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Ilayaraaja in Malaysia!

Topic started by NOV (@ 202.184.134.10) on Tue May 26 01:08:52 EDT 1998.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

Here is the excerpt from this afternoon's "Malay Mail"

Famous Indian composer Ilaiyaraja, who has composed 3,500 songs for 700 films, is launching his book Vazhi Thunai tommorow at Auditorium DBKL at 7.30 pm.
Works minister and MIC President Datuk Seri Dr. S. Samy Vellu is guest of honour.
The event is organised by Swaralayya Enterprise which promotes fine arts and literary works.
Ilaiyaraja learnt Carnatic and Western music and obtained his grade 8 in Trinity College of Music in London where he passed with flying colours and walked away with the gold medal.
Hailed as a maestro for his performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, he has also been awarded a string of other titles.
He's a three-time recipient of India's National Award for Music in 1984, 1986 and 1988.
In 1994, Ilaiyaraja was confered honourary citizenship of Teanech Township by the Teanech in New Jersey, John Abraham.
For invitation cards, phone Manee Mohan at 603-4951469

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Responses:

• Old responses
  
• From: mfm (@ 203.120.115.1) on: Wed May 27 22:42:33 EDT 1998
  
  NOV, I can not wait to hear from you about the function. Please write immediately. I was very disappointed about the cancellation of Radio interview. I consoled myself that NOV is there to write about the function as good as seeing the function live. Am I right? Kindly do it.
  
  buddy>> I heard that he is coming to singapore again this week. Can you please confirm with somebody?
  
  
• From: NOV (@ 202.184.134.10) on: Wed May 27 22:57:21 EDT 1998
  
  Introduction
  
  Friends - pelase bear with me as I take you on a long winded journey through my experience with Ilayaraja in person. My purpose in doing it is to recreate my moments of excitement as well as to put all of you in the same frame of mind. :-))
  
  Do not miss reading any of my writings (by simply scanning through them) as you will miss many interesting tidbits. Further, if I can take the trouble to write them, why shouldn't you - to read them? Koabam veindam - nann innum mayakkaththilthaan irukkirein. :-))
  
  
  Pre Programme Mood
  
  With much anticipation and a little doubt (whether IR will really turn up) I stepped into the hall with my wife. We were drowned with IR's gambira voice from his Geethanjali album (the devotional - not the Murali starrer). Strangely enough, although I've always felt that the album was depressing, last night, it filled me with a sense of anticipation and preparation for things to come. :-))
  
  We were there very early, before 7 pm, skipping dinner, not wanting to miss getting good seatings. Well, I managed to entrench myself three rows fdrom the front, smack in the centre, and later discovered that I was on eye-level with Isaignani. :-))
  We were quite apprehensive on what time the programme will begin, as it is a known fact that in typical Indian (Malaysian) fashion, programmes can even start an hour late. My wife who has gastric problems, also joined in my enthusiasm by declining to have any meals. But we were in for a surprise!
  
  At exactly 7.45 pm, the maestro walked in surrounded by VIPs and other celebrities! The hall was bursting with applause and everyone gave him a standing ovation. Maestro clasped his hand and from top to the bottom, payed his respects to the overflowing crowd. Surprise, surprise, he was accompanied by his wife and guess what, Bhavatharani. :-)))
  
  
• From: buddy (@ 137.132.124.30) on: Wed May 27 23:37:07 EDT 1998
  
  IR coming again to Singapore!!!!
  
  Someone please find when he is coming.
  
  Let all of the Singapore TFM IR fans meet him together and present him a sovinier and ofcourse good wishes to him.
  
  
  
  
  
• From: mannAru (@ 199.74.167.5) on: Thu May 28 00:00:24 EDT 1998
  
  NOV:
  Punniyam panniyavar neer. Easy-aka IR-ai pArthu
  viteer.
  
  Ponniyin selvan - kalkiyil padippadhu pOl ulladhu.
  Niraya suspense ellAm vaithu ezhudhukireergal.
  important news ellAm flash headlines-aha tharalAmE!
  
