Anything about IR found on the net - Vol 4

IR- C R Subburaman comparison:
http://www.dinamalarnellai.com/cinema/news/57774

crimson king wrote:just get Shreya.  Or maybe she was quoting higher rate?

 Shreya once famously said that the one composer for whom she can sing for free is Ilaiyaraaja. That said, she obviously must be the highest paid female playback singer now. But much more than money, I think it is the schedules (and location) that are the challenge. Plus, it is not just songs recording any more - the more mainstream (and bulk) income generating source seems to be concerts, for singers and composers. Shreya has her own concerts going on. 

The industry has some interesting voices, which many mistake for Shreya Ghoshal. Bela Shinde (Kooda varuviya from Valmiki) or Anweshaa (she sang that awesome song for Vidyasagar - Megam vanthu pogum). I wonder why we dont hear more of these singers, not just in Raaja songs but even in others' compositions.

BC wrote: Also, the songs of NEPV, MTM & 60 Vayadhu Maaniram are good too.  IMHO, they were under-appreciated. 

I think NEPV is in a different league altogether compared to the other two here. And as a fan... NEPV has become a kind of benchmark for expectations (for me). It had a lot going in... which other albums lack. And no, it is not just the orchestration... but even the quality of tunes and the ideas (which I agree is a function of orchestra available).

kamalaakarsh wrote:

crimson king wrote:just get Shreya.  Or maybe she was quoting higher rate?

 Shreya once famously said that the one composer for whom she can sing for free is Ilaiyaraaja. That said, she obviously must be the highest paid female playback singer now. But much more than money, I think it is the schedules (and location) that are the challenge. Plus, it is not just songs recording any more - the more mainstream (and bulk) income generating source seems to be concerts, for singers and composers. Shreya has her own concerts going on. 

The industry has some interesting voices, which many mistake for Shreya Ghoshal. Bela Shinde (Kooda varuviya from Valmiki) or Anweshaa (she sang that awesome song for Vidyasagar - Megam vanthu pogum). I wonder why we dont hear more of these singers, not just in Raaja songs but even in others' compositions.

Yeah, Shreya is probably not easily available these days for recording.  That said, I don't think she would easily turn away a song from Raja.  

Raja did use Bela Shende in Vaanam Mella and again Bela had difficulty adapting to the tone of Tamil music (also lacks range in the upper register compared to Shreya).  Even as such, I don't think Bela is comparable to Shreya.  They all may be from the Lata/Asha mould but Shreya has so much more expression than the others like Bela or Mahalaxmi Iyer.   Raja could try Anwesha, yes.

kamalaakarsh wrote:

BC wrote: Also, the songs of NEPV, MTM & 60 Vayadhu Maaniram are good too.  IMHO, they were under-appreciated. 

I think NEPV is in a different league altogether compared to the other two here. And as a fan... NEPV has become a kind of benchmark for expectations (for me). It had a lot going in... which other albums lack. And no, it is not just the orchestration... but even the quality of tunes and the ideas (which I agree is a function of orchestra available).

Absolutely.  From the last few years, I would put NEPV, Megha (to some extent, it's a somewhat patchy album though the highs are incredible) and Abbayitho in a separate category.  In all these albums, Raja's inspiration was much stronger.  Clearly, something about the film or just his mood that day, lol, made him put that 1% extra involvement which makes the difference between a melodic and hummable song and one that is a classic. Kalvane was my favourite song from all three songs put together.  The melody was super catchy but with lots of twists and the orchestration was phenomenal.

kamalaakarsh wrote:I think NEPV is in a different league altogether compared to the other two here. And as a fan... NEPV has become a kind of benchmark for expectations (for me). It had a lot going in... which other albums lack. And no, it is not just the orchestration... but even the quality of tunes and the ideas (which I agree is a function of orchestra available).

kamalaakarsh & crimson king, I'd never put NEPV and MTM / 60vM on the same pedestal!  

I was just replying to mythila who was not happy with the post-2010 IR and so had to quote some movies whose songs were really good even after 2010.

crimson king wrote:But more kolaveri from Monali Thakur.  She's a good singer but struggles with Tamil pronunciation here. Enna pa, Shreyaoda sandai ya.  Vandam indha Vibhavari/Monali, just get Shreya.  Or maybe she was quoting higher rate?

crimson king, I'm not a fan of Shreya - she is terrific, no doubt. But she is not a SJ/PS/Chitra/Lata/Asha.  Having said that, now I find Vibhavari better than Shreya. Check this out: some of her renditions of Lataji's songs. Anwesha is good. Bela Shinde, Monali Thakur etc. to me come only after those 3.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPPSangaJ-4   Lag ja gale

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3S1x62bFh60   Naina barse

app_engine wrote:IR- C R Subburaman comparison:
http://www.dinamalarnellai.com/cinema/news/57774

app_engine, nice article.  Speaking of CRS, IR says he was inspired by "Chinnanchiru kiliye" to compose 'Chinnanchiru vayadhil' in Meendum Kokila after Kamal Haasan insisted that he make something "similar to" that goldie.

