Home   Forum   Wiki   Notes   Register   FAQ   Sitemap   About Us   Contact Us  

WE MET IR

Topic started by cram (@ 206.103.12.102) on Thu Jul 20 06:52:03 EDT 2000.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

Hello friends,
It's me again. And this time, I met IR alongwith another newtfmpage regular, CSG. Unlike the previous occasion, when there was no scope for a chat, today we sat and talked with IR for about...god knows, time stood still, guys. We have no clue.
There were so many things we wanted to ask him, but in his presence, both of us were tongu-tied. Finally CSG found his voice and complimented him on his latest album, Bharati.
He's so incredibly down-to-earth and accessible. And he doesn't spout profundities, but speaks just like you would expect any layman to. That's his greatness. I'm still on a tremendous high....

---

Responses:

• Old responses
  
• From: Neels (@ 202.54.125.169) on: Tue Jul 25 04:33:06 EDT 2000
  
  
  Here we go again.. I'm referring to Mr. Sampath, also known in 12 different avataars, who even after repeated requests in the past, continues to promote commercial sites he and his team have created for TFM singers. I remember him posting links in all possible threads, to promote Srinivas' site, a couple of months ago.
  Mr. Sampath, I hope you got my point.
  Thanks
  
  
• From: cram (@ 206.103.12.102) on: Tue Jul 25 04:44:33 EDT 2000
  
  haris,
  what were the inspirations for "entha poovilum" and "sittukuruvi?
  
  
• From: KITKAT (@ pm-82-122.tm.net.my) on: Tue Jul 25 04:49:53 EDT 2000
  
  Vekatesh
  
  Salaam Gulaamu :-)
  
  
• From: Sudhakar G (@ alcfpxy2.att.com) on: Tue Jul 25 10:29:41 EDT 2000
  
  cram/csg,
  
  naanum ungaLudam Raja'vai sandhiththadhu pOla irundhadhu..
  
  Thanks for posting the details.
  
  
• From: cram (@ 206.103.12.102) on: Tue Jul 25 11:32:37 EDT 2000
  
  you're welcome, sudhakar G
  
  
• From: anban (@ 139.85.161.162) on: Tue Jul 25 12:42:41 EDT 2000
  
  cram
  
  did u ask about the recording theatre which he was constructing, eager to know wat happened to that
  
  
• From: cram (@ 206.103.12.102) on: Tue Jul 25 13:19:57 EDT 2000
  
  anban,
  i didn't ask him that, but my other sources tell me that the studio he had built in kerala has been demolished for illegal construction.
  
  
• From: haris (@ inet-fw1-o.oracle.com) on: Tue Jul 25 14:11:40 EDT 2000
  
  cram,
  
  chittukkuruvi -> http://www.muthamil.com/ram/dvorak.ram
  
  endha poovilum -> http://www.muthamil.com/ram/antonio.ram
  
  (links courtesy - muthamil.com)
  
  
• From: csg (@ 202.144.10.93) on: Wed Jul 26 03:49:20 EDT 2000
  
  thank you tfm guys for reading and encouraging for our chat with IR,ungalukkaga nan anth andavan kitta vendikkeren athavathu meendum meendum nan IRa sandikkanumnu.a piece of information,the actor who taken up the role in the movie'bharati'is the guy who played the bihari villian role in the hindi movie 'shool'starring manoj bajpai and raveena tandon, his name is shivaji shinde
  
  
• From: S (@ cbin-dns.cisco.com) on: Wed Jul 26 04:46:39 EDT 2000
  
  it's sayaji shinde, right ??
  
  
• From: cram (@ 206.103.12.102) on: Wed Jul 26 04:55:02 EDT 2000
  
  yeah, S
  
  
• From: suresh (@ dedicated-149.chn.vsnl.net.in) on: Wed Jul 26 10:34:54 EDT 2000
  
  hi cram & csg
  
  It was very interesting to read about your meeting. thanks..
  
  some thoughts, IMHO.. pls. excuse if offensive
  .............................................
  
  why does IR sound like a tired, cynical, old man?
  
