Home   Forum   Wiki   Notes   Register   FAQ   Sitemap   About Us   Contact Us  

Ravindran is a great musician

Topic started by Raju (@ 209.246.86.192) on Sun Mar 10 15:55:17 EST 2002.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

He has produced some really great music, especially in Malayalam. But I was wondering about some of his tamil ventures. I know he has some movies in tamil. I heard one and it was pretty good. The movie's name, I think, was called "Thaye Nee Thunai" or something like that. Anyone heard the music to this movie?

---

Responses:

• Old responses
  
• From: Sundar (@ 24.98.96.66) on: Sat Aug 31 21:27:19 EDT 2002
  
  Ramki,
  
  Well, if you see the postings above, you will know that Ravindran, though primarily a MFM MD, has composed for a handful of Tamil films like KaNmaNiye Pesu and Rasikan Oru Rasikai.
  Music India Online is a good source for you to sample his compositions.
  
  
  
• From: Nazir (@ 172.170.235.127) on: Sat Aug 31 22:04:45 EDT 2002
  
  and also Ravindran is a tamilian.
  
  
  
• From: purv (@ ) on: Sun Oct 13 22:26:00 EDT 2002
  
  A lot of Raveendran's songs in 'His Highness Abdullah', 'Aaram Thamburan', 'Mazha' and more recently 'Soothradaran' and 'Nandhanam' sound of the same caliber of the Maestro's in his pinnacle period.
  
  Haven't heard Ayaal Kathu Ezhudunnu yet. I'll get around to it as soon as possible.
  
  
• From: s0 (@ 163.181.250.2) on: Mon Oct 14 09:34:38 EDT 2002
  
  MS : I saw your question on the live performance of KJY ony now.
  If you are still interested, I attended the live performance by KJY in IITM during Saarang in Jan 1999. He sang a lot of Tamil & Mallu songs and songs from Chitchor to please the diverse crowd. He sounded a bit aged and his rendering of Ramakatha was not as good as the original. It was very good nevertheless.
  
  
• From: purv (@ 205.231.147.85) on: Thu Oct 17 20:57:59 EDT 2002
  
  OK. Heard Ayal Kathu Ezhudunnu. Some songs are brilliant, but does not exhibit the same class shown in 'Aaraam Thamburan', 'His Highness Abdullah', or 'Nandhanam.'
  
  I also heard 'Uthaman' (Johnson), and the songs are average IMO.
  
  
• From: purv (@ 205.231.147.227) on: Sat Nov 9 22:09:17 EST 2002
  
  By the way, if any of you are interested, Ravindran's latest album 'Pakalppooram' was released. You can hear it at musicindiaonline (malayalam section).
  
  
• From: purv (@ ) on: Mon Nov 25 20:39:14 EST 2002
  
  No comments, anyone? I am listening to the other recently released Ravindran album called 'Ente Hridhyathinthe Udama' (what a name!) Songs are very good, esp. the Jayachandran song (Yekaagiyaam). Man, if only one of Ilayaraja's recent songs were composed this well....
  
  
• From: purv (@ 205.231.147.98) on: Mon Nov 25 20:48:09 EST 2002
  
  Since this is a thread devoted to a single MD, here's my rankings of some of his albums (Malayalam) from best to worst:
  
  1 (Excellent) Nandhanam, Kanmadam, Ente Hridhyathinthe Udamaa, His Highness Abdullah, Aaraam Thamburan.
  
  2. (Commendable) Ayaal Katha Ezhudunnu, Soothradaran, Kuttettan.
  
  3. (Hmmm...)Mazha, Pakalpooram.
  
  4. (Blah!) Vishnu Lokam
  
  
• From: jibi (@ 163.238.34.74) on: Tue Nov 26 11:42:54 EST 2002
  
  let me rank it
  
  excellent * sugamodevi,kalipattam,bharatham,his highness,kizhakunarum pakshi
  
  good* ayal katha eyuthuka,aram thapuran,kanmadam
  
  average* nadanam,ente hridyathinte udama
  
  waste* pakalpuram,ayillam nal,
  
  
• From: MS (@ 129.252.25.241) on: Tue Nov 26 14:51:55 EST 2002
  
  Some articles on Ravindran:
  
  (1) Life and times of a music director
  
  http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/lf/2002/10/24/stories/2002102401580200.htm
  
  THERE IS an exciting story behind every creation, be it a song or a poem. `Harimuraleeravam', a television serial on Raveendran, narrates the interesting incidents behind the composition of many soulful melodies by the noted music director. The camera pans the life and times of Raveendran, who started his career as a playback singer in the 70's and evolved as one of the foremost music directors in the South, composing about 1,500 songs in 450 films, in addition to a number of light music and devotional albums.
  
  A tribute to `Raveendra sangeetham', as it were, `Harimuraleeravam' opens with a visualisation of the song, `Thaarake mizhiyithalil...'', which Raveendran composed for the film `Choola' in 1979. Much earlier, Kulathupuzha Ravi, as he was known then, had earned a name all over Kerala as a singer through the ganamela troupe, `Thunder Birds'. With a Degree from the Swathi Tirunal Music Academy and a burning ambition in his heart to make it big in cinema, Raveendran moved to Chennai. After a prolonged hunt, none other a person than Sathyan helped him to meet Baburaj, who gave him a chance to sing in `Velliyazhcha'.
  
