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Titles Given To MDs

Topic started by WhyNot (@ 203.24.100.132) on Wed Mar 13 08:36:13 EST 2002.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

I'd like to discuss about (and get more info on) the titles that are conferred to various MDs.
eg. Maestro, Isai Gnani, Isai Puyal, etc etc.
What titles do all the significant MDs of tfm have? Who gives them these titles? What do they mean in the career of these MDs? How far do the MDs go in acknowledging (and using) these titles and accepting them, and how much of these are used for merely marketing?
And finally the issue I'm rather interested in. How far are these titles used by the fans of these MDs and what this usage signifies.
Of course this topic can also be extended for singers as well as other artistes. However, my first priority is to discuss about the MDs' titles.

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Responses:

• Old responses
  
• From: (manasu) (@ 166.44.185.212) on: Sat Mar 16 23:05:19 EST 2002
  
  (vEzhinja :-))
  
  (ps: not to Shankar)
  
  
• From: Venkatesh (@ 212.72.11.66) on: Sun Mar 17 01:35:03 EST 2002
  
  It was Panchu Arunachalam who re-christened D.Raja as Ilayaraja, while introducing him in Annakili.
  
  
• From: WhyNot (@ 203.24.100.132) on: Sun Mar 17 03:18:56 EST 2002
  
  Venkatesh, thx for the info.
  Shankar, r u sure about "gjnana desiga"? There wasnt really any mention of tat in the interview. i think. He jus said tat he was called 'rasayya' by his parents. Man, u can write a long list jus for IR's umpteen name changes.
  Of course, ARR's original name wasnt ARR either. Some say it is A.S. Dilip Kumar and I've read it is Dilip Shekar elsewhere.
  (manasu), wat on earth is "vEzhinja"? is tat another title, and who's tat one for?
  
  
• From: magix (@ 203.199.248.28) on: Sun Mar 17 11:06:21 EST 2002
  
  yup, he got converted in gratitude to a muslim monk(i thhink)...
  
  
• From: magix (@ 203.199.248.28) on: Sun Mar 17 11:07:01 EST 2002
  
  Typo: think
  
  
• From: Kupps (@ 156.153.255.126) on: Sun Mar 17 23:45:46 EST 2002
  
  and from annakkiLi he became Ilayaraja (someone told me he was called so, bcos MSV was the King those days)
  
  
  as venkatesh said it was panchu who changed raaja to iLayaraaja not bcos MSV was the raaja, there was one person in tfm with the name raaja and panchu made him the prince(yuva-raaja) iLaya-raaja.
  
  
• From: Shankar (@ 128.107.253.44) on: Thu Mar 21 03:38:44 EST 2002
  
  WhyNot,
  gnana desigan is the name given by his parents, for sure. (this is one of the definite questions in the quizzes i conduct ;-) )
  Rasayya was his nick name.
  
  Raja still addresses arr as dilip. His name was Dilip Shekar before he became a moslem.
  
  Shekar(an) was a low-profile MD in mallu.
  
  
• From: magix (@ 203.199.231.102) on: Thu Mar 21 09:36:02 EST 2002
  
  What about singers?
  do nebody have nicknames??
  
  
• From: magix (@ 203.199.231.102) on: Thu Mar 21 09:36:40 EST 2002
  
  oops: does nebody have nicknames??
  
  
• From: krk (@ 128.107.253.44) on: Thu Mar 21 10:20:17 EST 2002
  
  Raaja has one more title "Issai Vinjnani" :-), and this was given by Kamal.
  
  
• From: WhyNot (@ 203.24.100.132) on: Thu Mar 21 10:31:14 EST 2002
  
  kupps & krk, thx for the info.
  
  kupps, i did not know yuva raja also meant prince. :-) Hmmm...
  
  Shankar, thx for the info. Where did u hear tat IR addresses ARR as 'dilip'?? And what r these quizzes u hold? R they online?
  
  
• From: Saran (@ 164.164.46.20) on: Fri Mar 22 02:08:59 EST 2002
  
  Guys, u all have almost forgotten the DOCTORATE conferred on IR by (annamalai) some university!!!! In some movies, his name appeared as "Raagadevan Isaignani Dr.Ilayaraaja"....
  
