Topic started by RAJAN (@ proxy-122.iap.bryant.webtv.net) on Thu Jan 22 22:20:06 EST 1998.
All times in EDT/EST +9:30/10:30 for IST.
A new Ilayaraja album is a cause for celebration with many among us. Let everyone share in the revelry. Review, discuss or comment on new IR albums.
Check the IR reviews page
Responses:
- Old responses
- From: vem (@ 161.114.88.71)
on: Fri Nov 15 09:36:49 EST 2002
interview from harish ragavendra
http://www.chennaionline.com/interviews/hraghav.asp
- From: vem (@ 161.114.88.71)
on: Fri Nov 15 10:17:27 EST 2002
hinduonline.com reviews SMK....
says that IR's music is nothing special - both in songs and in BGM.... Lyrics r better....
it seems SMK may be a flop.
- From: doubter (@ 208.142.210.30)
on: Fri Nov 15 10:39:07 EST 2002
Vel
Oomai vizhigaL was my Manoj-Gyan.
I am not carnatic music savvy. I did not know the raagam in which 'raaththiri nEraththu' was tuned. But when I heard 'anba sumandhu', I could relate it with the former. Thanks for clearing my doubt.
- From: Vel (@ 202.88.152.159)
on: Fri Nov 15 23:09:11 EST 2002
:-) Doubter, u r welcome.
- From: Are Yaar (@ 203.197.141.186)
on: Sat Nov 16 03:20:19 EST 2002
Any links to Hindu review on SMK..?
- From: suresh (@ 202.88.155.34)
on: Sat Nov 16 06:30:06 EST 2002
Are Yaar
You have a pathological problem, or a psychosomatic one? Did you have a nasty fall from the staircase and blackout while listening to someone say Ilayaraaja, and from that day, take it upon yourself to flail your arms at anything that starts with 'I'? Were you abused in some form by somebody with the name Ilayaraaja? Do you spend your nights (when you're not making a joke of yourself at TFMpage with your stud demeanour) tearing up all the posters lining Chennai walls that have IR's picture in it? Even all these don't cure you of your cold turkey? Time you got some serious help.
- From: suresh (@ 202.88.155.34)
on: Sat Nov 16 06:42:58 EST 2002
Murugadass (director) says IR wasn't interested in doing Ramana, was convinced only when he was shown the film.
http://www.webulagam.com/cinema/vip/2002/11/13_murugadass1.htm
- From: Speaker (@ 202.156.2.219)
on: Sat Nov 16 09:08:21 EST 2002
Suresh, the link doesn't say that he is not interested. For the benefit of non tamilians,
"During story discussion IR is apprehensive of the type of score because it is hero oriented subjected, but after seeing the movie he was pleased and assured murugadas that he will come up with great score".
- From: ~ms (@ 24.61.91.124)
on: Sat Nov 16 10:28:59 EST 2002
TamilCinema review says "IR music and BGM is great in SMK"
http://www.tamilcinema.com/cinenews2.asp?fname=Solla%20marandha.htm
- From: Raja-visiri (@ 213.237.22.54)
on: Sun Nov 17 07:48:32 EST 2002
hi folks...
Areīnt there any sites where you can find the full versions of the songs from the film Solla Marantha Kathai...cos here in DK we havenīt get the cd yet...so please help me...!!!
- From: Guru (@ 129.49.80.138)
on: Sun Nov 17 08:39:40 EST 2002
Can any of you experts help me in distinguishing between the raga of " IR Ramana's- Vennilavin Perai Matrava" and "YSR Poovellam Kettupaar- Chudidhaar Anindhu Vandha Sorgame". Are they of the same base?
Thanks
Guru
- From: isaipriyan (@ 203.199.231.84)
on: Sun Nov 17 13:16:23 EST 2002
http://www.msviswanathan.com/main.html
- From: purv (@ 205.231.147.6)
on: Sun Nov 17 13:27:52 EST 2002
So, when are SMK songs going to be available online???
- From: Vel (@ 202.88.152.159)
on: Sun Nov 17 23:18:31 EST 2002
Guru,
"Vennilavin perai maatravaa" is mostly sriranjani/bhageshri based, while "chudidhar anindhu" is Anandhabhairavi. AIMO.
- From: Paran (@ 210.193.13.133)
on: Mon Nov 18 00:44:35 EST 2002
how do u guys specify the soongs into some raaga?...is it based on the music, or the way the song was sung? Please share with me....
contact me at superman_cool@hotmail.com
- From: S.P MAHENDRAN (@ 161.139.38.51)
on: Mon Nov 18 02:38:58 EST 2002
Go to http://www.dinamani.com
Very nice lah.......!!!!!!!
