Ilayaraja - Non-music side of the man

Drunkenmunk Wed Sep 29, 2021 5:15 pm

Hello all,

Here it is.

https://twitter.com/_Drunkenmunk/status/1442223884481089541

Thread (ongoing) of the human side of Raaja. More than generosity, which btw gets a lot of people moved, the lightning bolts of people discovering divinity's presence along the way is why this thread is being done.

Welcome BC to add the videos he/she promised they would.

Eager to watch them. With their permission, shall add them on to my twitter page.

Warm regards to all and hope everyone is doing well in these tough times across the world.

Munk.

Usha Wed Sep 29, 2021 6:42 pm

welcome DM.. pl continue.

app_engine Wed Sep 29, 2021 7:51 pm

மிகச்சிறப்புங்க!

இது வந்த வேகத்தில் சிலபல ராசா வெறுப்பாளர்களுக்கு வயிற்றில் புளியைக் கரைத்திருக்கிறது Smile

BC Thu Sep 30, 2021 3:34 am

Drunkenmunk wrote:Hello all,

Here it is.

https://twitter.com/_Drunkenmunk/status/1442223884481089541

Thread (ongoing) of the human side of Raaja. More than generosity, which btw gets a lot of people moved, the lightning bolts of people discovering divinity's presence along the way is why this thread is being done.

Welcome BC to add the videos he/she promised they would.

Eager to watch them. With their permission, shall add them on to my twitter page.

Warm regards to all and hope everyone is doing well in these tough times across the world.

Munk.

Thanks Drunkenmunk. She, it is.

Please add "Is Ilayaraja arrogant?" and "Is Ilayaraja greedy?" to the title! Because the ever-knowledge-thirsty people aka gyaan-takers turning to Google / Quora and the gyaan-givers at Quora are always hungry to ask such ever-happening questions or answer them.

Why is Ilayaraja arrogant? Is Ilayaraja really arrogant? Is Ilayaraja greedy? Is Ilayaraja always grumpy? Is Ilayaraja a miser?

The answers are / will be right here in this topic of the forum.

1. First up here is one that is a very moving incident shared by the ace but underrated and uncelebrated lyricist, Mu. Metha.

In his interview, he shares how the song En mana vaanil in Kaasi movie coincided with some unfortunate events in his life and how Ilayaraja was not willing to finalize the lyrics penned down by Metha just because Ilayaraja felt that it was very ominous and hence wanted to CHANGE the lyrics for Metha's good, so it would not turn up to be an ugly reality thereby affecting Metha. But Metha convinces IR to keep the lyrics as is because his words fit the movie situation to a T.

Also in the video, Metha points out the usual literateur-side of Ilayaraja and how IR's expertise in Tamil is very good (stated by many others now, like Na. Muthukumar and Vaali too). The entire video is informative and gives an insight into Metha's career.

And how IR was insulted by foreign colleagues while working for Hey Ram movie.

Included the appropriate timeline in the URL:

Drunkenmunk Thu Sep 30, 2021 5:36 pm

Thank you BC.

Ravinat has requested to post every incident here. Will begin.

I used Rajkiran's image from En Rasavin Manasile which is a terrific fan ode. Right pic to start the thread.

Ilayaraja - Non-music side of the man Rajkir10

Drunkenmunk Thu Sep 30, 2021 5:39 pm

App,

Is there a way to embed videos? I can give freewheeling commentary here and embed videos and go instead of linking each tweet here.

app_engine Thu Sep 30, 2021 6:53 pm

Please try one of these (I've only tried images and youtubes, both work - never tried my videos)

Ilayaraja - Non-music side of the man WEJnE9osdtyAAAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==

Ilayaraja - Non-music side of the man WEJnE9osdtyAAAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==

panniapurathar Thu Sep 30, 2021 7:39 pm

Ilaiyaraaja's love for poetry and poets

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWh_G9TWQTQ

We may have discussed this video before. But this is pertinent to our topic here. He is simply effusive and whole hearted in his praise for KaviKo. IR's sense of humour also is beautiful to observe in this video. I recall watching this earlier and wanting a collaboration to happen. Unfortunately, Kavignar passed away.

Drunkenmunk Thu Sep 30, 2021 8:49 pm

app_engine wrote:Please try one of these (I've only tried images and youtubes, both work - never tried my videos)

Thanks. Yeah tried these. Can only get images. Not videos. Paakkaren. Will quote the timestamp from YT and attach YT videos Smile

BC Fri Oct 01, 2021 2:33 am

A beautiful chat between Nassar and Mysskin.

Nassar states the songs of Avathaaram were NOT his idea at all. All those golden songs including the hyper-popular Thendral vandhu theendum bodhu and Arithaaratha poosi kolla aasa were conceived and rightly placed by IR, after Nassar handed over the already-shot movie.

And that was just a harbinger for Hey Ram! Also, this was nothing new for IR since he has already done something similar for the Chinnappadaas song in Kadalora Kavidhaigal - which was 100% the work of IR and the director Bharathi Raja has nothing to do with it!