  
• From: S (@ 128.107.253.44) on: Sat Mar 23 04:15:42 EST 2002
  
  WhyNot,
  I heard it from my friend who visits Raja regularly. I conduct/take part in the quizzes in my company. The online quizzes are the ones i take part in. U'll be notified when i post my first online quiz (soon.) :-)
  
  
• From: suresh (@ 202.88.155.34) on: Sat Mar 23 09:51:19 EST 2002
  
  Saw a new one on IR in a half-page 'Dina Thanthi' spread for Parthipan's (a confirmed HCIRF?) new film "IVAN". It had a picture of him in the top right corner of the ad with the word "ISAIYARAAJA" (in thamizh) under it. Brought back memories of the time when a whole lot of movie posters/ advertisments would appear with just the picture of IR..
  
  
• From: WhyNot (@ 203.24.100.132) on: Sat Mar 23 10:54:41 EST 2002
  
  S, keep me updated. I'd like to have a look.
  Especially now tat I know at least one of the answers. ;-)
  suresh, tat was interesting. Will be included in the next list update.
  
  
• From: Saran (@ 164.164.46.20) on: Thu Mar 28 07:04:13 EST 2002
  
  IR got 2 doctorates conferred on him, one is by kamaraj university and the other one by annaamalai university...
  
  
• From: WhyNot (@ 203.24.100.132) on: Thu Mar 28 22:41:02 EST 2002
  
  List Updated.
  
  IR - Isaignani (by Karunanidhi), Ragadevan, Maestro, Isai Pitha (by agathiyan), Isai alias ILLayaraaja (by Parthiban), Ilayaraja, Issai Vinjnani (by Kamal), ISAIYARAAJA (by Parthiban), Dr. (honorary doctorates from kamaraj university and annaamalai university)
  ARR- Isaippuyal, Padmashree
  Deva - thEnisai thendral
  SAR - sumban, Thenissai Thendral, Isai Vasantham
  G.Ramanathan - isai mEthai
  MSV & R - melisai mannargal
  K.V.Mahadevan - thirai isaith thilagam
  Adityan - Indhiyaavin Yanni
  S-G - Thaevar vazhangiya kavingarin......
  
  Thx to everyone for your input.
  
  
• From: magix (@ 203.199.248.135) on: Fri Mar 29 08:23:21 EST 2002
  
  Has IR got any Padma shree, Padma whatever??
  
  
• From: WhyNot (@ 203.24.100.132) on: Fri Mar 29 08:49:28 EST 2002
  
  This is a post made by yaaro in the New Releases by ARR thread on how IR got the title 'maestro'
  
  "It was from the letter from RPO commissioning for the symphony(or tellin him that he can go ahead or whatever)that called him Maestro Ilayarraja.Kamal read this lettr in the press meeting called to announce about the symphony and the hindu article specifically mentioned this."
  
  
• From: krk (@ 128.107.253.44) on: Fri Mar 29 09:35:59 EST 2002
  
  Raaja was honored with one more doctorate (Cultural Doctorate in Philosophy of Music) from
  the Arizona State University, USA.
  
  
• From: Naaz (@ 24.76.127.63) on: Fri Mar 29 10:01:57 EST 2002
  
  Just curious: Do titles like IsaiPitha, RagaDevan and IsaiThendral....really make the music of these MDs sound better? I mean, "RagaDevan IsaiGnani Dr. Ilaiyaraja," - is that a mouthful of ego or what?
  
  
• From: avr (@ 203.197.80.148) on: Fri Mar 29 10:16:02 EST 2002
  
  I guess these titles might be indicative of their popularity and the respect that they have in society! Or just one word for their achievements?
  
  Of course the titles will not make their music sound better...OTOH its their music that gives them these titles. Sometimes its customary for all artists to heap lavish (and often ludicrous) praises on one another.
  
  After having read several articles on Ilayaraja's use of classical music (especially the 13 articles by Srirangan), I am not surprised he has got the Ragadevan title.
  