- From: Speaker (@ 203.126.142.232)
on: Mon Nov 18 03:06:46 EST 2002
welcome back, SPM
- From: S.P MAHENDRAN (@ 161.139.38.51)
on: Mon Nov 18 03:30:49 EST 2002
SMK review........!!!!!!
http://www.webulagam.com/cinema/review/2002/11/16_sollamaranthakathai.htm
- From: Guru (@ 129.49.80.199)
on: Mon Nov 18 05:01:30 EST 2002
Ilayaraja-Siddhar!!!!
http://www.dinamani.com/Cinema/CineItems.asp?ID=DNC20021117153558&Title=Cinema+%2D+News&lTitle=%A3%B2U%F4
- From: Kupps (@ 156.153.255.126)
on: Mon Nov 18 06:35:26 EST 2002
Sify says the rerecording in Ramana is not upto the mark.
Link: http://tamil.sify.com/movies/content/review.asp?movie_id=303&langcode=tamil
IMHO, the rerecording were very good in ramana.
- From: S (@ 128.107.253.40)
on: Mon Nov 18 06:46:38 EST 2002
Sify is one sc*rewed up site...it said album songs aren't good....They keep posting some nonsense.
- From: NagaS (@ 203.195.201.74)
on: Mon Nov 18 07:10:58 EST 2002
Kupps,
I too felt RamaNa bgm not upto the mark - except a few scenes ...
NagaS
- From: Saran (@ 203.199.232.3)
on: Mon Nov 18 08:20:38 EST 2002
It could be an old interview but quite interesting. This is for those who missed reading.....
Posting this article from "THE HINDU - International Edition"
September 4, 1993:
A SYMPHONY OF SUCCESS
With 3,500-odd songs in 650 films, Ilayaraja now occupies an
unrivalled
No. 1 spot in Tamil cinema. The ace music director added yet
another
feather to his cap recently by writing a Western symphony and
having it
played by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London, thus becoming
the
first composer from Asia to do so. How did it all come about?
If genius is one per cent inspiration and 99 per cent perspiration,
the man who
has lived up to it to achieve international fame and fortune through
music is
Ilayaraja whose name is now synonymous with success in the Tamil film
industry.
From the obscure village of Pannaipuram in Madurai district, where he
was born
on June 2, 1943, to the pinnacle in the world of music -- writing a
symphony
and having it played by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London,
recently -- it
has been for him an arduous climb uphill through adversity. From
setting tunes
to his brother Pavalar Varadarajan's songs for stage plays to an
unrivalled
No. 1 spot in Tamil film music and then on to the latest distinction,
Ilayaraja
has indeed come a long way. Until 'Annakili' (1976) catapulted him
to fame, it
was no path of roses for him after he came to Madras in 1968 with his
two
younger brothers, Bhasker and Gangai Amaran, to try his luck in
films. But
after 'Annakili' it was accolades all the way. Ilayaraja attributes
it all to
the mercy of God. Recently he talked to The Hindu. Excerpts:
Q: How did you get the offer to write a symphony?
Pyramid International, a recording company based in London, asked me
whether I
would be interested in writing a symphony. Writing a symphony needs
much
concentration. I said, "If I agree to write a symphony, how do you
propose to
market it? The people there who listen to classical music do not
know about
me. How do you make it possible for them to hear my music?" They
said, "You
leave that part to us." Only then did I agree to it.
That made them get in touch with several orchestras and eventually
they chose
the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO), considered the best in the
world, which
plays only great Western classical composers.
The RPO people said that they did not know about me. They said that
I might be
a very good composer, but what about my caliber in Western classical
music? So
complete details about me were sent to them. My two discs, 'Nothing
but Wind'
and 'How to name it,' were sent. That convinced them of my
capability to write
a symphony.
Q: So you started writing the symphony?
No. I asked for a co-ordinator. They sent Michael Townsend. He can
conduct,
arrange. He is a one-man army as far as music is concerned. He came
and saw
me work in films. He said, 'When you were writing the score, you did
not
struggle for any ideas. You did not take your pen off the script
before
finishing it. I have never seen such a composer before. Your
dedication is
remarkable.' When he saw the re-recorded film, he was moved. He was
really
stunned to by the synchronisation of the music with the film. He
told the RPO
that this time they were going to record the work of a composer who
was
different.
Q: So you agreed to write the symphony for the RPO?
Yes. They laid certain conditions. The foremost was that I must
send the
score at least three months in advance. I accepted, but my film
commitments
made me give the score only a month before the recording. In fact, I
gave the
last piece only 12 days before the recording.
But when the recording was over in London, all the musicians broke
into a
standing ovation. They started tapping the floor with their feet. I
was
thrilled and thanked the Almighty for giving me this opportunity to
write a
symphony and have it recorded.
Q: What exactly is a symphony?