  AnAl kandippAga vivaramAga ezhutha vendum. Adhukku
  munnAdi oru abstract kundungEnkirEn.
  
  
  
• From: NOV (@ 202.184.134.10) on: Thu May 28 00:12:07 EDT 1998
  
  Formalities
  
  The compere for the evening was Maidee Sultan, ex-DJ of Radio 6. He is a seasoned emcee as well as a good kavignar. The evening began with a vaazhththu paadal on Ambal (appropriately - as the chosen deity of Isaignani) by Mrs. Premalatha Manee Mohan. Manee Mohan is the organiser of the event.
  
  Maidee Sultan began the programme, saying that Malaysia is honoured to play hosts to Isaignani again. "Appothellaam, namakku mariaatheithaan irunthathu, ippozhuthu ungal varugeiyei enni baya-bakthiyoadu ethirpaarththu kondirunthoam. Yeinendraal neengal oru anu-vallarasilirunthu vanthirukkureergal!" (I don't know whether I got the spelling correct, but he was refering to the nuclear tests conducted by India recently).
  The entire evening was sprinkled with such witticism. :-))
  Isaignani in his speech later said, "Sultan endraal Raaja" and pointing to himself, "Raaja endraal Sultan," much to the amusement of the crowd. Maidee Sultan was not to be outwitted and replied, "Raaja Raajathan!"
  
  The next programme was the garlanding event. I believe a faux-paux was created by garlanding the Minister before Isaignani, to which even the Minister protested. But the consolation was that Isaignani was garlanded at least five times besides the ponnaadai poaththuthal.
  
  
  Speeches
  
  Mr. V. Muthusamy, Inspector of Police made a brief welcoming speech on behalf of the organisers.
  
  The next speaker was Kavignar Arivumathi from India. He looked like a guy of our age (in the 30s). I guess I got irritated, when he came on to the stage wearing slippers (with pants & shirt). At the podium, he looked up at the crowd silently for at least 20 seconds, and then said, "Anthe mounamthan Isaignani!" to a roaring applause from the crowd. :-))
  With his commanding voice and powerful command of Thamizh, I quickly forgave him for wearing just slippers. :-))
  He continued speaking of Isaignani in glorious terms and spoke of his experiences in working together with him. Arivumathi said that if not for his complexion and being born in Tamilnadu, Isaignani would have reached worldwide acclaim. He also said, "Isaignani Thamizargalukku kidaiththa pokkisham." (Do all these sound familiar? :-))
  
  He refered to Isaignani as his "father" and recalled the time when he had his differences with Isaignani and were not on speaking terms for eight years. He mentioned about his speech in some other function as the cause of this fallout, but did not elaborate. Apparently they bumped into each other on many occasions and Arivumathi would silently say Vanakkam, is spite of not getting a response from Isaignani. They have now mended their differences and Arivumathi has begun writing for Isaignani again. Arivumathi also recounted the time when he was in prison for 27 days for taking part in some demonstration. During that time he wrote a pathos song for his daughter and he proceeded singing it, to the delight of the audience. The song was mesmerising and heart-wretching. Even Isaignani was captivated by it, that he mentioned later in his speech that he only discovered in Malaysia, that Arivumathi could not only write and sing but also compose music. Isaignani also mentioned that Arivumathi can become a successful MD, so watch out for him guys. :-))
  
  
• From: Sathiya Keerthi (@ 137.132.124.30) on: Thu May 28 00:28:08 EDT 1998
  
  NOV:
  
  This forum is turning out to be a Hitchkock thriller! :-)))
  
  Some info about Kavinjar Arivumathi:
  
  He has done a Ph D with a thesis on Literature
  in Tamil Film Music. He has worked as Assistant
  Director for Bharathi Raja and Balu Mahendra.
  He has also acted in movies like Thai Pongal
  and Pudhu Nellu Pudhu Naaththu. I don't
  think he penned many songs for TFM. One of the
  recent hits that I know is: sempoovE poovE
  un mEgamdhaan in Siraichaalai.
  
  ps: NOV, seruppu pOttu vandhaal En thappu endru
  solluReenga, puriyalaiyE! I think it is the
  attitude that matters. Thamizh naattil kavinjnoruvan
  'shoe' pOttu vandhu mEdaiyil pEsinaal, yaaradaa
  ivan ippadi peeththuRaan endrudhaan makkaL
  ninaippaargaL!
  