Mysskin says "IR knows what to compose and it is fully-conceived in his mind, ready-to-record even before he plays it on his harmonium or commences to write the notes. He pushes the audience to deep emotional state and tears."

Both Nassar and Mysskin conclude that IR's work does not stop with composing music alone, but he wears the hat of a director and knows the movie in-and-out as much as the director or sometimes more.

And he does all that without expecting any return, like expecting that the director to return to him for his next project or higher compensation just because he puts in a lot of brainwork, passion and time, beyond the role of a mere film-composer.

IMHO, this side / face of IR is what made many directors abandon him because all their ego simply did not let them travel "alongside" IR. They did not want to "share" the limelight with IR as they wanted all that for themselves.

Drunkenmunk Fri Oct 01, 2021 9:29 pm

Starting with P Vasu because it is Panneer Pushpangal and it was done for free (almost). An album of that magnitude and the BGM will strike a chord in the reader's mind. A Meendum Oru Kadhal Kadhai may not have the same impact though the music was equally good objectively speaking. PP has stood the test of time in a popular way and objectively also and has a monstrous standing in radio airtime, TV playtime even today. So it made sense to begin there to get the attention of the reader. The immediate reaction would be "wow" and they'll watch the subsequent videos easily.

No real time stamp because I chopped multiple bits together but main matter is 12 minutes onwards.

He not only gave the OST for free (Vasu Barathi with Amar compelled him to take 15,000 at a time when he receiving more than a lakh).

More than that, he screened the movie to Barathiraja while scoring the BGM who called them and offered to produce their second film, opening the gates well and truly for P Vasu and Santhanabarathi.

He says one more thing (not in the twitter thread). In another interview.

19 mins onwards. He ends saying Raaja even forgot that he offered PP for a throwaway rate. True example of வலது கை குடுப்பதை இடது கை அறியாமல். Also a pointer to just how MANY people he'd have helped if he truly forgot about this. We will see just how many with a few samples.

BC Sat Oct 02, 2021 2:35 am

A very comprehensive interview of the ace flautist Sudhakar with Mano on Jaya TV (at 2:45 in the video, though the timeline is included in the URL):

Very informative. There are a few parts of this entire interview which I will post under "Anything about IR" topic.

The flutist who worked with IR for more than a decade and also played along with Arunmozhi who came in sometime during the late 1980s.

Sudhakar says "Ilayaraja wanted me to learn from a world-class Dutch flutist who also played for him in 1970's movies. He arranged tuition sessions with the lady, for me, right in his home! He wanted to make me a great musician".

So much for "arrogance"!

BC Mon Oct 04, 2021 2:47 am

Kavikko Abdul Rahman on how IR "wasted his talent" by being in an industry that never appreciated/recognized his genius. SO TRUE! For up to 18 minutes, he talks about only about IR:

Drunkenmunk Mon Oct 04, 2021 6:21 pm

Sangili Murugan, from 17:40 onwards.

Revealing that Raaja did the first two films he produced for free. Which includes Enga Ooru Paatukaaran with that monster hit Shenbagame Shenbagame, featuring among others, Asha Bhosle. And Sakkarai Pandhal, which also has Asha singing. All for Sangili Murugan being the first person who gave them employment to play background music in stage dramas once they arrived in Madras.

Basically, what music and songs.

கருத்தது மேகம்
தலை முடி தானோ
இழுத்தது என்ன
பூவிழி தானோ
எள்ளுப்பூ நாசி பத்திப்
பேசிப் பேசி தீராது
உன்பாட்டுக்காரென் பாட்டு
உன்ன விட்டுப் போகாது

The way they transition the song from Ramarajan innocently singing for the cow... to Nishanti Singing about Ramarajan... she gets shy and stops at the last line and he completes her.. So moving. இதெல்லாம் சீன்ல பண்ணிட முடியுமா?

And when Rekha sings, her line is:

என் வீட்டுக்காரன் பாடி நானும் கேட்க மாட்டேனா...

Rekha க்கு எல்லாம் நம்மளை பாவப்பட வைக்கிறது is a superhuman feat. சும்மா ஓடிராது படம். Pannaiapuram brothers (lyrics Gangai and he is the director too) make us feel for the people and their predicaments.

And Raaja did all this for free.

Usha Mon Oct 04, 2021 7:10 pm

DM,
Great work.

"வலது கை கொடுப்பது இடது கைக்கு தெரிய கூடாது ". ராஜா செய்து காட்டி இருக்கார்.

அதனால் தரத்தில் குறை வைக்கவில்லை.உண்மையில் மிக அதிகமான அக்கறையாக , அருமையாகதான்
செய்து இருக்கார். பாடல்கள் சொல்லும் ராஜாவின் அருமையை.

1. இது போல் இலவசமாக செய்து இருக்கிறார்களா? அதையும் அருமையாக செய்து ?இருக்கிறார்களா ?

அந்த மாதிரி செய்தவர்கள் அருமையை உணர்ந்து புகழ்வார்கள்.

எதையும் செய்த வெட்டிகள் தான் பழிப்பார்கள் .

