Anything about IR found on the net - Vol 1

IIRC, JeMo quotes three Malayalam song youtubes and one of them is 'uNarumee gAnam' of moonnAm pakkam

I watched this movie last night (for the first time) and posted briefly in the BGM thread that this is text book on BGM.

One has to watch the movie to believe IR's creativity! How silence is used, how ICM or WCM is beautifully unobtrusive but extremely powerful where demanded - WOW! People who often choose to malign IR's BGM as "showy" should watch this Padmarajan classic - and then talk about BGM !

Sivajikku oru overacting. IR-ku showy BGM. Mediocre hacks justify their ordinariness by inventing criticism.

Plum saare,
KalakkalO kalakkal. I wanted to read Jeyamohan's article, but when I searched in this site, could not find it. Good that you shared now. I have to read the entire article.

I am totally overwhelmed by his quotes which you quoted by giving your view points. I wanted to quote everything what you mentioned here, but let me quote few of your "nail on the head" observations.

plum wrote:Only the ones who have heard and assimilated IR in their heart, who will feel those words as they read it, only you are blessed in this world. Everyone else is a sinner from previous lives who have been denied this realisation in this life.

plum wrote:How true! This is something the most die-hard of IR fans keep realising every day. Can any other composer' fans claim this even? The extent of this man's genius is simply not realised except by the few of us. I say, HOW BLESSED are we? indha realisation namma mindukku ettumARu iRaivan seidhadhE evLO periya varam!

plum wrote:I mean, the amount of patronization IR has among tamils is huge and unparalleled but very few among them understand the real extent of his contribution and achievement and why "Big Deal, it was IR in the 80s, Rahman in 90s and 2000s, GVP now and MSV in 60s and GR before that, All are the same" is either very dishonest or a naive statement.

All golden statements!

To be honest, before I started writing/posting about his music (thanks to app for persuading me to write), even though I am a HCIRF, I was just a casual listener. As you said, there are many HCIRFs, but very few understand the real extent of his contribution, that includes me as well even now. Once I started writing, I can feel the real intensity in his music and closeness towards him. Every time I can extract an imagery out of his music with no exceptions and he never let me down. Be it the choice of instruments, orchestration, tune, singing whatever, I was thinking it could be a random thought or by instinct, but not at all. Till whatever I have written so far, I have never come across a single incident where he picked a flute for a violin or a shehnai for a flute. Even the timing of a composition has more meaning to it. Why some interludes are short why some are longer. Why he picks up a certain rhythm/tempo. There is no randomness in any note, all tightly integrated into cinema, as you and JM observed.

Read the whole JM article now. I could not believe JM saying he is not a raja fan. I agree he is one of the biggest music fan other than being a writer. Unless he has so much deep understanding about Raja's music and the overall music scenario, he cannot write like this. One of the best in the internet world and a great tribute to the legend. Everyone should read it. We should gold frame that article.

While reading that article, also happened to re-read this old article by JM. More than his concerns on Shaji's article, he also talks about how Ilaiyaraaja has always been the authority of 'modern/real' tamil cinema, not just being part of it. Just wanted to record this here.

http://www.jeyamohan.in/?p=6473

To be honest, Jayamohan writes each and every aspect about Maestro and why he so different from other music directors. He is the only composer who understands cinema thoroughly. I have never read such a moving article about Maestro. Literally in tears!

One thing interesting about the adi-dhadi w.r.t. nAyakan is Mukta acknowledging rAsA

Here we have a producer who was not a "convert" during rAsA's prime, sticking to MSV (pollAthavan / simlA special etc) and kind of reluctantly signing up rAsA because of MR (after that humongous mouna rAgam)...now trying to make IR as his backup when he is up in arms against Kamal (& MR)

கவுண்டமணி:
அட, அரசியல்ல இதெல்லாம் சாதாரணமப்பா!

Plum, superb observation (I mean echoing the article), like this one "Sivajikku oru overacting. IR-ku showy BGM. Mediocre hacks justify their ordinariness by inventing criticism." For the first time I am going to pat my own back for wanting you guys back in action.

Devi Sriprasad gets a rare treat by rAsA :

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/telugu/news-interviews/Devi-Sri-Prasads-special-moment/articleshow/17018470.cms

Devi Sri Prasad's joy knew no boundaries after he was asked to share the stage with Maestro Ilayaraja. This happened during the audio launch of Maranthen Mannithen, the Tamil version of Gundello Godari, for which Ilayaraja composed by the music. Devi was enthralled by Ilayaraja's gesture after the latter called him on to the stage,.

