Sri Rama Rajyam - Maestro's masterpiece

19th episode: Invitation from Ayodhya

We have almost come to the most important phase of Uttara Ramayanam. Ashwamedha Yaagam. Before even going there you might recall my earlier post about this when Sage Vashishta recommends Ashwamedha yaagam for the prosperity of Rama and his kingdom and cleared Rama's doubt and the ways to perform a yaagam without Sita beside him. In the same context, dignitaries and soldiers from Ayodhya come to Vaalmiki's ashram to invite him to the yaagam. Vaalmiki was shocked and surprised to hear Rama performing yaagam at this juncture without Sita beside him. As per the rules and tradition yaagam cannot be performed by a husband without his wife. The dignitaries reiterate that the yaagam was blessed to be performed by the great Sage Vashishta and Rishyashringa. After hearing this, Vaalmiki convinces himself that they would have well thought about it before recommending such yaagam. So he wishes the yaagam to be successful and adds that he will be present at the appropriate day and time.

Trumpets and marching drums go from front to back as the Ayodhya soldiers and dignitaries arrive at the ashram as Sita watches them. When Vaalamiki questions "yaagamaa?", we can hear the same question musically raised by Maestro through tender strings. As the conversation progresses, the strings and harp progress mildly at the background without disturbing the scene. As the dignitaries leave, we can hear and smell the beautiful waterfall sound along with fading strings. Sita who was hearing their conversation from behind could not believe this. Immediately it struck her that there is something wrong. She now has the same doubt what Vaalmiki had before. How Rama is performing a yaagam without her? Maestro gives a surge of cellos/double-bass @1:27 which extends till 1:33 to indicate her shock and disappointment. A subdued flute and sarangi follows as having some grief and solace arguments with each other as Sita is having an helpless argument with her mind and Rama (indirectly). As my eyes run out of water watching the visuals, the music slowly takes my breath away.

http://maestroworld.wordpress.com/2013/05/17/sri-rama-rajyam-invitation-from-ayodhya/

Episode 20. Valmiki clears Sita's doubt (Part 1). This has the famous 'statue theme'. There are so many nicer subtleties in this score which I have tried to capture. Please read at your own leisure, as this is has become quite big. The second part to it will be published tomorrow.

http://maestroworld.wordpress.com/2013/05/20/sri-rama-rajyam-valmiki-clears-sitas-doubt-part-1/

Episode 20 (Part 2): Valmiki Clears Sita's doubt. Drench in Maestro's musical storm followed by the silence.

http://maestroworld.wordpress.com/2013/05/22/sri-rama-rajyam-valmiki-clears-sitas-doubt-part-2/

Episode 21 - Aswa-medha Yaagam. Please hear how Maestro has taken a huge challenge and delivered.
http://maestroworld.wordpress.com/2013/06/10/sri-rama-rajyam-aswa-medha-yaagam/

Episode 22 - War with Lakshmana. Do you want to hear Maestro's symphony?
http://maestroworld.wordpress.com/2013/06/25/sri-rama-rajyam-war-with-lakshmana/

Episode 23 - Sita Handover Lava-Kusa to Rama. This is dedicated to #365RajaQuiz to mark its completion. Please read at your own leisure.

http://maestroworld.wordpress.com/2013/07/28/sri-rama-rajyam-sita-handsover-lava-kusa-to-rama/
Longest episode in SRR. This also proves why Maestro is Nostradamus in music.

Episode 24 - Sita Returns to her Mother ...Forever

It will take time for us to get over this episode as Sita joins her mother forever, thereby ending her reincarnation. As the visuals continue to haunt us, the music will haunt us forever. I am so puzzled by the amount of precision with which Maestro has scored for this episode. The transformation of music from one phase to another accurately synchronized with the visuals is no mean an ordinary achievement. On top of it sustaining the mood throughout which is the most difficult task made easy with Maestro. The way he incorporates so many technical details like counterpoint, harmony etc. blending with the story, visuals and the dialogues thereby presenting endless motifs for us to identify makes him the only composer mastering the art so well.


http://maestroworld.wordpress.com/2013/08/12/sri-rama-rajyam-sita-returns-to-her-mother-forever/

[url=https://www.dropbox.com/s/6vhscjnauzoflsf/gaali_sri rama rajiyam_IR.wma]https://www.dropbox.com/s/6vhscjnauzoflsf/gaali_sri%20rama%20rajiyam_IR.wma[/url]

Wow! Super Suresh ji. What a surprise gift! Maestro is almost crying when singing. Can't take my ears off. Thank you so much! 

