Concerts of Raaja

Nerd wrote:clear vid https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asRb3nMYD1Y … (10:10).That sheepish grin while letting it go, that spontaneity (udhaikkanume). And the final act. MAGIC.

this went private

Report on NJ concert by oneindia website

மாலை ஏழு மணிக்கு ஆரம்பமான கச்சேரி நள்ளிரவு பன்னிரண்டு மணிக்கு நிறைவு பெற்றது. ஐந்து மணி நேரமும் மேடையிலேயே நின்று கொண்டு இசை ராஜாங்கம் நடத்தினார் இளையராஜா. பத்து நிமிடம் மட்டுமே சின்ன ப்ரேக் எடுத்துக்கொண்டார். ஆனால் நிகழ்ச்சி இடைவேளை இல்லாமல் தொடர்ந்து நடைபெற்றுக்கொண்டே இருந்தது.

Why there are such negative comments (only) below the article?

Look at this blog post

As usual, people pick on rAsA for non-musical reasons

நிகழ்சி எனவோ மிக நன்றாக இருந்தது. 5 மணிகள் 5 நொடிகள்போல பறந்தது. ஆனால் தெலுங்கு ரசிகர்கள் நன்றாக ஏமாந்து விட்டனர். மிக சொற்பமான எண்ணிக்கையே தெலுங்கு பாடல்கள் பாடப்பட்டன. S.P.பாலசுப்ரமனியம் மற்றும் மணோ இருவரும் நிலமையினை உணர்ந்து தெலுங்கில் பேசி பாட முற்படும் போதெல்லாம் இளையராஜா தமிழுக்கு இழுத்து வந்துவிடுவார். தெலுங்கு ரசிகர்களோ பொறுமை இழந்து தெலுங்கு தெலுங்கு என்று கத்த ஆரம்ப்பித்து விட்டனர்.

பாடல்களின் முடிவிலும் ஆரம்பத்திலும் ரசிகர்கள் ஆரவாரம் செய்வது இவருக்கு பிடிக்கவில்லை போல

உடனே இளையராஜா கோபமாக "என்ன இப்படி கத்துகிறீர்கள்? நாங்கள் எப்படி 2 மாதமாக கஷ்ட்டப்பட்டு பயிற்சி எடுத்து வந்திருக்கிறோம். இதுக்காகவா நான் வந்தேன், வெளிநாட்டில் நீங்கள் கற்ற கலாச்சாரம் இதுதனா? என்ன நாகரீகமோ என்றார்". கூட்டம் மொத்தமும் கப்-சிப்.

பிறகு மறுநாள் நடந்த விருந்தில் மெய்க்காப்பாளர்களுடன் வந்து கலந்துகொன்டார். ஒருவரும் அவர் அருகில் செல்ல முடியவில்லை, பேச முடியவில்லை , சேர்ந்து புகைப்படம் எடுக்கவும் அனுமதிக்கவில்லை.

I wonder whether they'll complain the same way for a show by a popular western artist (couldn't take picture, couldn't go near etc).

What nonsense!

Sakala, its back now. Don't miss it. Terrific chemistry between Karthik-Raaja, Raaja-audience.
https://t.co/eeqxY8D8yT

There is some talk that Raja was reason for the delay of start of the concert in Toronto. The organizers have published that it them who messed some pre-show events. Wish it was stated clearly, there is nothing terrible like waiting in concert hall with kids..

http://www.trinityeventsonline.com/uploads/Last_Press_Release.pdf

app_engine wrote: Look at this blog post

As usual, people pick on rAsA for non-musical reasons

நிகழ்சி எனவோ மிக நன்றாக இருந்தது. 5 மணிகள் 5 நொடிகள்போல பறந்தது. ஆனால் தெலுங்கு ரசிகர்கள் நன்றாக ஏமாந்து விட்டனர். மிக சொற்பமான எண்ணிக்கையே தெலுங்கு பாடல்கள் பாடப்பட்டன. S.P.பாலசுப்ரமனியம் மற்றும் மணோ இருவரும் நிலமையினை உணர்ந்து தெலுங்கில் பேசி பாட முற்படும் போதெல்லாம் இளையராஜா தமிழுக்கு இழுத்து வந்துவிடுவார். தெலுங்கு ரசிகர்களோ பொறுமை இழந்து தெலுங்கு தெலுங்கு என்று கத்த ஆரம்ப்பித்து விட்டனர்.