"Today is one of the greatest days in my Life.! Raja sir was singing on stage and suddenly he called me and asked me to sing along..!! Greatest feeling Everr..!! Then when releasing the CD he again called me and made me stand next to HIM.! Its like a DREAM.! I am still not able to believe..!! I am FLYING..!! This is the BIGGEST award I can ever get.! I went till his car to send him off and he blessed me with the world's most MUSICAL smile!! Am Blessed!!," Devi posted on his micro blogging site.

There's a picture of both sitting next to each other.

This can be used as a sample if someone says "has IR ever had nice things to say about next gen (i.e. other than his kids)"

Quite often people talk about IR's compensation flexibility...one more:

http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news-1/oct-12-05/maranthen-mannithen-lakshmi-manchu-30-10-12.html

Maranthen Mannithen is actress Lakshmi Manchu’s first Tamil production venture, starring Aadhi and Taapsee in the lead. The audio launch of the film happened recently, and the debut producer had no intentions of losing the opportunity to thank every soul that had made the film possible.

While doing so, she narrated how roping in Maestro Ilayaraja happened. The pretty lass was full of emotions and said, “I approached Raja sir and said I’m doing a film. I requested him to do the music.”

Without any hesitation he accepted to do it, said the actress. “Then I explained him my financial constrain. Even before I finished, he stopped me and said he doesn’t want any payment immediately and that he’ll take the money after the release,” exclaimed Lakshmi, thanking him for his kind gesture

Telugu original of maRandhEn manniththEn is gundello godari...

OK, one more - this one has some extra juice in it (as someone gave mike to rAsA) :

http://tamil.oneindia.in/movies/news/2012/10/music-cinema-inseperable-says-maestro-ilayaraja-163869.html

IR wrote:

ரஜினிகாந்த் எனக்கு நல்ல நண்பர். சமீபத்தில் நானும், ரஜினியும், மோகன்பாபுவும் ஒரு மணி நேரம் பேசிக்கொண்டிருந்தோம்.

எனக்கு ஞாபகம் இல்லாத விஷயங்களை எல்லாம் ரஜினி ஞாபகப்படுத்தினார். அந்தக் காலத்தில் ஒரு முறை ரஜினிகாந்துக்கு ஒரு குறிப்பிட்ட படத்தில் நடிக்க விருப்பம் இல்லை. அந்த படத்தில் அவரை நடிக்கும்படி, நான் சொல்லி அனுப்பினேன். அதன்பிறகு அவர் அந்த படத்தில் நடித்தார்.

"சாமி சொன்னதால்தான் அந்த படத்தில் நடித்தேன். படம் வெற்றி பெற்றது'' என்று பழைய சம்பவங்களை எல்லாம் ரஜினி எனக்கு ஞாபகப்படுத்தினார்.

இப்படிச் சொல்வதால், நான் அவரை விட பெரிய ஆள் என்று அர்த்தம் அல்ல. ரஜினி பெருந்தன்மையானவர் என்பதுதான் உண்மை!''

Wonder what movie that is.

Madurai T Srinivasan, mridhangam artist who played for 'Ayiram thAmarai mottukkaLE' / thakida thadhimi / HTNI and such classics passed away :

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/artiste-cheena-kutty-no-more/article4048493.ece

When you hear a mellifluous mridangam in a Tamil film song, it is most likely that Cheena Kutty is the artiste — whether it is old gems such as ‘Paatum Naane Bhavamum Naane’ (Thiruvilaiyadal), ‘Marainthirunthu Parkum Marmam Yenna’ (Thillana Mohanambal), or songs in Salangai Oli.

It was Ilayaraja who exploited the percussionist’s talent to the maximum. The addictive beats in the beginning of the song ‘Aayiram Thamarai Mottukalae’ (Alaigal Oyvathillai) and his percussive support in Ilaiyaraja’s celebrated album ‘How To Name It’ are fine examples of his sensitive playing.

rAsA-vAli songs featured by radiospathy

The playlist in that blog :

