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Malaysian Deepavali Show - RAJANNA RAJA THAAN - From Annakkili to Azhagi

Topic started by Manisekaran (@ 202.156.2.8) on Sun Nov 7 05:23:27 EST 2004.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

Last year I did a show on Ilayaraja for Deepavali. IT was so great a hit that the ASTRO Private TV Station is repeating on 9 NOvember at 4.00 pm Malaysian time. This is called RAJANNA RAJATHAAN- covering 25 years of Raja's music contribution. From Annakkili to Azhagi. A great hit. If you can, pls do catch it. You can post your comments on the show here, and I'll respond to them.
Thanks.

Archive of the older songs: http://forumhub.lunarpages.com/hub/f13.html .
If you want to post comments on older songs, pls go to this archive. There you'll find the previous songs/episodes indexed as separate threads. Post your comments on the appropriate thread.

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Responses:

• Old responses
  
• From: vijay (@ 68.16.25.50) on: Mon Dec 20 15:52:45 EST 2004
  
  ENNaththil edho chillendradhu - a SJ song which I heard recently after a looong time is a good number as well from this album
  
  
• From: Manisekaran (@ 61.6.39.139) on: Mon Dec 20 21:20:08 EST 2004
  
  21. JANANI JANANI
  When Raja became a playback singer, there were many who did not accept him as a good singer. The song Janani Janani from Janani proved things otherwise. Even his strongest of his critics started to admire Raja’s ability to sing in the most moving way. It was by co- incidence that Raja sang this song and it became what many observed as the greatest masterpiece of Raja. Raja had sung several songs. Some were hits, while others were of mediocre nature. In many cases there was no intention on his part to sing for the stars. He used to sing in track recording, when the singers do not turn up on time. On many occasions he had even allowed the track songs to be used in the films. Such was the case of Janani Janani.
  
  Devotional films seldom came out in the 1980s, hence very few devotional songs. There is a historical background to this song. Raja became a devotee of Thaai Mugaibigai as early as 1974, that is before he had a breakthrough in the cine field. He used to follow the Pavalar Brothers into even the re3motest of villages for performing musical concerts. Whenever time permitted, Raja used to pay visits to sites of historical importance, especially temples, not necessarily to pray, but to admire the architecture. He himself was a photographer and artist. In one of such trips he happened to go to the Kolloor Mugambigai Temple in 1974. According to his own testimony, as he stepped on the very first step of that temple, he experienced a spiritual vibration running through his entire body and was completely transformed. There was an inner feeling of deep spiritual experience. That was the turning point in his life. He kept the experience a well guarded secret.
  
  When the movie THAAI MUGAMIBIGAI was produced Raja was entrusted with the task of composing music for the movie. It was a pure devotional song set to carnatic Raga. Raja felt that singer Jesudass would be the most appropriate singer, and had booked the recording time. However, as Jesudass did not turn up on time, Raja and Deepan Chakravarthy sang it out in track recording, hoping to get Jesudass to sing again on that track when he arrived. As Raja started to sing, the musicians and co singers were simply amazed, astonished and puzzled at the most beautiful way in which Raja sang. They could not believe that Raja could scale into unexpected limits! They saw a different Raja and a new voice- a voice that was fully capable of lifting the listeners to unknown worlds. The co singers, including the producer of the movie congratulated Raja and urged him to release the song with his own voice, as they all found that to be a masterpiece. So came the song Janani Janani.
  
  Here one could see raja singing with immense feelings, with touch of spiritual vibrations. His pronunciation of Sanskrit slogans is something unheard of from Raja’s voice.
  
  Immediately after the release of this song, many of his admirers started to realise the three reasons lined up for the success of his music. One was naturally his deep knowledge of carnatic and western music. Second was his industrious nature, willing to burn the midnight oil. The third reason came to dawn after the release of this song- blessings from the Almighty.
  
  Following the release of this movie, Raja became a vegetarian. Soon Raja’s outward appearance too changed, He started to attire himself with Veshty, jippa, kunguma pottu etc to appear like a spiritual person.
  
  This is a landmark song of Raja:
  
  
  
  janani janani jagam nee agam nee
  jaga kaarani nee paripoorani nee
  jaga kaarani nee paripoorani nee
  (janani)
  
  
  oru maan maruvum siru poondhiraiyum
  sadai vaar kuzhalum idai vaaganamum
  konda naayaganin kulir dhaegaththilae
  ninra naayagiyae ida vaagaththilae
  jagan moahini nee simma vaahini nee
  jagan moahini nee simma vaahini nee
  jagan moahini nee simma vaahini nee
  
  (janani)
  
  
  chathur vaedhangalum panja boodhangalum
  shan maarggangalum saptha theerththangalum
  ashta yoagangalum nava yaagangalum
  thozhum poongadalae malai maamagalae
  alai maamagalae kalai maamagalae (3)
  
  (janani)
  
  
  svarna raegaiyudan svayamaagi vandha
  linga roopiniyae mookambigaiyae
  pala thoaththirangal dharma saaththirangal
  panindhae thuvazhum mani naeththirangal
  sakthi peedamum nee sarva moatchamum nee (3)
  
  (janani)
  
  This is a landmark song, as even his hard hitting critics consider this a masterpiece of Raja! It is said even Raja himself would not be able to sing the same song in the same style. That is said to be the one and the only song- indeed a landmark in its own way!
  Listen to 'janani janani'

  
  

• From: Jaiganesh (@ 203.101.103.2) on: Mon Dec 20 22:13:06 EST 2004
  
  Hi!
  Apart from the voice of raja, there is an innate beauty in the song and the raaga on which it is based. IR later composed a similar song for Rajni in Mannan "Amma endrazhaikkadha uyirillaye", which incidentally is ARR's favourite song by IR.
  I guess people like Vel, would be able to comment more profusely on the raaga of this song.
  