பாடல்களின் முடிவிலும் ஆரம்பத்திலும் ரசிகர்கள் ஆரவாரம் செய்வது இவருக்கு பிடிக்கவில்லை போல

உடனே இளையராஜா கோபமாக "என்ன இப்படி கத்துகிறீர்கள்? நாங்கள் எப்படி 2 மாதமாக கஷ்ட்டப்பட்டு பயிற்சி எடுத்து வந்திருக்கிறோம். இதுக்காகவா நான் வந்தேன், வெளிநாட்டில் நீங்கள் கற்ற கலாச்சாரம் இதுதனா? என்ன நாகரீகமோ என்றார்". கூட்டம் மொத்தமும் கப்-சிப்.

பிறகு மறுநாள் நடந்த விருந்தில் மெய்க்காப்பாளர்களுடன் வந்து கலந்துகொன்டார். ஒருவரும் அவர் அருகில் செல்ல முடியவில்லை, பேச முடியவில்லை , சேர்ந்து புகைப்படம் எடுக்கவும் அனுமதிக்கவில்லை.

I wonder whether they'll complain the same way for a show by a popular western artist (couldn't take picture, couldn't go near etc).

What nonsense!

Both are lies. Nothing like this -> "துக்காகவா நான் வந்தேன், வெளிநாட்டில் நீங்கள் கற்ற கலாச்சாரம் இதுதனா? என்ன நாகரீகமோ" Aravind mano can clarify. நம்ம தலைவர் அன்பாத்தான் சொல்லிருப்பார்!

Also there was a vid where he was posing and signing for 5 minits before the escort guy asker Raja to sit in his dining chair

Nerd wrote:Sakala, its back now. Don't miss it. Terrific chemistry between Karthik-Raaja, Raaja-audience.
https://t.co/eeqxY8D8yT

thanks Nerd Now Goosebumps in loop!!! His entry nothing less than a Superstar! இத்தனைக்கும் அதே பாட்டுதான் ஒவ்வொரு முறையும்!!

There were lot of complaints from telugu friends who watched the show.
1. Not many telugu songs, it seems when they booked the ticket they were told that it will be 50-50 thamizh-telugu songs. I am not sure if this is true.
2. Telugu song selections were not good, they expected Swathi muthyam, sagara sangam like classical songs.
3. Most of the conversations were in thamizh.
4. Maestro didn't treat audience well, he was ignorant. (I was frustrated hearing this).
5. Sound system was bad. Singers voice was not heard properly.
6. No Hariharan, Yesudas, Sadhana.

I even read some of their comments (forwarded from facebook), which many comments were harsh, directly attacking Maestro. Many comments said, they were cheated.

Only one thing I would like to say, as I didn't know the background much on how this event was marketed, but when it comes to Maestro's songs, language does not matter as almost all the songs sung were in telugu too which they fail to understand and appreciate. When we hear prema entha mathuram or balapambatti or jagadananda karaga, the joy we get is boundless (again this is true only for HC fans, may not be true for everyone). I am not sure if the same joy they get when they sing any thamizh songs in the concert. May be not (as language takes precedence over music generally), that's the reason they feel disappointed, but some of their comments were too harsh.

Sakalakala Vallavar wrote:

app_engine wrote: Look at this blog post

As usual, people pick on rAsA for non-musical reasons

நிகழ்சி எனவோ மிக நன்றாக இருந்தது. 5 மணிகள் 5 நொடிகள்போல பறந்தது. ஆனால் தெலுங்கு ரசிகர்கள் நன்றாக ஏமாந்து விட்டனர். மிக சொற்பமான எண்ணிக்கையே தெலுங்கு பாடல்கள் பாடப்பட்டன. S.P.பாலசுப்ரமனியம் மற்றும் மணோ இருவரும் நிலமையினை உணர்ந்து தெலுங்கில் பேசி பாட முற்படும் போதெல்லாம் இளையராஜா தமிழுக்கு இழுத்து வந்துவிடுவார். தெலுங்கு ரசிகர்களோ பொறுமை இழந்து தெலுங்கு தெலுங்கு என்று கத்த ஆரம்ப்பித்து விட்டனர்.