Me getting 404 error at the dropbox link. Can one of you pl upload this elsewhere & share the link? Nandri.

KV,

I am having problems trying to post the link. I am doing some mistake. Just cut and paste the link. It should work.

suresh,
 enakum work agalai. copy paste panninalum...  dropbox 404 error message dhan varadhu..........

Usha ji,
Please try this one, if not already tried. I am able to see the download button.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/6vhscjnauzoflsf/gaali_sri%20rama%20rajiyam_IR.wma

VS,
  indha Link work anadhu......... Thanks a lot VS.............

Raaga_Suresh/V_S,
 

I was   on hearing IR's voice and rendition in this version of Gaali Ningi Neeru. I did not expect him to sound so good and emote so well in Telugu. There are probably no post-90s professional singers (in Tamil/Telugu) who can render anywhere close to this. I mean, hear that tone and cry throughout the song, incredible, more so, at this age!

In the old Lava-Kusa (Tel) movie, (non-sadistic!) Ghantasala 'maastaaru' composed and sang Ye Nimishaniki Yemi Jaruguno for this situation. They show Rama and Lakshmana crying at the helpless situation and Ghantasala expresses the melancholy flawlessly. He sings as if like crying in some places. This song is a classic in Telugu.

In Sri Rama Rajyam, (non-sadistic!) IR 'master' composes and renders it, taking upon himself the challenge of the standard set by another 'maastaaru'. The difference in SRR is that the melancholy is supposed to reflect the deep-heart wailings of the laymen/people of Ayodhya of the helpless situation (and not exactly that of Rama or Lakshmana; recollect the simple folks in that dhobi scene where the problem starts). And so, IR changes his voice to reflect that rawness of the layman, and does the wailing throughout   

This rendition is no joke. Just listen to the way he renders "kaapaadalera evarainakaani" in the 2nd charanam. He even lets his voice break to get the emotion right (reminds me of Kudhikira kudhikira kudharakutti from Azhagarsaamiyin Kudhirai, but for a joyful/playful mood   ). He has surpassed all the challenges taken..only to create new ones himself.

I feel the Tel producer may have felt he would lose the audience for such a song, as the general Tel movie-goer (and even other regions) have lost tolerance for sad/crying scenes. And so, we get the SPB version where the melancholy is underplayed! They anyway kept the song short in the movie, so could have as well retained IR's version. (Like the popular KS Rama Rao's rendition of Hanuman Chalisa in Tel) I am sure this would have got noticed for being so different and the raw emotions/rendition.

Isaifan,

  Thanks for ur nice post.........  Beautifully told about IR's Renditiion.........

vaarthai.. adhilum ezhuthu.. adharku oru value koduthu paduvar IR............... chords madhirii....

Yes I concur with Usha ji. Very nice post isaifan.

Ushaji and V_Sji, thank you.

Episode 25 - End of Rama's incarnation. 
An emotional and vibrant moment to be experienced.
http://maestroworld.wordpress.com/2013/10/03/sri-rama-rajyam-end-of-ramas-incarnation/

Thank u VS........  romba azhaga  explain seidhu irukeenga......Ungalin vaarthaigal.. IR in isaiyai gavanika vaikiradhu............ Once again Thank u VS............

Maestro complements the sanskrit verses with underlying theme with strings, keyboards, wind instruments which rewinds almost the entire film in seconds. The way he bridges the first set of verses (during pattabishEkam – mantra pushpam) and second set of verses (to mark the end of a journey – narayana upanishad) is nothing but extra-ordinary. For that he starts playing the theme right from the first second of the clip and when we hear a pause of chants, we hear the music so well that it connects beautifully to the second set and lands beautifully. 

Thanks a lot ushaji for your kind compliments.  Sri Rama Rajyam is so close to me. I will be ending this big and my first initiative in the next and final episode with End Credits and Conclusion.

Last and final episode of Sri Rama Rajyam - End Credits and Conclusion. Lord Vishnu's anantha sayana dharisanam. This ends a very special journey of writing about Sri Rama Rajyam background score which started last September. Great moments to remember for the rest of my life.

http://maestroworld.wordpress.com/2013/11/04/sri-rama-rajyam-end-credits-and-conclusion/

V_S,

Lovely. Great effort from you. Hats off to your hard work.

Thanks a lot Sureshji. I means a lot to me. I have some plans on my next project, will reveal soon

Meticulous - that is the word to describe this passionate work by V_Sji!

Great job!

வாழ்த்துகள் V_Sji!