It is a form of orchestration. We have in our system of music
different
elements -- geetam, swarajathi, varnam, keerthanam. Film music is
also a form,
something like keerathanam with pallavi, anupallavi, and charanam.
Symphony,
which has three main elements, is a form too. What I do in films is
also a
kind of symphony. For a full-fledged orchestra, symphony is the
mainstay.
Q: How did you feel when every member of the RPO congratulated you?
He (God) made it happen. It was unbelievable. There are thousands
of people
who are practising or composing music. But who got the chance? Who
selected
me? I did not do anything. He (God) selected me. I prayed to God in
gratitude that He made me do it.
Q: What do you think of the computer music coming up in a big way in
films?
Conductor John Scott also asked me about computer music. He has a
computer and
I too have one. Scott and I went to a bookstall and bought some
books. To
total the prices of the books, the store staff started searching for
the
calculator. But I calculated the total and told them before the
calculator
could do it. They asked me how I was able to do it. If you do not
know
arithmetical calculations, then you need a calculator.
THis is how I explain computer music. Anybody can buy a computer and
make it
play 'C' major. Anyone can compose music easily with a computer.
But this is
for the laymen. If you have the skill you do not need a computer ...
In
computer music, after a few songs, one gets fed up because the
computer can
give only certain variations as programmed. You will never get
anything new in
moods or emotions.
Q: What are your 'bests' in films?
The moment I can say that this is my best song or best music in
films, I will
stop giving music. I still do not know what music really is and I am
trying
hard to comprehend it. Once I know it, I will have my fulfilment and
I will
stop doing what I am doing now.
Q: Six hundred and fifty films in 17 years, 3500-odd songs. If you
still say
you have not done anything, then ...
For you, I am Ilayaraja. But for me, "Who am I?" I have not even
started
tuning my instrument properly. Then I must synchronise the tampura
with the
sruti, next practice it, and last comes the singing.
Q: How many days did you take to write the symphony?
One month. Some eminent composers have taken three to 14 years.
Some others
just three days.
Q: It seems that Pandit Ravishanker and L. Subramanyam have also done
a symphony
and that was also recorded in London.
I do not know whether they have recorded a symphony or not. But the
RPO's
programme executive, Ian Maclay, wrote to me mentioning that I was
the first
composer from whole of Asia to write a symphony.
Q: Have you named the symphony?
No. Scott told me that he could name it 'Fantasy.' I said it was
not fantasy.
I have a couple of names in mind, but I have not decided on it.
Q: Did any of the Carnatic music exponents congratulate you on your
achievement?
T. V. Gopalakrishnan, Mandolin Srinivas were there to receive me at
the airport.
The 'Bhishma' of Carnatic music, Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, came to
my place
twice to congratulate me.
Q: What do you plan to do after this?
Nothing is in my hands. We plan so many things. But can anyone
predict what
will happen? So I do not plan. Whatever comes, take it in your
stride. If
you aim at something and do not get it, you feel dejected ... He
(God) is
planning in His own way.
Q: Does the Carnatic base help you in your chosen field?
Carnatic music and Western classical music are two different
cultures, though
the sounds are the same. The difference between the two systems is:
one is
like living with the people and the other like living alone.
Carnatic music
is like living in solitude and doing meditation like our sages.
Western music
needs harmony, counterpoints and many accompaniments. It is like
living with
people.
Q: From Pannaipuram to films -- do you think you have achieved what
you wanted?
No. I do not think of anything as my achievement. Today's record
amy be
betterd tomorrow.
- From: Guru (@ 129.49.149.179)
on: Mon Nov 18 09:02:23 EST 2002
Thanks Saran. Good job!
Guru
List all pages of this thread
Post comments
Sections:
Home -
TFM Magazine -
Forum -
Wiki -
POW -
oPod -
Lyrics -
Pictures -
Music Notes -
Forums: Current Topics - Ilayaraja Albums - A.R. Rahman Albums - TFM Oldies - Fun & Games
Ilaiyaraja: Releases - News - Share Music - AR Rahman: Releases - News - AOTW - Tweets -
Discussions: MSV - YSR - GVP - Song Requests - Song stats - Raga of songs - Copying - Tweets
Database: Main - Singers - Music Director's - Lyricists Fun: PP - EKB - Relay - Satires - Quiz
Forums: Current Topics - Ilayaraja Albums - A.R. Rahman Albums - TFM Oldies - Fun & Games
Ilaiyaraja: Releases - News - Share Music - AR Rahman: Releases - News - AOTW - Tweets -
Discussions: MSV - YSR - GVP - Song Requests - Song stats - Raga of songs - Copying - Tweets
Database: Main - Singers - Music Director's - Lyricists Fun: PP - EKB - Relay - Satires - Quiz