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What they say about Ilayaraja.

Topic started by Raj (@ 203.124.234.166) on Wed Nov 27 01:19:19 EST 2002.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

Hi All, Music Lovers and Music Maestro Ilayaraja Fans, I am a die hard A R Rahman fan, but I thought I should share this article, which I found in a website. Please read and dont' fight, please have a healthy arguement: http://ilaiyaraaja_ragam.tripod.com/ilaiyaragam/id7.html
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WHAT THEY SAID ABOUT ILAIYARAAJA.....

SRI JAYENDRA SARASWATHI SWAMIGAL (Spiritual Guru, India)," Ilaiyaraja has plans to bring about good changes in the society, through his music. His music is capable of putting the mind at peace and serenity."

SEMANGUDI SRINIVASA AYYAR (Eminent Carnatic Vocalist, India) - " Raja has that unique gift to please common man and carnatic experts alike.Until recently, I knew that Shri Ilayaraaja is a great film music director - his expertise in diluting Carnatic Ragas without diluting their native merits, is well known to me - but recently I had the oppurtunity to listen to him sing a few kirthanas - he sang a kirthana in Raag Abhogi - very well rendered - in Carnatic Sangeet, one needs to know the Sahityam - without knowing it, one should not sing it making it sound absurd - Isai gyani Shri.Ilayaraaja sang it very beautifully and his grasp of the Sahityam is commendable. After today, I realise that Shri.Ilayaraaja is a thorough expert in Carnatic music. May the God Almighty bless Isai Gyani with a long life so that he can render a long service to music "

LARY BAIN( England Based Composer)-"He is unbelievable, genius and fantastic"

LALGUDI JAYARAMAN (Eminent Musician, India) - " His talent is not the fruit of one single birth's efforts. This level of achievement is only possible to one who has lived with music for countless births. The speed with which he writes notations have always baffled me "

Dr.BALAMURALIKRISHNA (Eminent Carnatic Vocalist, India) -" As far as i am concerned, i would say Ilaiyaraja is the composer of the century. If there is one single authority on 'orchestration' it can only be ilaiyaraja.

K.J.YESUDASS (Eminent Film/Carnatic Vocalist, India) - "There are infinite music forms hidden in his heart. All that should flow-out for the good of mankind."

VAALI (South Indian Lyricist/Poet, India) - " Reethigowlai, Hamsanatham, Bilahari etc are some of the ragas that he has deftly handled for film music. He is not isaignani, he is swaragnani."

ZUBIN MEHTA (Music Conductor, Israel Philharmonic)- " I was bewildered after listening to his 'nothing but wind' and 'how to name it'. He belongs to the 21st century and perhaps beyond."


JOSEPH EAGER, (Conductor, World Symphony Orchestra, USA )-"His music will be heard through the twenty-first century" predicted at a function to release the CD of his album Nothing But Wind in New York in 1988.

VICTOR RANGEL RIBEIRO,( musicologist and author of Baroque Music, USA ) - "Your ears will hear music like they never heard before"

STEPHEN DAVIS (of New Age, USA) - "He is leading us to a very special world of music appreciation and has opened doors of new horizons of new age music"

SHERYAR OOKERJEE,( a Mumbai based musicologist, India) - ,"Bach's influence is deep and all pervasive in his music. He is adept at using conventional western harmony and standard western techniques. Uses dialogue and imitation extensively. He has a competent grasp of the orchestra. His conspicuous quality is his ability to so integrate the Indian and western idioms that the seams can hardly be noticed and the result is usually pleasant, charming and satisfying. Ilaiyaraaja's music is enjoyable and worth taking very seriously. It grows on one with repeated hearings".

LASLOV KOVACH,(Conductor, Budapest Symphony Orchestra, Hungary) - ,"He is Hollywood Kind. A very special composer. It seems he does not have to think at all to create music. Music just flows out ."