  
• From: NOV (@ 202.184.134.10) on: Thu May 28 01:09:16 EDT 1998
  
  Next to speak was Dr. V. Poobalan, who is the controller of Radio 6. Listeners to this radio will be familiar with his "Ungal Sinthanaikku" five-minute programme every morning and evenings. He is a reknowned kavignar. He began by saying that he felt heavy-hearted, and said only God knows his burden. He continued by saying that the Interview with Isaignani was cancelled. As he was saying this, Isaignani was frantically gesticulating that he was not the cause of the cancellation. :-))
  Poobalan continued with the pugazh maalai, with a specially written poem in honour of Isaignani. He also read out excerpts from Isaignani's book "Vazhi Thunai" saying that the work cannot be called puthu kavidhai or marabu kavidhai. "Ithu ethoa oru ragaththil seirnthavei - anubaviththu ezhuthapattirukkindrathu endru nandraaga unarugindroam."
  (Guys - do you want me to write excerpts of the book - will be a bit difficult and time-consuming for me.)
  
  The next speaker was a surprise. He had just flown in hours before and was not expected - Kavignar Mu Mehta!
  "Isaignani oru pournami" he began. "Pournami enna karuppaaga irukkindrathu endru paarkareergalaa?" endru nakkalaaga keitaar, to the audience's laughter. "Intha pournami velichaththei tharugindrathu!" :-)))
  Mu Mehtha continued of his experiences dealing with Isaignani and recounted the time he wrote songs for him in Siraichaalai. He also recalled the time when he wrote a song in Poomani, Yen paattu yen paattu. "Athu yen paattu thaanayya!" he continued! But apparently after writing the song, he stopped to listen to the recording. Isaignani himself sang the song but on recording, he had changed the lyrics - giving the song a greater impact. This incident took Mehta by complete surprise and earned Isaignani his respect.
  Mu Mehta also said that Isaignani was solely responsible for Tamil youths abandoning anniya songs for Tamil songs. The rest of what he said is too racist, that I won't mention it here.
  
  Dr. A. Ravindran of the Tamil Nadu Foundation, New Jersey, USA was the next speaker. Apparently he works in Boston (Udaney Bhaskar ninaipputhaan vanthathu. :-))
  He began by saying that he was not an eloquent speaker like those before him (He was right - he wasn't, at least in Tamil!) He praised Isaignani for making the US Tamil children curious about Tamil songs, and begin speaking in Tamil. He also made a joke about Isaignani's song Kavalai padathei manitha (Is there such a song? I hope he was not refering to Deva's KP Sagoathara!) which the US kids were translating as Don't worry be happy. Apparently it was Isaignani who paved the way for other MDs into the US.
  
  
• From: NOV (@ 202.184.134.10) on: Thu May 28 01:17:24 EDT 1998
  
  Sathiya Keerthi - Ungal aaval enakku purigirathu. Allow me my dramatics, please. :-))
  
  About wearing slippers: Etiquette requires a person, more so a speaker, to be decently dressed for the occasion. If Arivumathi was wearing veshti-jibba, a pair of slippers wouldn't have been out of place. Slippers with pants and shirt?!? Suffice to say, he looked like fish out of water, on stage. :-))
  
  Using the proper attire, IMO, does not mean that one is with airs. It only shows a considerate and appropriate person. Shoe pottu bharatha natyam aadalamaa? Athei poalthaan - I believe one should dress for the occasion.
  
  

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