it is one of the wonderful tunes permitting beutiful orchestration. When it was orchestrated , nobody objected to it. Why should everyone condemn when its counterpart was taken by ARR and put in a new shape? IMO, it is because it was for more a commercial purpose. In fact, ARR has used just two words from the song filling it with reasonbaly good lyrics which do not have much similarity with the original. To emphasize that he respects the older version, he included it in the same album.
  
  Let us digress a bit. Hope everybody is familiar with "Rakkamma kaiyai thattu". I am not going to say anything about this wonder that IR has created but shall view it from a different standpoint. The song which is feet tapper in the initial phase changes appreciatively to the classical in the later half. The lines
  
  "Kuniththa puruvamum Kovvai Sevvayum"
  
  start the same. The above lines are a portion of the "thirumarai" - a devotional rendering on Lord Shiva. Does not anybody feel that the use of thirumarai in a song is sacriligious ? If we say that IR has been right in using thirumarai in a feet tapper, we must admit that ARR's Vande Mataram is not an album that tears away the respect of our country.
  
  These are my own views.
  
  Regards
  
  Murali Sankar
  
  
• From: UV (@ webgate0.mot.com) on: Mon Oct 12 03:23:49 EDT 1998
  
  Murali,
  in rakkamma, kunitha puruvamum, is chanted in a temple by a group of females celebrating a festival.
  U shud've quoted some other example
  
  
• From: Geetha (@ gatekeeper.oracle.co.uk) on: Mon Oct 12 06:46:09 EDT 1998
  
  r.ravi: Just to clarify my point and English -
  Sivamani IS ARR's Purcussionist and a freelancer who is part of the group SILK with Louie Banks and Shankar Mahadevan.... - WAS and I repeat WAS IR's drummer.
  
  He hasn't played with Raja since Mannan, I believe, and the reason is that IR wants a resident drummer and Siv is freelance, also he speaks very very highly of IRR, whenever we play a Raja song, he really highly commends his talent and music.......Also, IMHO, he has perfected his art by the fact that he has a natural 'God given' talent for purcussion, both Western and Eastern, and has nurtured it from a very young age, not to mention a lot of hard work and dedication. He has worked with MSV initially and then with IR and now with ARR and a lot of very great artistes, like George Benson. Just a personal point, he's one of the nicest people I've ever met.....
  
  Sorry for the digression.....
  
  Back to this: I heard that KJJ passed such a comment to IR a while back and apologised, so I guess it's in his nature. Awaiting an apology from him.....
  
  Also, Hariharan is the highest paid singer in TFM.
  
  
• From: shankar (@ webgate0.mot.com) on: Mon Oct 12 08:44:29 EDT 1998
  
  Geetha,
  Who is IR's percussionist at present???
  
  
• From: SR Kaushik (@ nova7.cs.wisc.edu) on: Mon Oct 12 10:35:48 EDT 1998
  
  Shankar, IR's drummer for 25 years (and now almost his right hand man) is Mr.Purushottam - addressed by IR as "Guru" (its a nickname, no other meaning).
  
  
• From: SRikanth (@ proxy1.dpn.deere.com) on: Mon Oct 12 12:58:38 EDT 1998
  
  Hi
  Murali : I back you up on this.
  
  VM - I am very happy that a person from my state has proved to the whole country with his work.(might be not to few guys here! but as a majority VM is a great success around the world.)
  If anyone says it is a cheap popularity ARR got, ---> Sony will not promote anyone just for granted.
  
  Once again I say, VM has not reduced any National Sprit etc, KJY is always a nose crier!
  Just ignore his comments, why you guys are not taking what other musical greats have told about the album, many have praised it.
  
  I admire the album - the idea - etc .
  
  People here talk as though ARR has squashed the national unity - ragam illa adhu illa etc...- summa pointless talk...
  
  
• From: Murali Sankar (@ 129.252.23.234) on: Mon Oct 12 14:59:44 EDT 1998
  
  Dear UV,
  
  I understand that the picturisation was in the temple. But, what I meant here is the usage of the traditional lyrics in a feet tapper. He could have used new lyrics altogether.
  
  Regards
  
  Murali Sankar
  
  
• From: sadha (@ 2260u07.eecs.uic.edu) on: Mon Oct 12 16:47:46 EDT 1998
  
  
  Makkale!
  ,first of all ARR's VM wouldnt have been hit had the Indians felt that it was unpatriotic
  Secondly,there has't been any friction between ARR and KJY on the whole .otherwise KJY wouldnt have sung in Desiya Geetam!
  sadha
  
  
• From: Murali Sankar (@ 129.252.23.234) on: Mon Oct 12 16:56:00 EDT 1998
  
  Dear Sadha,
  
  I do not understand you last statement. By desiya geetam do you mean the recent film ? It has music scored by IR.
  
  Regards
  
  Murali Sankar
  
  

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