BTW, kindly continue the "Counting TFM Hits of IR " thread. Please don't abandon it .  It's been a long time since you updated that thread.

BC wrote:

crimson king wrote:But more kolaveri from Monali Thakur.  She's a good singer but struggles with Tamil pronunciation here. Enna pa, Shreyaoda sandai ya.  Vandam indha Vibhavari/Monali, just get Shreya.  Or maybe she was quoting higher rate?

crimson king, I'm not a fan of Shreya - she is terrific, no doubt. But she is not a SJ/PS/Chitra/Lata/Asha.  Having said that, now I find Vibhavari better than Shreya. Check this out: some of her renditions of Lataji's songs. Anwesha is good. Bela Shinde, Monali Thakur etc. to me come only after those 3.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPPSangaJ-4   Lag ja gale

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3S1x62bFh60   Naina barse

 Never said Shreya is in the Lata/Chitra category but she is a worthy successor to their legacy, to the extent we can have one in the music of our times.  As for Vibhavari, no doubt that is a beautiful performance of Lag Ja Gale with a tone very close to Lata but the problem is it is note for note reproduction of Lata's rendition.  That is ok when you are only covering somebody else's track but playback singing needs originality in interpretation of the music director's vision.  THAT is Shreya's biggest strength. SPB also said in the Bosskey interview that there are many singers today who might even be more skilled than him but who don't 'enact' the song.  Shreya understands the importance of expression.  Even when she covers Lata tracks (and she has been singing Lag Ja Gale in her live shows for a long time), she comes up with her own interpretation and without the adhigaprasangithanam of SPB (and I say this as a huge, huge fan of SPB).  That may also be why she is able to adapt to so many languages because it is important to fit your singing into the nuances of that regional style of music. 



The performance I heard of this song in her Shanmukhananda Hall show in Mumbai couple of years back was even better than this.  Maybe because it was just a 1000 seater hall and performed for an audience that was intimately aware of these songs and sang along with her; always motivates the artist when he/she is able to match wavelength with the audience.  But the main thing, which is noticeable in this performance also, is she is not trying to sing like Lata and instead captures the spirit of the song in her own light.  I don't need a new singer with a voice exactly or close to Lata's because I have all the old recordings of Lata to listen to. I need somebody who does justice to new compositions and I don't think either Vibhavari or Monali Thakur or the other new singers are up to it as far as Tamil goes.  Monali was superb in Sawar Loon, which is in Hindi and hence her forte. Probably Vibhavari is great when she sings Marathi songs.  But Shreya sings Marathi songs very well too!

Beautiful portion of Raja singapore

https://twitter.com/doDneedful/status/1047897390915735553

show.. mukkiyamana vishayam.. Camera Man and the Editing Man... avargluku music therinju iruku.. IR music purinju iruku.. andha andha insttuments ku
sariyaga vaasiparvagalai kaati irupargal. Really sweet and Great......

endha paatu endru ninaivu ilai.... Violin groups.. 2 groups....  oru  group.. stirct and straight notes.
another group....... beautiful Swinging Notes. idhai azhagaga correctaga kaati irupargal.
Youtubekaga asaiyaga kathu iruken....

Ramya NSK...... nice interview..... (Rajavai purindhu kondu avarai patri sollum unmai vaarthaigal.kaetka kaeta asai dhan......)

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

KSC about IR.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ue-SqBMgWAs

Usha wrote:Ramya NSK...... nice interview..... (Rajavai purindhu kondu avarai patri sollum unmai vaarthaigal.kaetka kaeta asai dhan......)

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

Excellent!

She was definitely privileged to sing in one of the best ever albums of IR! (NEPV) - that too two great, phenomenal songs!

BC wrote:continue the "Counting TFM Hits of IR " thread. Please don't abandon it .  It's been a long time since you updated that thread.

Having used Windows machines for decades, it takes some time to come to speed on Mac  
(Getting irritated with changes such as ctrl-c / ctrl-v has to be replaced with "windows-c / windows-v" and such endless kochu kochu irritations )

This is just one of the many challenges due to place / job change (+ weekend travels, besides - none other parts of life can be compromised ).

On top of these, mind is at its "least efficient" time period  adhAvadhu, laziness is the main culprit.

Things should settle down in a few weeks and I'll be able to post more frequently on all threads

Short film tribute to our IR

https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/this-short-film-is-a-tribute-to-ilaiyaraaja/article25176127.ece

app_engine wrote:

BC wrote:continue the "Counting TFM Hits of IR " thread. Please don't abandon it .  It's been a long time since you updated that thread.

