Raja's New Albums

Not sure how many he will release this year but in recent past we have had 'Puthiya Theerangal' (not great fan response) and 'Gundello Godari' (which is receiving mixed response.) Anyway let us use this thread to discuss any new offering of Raja.

Suresh ji,
Welcome and waiting for your posts. Thanks!
Gundello Godari is a non-starter for me. I am imagining first time I am saying this. I can even take Ayyan for its gorgeous couple of songs, but not this.
On the other hand, Pudhiya Theerangal's 3 songs can even take on mighty SRR or NEPV 'ondikku ondi' on the soul side. Maarippeeli KaattE is a stunner!

Just for record - the movie 'mayilu' is releasing today:

tamil.way2movies.com/newssingle_tamil/Kollywood-releases-this-Friday-3-171313.html

Shri and Shammu starred Mayilu directed by Jeevan is also seeing the daylight today. Prakash Raj has produced Mayilu that has music and BGM composed by maestro Ilayaraja among the technical crew.

எப்படி இருக்கு நிலைமை பாத்தீகளா?

Didnt like Gundello Godaari much. Not much of Pudhiya Theerangal either. Looks like the movie tanked which means future Sathyan ventures might slowly dissipate, too. (Sathyan has had a steady decline in his market, with this being the nadir.)
Snehaveedu still rules though

This might sound like a cliched cop-out statement, but Puthiya Theerangal is a charming little album. Of course, it ain't in the league of the biggies, but the songs are simple and beautiful. maarippeeli kaattE by baalishnen would rank among the most soothing melodies this year from Raaja. medhuvaa tea saapttu, nalla earphones/speakers la kEttu pArunga boss.

Some more ridicule on 'mayilu' in a blog :

poonththalir-kollywood.blogspot.com/2012/10/blog-post_191.html

சில பல வருடங்களுக்கு முன் மோசர் பேருடன் இணைந்து பெருமையுடன் பிரகாஷ்ராஜ் தயாரித்து, பாதியில் அவர் பிய்த்துக் கொண்டு ஓடியதால் பெட்டிக்குள் முடங்கிய மயிலு கடைசியாக தோகை விரிக்க சந்தர்ப்பம் கிடைத்திருக்கிறது.


இந்தப் படத்தை இயக்கியவர் ஒளிப்பதிவாளர் ஜீவன். படம் பற்றிய அவரது பேச்சில் ஜீவனே இல்லை. எப்படி இருக்கும்?


முதல் படம் முடிந்து இத்தனை வருடங்கள் பெட்டிக்குள் கிடந்தால் பெருமூச்சுதான் வரும். இந்தப் படம் இயக்கிய பிறகு பா.விஜய்யை வைத்து ஞாபகங்கள் என்ற படத்தை இயக்கினார். இரண்டாவது படமே அப்படி என்றால் முதல் படம் எப்படி இருக்கும் என்பதை ரசிகர்களின் கற்பனைக்கே விட்டு விடுகிறோம்.


மோசர் பேர் ஒருவழியாக தூக்கம் விட்டெழுந்து மயிலுவை நாளை வெளியிடுகிறது. இளையராஜா இந்தப் படத்துக்கு இசையமைத்திருக்கிறார். படம் எவ்வளவு டிலே என்றால், இதில் நடித்த ஷம்மு ஒன்றிரண்டு படங்களில் நடித்து பெரிதாக வாய்ப்புகள் இல்லாமல் எங்கிருந்து வந்தாரோ அங்கேயே - அமெரிக்கா - செட்டிலாகிவிட்டார்

got around watching Gundello Godari audio launch, never knew Keeravani was such a fanboi..2 tracks from Ninaive oru sangeetham are ample proof for the agmarkness . why is Lakshmi chunchu faking it ..nauseating to say the least. surprised that cultural talibans there taking this lying down.

Wiz - Lakshmi Manchu = manchu vutturuvOm.

According to Mohan Babu - "pAppA dhAn indha padaththukku Ilayaraja uncle-ai isa amaikka vekkaNumnu sollichu, nAn sonnEn, neeyE pOi pEsunnu; illai, nInga avar kitta sollungannu sollichu; appuRAm nAn solli pOi pArththu pEsichu....appuRAm mudinjavuNE ungaLukku evLo tharaNumnu avar kitta kEttirukkku; avar enakku phone paNNi ennadA un poNNu enakkE sambalam tharuvALAmEnnu kalAichAr" etc apdinnu PEsinApla.