பாடல்களின் முடிவிலும் ஆரம்பத்திலும் ரசிகர்கள் ஆரவாரம் செய்வது இவருக்கு பிடிக்கவில்லை போல

உடனே இளையராஜா கோபமாக "என்ன இப்படி கத்துகிறீர்கள்? நாங்கள் எப்படி 2 மாதமாக கஷ்ட்டப்பட்டு பயிற்சி எடுத்து வந்திருக்கிறோம். இதுக்காகவா நான் வந்தேன், வெளிநாட்டில் நீங்கள் கற்ற கலாச்சாரம் இதுதனா? என்ன நாகரீகமோ என்றார்". கூட்டம் மொத்தமும் கப்-சிப்.

பிறகு மறுநாள் நடந்த விருந்தில் மெய்க்காப்பாளர்களுடன் வந்து கலந்துகொன்டார். ஒருவரும் அவர் அருகில் செல்ல முடியவில்லை, பேச முடியவில்லை , சேர்ந்து புகைப்படம் எடுக்கவும் அனுமதிக்கவில்லை.

I wonder whether they'll complain the same way for a show by a popular western artist (couldn't take picture, couldn't go near etc).

What nonsense!

Both are lies. Nothing like this -> "துக்காகவா நான் வந்தேன், வெளிநாட்டில் நீங்கள் கற்ற கலாச்சாரம் இதுதனா? என்ன நாகரீகமோ" Aravind mano can clarify. நம்ம தலைவர் அன்பாத்தான் சொல்லிருப்பார்!

Also there was a vid where he was posing and signing for 5 minits before the escort guy asker Raja to sit in his dining chair

Sakala, yeah he said that. ரொம்ப கோபப்பட்டார், உண்மை தான். But that was only third time. Twice he explained that they cannot take any song requests and they have prepared a list of songs and practiced only that. Third time he got very angry. Mostly the problem was language - tamil or telugu. So one part of crowd was always shouting. Also, lots of alcohol

V_S wrote:There were lot of complaints from telugu friends who watched the show.
1. Not many telugu songs, it seems when they booked the ticket they were told that it will be 50-50 thamizh-telugu songs. I am not sure if this is true.
2. Telugu song selections were not good, they expected Swathi muthyam, sagara sangam like classical songs.
3. Most of the conversations were in thamizh.
4. Maestro didn't treat audience well, he was ignorant. (I was frustrated hearing this).
5. Sound system was bad. Singers voice was not heard properly.
6. No Hariharan, Yesudas, Sadhana.

I even read some of their comments (forwarded from facebook), which many comments were harsh, directly attacking Maestro. Many comments said, they were cheated.

Only one thing I would like to say, as I didn't know the background much on how this event was marketed, but when it comes to Maestro's songs, language does not matter as almost all the songs sung were in telugu too which they fail to understand and appreciate. When we hear prema entha mathuram or balapambatti or jagadananda karaga, the joy we get is boundless (again this is true only for HC fans, may not be true for everyone). I am not sure if the same joy they get when they sing any thamizh songs in the concert. May be not (as language takes precedence over music generally), that's the reason they feel disappointed, but some of their comments were too harsh.

1 - wont be surprised if it is true.
2 - I was very glad about the telugu songs chosen. The crowd totally enjoyed every telugu song. (In fact applause was more for telugu songs, may be because they were waiting for songs).
3 - True. Many times people were shouting talk in Telugu. SPB and Mano managed a bit. Among the singers only SPB switched between Tamil and Telugu while singing.
4 - No way. ஒரு தடவ கோவப்பட்டார், thassal.
5 - No again. In fact I felt the voice was a bit high.
6 - yeah - the list of singers kept changing.

If they understand that this concert was planned and executed in four weeks, they won't find faults.

Thanks Aravind for your comments. I felt little relieved now.

AravindMano wrote:If they understand that this concert was planned and executed in four weeks, they won't find faults.

Exactly, Thanks for saying this. This is what I too conveyed. I believe only Canada concert was organized and marketed since long time. After that I heard there will also be a California concert. It was all of a sudden, that NJ concert was organized. In-spite of this rush, they managed quite nicely. I too was surprised to hear good number of telugu songs, still it wasn't enough for them. May be they were mis-guided by the organizers rather the IR and the team, but they put all the blame on him.

http://www.tollyview.com/viewnews.php?newstype=1&shownews=2311&title=Highlights-of-Ilayaraja-Concert

-There were complaints from both Telugu and Tamil patrons regarding which language got more prominence. We feel the music is universal and the experience is beyond the boundaries of language.