SPBகும் ராஜா செய்து இருப்பார். அது spbகும் தெரிந்து இருக்கும்.அவ்வளவு தான்.

Drunkenmunk Mon Oct 04, 2021 8:35 pm

Usha wrote:SPBகும் ராஜா செய்து இருப்பார். அது spbகும் தெரிந்து இருக்கும்.அவ்வளவு தான்.

Saluri Vasudeva Rao, son of Saluri Rajeswara Rao.

BC Tue Oct 05, 2021 2:34 am

https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/suhana-safar-with-salilda/article28354719.ece

From the article about IR attending an event commemorating Salil Chowdhury's 75th birth anniversary in 2004:

To lend significance to the show was the presence of maestro Ilaiyaraja and director Balu Mahendra.

For Ilaiyaraja, "Salil da was an inspiration. In the early days, I played guitar in many of Salilda's compositions. I have imbibed a lot from him."

Lamenting on the half empty hall, the maestro aptly commented "The hall may not be full, but the heart is."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It takes a lot of true-humility to utter those words at an event happening WITHOUT fanfare, media-frenzy and flashing cameras. It shows how he REALLY REVERED his predecessors and celebrates their music, and how unhappy he was looking at a hall with fewer people.

To quote another news article (for which I do not have any evidence to share), IR also seems to have said with a heavy heart, "Idharku koottam varamaal, veru edharku poga pogiraargal?"

Usha Tue Oct 05, 2021 6:34 pm

Drunkenmunk wrote:
Usha wrote:SPBகும் ராஜா செய்து இருப்பார். அது spbகும் தெரிந்து இருக்கும்.அவ்வளவு தான்.

Saluri Vasudeva Rao, son of Saluri Rajeswara Rao.

puriyalai DM.... enna vishayam.

Kr Wed Oct 06, 2021 3:06 am

From my perspective, the following events highlight the true humility of Ilaiyaraaja:

· It is common knowledge how IR properly learnt carnatic music from TVG. It is known that IR was already quite busy at that time but still IR would get to TVG’s house early in the morning for classes before being in his music studio at 7am. A few things to note – despite his becoming popular, he recognized that he had to learn. For me this is humility and shows his quest for knowledge
· Even recently, about 10 years back, there were reports how IR took classes from Attila, when he was in Chennai, to properly learn Jazz. How could that not be the truest demonstration of humility? Here is a person, who is widely recognized a genius and who had won all accolades and as we know had composed many jazzy numbers, is willing to become a student and properly learn Jazz
· The videos of IR performing in Thirvannamalai are additional examples of the true humility of IR. You may also recall that he composed a non-music album on Sai Baba with the proceedings from the album benefiting the Mylapore Sai Baba Temple
· IR’s unflinching loyalty to Panchu Arunachalam right until his last days again reflects his true character

For me, these are better examples of the humility and character than what is portrayed in the media. Stupid people may fall for the fake humility of people like Rahman – for whom the only that he could muster up as appreciation of IR is that he is a teetotaller unlike what the musician’s perceptions were, whose comment when IR was celebrated for composing for 1000 movies was to ask how many of them were hits implying it was just numbers, commenting falsely in an interview that he was the one introduced counterpoints in Indian music and in another interview the entire music in India before he arrived was all dholak and tabla. For me, IR is always my Hero!

Drunkenmunk Thu Oct 07, 2021 10:11 am

Usha wrote:
Drunkenmunk wrote:
Usha wrote:SPBகும் ராஜா செய்து இருப்பார். அது spbகும் தெரிந்து இருக்கும்.அவ்வளவு தான்.

Saluri Vasudeva Rao, son of Saluri Rajeswara Rao.

puriyalai DM.... enna vishayam.

Vasudeva Rao telling us what SPB once told him, that KVM may have given him his intro. MSV may have groomed and moulded him. But his current status of fame, money and everything is Raaja's pichai.

Usha Thu Oct 07, 2021 4:41 pm

oh. idhu podhum DM.

SPB Fans and others.... must know the Truth. Thats all.

BC Tue Oct 12, 2021 2:53 am

Producer ThaaNu about Ilayaraja:

HMV comes up with 100 crore deal, with IR bargaining that 50% of the amount should go to the producers. IR raises the threshold and asks for 300 crore, because HMV should have earned >1000 crores for themselves.

S. Thanu says that "100 crore is enough. Let us walk out with what is offered", out of fear of losing even that paltry sum. IR is firm to say "No, I will fetch more for you all".

IR spends 50 lakhs of his own money to pay for the legal case. Thus, IR was able to get 28 lakhs for EACH producer.

IsaiRasigan Tue Oct 12, 2021 7:24 am

so, what happened? IR got 150 crores?

BC Wed Oct 13, 2021 2:47 am

IsaiRasigan wrote:so, what happened? IR got 150 crores?

Only Thanu could answer; Clueless!

BC Thu Oct 28, 2021 2:06 am

IR's humility and his respect for MSV

Initially when Muktha productions team approached IR, he said "I cannot do it because you are already going steady and in good terms with MSV. You should continue with MSV".

At 19:27 in the video (timeline included in the URL):

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