Oru mAdhiri luvs Agi pOchu indha pAppA mEla andha pEchai kEttu. Both Lakshmi and Manoj(Mohan Babu's son) were singing along when Maragadhamani sang some of IR's songs - some of it were agmark IR fanatic-only songs. namma pasangappA - Adharithu ookkuvippOm.

konjam overA abhinayam paNNiruchu stagela - adhu paravA illai - enakku genuineA paNNA mAdhiri dhAn irunchu: basically, Babu konjam overA pongi "indha desathula eththini award irukkO aththinyum unakku dhAn" rangela sollittApla. Epdi react paNdradhunu theriyAma apdi paNNiruchunu nenaikaREn.

Film looks like a disappointment from the trailers - but I added Lakshmi to approved list based on these youtube videos

Besides, Andhrala cultural taliban raect paNdra aLavukku pAppa enna paNNiriuchu?

basically, avainga poNNu kitta unabashedA edhir pArkuradhu skin show/homely beauty/either or both dhAn. oru poNNai adhOda karuththu sol seyalukkAga ellAm yArume evaluate paNdradhillai - namakku skin show or beuty evLO thErum adhu dhAn mukkiyam - romba theLivA iruppAnga adhula.

I take it you haven't seen her interviews in the related videos oray Johar Nri ladies vaadai.

// dig kis kis ...heard she ran away when she was 18 with her driver only to return with this accent, sakalakala valli //

Linklu ivvandi pArthuttu solREn...

for your ears only

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axKsobGlL5o

Personally I don't have any problem with the album as of now I like three songs very much. The others I need to listen more carefully. Next week I will put up a review.

A mini-take on Gundello Godari:

1. Gundello godari is good. Raaja's voice suited the song (genre wise) although I feel something went amiss in the 2nd half of the song.especially when he sings "galagalala..." in high pitch. The 1st interlude of this song is the highpoint for me. After the 1st charanam, I am skipping the song (i love the way charanam connects to pallavi).
2. Jhillumandi seems as if he outsourced it to someone else. Neither a great tune nor great support elements (arrangements, singers). It sounds hep but something is dissonant here.
3. Ekkadundhi is the only song that harks back to 80s feel (sounds good). Mano does a good job. The female vocals are slightly yell-ish (why does rustic has to be equivalent to yell-ish/scream-ish tone?). I agree that this song needed a very rustic/folksy vocals but the female vocals are not that ear-friendly here. But good bass-lines.
4. Nannu neetho has a good tune, but sacrificed to the shallow-voiced bhavatharini (the tune is soulful enough for any other better singer). Frankly, the moment she starts "nannu neetho... ninnu naatho", i feel "blaaah". Sounds absolutely expressionless. very bland and shallow. if only a shreya/bela or any proper-voiced singer sang this song. And i am not saying it from the anti-bhava bias. I liked "yathae" from Mayilu. What works there, does not work here at all. Infact, that "blaah" feeling makes me immediately skip the song.
5. Item songs didn't impress me anyway.
6. Raatri nerathu - Perhaps the song that does not spoil anything for me. Good arrangements. decent vocals. No, its not nostalgia working here. Frankly, I must have heard Johnny song only 5-6 times till now (Shocking isn't it? Ya, i confess I never heard this Johnny song much). In Johny, I always went to "Oru iniya manadhil" and "en vaanile" a lot. I am just 'familiar' with other songs but never sank in them much. So here, raatri nerathu works big time for me. The tune of the last line of the charanam is such a fantastic touch from Raaja.

Overall, the rush of a new album makes me feel that some songs are good to ok (title song, ekkadundhi & raatri nerathu) but I don't find them that outstanding enough (raathri nerathu is an exception). and I doubt if they will have that recall value over the years. I am not coming from NEPV standpoint but as such, I doubt if I will enjoy these songs passionately after sometime. And in raaja songs, if that recall value isn't promising, then something is definitely missing in them. And the producers have needlessly hyped the music as "80s style music" and all that stuff. Ilaiyaraaja's actual 80s music (even in telugu films) is way more impressive and this album does not evoke much of that. I am more inclined to listen to Valmiki or ajantha over GG. So from that perspective, I find GG pretty underwhelming album from Ilaiyaraaja.

Awaiting his next.

Aakarsh,
Welcome here and thanks for the honest review. I totally agree with you word by word. Even raathiri nErathu did not invoke any impact in me, as nostalgia and SPS voice still haunts and rules me. Yes it is surprising this is coming from Maestro after Mallepuvvu, Om Shanthi, Gaayam-2 and SRR.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=RxOLXqrvz88

Raja sir new movie - thanks vinod for the link

Lovely! Thanks Kamesh for this wonderful news. Another marathi movie? Wow! We have to thank Trupti Boir and Gajendra Ahire for giving Maestro another wonderful opportunity after Hello Jai Hind. Looks like a calm movie and music gives us that feel. Movies like this should be a treat to watch. Hello Jai Hind was such a wonderful movie. Can't wait for another Ganzalelya Saavaleela.