  1) I'm deeply disturbed by his mocking and casual dismissals of any creative team-work in the making of songs in such movies as Kizhakke Pogum Rayil, Nenjathai Killathe, Johnny... to paraphrase his words... "Ellaame enakkullenthu vanthathu thaan. antha nerathula thonichchu. potten. idhula directors, kathai, situation ethuvume ennakku inspiration illai"... So does he imply that Mahendran, Bharathiraaja, Vairamuthu et al were mere sidekicks in the whole process, and that they had no role at all to play? This only strengthens my dim view of him after his controversial remarks on VM for his "anthi mazhai lyrics"...
  
  He doesn't have to romanticise or glorify the process of making these songs, but for someone like me who'd like to imagine that a 'pon maalai pozhudhu' or 'uravugal thodarkathai' were creative team-work of a high calibre, his statements are the greatest dampeners..
  
  2) His oft-repeated grievance of Tamil films being cliched can be best-described by (another cliche!)
  "pot calling the kettle back". If IR was so concerned and aggrieved about the quality of films and song situations on offer these days, why does he sign on pre-doomed trashy films without any let-up? why would he wish away a project like mahendran's "saasanam" (which unfortunately looks like it's destined for the cans), at the same time signing up a karisakkaattu poove? why, for god's sake, can't he become selective? is it his supposed financial difficulties, or is it that he just doesn't care for the film-makers (whose movies he derides) by working half-heartedly on what he knows is a sure dud at the box-office?
  
  These new films he's working on, "Ilayavan" kinds, I doubt they'll see the light of the day, or even get past the 1-week mark in theatres. I can't make any sense of this and the reported (Raajangam) news that he's yet to confirm Kamal's 'Aalavandhan', can anyone see reason?
  
  Again, for someone who derides tamil movie's cliched situations, what kind of movies exactly did his paavalar creations produce? examples - kozhi koovudhu, raajathi raaja, singaravelan - all promoting some of the crassest stereotypes and vulgarity possible.. did he produce atleast one movie without the "commercial" tag, atleast something of the uthiripookkal class? And to contemptously wish away any creativity by associates, I find it extremely petty and self-serving. The less said about his views on contemporary MDs, the better...
  
  I know that many consider his statements philosophical, but I think sometimes in his attempt to come across as humble and philosophical, he crosses the limit between profound and profanity.
  
  This still wouldn't stop me from being a what-you-call HCIRF, one that has perfected an auto-buy mechanism of his album on the day of the release :)
  
  It's just I feel that his persona must sometimes be viewed without the imaginary halo around his head, and that one must presume that his negative attitude toward the very craft (or business) that is film-making is the reason why many are most uncomfortable working with him...
  
  Let me end this way - I adore IR's music (oh well, majority of it), but I don't much like the black shade of contempt in IR's personality...
  
  
• From: cram (@ 206.103.12.102) on: Wed Jul 26 11:05:08 EDT 2000
  
  suresh,
  IR to me is music. i am not bothered about his non-musical (eg: songwriting) skills. i certainly have no idea of his cinematic acumen, and i care even less. from his words, i inferred that he doesn't think much of mahendran or anyone else, for that matter. but that in no way reduces my respect for mahendran.
  i approach IR only as a musician. even during my meeting, i only asked him about the musicmaking process. not once did i ask him about whether he watches films, the directors he admires, etc. for all you know, he might dismiss film-makers we revere as giants. or for that matter, he might say VM's lyrics are all trash, which i would certainly not agree with.
  so, his comments on film-makers didn't completely surprise me. and i was in awe all the time because i saw him only as a musical genius. i think that's the best way to look at him.
  
  
• From: Srinath (@ 205.252.37.3) on: Wed Jul 26 11:25:29 EDT 2000
  
  Bravo ! Suresh ! Very good points !
  
  But there can be no comparision between IR the Genius and Mahendran, the good Director or for that matter, VM the fantastic lyricist. I don't criticize IR for his arrogance regarding his music, it is fully justified. Nevertheless, his hypocrisy is blatant as you so have so eloquently pointed out ! He was just bs-ing with his selective perceptiveness of the poor quality of Tamil movies.
  