Thats the Sprit!

app_engine wrote: Look at this blog post

பிறகு மறுநாள் நடந்த விருந்தில் மெய்க்காப்பாளர்களுடன் வந்து கலந்துகொன்டார். ஒருவரும் அவர் அருகில் செல்ல முடியவில்லை, பேச முடியவில்லை , சேர்ந்து புகைப்படம் எடுக்கவும் அனுமதிக்கவில்லை.

This is the Video i was talking about, He feely moves with and ppl takes foto and infact he is literally not allowed to sit and dine! மனுஷன் பசியோட இருந்திருக்கலாம்



Another one

I have an extra ticket for the SJ concert tomorrow. Pl PM me if you are interested.

http://www.culturesnap.ca/maestroshow

From the website
<quote>
I had the great pleasure of capturing photos of the huge Tamil music event at Toronto's Rogers Centre on February 16th, 2013.

The night featured Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and a host of incredibly talented Tamil artists. Maestro Ilaiyaraaja is a musical legend in Tamil music circles, and this was his first time peforming in North America. The crowd (estimated at 25,000-40,000 people) was moved to tears when he came on stage as this one account attests.

While I did not know any of the artists before the night began*, I was drawn into their beautiful music and left with several songs still in my head.

The passionate artists and the orchestra's rhythms reminded me of how glad I am for a world that is not yet flat culturally, but vibrant with art and ways of living to discover and enjoy.

More on the artists performing can be found here.

(*My apologies for not having all the artists names - or the correct names - for this album. If you know the correct names of any of these artists please message me at culturesnap.ca@gmail.com and I will update this album. Thanks!)
</quote>

Some more nice snaps from the same guys
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.216806125129030.1073741825.166788993464077&type=1&l=af4d006f6d

Going to experience Maestro's first live concert in a few hours. Super excited about it. Will post the song list later tonight. Anyone else attending from here, I know kiru and baroque are.

myself..

Can't wait! A bit nervous too (expectations are super high!)

Gokul

Rajkumar , kiru , baroque , writeface ,
Wish you guys all to have a wonderful musical evening .. Witnessing Live music unfold right in from of you will be an unbelievable experience..Hope you all have a great time..
Please give us updates about the songs and the interesting moments and titbits of the show.

Back from my first ever Maestro's concert. It was a one of a kind experience to witness Maestro and his troupe perform live. When Maestro came on stage and sang Janani Janani, the reality of the moment sunk in (tears/joy/being part of this event/ - an inexplicable myriad of feelings at the same time). It was a fantastic concert with a good mix of various Tamil & Telugu gems.
There were many goosebump moments and I hope to post about them later. Most of the singers performed really well. SPB & Chitra were truly exceptional. The orchestra - oh man, I will run out of adjectives to commend their performance, mindblowing is an understatement - the strings, percussion, guitars, flute and wonderfully conducted by Prabhakar. The concert started right on time at 7:30 and went almost close to midnight. Maestro took a break for a few mins half way through and he was there standing in the stage all along.

Here is the song list. The ordering might be off for the first few songs and I might have got the female singers wrong as well for some songs, I will try to edit and correct any mistakes later. I think I got all the songs listed, wonder if I really missed any.

1. Intro Music (Sets the stage for the orchestra indicating that this is no ordinary show but a real music concert)
   
2. Janani Janani - Maestro (No words )
   
3. Om Shivoham - Karthik (A really overpowering performance - both the orchestra and Karthik's rendition)
   
4. Jagadananda Kaaraka - SPB, GeetaMadhuri (Telugu)
   
5. Isayil thodangudhamma - Hariharan
   
6. Ninnukori - Chitra (Telugu)
   
7. Sangeetha Thirunaalo - Bavathaarini
   
8. Ennai Thalaatta varuvaalo - Hariharan
   
9. Idhayam oru Kovil - Maestro (Goosebump moment# Maestro connecting with the audience as per the lyrics)
   
10. Mounamena Loi (Mounamana Neram) - SPB Chitra (Telugu)
    
11. Shenbagame - Mano
    
12. Eno Raatri (Maasi Maasam) - SPB PriyaHemesh (Telugu)
    
13. Thyagaraaja keerthanai - Maestro (Telugu)
    
14. Ilamayenum Poongatru - SPB (Goosebump moment# for selecting this song and for the whole performance)
    
15. Manjolai Kilidhaano - Hariharan
    
16. Nee thoongum nerathil - Hariharan
    
17. Lalitha priya kamalam (Idhazhil Kadhai Ezhudum) - SPB Chitra (Telugu)
    
18. Naan Thedum - Maestro Chitra (Goosebump moment# with Maestro's aalap)
    
19. Medley: Azhagu Malar Aada - Hariharan Priyadarshini (Transition from the earlier song
    to azhagu malar aada was astounding, it had western instruments backing)
    / Naanaga nana illai (SPB) / Aananda then kaatru (Senthil/PriyaHemesh)
    
