Maestro ilaiyaraaja news & titbits

[sakaLAKALAKAlaa Vallavar]

And if u know something, raja's players have hardcoded notes to follow which they can't deviate a bit.....whereas ar's players come to sessions without knowing Wat to play and go back as co-composers

Not allowing even to change a bit, that is Composer's choice. Even if Rahman brews his players ar Co-Composers, are the playes going ahead and recording their own modified pieces?!? Isn't that still Rahman the composer who thinks that such minor modification will add value ad decide to add them?

Rahman records each and every bit separately(mostly). Its even being said that some specific instrumentalists come to Rahman's studio only once and later, that same instrument tones is 'used' to create another tune(being played) using Computers itself and for that specific piece which the instrumentalist didn't play originally, he was being sent, Remuneration.

Consider this against Raja, Raja had a biiig troupe. He alswas wanted most of the common musicians to be present, even if there is no track for them. He will use them if needed. Along with them, some times, some special extra instrumentalists are brought and kept, on Raja's instructions. This means that he always will have a big troupe and it may only increase and not decrease, a times. Added to that, we may note that he was extremely busy and even when his offers dried out, he spent the same time for the films which came. That meant the time he took for composing, recording is same, very less time. And there are cases where he just give notes and go. Purushothaman or Narasimman conducts and records.

Given all this, we see less chance in interaction. Also i feel, a composer need not exchange roles. Players be players only. Some composers may be too fabric and sensitive to interruptions and that may even 'corrupt' their mood. I always wondered what Raja's players felt and howcome they remained undisturbed of the tune, when playing some specific tune. I was wondering howcome they were able to concentrate on playing, when they were given some superb tunes.

But in the end, i felt, they are meant for playing and reproducing the notes. At the time of recording, while with Raja, they better be mechanical robot just doing whatever Raja says and nothing more. Or else, it will be a big chaos, not only in the recording hall but also in the minds of the Composer too!