Review of Gundello Godari album. I know it is a bit late but still...

If there is one thing about which Raja fans were near unanimous in recent times, it is about the music of the movie, 'Gundello Godari'. Many told me and also wrote that they didn't like it. They thought the music was not great. Some were of the opinion that one or two songs were salvageable but overall it was a letdown. So I did not get any great reviews of the music from most of his fans, including some of his hardcore fans.

On the contrary, I quite like this album. If the theme of NEPV was 'New DIrections', the theme of 'Puthiya Teerangal' was 'Melody', the theme of 'Gundello Godari' is 'High Energy'. Throughout all the songs Raja keeps the energy very high. Also, to understand the daughter, you need to understand the father and the Telugu film industry's demands. The Mohan Babu movie, 'Shiv Shankar' for which Raja provided music, had very similar type of songs. A fun song, a remix, an item number, a bit of pathos. All the masala that the Telugu movies want. This movie also has very similar demands and Raja scores as per the needs of this masala mix.

Let me now review the songs one by one.

Gundello Godari: This sets the keynote to the whole album. The song is both melodious and has amazing energy which manifests itself right at the beginning in the 'thaiyyara thiayya' chant. Raja starts the pallavi, which is very melodious. Based on a similar scale as 'aala asathum malliye', I get immediately drawn to the melody, especially when Raja goes, "guruvulu ika thelupani paatale". The way the tune changes at this place is something we expect from Raja. Then comes the 'ailesa ailesa' chant to keep the energy up and also give us the fisherman song feel. The first interlude has a metallic flute (played on synth?) and keeps both the energy and the melody intact. The charanam is pure melodic gold in my opinion. 'taragaluga' place and the subsequent way he twists the turn to join the pallavi is something which he has patented long back. A lovely start to the album. Very impressive is the piano work throughout the song. It comes in the background very unobtrusively put provides lot of value to the song.

Jillumandi Jillumandi: This song is very similar in spirit to the 'Masakenuka' song from 'Gayam-2'. A very spirited song. Mostly driven by the synthesizer and the bass(I think it is synth bass). The pallavi is a long one with the programmed beats accompanying. The first interlude is nice but people may have problems with the synth sounds here. The charanam keeps up the spirit of the song very well. The way he takes the charanam after the first two lines is unexpected, with the chorus taking the song. The second interlude is also based on synth. Andrea's rendition in the first charanam is very stylish, keeping with the current trend. Hemachandra's entry in the second charanam makes the song better. He eschews the stylishness and his voice sounds unique.

Vechani Vayasunnadi: To many, this is the best song of the album and this is also the reason they don't like the album !!! This is the remix of the legendary 'machana paathingala' from 'Annakili'. Proves what a superb song it and why it has become a legend. Raja keeps the spirit and the energy level of the song intact. Geetha Madhuri does a decent job. If picturised well, could be a potential chart buster.

Nanu Neetho: Probably the best song of the album. A melancholic love song. The starting phrases played by the piano and the violin set the tone for the song. There is beauty mixed with a touch of sadness and the way Raja manifests it in the prelude is sheer genius. Throughout the song, the mood is kept intact. The pallavi also follows the same pattern. A bit of melody and then that touch of sadness. In the first interlude, the melancholic violin makes a brief appearance before the synthesizer takes over. The charanam is Raja at his best, with the very tiny piano runs adding additional melody. The charanam gives a feeling of Kapi / Desh but as with many Raja songs, it is difficult to pin the ragam down. The second interlude has flute, some lovely bass and then the piano. All maintaining the mood very well. The was it moves into the second charanam is silky smooth. I have had this song on repeat for quite a few days now. Many are put off because of Bhavatharini but I have no problem. She sings decently and her diction is good.

Ekkadundi Ekkadundi: This is I think a 'fun' song with the hero and heroine going looking after a hen. Raja is having fun here. The tune is a throwback to Raja's old movies wherein he uses the tabla to create the high energy. Here too it is mainly the tabla which keeps the energy, supported by synth drums. The charanams too are typical of such songs. Mano and Anitha sing well, with Mano being the surprise package. He sings with abandon and does a nice job.