Having used Windows machines for decades, it takes some time to come to speed on Mac  
(Getting irritated with changes such as ctrl-c / ctrl-v has to be replaced with "windows-c / windows-v" and such endless kochu kochu irritations )

This is just one of the many challenges due to place / job change (+ weekend travels, besides - none other parts of life can be compromised ).

On top of these, mind is at its "least efficient" time period  adhAvadhu, laziness is the main culprit.

Things should settle down in a few weeks and I'll be able to post more frequently on all threads

If you're trying to use Excel on Mac, then my commiserations to you!  I tried and gave up.  Luckily it was the laptop of a summer intern, not one of my acquisitions else I would have had a severe case of buyer's remorse!  Mac is great for most everything but Excel is not one of those things unfortunately.

Unrelated but perhaps IR had a premonition / intuition/ gut instinct about ‘Diamond pearl’ and perhaps that’s why he severed links with him.

Chinmayi #metoo matter:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vbeblVVdD2w

Ho, a lot of posts to read.  IR's most recent at MGR Janaki College  and in this link too:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s27Soo9lUBc     

app_engine wrote:

BC wrote:continue the "Counting TFM Hits of IR " thread. Please don't abandon it .  It's been a long time since you updated that thread.

Having used Windows machines for decades, it takes some time to come to speed on Mac  
(Getting irritated with changes such as ctrl-c / ctrl-v has to be replaced with "windows-c / windows-v" and such endless kochu kochu irritations )

This is just one of the many challenges due to place / job change (+ weekend travels, besides - none other parts of life can be compromised ).

On top of these, mind is at its "least efficient" time period  adhAvadhu, laziness is the main culprit.

Things should settle down in a few weeks and I'll be able to post more frequently on all threads

Thanks 

crimson king, I was just comparing one specific song sung by both, so it is easier and fair to compare VA & SG. Otherwise, I like SG too though she is not in my list of favs (I know there are fan associations for her).  IMHO, VA has not got a good chance yet unlike SG.

BC,
  Thanks for the link.........

En mana vaanil..  IR padi ipadi kaeta nimidam....... IRkaga ezhudhiya paatu dhan idhu...... negizhndhu ponen......

Vaazhkaiyil vetri tholvi .. enna oru bhadhil...

seiyum seyaluku than vetri thoLvi... Vaazhkaiku vetri tholvi kedaiyadhu....( en manasu kashtathuku arudhalana vaarthai idhu. Thank u IR)

BC wrote:Ho, a lot of posts to read.  IR's most recent at MGR Janaki College  and in this link too:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s27Soo9lUBc     

What a performance !!! No orchestra, no fancy sound system.. one man .. his voice, his expression..and a simple harmonium. and of course a clarity of thought that even dedicated Gurus find it difficult to attain..

BC wrote:

app_engine wrote:

BC wrote:continue the "Counting TFM Hits of IR " thread. Please don't abandon it .  It's been a long time since you updated that thread.

Having used Windows machines for decades, it takes some time to come to speed on Mac  
(Getting irritated with changes such as ctrl-c / ctrl-v has to be replaced with "windows-c / windows-v" and such endless kochu kochu irritations )

This is just one of the many challenges due to place / job change (+ weekend travels, besides - none other parts of life can be compromised ).

On top of these, mind is at its "least efficient" time period  adhAvadhu, laziness is the main culprit.

Things should settle down in a few weeks and I'll be able to post more frequently on all threads

Thanks 

crimson king, I was just comparing one specific song sung by both, so it is easier and fair to compare VA & SG. Otherwise, I like SG too though she is not in my list of favs (I know there are fan associations for her).  IMHO, VA has not got a good chance yet unlike SG.

I don't think it's about the number of songs, because the point is about interpretation and expressing in an original voice.  VA would beat SG hollow if it was a Lata covers gig; she has the perfect voice for it.  For original playback, I am yet to hear enough originality in VA's singing to think of her as comparable to SG.

Kiru, welcome back . Nice to read your post after a long time.

Navaratri @ IR's house 


https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/when-ilaiyaraaja-hosts-an-open-house/article25253337.ece

Wonderful tribute to Panju A by Lyricist Muthulingam.

Of course, it has a ton of IR-related info

BTW, I'm reading for the first time that PA had an ill-feeling towards MSV  (related to kalangarai viLakkam) and vowed to never sign him up if and when he produces movies!

Which he maintained all his days as producer it seems. (Prior to annakkiLi & IR, he made some low-budget movies that made decent money, with Vijayabhaskar as MD).

http://www.dinamani.com/weekly-supplements/dinamani-kondattam/2018/oct/07/%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%BE-%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%AA%E0%AF%86%E0%AE%B1%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%B1-%E0%AE%AA%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%9F%E0%AE%B2%E0%AF%8D---%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%9E%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%B2%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%99%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D-3015054.html