RAJKUMAR SANTOSHI (Noted Film Maker, India ) (on Background music by Maestro Ilaiyaraja for his film Lajja) - ,"The discipline of the 90 musicians, the conductor and the recording engineers of the Budapest Symphony Orchestra in Hungary was overwhelming. The musicians gave a standing ovation after recording the scores written by Ilaiyaraja."

MARK LAYCOCK, (Director of Orchestral Activities, Iowa State University, Iowa, United States of America) - ,"A fascinating blend of Eastern and Western styles. The music is instantly appealing -- rhythmically, harmonically, formally. The use of traditional Indian instruments in a modern musical context makes for a rich palette of tone colors and creates a wide range of expressive possibilities."

NAUSHAD ALI (doyen of hindi film music, India)- ,"That this man has achieved is 100 times more than what any of us have achieved; only time can tell the quantum of his achievements."

HARIPRASAD CHAURASIA, (exponent of Hindustani Classical Music, India) - ," It is a treat watching him (Mr.Ilayaraaja) work - he does everything, composing, arrangement of instruments, orchestration and conducting - that too without the help of any assistants and a stopwatch."

L.SUBRAMANIAM (Violin Maestro, India)-,"Ilayaraaja is as good as any composer in the world."

SUDHA RAGUNATHAN (Eminent Carnatic Vocalist, India )," Yesterday, today or tommorrow, ilaiyaraaja will remain the unquestionable emperor of music...Period !!!!."

MADHAN (Noted Cartoonist, Writer, film critic, India ) - ," As far as i am concerened, Ilayaraaja is the best bet when it comes to background music. He seems to fully understand as to what the film's situation demands and what impact should his music create in viewer's mind. More often, the usage of silent passages in his background music is more stunning than the music itself, and he creates the right mood every time. Amazing is the word.!! "

R.V.UDAIYAKUMAR (Noted Film Maker, India) - "He was writing the background score for one of my films. In a particular scene i had made a very glaring error in designing the flow of shots. I told him that i have made a mistake in choosing the shots. He simply said - I just now corrected your mistake with the BGM...Listen to this !!"

PAARTHIBAN (Noted Film Maker, Actor, India) - "Music alias ilaiyaraja, ilaiyaraj alias Music."

KAMALHAASAN (Noted Actor, Film Maker, India) - ",Ilaiyaraja should be honored as Isai Vigyani (musical scientist) rather than Isai gyani.He has explored and analyzed virtually every type of music.I have worked with several composers. But this man is on his own trip - he is a colossal talent. We have worked together in around 70 films and we know each other's requirements and expectations very well. He saw the rushes of the film (Hey Ram!) just once and immediately decided the music to be scored for the song sequences that have already been picturised. I told my film crew to give me a week's time and that I will come back with one song in that time - instead I came back with seven songs."

HARIHARAN,( Playback Singer, India),"Ilaiyaraja's style is very different. He has been heavily influenced by the classical compositions of Mozart and Bach."

CHANDRAHASAN,( Film Producer, India)," His music is precious. Mere dishing out of money wont get you such quality music."

A.R.REHMAN ( Music Composer, India)," He is a genius by himself and is completely self-contained. "

KARTHIK RAJA ( Music Composer, India)," He has composed in so many idioms, his work spans such a wide spectrum that there will always some resemblance to something he has already done."

UTTAM SINGH (Music Composer, India) - "Ilaiyaraaja is perhaps the only complete music composer in India."

SUHASINI MANIRATNAM (Eminent Actress, India)," Show me a composition matching legendary compositions like 'shenbagame shenbagame' & 'panivizhum malar vanam' by ilaiyaraja. Only then can you talk of someone overtaking him."

THANGAR BACHAAN (Cinematographer, Film Maker, India)," Once I finish shooting my film, i just place it before ilaiyaraja, and from there on whatever he delivers is music. I dont need to worry about it anymore. I shudder to even think about Indian film music without ilaiyaraaja. "

VAMSY (Noted Film Maker, India) - "While picturizing a song, iIaiyaraja's tunes inspire me more than the characters of the film themselves."