E eedhi kurrodu: This is very similar to the 'Singaporu Santhalona' song from 'Shambu' or one of the item songs from 'Shiv Shankar', "Mallepoovu' etc. Seems to be a standard requirement in a Telugu movie.. I think this is picturised on Mumait Khan. A supposed raunchy item song like 'singapore santhalona'. Raja freaks out especially when he uses harmonim and tavil together in the first interlude. The charanam keeps up the 'item song' feel. The second interlude on harmonium and something like bulbultara is fetching. The postlude is pure 'teenmaar', if I have say in Hyderabad lingo.

'raathri': Surprise package. Reworking of 'aasaiya kaathula' but in Tamil !!! Ofcourse the original is too seeped into our bones that we will probably not hear this much.

Overall an energetic and fun album. While I understand why people have their reservations on this album, I am loving it and have been playing it continuously for the past week or more.

Listening link here: http://ww.raaga.com/channels/telugu/moviedetail.asp?mid=A0002965

Very nice and detail review Suresh ji! Thanks. I might have to listen again with your review by my side. Not sure if I will change my opinion, if so all credit goes to you. When I could really get into that 30 second trailer of Yuvan's Saainthu Saainthu without any problem the first time, I could not even cross the first 10 seconds of Bhava's singing. After stunning YathE YathE, this is a big slide. If that song would have clicked, I might have changed my opinion about the album quite a bit. Given the melody and the tune, that song acts as a pivot between good and bad and just because of her singing, it went the other way for me. I also see the shelf life of other songs are not that great, I see some hurry (more than the energy) in all the compositions which is very surprising.

Raaga_Suresh wrote:
Overall an energetic and fun album.

I haven't listened to this album yet...I should try tonight

nanRi for the reco, Sureshji!

V_S,

For some reason I did not have a problem with Bhava's singing. Do listen when you get time. I don't see any hurry in the compositions but more problem with the overall production value. In some cases just imagine that real instruments are playing instead of synthesizers and you can see the ideas clearly. I personally feel that the title song and Bhava's song will be in my collection for a long time.

app,

Do listen but keep your expectation low

V_S wrote:Very nice and detail review Suresh ji! Thanks. I might have to listen again with your review by my side. Not sure if I will change my opinion, if so all credit goes to you. When I could really get into that 30 second trailer of Yuvan's Saainthu Saainthu without any problem the first time, I could not even cross the first 10 seconds of Bhava's singing. After stunning YathE YathE, this is a big slide. If that song would have clicked, I might have changed my opinion about the album quite a bit. Given the melody and the tune, that song acts as a pivot between good and bad and just because of her singing, it went the other way for me. I also see the shelf life of other songs are not that great, I see some hurry (more than the energy) in all the compositions which is very surprising.

I echo exactly the same thoughts V_S. Especially the bolded portions are my thoughts - verbatim.

The song that works for me in totality is Ekkadundhi (i can excuse the female voice). And from a composition perspective, the title song works big time but i felt something did not get along well in 2nd half. The combination of the words written (galagalala geetham naadhey), with Raaja's forcefully-telugu-ized accent there (he sounds funny when he sings those lines)that too in that particular high pitch there - the whole combo of this all there sounds so funny.. very caricature-ish kind. Nothing wrong with words, but the overall phonetics in that accent and that pitch - i feel the flavour of the song is turning from real folk energy into some funny, mocking caricature-ish thing. It kills my experience till there and i shudder.. and that fantastic connecting line back to Pallavi is where I get back to the hook. So my experience with this song is slightly oscillating.

And Nannu Neetho would have become a classic in my books. Again the combination of that shallow, expression-less bland voice singing Nanu neetho.. ninnu naatho.. immediately puts me off. Pch! One nugget with good tune (and decent arrangements) sacrificed. I still stand by its melody. Its the best song in the album. Yet! it is not!

http://www.madaboutmoviez.com/2012/11/trailer-gajendra-ahires-touring-talkies/

Tamil Maestro Illaiyaraja collaborates again with Gajendra Ahire after Hello Jaihind. One hopes, unlike the songs in Hello Jaihind which didn’t catch the attention of people, this album becomes very popular. Raja Sir has even roped in Hungarian musicians Béla Lattmann(bass), Attila László(guitar), János Nagy(keyboards) for recording his compositions for this film

Listened to some clippings from GG. Hugely disappointing

Bala (Karthik) wrote:Listened to some clippings from GG. Hugely disappointing

+1. Gundello Godari (good) & Nanu neetho ninu natho(decent)

Bit taken back that Raja would let some of the classics to killed by his own hand. I really wish people would stop reworking his old hits.