20. Balapam Batti - SPB, Mano Chitra (Telugu)
    
21. Raaja kayya vacha - Yuvan, Sathya
    
22. Naan porandhu - Priyadarshini (IR introduced this song and walked off the stage to take a break)
    
23. Botany Padam - SPB, Mano, GeetaMadhuri (Telugu)
    
24. Prathi dhinam - Karthik, Priyadarshini (Telugu) (IR was back on stage before this song)
    
25. Adhe geetham - SPB, Chitra (Telugu)
    
26. Sokka manna - Mano, Chitra (Telugu)(Not sure about this song, I might have got the words wrong)
    
27. Priya priyathama - Mano, Chitra (Telugu)
    
28. Oliyile therivathu - Karthik, Bavathaarini (plus cello, strings section were replayed after the song)
    
29. O Priya Priya - SPB, Chitra (Goosebump moment#: Amazing deconstruction after the song ended
    with SPB explaining how the harmony played by the flute and strings
    elevated his singing)
    
30. Sorgame endraalum - Maestro, Priyadarshini (Maestro sang a few lines of this song in Telugu as well)
    
31. Ninaivo oru Paravai - Yuvan, RamyaNSK (RamyaNSK sang this amazingly, especially the humming portions)
    
32. Keeravani - SPB (Telugu) (Maestro sang Kaatril Endhan Geetham and mentioned Vamsi
    got the Keeravani song by asking for song like Kaatril Endhan Geetham)
    
33. Thamthana Thamthana - Chitra, Anitha (this song had new orchestration/arrangements and it was lovely)
    
34. Priyathama Nannu - SPB, PriyaHemesh
    
35. Sundari Kannaal - SPB, Chitra (Goosebump moment# when the strings tremolo started in the prelude, this is as majestic as it can get in a live orchestration)
    
36. Pottu vaitha kaadhal - Karthik, Yuvan, Sathya (Orchestration was thundering)
    
37. Thakida thadhimi - SPB (Telugu & Tamil)
    
38. Orampo - Maestro, Priyadarshini
    
39. Nila adhu / Thenpandi Seemayile - Maestro, SPB (Tamil / Telugu)
    

The audience did not move even after SPB/IR announced the end of the concert. We would have gladly waited for more, no one felt like going out.

Need to get my thoughts together and post more or edit this post, i'm in a state of trance
now and I believe it will last for days. Would love to hear from others
who witnessed the concert.

rajkumarc,
Thanks for sharing your wonderful experience and also for the big list. Yes, wonderful selection of songs, it's almost the same as NJ concert, except there are few songs from Canada concert and 1-2 new songs.

I have been listening to this song non-stop. Nicely re-done by SPB and Priya Himesh (?) and the orchestra. The charanam tune is totally surprising the way song started in pallavi. I can hear the whistles when SPB starts the charanam. After first two lines, again how Maestro brings the twist in the next two lines and how he breaks fast to get into the pallavi again Wow! Where are songs like this today, un-inspiring melodies and very childish melodies.

I went with much excitement and trepidation!
The orchestra was awesome particularly
the strings! But the whole show suffered
from poor sound quality and audience
chattering non-stop. People pay 100 bucks
to hear their own voice! I had to give threatening
stares to my neighbors to get them shushed!
And it was like a railway station, junta generally milling
around, walking here and there constantly.

skr wrote:Rajkumar , kiru , baroque , writeface ,
Wish you guys all to have a wonderful musical evening .. Witnessing Live music unfold right in from of you will be an unbelievable experience..Hope you all have a great time..
Please give us updates about the songs and the interesting moments and titbits of the show.

Unfortunately, I could not make it. My wife had work that day and could not get an off.
Whatever it is, being in the same space (however big like an arena) as IR should have been an experience/feeling.
Looking at the videos , it is weird the conductors are behind the singers. Also, IR also seems to conduct at times.