  
• From: Anand (@ 202.54.66.234) on: Wed Jul 26 12:04:40 EDT 2000
  
  Suresh,
  Why u people try to corner IR...well I accept the fact mausic making is a team effort..but will u accept the fact that most of IR early day music were picturized pathetically rather too pathetically wud u like r say want IR to take responsibilty for these pathetic efforts...Iam very sure it happened to most of his films ..I wud put the average around 80 - 85%....only very few songs has the team effort IMHO...
  
  Is it unfair to comment on present tamil films....Ok i accept the fact that his Home productions has produced some low Q films..but u see mr Suresh he has to live a life...
  
  hoping to meet u again...
  
  Anand
  
  
• From: rajaG (@ daecfp01.sprint.com) on: Wed Jul 26 12:25:47 EDT 2000
  
  General Statement (addressed to no one in particular):
  
  I still maintain that an intelligent and discerning fan, while appreciating his idol for his achievements and criticizing/questioning his idol for his faults/inconsistencies causes less trouble than a 'blind' fan who either is incapable or wilfully chooses to ignore reason.
  
  Suresh belongs to the former category. I am not going to comment on others.
  
  Srinath: You are closer to music than movie direction, lyrics, or other facets of movie making due to your natural affinities and interest. No! I am not making a case for relative merits/demerits of IR/VM/Mahendran. All I am cautioning you is about your natural bias.
  
  IR is a great (arguably the greatest) MD in Indian Film Music. Full Stop. His BS about philosophising his work (and inconsistently so)and other people's work, should almost never be taken seriously.
  
  
• From: Athi (@ wwwgate2.motorola.com) on: Wed Jul 26 12:35:59 EDT 2000
  
  Suresh,
  
  What you had mentioned, is an very interesting
  perspective. But I would like to counter that
  with what people like VM has mentioned about
  in various interviews etc after not continuing
  to work with IR. In fact I happened to attend
  a tamil mantram symposium in my college in which VM was the chief guest in Jan 90. In that, VM was making offensive remarks on IR's music in all possible ways (which he continues to make till today) and that too indirectly. And in the same meeting, when asked about the best songs he had written, he mentioned 4 songs all of which were composed by IR and he didn't even mention the quality of music in those songs.
  
  If people like VM who came up because of
  IR, can talk about him like that, I think
  there is every reason for IR to feel frustrated.
  And what is the quality of lyrics that people
  like VM write nowadays to rave about? Invariably
  VM manages to get a national award which has
  become a laughing stock.
  
  Regarding IR's indifference towards the situations of the songs, only thing that surprises me is why he chose to include
  Mahendran's movies. Otherwise I can understand
  the frustrations on his part in having to
  work with similar situations for songs for
  almost 750 movies. And recently I saw Jhonny and found it to be very good in terms of everything.It didn't look like an average tamil movie at all and almost all of mahendran's
  movies belong to that category.
  
  Have you seen Karpoora Mullai and Enn
  Bommu Kutti Ammavukku? These were some of
  the good movies produced by IR.
  
  But a composer of IR's calibre should have already done much more work than compose music
  for so many tamil movies and may be that is
  what is making him frustrated.
  
  I do remember reading another interview of IR in 95 where he has talked about the songs that
  took him very long to compose( Like Paadu Nilavee from Udhaya Geetham took him 4 hrs it seems which is very long in his standards).
  
  In my opinion, IR finds composing music very much simple and so has that indifference. While with some composers of today, it is the other way around and so that is the reason they attribute divine inspiration etc and mostly the divine inspiration seems to result in blatant copying !!! Ofcourse they also have the temerity to make statements like they never copied. What
  can IR comment on them when their work ethics
  is very well known.
  
  Athi
  
  
• From: Athi (@ wwwgate2.motorola.com) on: Wed Jul 26 12:55:07 EDT 2000
  
  Suresh,
  
  I wanted to add some more here.
  
  Regarding your point on IR working with
  obscure people, he wouldn't have worked in
  a movie like Sethu if he had thought on
  those lines. Only new directors can save
  tamil movies from the current unfortunate
  situation it is in and people like KB, MR, BR
  are no where in the scene to give any worthwhile movies. ofcourse the less we talk about people
  like Superstar and the wonderful director called
  KSR, the better it will be.
  
  Athi
  
  

---

List all pages of this thread

Post comments