BHARATHIRAAJA (Noted Film Maker, India) - " I shoot scenes with a particular impact in mind. And even before i discuss about what i have in mind, he is already ready with mind boggling BGM bits."

MANIRATNAM (Noted Film Maker, India) - "Ilaiyaraja is absolutely prolific. He is an amazing talent who believes that the music written down by him should be stuck to totally. And then it is recorded which is just a matter of execution. I wish I could be like Ilaiyaraja and work out everything on paper."

Links:

http://www.raajangahm.com - The official website of Ilaiyaraaja.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ilaiyaraaja/

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Responses:

• Old responses
  
• From: archivist (@ 205.188.208.37) on: Thu Nov 28 02:03:59 EST 2002
  
  Raj, keep it up. This is the beginning for u. good step forward. of course, few years u'll feel a bit sentimental about ARR, but few more years after that, u'll wonder how the f--- u were so much into ARR. Take it step by step buddy.. slow and steady ;--) ARR is only the beginning. i too had to take the route once in a while, beginning all overe again, then going back to IR.. u know, first crawl (with ARR) then walk (the bombay dreams), then stand transfixed, u can't crawl, u can't walk when that moment of realziation happens! God bless u, pal! Great work. Keep it coming. Proud of you.
  
  
• From: kamalagangadhar (@ ) on: Fri Jan 31 08:49:28 EST 2003
  
  Hi,
  
  I am shashi, I conclude with my words for the response given by you about IR. Please don't condemn IR. As you confirmed that you are the die hard fan of ARR, I don't think the response on IR is complete. He is a Lion and he never barks. His roaring of Music never comparable with ARR who born yesterday with Western Music. ARR is key board player to the Legend IR. His talent is not spoken because he prooved his ability converting all to tune to his music. ARR was brought by Maniratnam, whereas Maniratnam was brought by IR. With the support of many great directors and publicity ARR born, whereas IR born to the Music itself and not for any publicity or others. He is legend and prooved many times. I am a lover to IR and I have every answer and confidence about IR's work. The responses given above as opinions by many people is to criticise IR because today tamil film industry doesn't need his music. Like RDB, Madan Mohan and other legends of Music, Only one IR prooved his legendary work on music.
  IR India is proud by you as Maestro in Music.
  
  shashi.
  
  
• From: Lord LabakuDas (@ 136.181.195.25) on: Fri Jan 31 15:09:47 EST 2003
  
  " I am a lover to IR "
  Dhayavu senju IR family'la kozhapatha unda pannidatheenga please.
  And i hope your name is Kamala Gangadhar and will pray to GOD that Mr.Gangadhar shud not see your post..
  
  
• From: ravi k.s. ravichandran (@ 128.110.251.226) on: Fri Jan 31 21:09:53 EST 2003
  
  Kamalagangadhar:
  
  "...Maniratnam was brought by IR.." Good Point. While I do not discount MR's talents, it is important to remember historically that MR debutted in "Pagal Nilavu.." with IR. More than the movie the songs were hits, who can forget.."poovilae Medai Nann Podava.." with amazing piano interludes..
  
  Hope people appreciate the fact that IR made others more successful than the other had made him so..
  
  His success was his own making...No one can take that away from him...
  
  
  
• From: selva (@ 172.179.249.100) on: Fri Jan 31 22:16:28 EST 2003
  
  'His success was his own making...No one can take that away from him...'
  
  The sole reason why he seems to inspire so many of his fans? besides music..
  
  
• From: Vel (@ 202.88.152.159) on: Fri Jan 31 23:29:04 EST 2003
  
  Part II :http://www.geocities.com/ilaiyaragam/celeb_speak.html
  
  
• From: Anbey Sivam (@ 203.106.162.193) on: Sat Feb 1 03:44:28 EST 2003
  
  >>>>>>>>>'His success was his own making...No one can take that away from him...'
  
  
  BULL SH!T
  
  Hope Ilayaraja is not like you all and forget the ladder he climbed upon.
  
  

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