  Again, it was an uncertain wait for another break, which never came and Raveendran became a dubbing artiste. His sonorous voice soon made him popular and he dubbed for all the films of Ravikumar, who was the hero in the 70's.
  
  K.J. Jesudas then altered the course of his life by persuading him to compose songs. After that, there was no looking back and the singer-turned-music director went on to script a success story which was repeated in the successive films, including `Thenum Vayambum' and `Chiriyo chiri.'
  
  The majority of Raveendran's songs were sung by Jesudas and the music director in turn exploited the depth of the singer's voice in full. Unlike other such biographical features replete with film clippings, as many as 52 songs have been selected to be included in the serial. A detailed exposition of the song and ragas of classical numbers like `Ezhu swarangalum...' would also be included in the feature, which is anchored by playback singer Gayathri.
  
  Raveendran's camaraderie with Jesudas, his association with various lyricists and the stories and situations which prompted the creation of hit songs, interviews and live renditions will also form part of the feature, says the producer-director, Jesudas William.
  
  By Nair N.J.
  
  (2) A stickler for classicism
  
  http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/lf/2002/11/09/stories/2002110901490200.htm
  
  ``Good music exalts and purges the mind and intellect. Children should be trained to listen to chaste classical music, which would enlighten them. Music is now being reduced to mere cacophony and one has to be really selective,'' says the noted music director, Ravindran.
  
  After staying in Chennai for 36 years when Ravindran shifted to the capital, he learnt to his dismay the warmth of relations and the camaraderie were all missing.
  
  "I am confused whether I should continue to stay in Thiruvananthapuram. In Chennai, there were no caste, religious or linguistic differences. People of diverse languages and culture live in harmony. Here everyone is preoccupied with caste and religious considerations. It is a smothering milieu. I feel like getting away now,'' he says.
  
  Anyway Ravindran is happy that the songs of `Ente Hrudyathinte Udama' and `Nandanam' were a rage among the virtuosos of melody. He is being flooded with calls from Malayalis in the Gulf and other States. These songs have set the trend for melody and have evoked the nostalgia, which was fading into oblivion.
  
  A stickler for classicism, Ravindran belongs to the old school of music directors. After M.S. Baburaj, Ravindran was one among the few composers who attempted unique styles in percussion. "It is the outcome of my hard work. I strain myself to make each song a distinctive experience. A song set to `adi thala' will have different takes and that makes all the difference,'' he smiles.
  
  Does he have an affinity for Kanada?
  
  ``While composing a song, my sole priority is the mood of the song and the sequences in the film. The raga evolves naturally. There are many songs in Kanada, Abheri, Arabhi, Mohanam and Hamsadhwani to my credit. Yet all of them have something different,'' he says.
  
  He is very selective in listening to music. For, he is keen on maintaining his own style and does not want to be influenced by others. There are many who try to ape the reigning trends in Hindi and Tamil, but Ravindran consciously tries to insulate himself from such influences, which he fears will rob off his creativity.
  
  Ravindran is perhaps the one of the few music directors who insists on hearing the story of the film. He visualises the situations and the background scores are made to suit the situations. He even narrates an embellished version of the original story to the playback singers too so that they could also make significant contributions.
  
  He does not use any instrument to compose a song. "I use the harmonium just for the `shruthi' and a tabla for the rhythm. I sing the tunes and polish them to perfection. Harmonium can produce only flat notes. By singing a tune it would be easy to convey the nuances to the singers. They will easily get a true feeling of the mood and `gamakas' of the song,'' says Ravindran.
  
  Ravindran has his own concept about a male voice. It should be deep and melodious. A singer should be able to render the bass and treble tones with effortless ease. K.J. Jesudas is the only singer who could do it to his satisfaction, he says.
  
  Ravindran could effectively exploit the range of Jesudas. Right from the song `Tharake...' in his first film, `Choola,' to `Harimuraleeravam...' in `Aaram Thampuran,' the songs sung by Jesudas were proof of Ravindran's skill in putting to good use the talent of the singer.
  
  Ravindran waxes eloquent on mentioning the name of Jesudas. "Dasettan can easily understand the moods and even the minute details of my scores. He insists that I should sing the track. We sync perfectly and that is the success of our teamwork,'' he explains.
  
  Jesudas had said this more than once in public. For, during one of his Gulf tours, Jesudas had to render a light song composed by Ravindran and Sreekumaran Thampi thrice in one venue.
  
  Jesudas himself had reasoned that this was the success of their mutual understanding. Till date, Ravindran had maintained the confidence Jesudas had bestowed on him.
  
  Ravindran who started his career as a singer and rose as a music director of repute scoring music for hundreds of songs says: "The Almighty has given me the talent in abundance and my sole aim is to nurture it so that I can continue to make music which is appealing to the masses.''
  
  By Nair N. J.
  
  
  
• From: Kaumudi (@ 136.142.153.250) on: Tue Nov 26 15:48:20 EST 2002
  
  MS
  That was a lovely article. It was very nice of you to post it here, thanks.
  
  "Good music exalts and purges the mind and intellect. Children should be trained to listen to chaste classical music, which would enlighten them" - I like this attitude of his which makes him very special!!
  
  
• From: Peter Pan (@ 64.238.117.125) on: Tue Nov 26 17:10:17 EST 2002
  
  MS,
  Is his discography available anywhere?
  He too seems to be a prolific composer, with 450 films!
  
  

---

List all pages of this thread

Post comments