  
• From: OISG (@ 213.150.174.152) on: Fri Mar 29 11:27:06 EST 2002
  
  On titles, i remember Deva saying this in an interview:
  
  MSV was the chief guest in a function where Deva was to be conferred some title.It was i think in the middle eighties.
  
  In his address MSV had said
  
  "Deva vukku Enuya Pattam kodukkaringa?" Then a Vajpayee like pause ..which created an uneasy calm ,then
  
  "Padam kudangayyia Pattangal thannala varum"
  
  Was there a "Ragarishi" / "Raga vendan" title to IR in the movie which has the song "Devadhai Ilam devi"?I think it was AS Prakasam s coinage.
  
  (DIG)
  
  My friend who is a keen numerologist told me that after they started using "Maestro" he started losing the No. 1 position.Think of this .. a converted Dilip using the intitals A R on a numerologist advice.(ARR s mother s interview -Kumudam- Rendu ezhuthu initial vainga! Paiyan Nalla varuvan!).It is all a number game..
  
  
  
• From: magix (@ 203.199.248.39) on: Fri Mar 29 12:13:04 EST 2002
  
  It stands for Allah Rakha Rahman..
  i dont think ne numerology is involved!
  
  
• From: magix (@ 203.199.248.39) on: Fri Mar 29 12:14:01 EST 2002
  
  And i dont think i can stand it even if it was a joke!!!!! :)
  
  
• From: rajaG (@ 208.24.179.211) on: Fri Mar 29 12:17:37 EST 2002
  
  Sometime back there was a thread which claimed that thamizhnadu/thamizhars overhype film personalities with pattams. The more I think about it, the more I feel it is true (even though I had taken the opposite view for argument's sake). 90% of the film personalities do the same thing over and over and over (whether they are comics or heroes or MDs) idhula pattaththukku maaththiram oru kuraichchalum illai (aagaiyaal, madhippum illai).
  
  
• From: Naaz (@ 24.76.127.63) on: Fri Mar 29 12:22:24 EST 2002
  
  Agreed. Accolades are a sign of popularity and mass-appeal. They highlight genius.
  But name one other MD - since the talkie hit the Indian screens - who has made Titles and their appearance next to his name (there are half a dozen to choose from - one for each day of the week - Sunday Holiday - ah decisions, decisions) - as though these things were rolling down some assembly line conveyor belt...
  
  An interesting parallel: LM has been around and is the foundation for generations of listener memory - a melodic and legendary link down the ages...
  Does she need titles to really bolster her greatness? Her stature? Will she seem any bigger (in a living legend sense) if she has a prefix Maestro? Or SwarDevi? Or RaagRani?
  Does she really lack titles to use them whenever?
  
  There has to be a certain degree of grace and modesty in the usage of titles (the counter argument that what can the MD do when the producer insists - that's lame and bogus. Why can't one say that it is not necessary and refrain from such gratutious Title flashing?).
  
  Titles are necessary. But their deployment at every given opportunity is small and shallow.
  
  
• From: OISG (@ 213.150.174.248) on: Fri Mar 29 12:26:45 EST 2002
  
  magix
  
  TIME,NEWSWEEK padicha neram poga Kumudam padinga!I have quoted ARR s mother verbatim!
  
  
  
  
  
• From: sarat (@ 128.192.5.157) on: Fri Mar 29 12:26:54 EST 2002
  
  magix
  I remember reading somewhere that he was christened AR Rahman, but there was no expansion for AR.
  Naushad is said to have named ARR as Allah Rakha Rahman.
  
  
• From: magix (@ 203.199.248.39) on: Fri Mar 29 12:30:20 EST 2002
  
  He was rechristened Allah Rakha Rahman in gratitude to a muslim monk(i think)!
  Pls dont tell me numerology was involved! :(
  
  
• From: rajaG (@ 208.24.179.211) on: Fri Mar 29 12:44:20 EST 2002
  
  sarat/magix - christened Allah Rakha Rahman ironical choice of words :-)
  
  

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