  Thanks,
  
  Jaiganesh.
  http://silencerocks.blogspot.com
  
  
• From: raj (@ 61.246.255.2) on: Mon Dec 20 22:57:12 EST 2004
  
  A great Song.. Lyrics were by Vaali.
  
  
• From: SN (@ 220.227.179.5) on: Mon Dec 20 23:44:06 EST 2004
  
  Manisekaran, alongwith Deepan one more singer also sang. It was either Krishnachandran or TKS KalaivaNan (TK Shanmugam's son). KalaivaNan was one of the asthana singers in GA's music team.
  
  KJY was originally planned for this? Great news to me. If I imagine the voice of KJY in place of IR, I guess it could have added more classical beaty in the song (this is my opinino and of course with respects to IR).
  
  
• From: Madhu (@ 61.246.245.2) on: Tue Dec 21 00:44:24 EST 2004
  
  Janani janani... a mind-boggling devotional song ... IR at his best as a composer and singer!
  
  
• From: M Madhanraj (@ 82.194.62.9) on: Tue Dec 21 03:43:16 EST 2004
  
  Mr Manisekaran
  
  I heard thru' some (Magazine) source that IR cried (because of emotion) after listening to JANANI JANANI song after recording. Is it true?
  Whether it is true or not, but it makes an DEVOTIONAL impact on you everytime you hear this AMAZING SONG.
  
  Regards
  
  M Madhanraj
  
  
• From: raj (@ 61.246.255.2) on: Tue Dec 21 03:52:20 EST 2004
  
  It was sung by IR,Deepan chakravarthy & S.N.Surendar
  
  
• From: Manisekaran (@ 61.6.39.139) on: Tue Dec 21 03:53:27 EST 2004
  
  Madhanraj,
  I have not heard of that incident, though I do not want to outrule that as rumour. It is quite common for artistes to become emotional, thinking of their won achievements. This song of a rare kind carries much emotions, capable of moving the soul of the listener as well.
  
  manisekaran
  Manisekaran
  
  
• From: t (@ 24.163.67.22) on: Tue Dec 21 03:59:22 EST 2004
  
  the song is set to Kalyani...the 'Thaiye Mookambige' song from the same movie has the rare and unique distinction of having three heavyweights- BMK, MSV and Sirgazhi, singing portions of it...SJ and MV also join them...
  
  
• From: Ramki (@ 220.227.179.5) on: Tue Dec 21 07:08:48 EST 2004
  
  SN, it was by kalaivanan with deepan. I saw the casette wrap sheet
  
  
• From: Sridharan (@ 203.145.156.130) on: Tue Dec 21 07:51:53 EST 2004
  
  Sorry for the deviation.
  
  I wish to remind you of a devotional album named ‘Rajavin Geethanjali’ released during the early 80’s. It is packed with some beautiful songs of Vaali, mostly sung by the maestro himself. I can rate each song on par with ‘Janani Janani’. A Must Listen for fans who love him as a singer too.
  
  The pick of the album is a beautiful Keeravani song namely "Kaamakshi karunavilasini, kaamakoti peeta vaasini, sanjeevini, kaamakoti peeta vaasini...". The prounciation is par excellence in this song given its difficult sanskrit words in its 2nd and 3rd stanzas. The second best is “Amma janani, saranalayam nee…” – very beautifully rendered by IR.
  
  I would request someone to provide a link to hear online.
  
  
• From: Jaiganesh (@ 61.2.70.240) on: Tue Dec 21 10:24:38 EST 2004
  
  Hi!
  Kamakshi Karunavilasini was later reused by IR in the movie Aathma, the song was rewritten as "Vaaraayo, Unakke saran naangale".
  Good melody indeed.
  Thanks,
  Jaiganesh
  http://silencerocks.blogspot.com
  
  
• From: Shankar V. (@ 12.40.253.102) on: Tue Dec 21 12:29:24 EST 2004
  
  Mani Sir:
  
  Thank you for the effort and your time.
  
  You said 3 things about Raja in this song. I would add that he is able to (re)create the appropriate Bhavam or the emotional sentiments. I think all artists or musicians have the ability to express their emotional feelings in a sincere way but Raja ranks up there at the very top.
  
  Rajanna Rajathan!
  
  Anbudan,
  
  Shankar.
  
  
• From: kiru (@ 192.138.150.249) on: Tue Dec 21 13:59:00 EST 2004
  
  "I would add that he is able to (re)create the appropriate Bhavam or the emotional sentiments. "
  
  I think this is his strength and also the strength in general of his music. If you observe, the majority of songs, selected by Mani, will be soaked in emotion.
  Even today, IR is able to sing romantic sngs !!!! with so much tenderness in them.
  I appreciate all the background and supporting information from other posters as well. This is a special song.
  
  
• From: SD (@ 161.114.32.113) on: Tue Dec 21 14:09:48 EST 2004
  
  Mani sir,
  
  Janani Janni song is indeed a wonderful devotional song.. It takes the listener too to the spiritual world... Amazing song.
  
  Check out the link.. It has Rajavin Geethanjali too...
  http://www.nixline.com/Illayaraaja.htm
  
  Regards,
  SD
  
  

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