-மீரா படத்தில் இருந்து "புது ரூட்டுல தான்" பாடியவர்: கே.ஜே.ஜேசுதாஸ்
-கிளிப்பேச்சு கேட்கவா படத்தில் இருந்து "சிவகாமி நெனப்பினிலே" பாடியவர்கள்: எஸ்.பி.பாலசுப்ரமணியம், எஸ்.ஜானகி
-வருஷம் 16 படத்தில் இருந்து "பழமுதிர்ச்சோலை எனக்காகத் தான்" பாடியவர்: கே.ஜே.ஜேசுதாஸ்
-ஒரு ஊர்ல ஒரு ராஜகுமாரி படத்தில் இருந்து "ராஜா ராஜா தான்" பாடியவர்கள்: எஸ்.ஜானகி, அருண்மொழி குழுவினர்
-மகுடம் படத்தில் இருந்து "சின்னக்கண்ணா" பாடியவர்: எஸ்.பி.பாலசுப்ரமணியம்
-அக்னி நட்சத்திரம் படத்தில் இருந்து "ஒரு பூங்காவனம்" பாடியவர்: எஸ்.ஜானகி
-ராசா மகன் படத்தில் இருந்து "வைகாசி வெள்ளிக்கிழமை தானே" பாடியவர்:எஸ்.பி.பாலசுப்ரமணியம்
-மாமியார் வீடு படத்தில் இருந்து "என்னை தொடர்ந்தது" பாடியவர்கள்: கே.ஜே.ஜேசுதாஸ், எஸ்.ஜானகி
-தளபதி படத்தில் இருந்து "சின்னத்தாயவள் தந்த ராசாவே" பாடியவர்:எஸ்.ஜானகி
-தாலாட்டு கேட்குதாம்மா படத்தில் இருந்து "நேந்துக்கிட்ட நேர்த்திக்கடன் தீர்த்துப்புட்டேன்" பாடியவர்:எஸ்.பி.பாலசுப்ரமணியம்


Some of the songs are "never heard before" for me

#ILAYARAAJA sings his numbers in an unplugged version

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=516524188359949&set=a.516508955028139.127140.454532297892472&type=1&theater

Oh yeah, baby! Now we're talkin'!

At the Bangalore concert last month, a bunch of us Raaja fans had a chance to (very briefly) meet guitarist Sada when he was leaving the venue. kedachcha vaaippa nazhuva vidaama I told him how much fans like me are longing to see an unplugged concert of Raaja! paavam manushan, he appeared a little intimidated and was taken aback, but managed to gather a smile and nod his head.

Raaja concerts and luck haven't been good friends in the recent past. Hope at least this one comes through!

KV Namma wish is gonna be granted soon
Unplugged video has just been shot ..Inge Paarungo ..Only Piano , guitar and flute - while uploading pic Napoleans face is getting missed ..You can check full pic in this link
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2ufvxtx&s=6
[img][/img]

GUNDELLO GODARI OFFICIAL Mp3 download

http://www.flipkart.com/gundello-godari/p/itmdemvewd4m4nf8?pid=DGADEMTVGZSYWCKT

Ilayathalam: Hi all,
We are shooting the promo for the unplugged concert that Maestro will be performing of his favourite film and non-film songs.
Ilayathalam has decided to include 20 - 30 people from our fan page to attend the promo shoot where Maestro will sing 2 -3 songs on the piano with other musicians.
Anyone interested please don't comment but just hit the "Like" button to this post. We will randomly choose the winners. We are very happy with the contestants who came to the studio earlier for the rehearsals. Maestro was really pleased.
- Ilayathalam
u r yet to like...
pl like to get a chance...

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=516867088325659&set=a.513576128654755.126562.454532297892472&type=1&theater

Ilayathalam
Hi all,
We are falling short of crew to handle the show and other music and web related activities.
If you are interested to work as a freelancer or full time professional with Ilayathalam, please contact us on ilayathalam@gmail.com
There are several areas from management to photography to Maestro's music score archiving projects etc which are going on. We need people in various different areas of expertise.

Thanks
- Ilayathalam

Brammanandan's son

Is his father the singer of 'sandhakkavidhaikaL pAdum manadhinil' song from Mahendran's "metti"?

A huge fan of Ilayaraja (he has sung for the legend in the Malayalam movie SMS), Rakhesh admits that A.R.Rahman has also influenced him a great deal. “When Roja came out, every one was raving about Rahman. I was in for a pleasant surprise when my father told me that Rahman had come to our home as a kid with his father, the late R.K. Sekhar. Rahman’s talent was a kind of inspiration for me,” he says, adding: “I soon started learning keyboard and piano, before going for music lessons.”

Nice question.

What I exactly thought (the first part)!

Gangai Amaran with Mano. Gangai Amaran sir sharing lot of anecdotes about Raja and his compositions. How GA wrote 'Mannil Indha Kaadhal' imagining how his brother (Pavalar Varadarajan) would have written. What a flow and how the words correctly identified its place. Excellent work by GA.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SD35BJQSNBI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwoT4KO8hss

Onnum vEnam sir, andha starting music (Dhoni's Thaavi Thaavi) is itself enough to say how Raja is making an impact/connect with listeners all the time.

Watched part 2 of this on Jaya TV. Mano was as intolerable as always but he did make a rather insightful comment. I was shocked actually. Mano-vaa? Nesamaavaa? Anyway this is what happened -

Raja while on a composing session happened to listen to neethaanaa nesamthaanaa (naaLellaam pournami) being played from a Tea stall. Asked Amar, "idha namma endha padaththula pOttOm?". Super thrilled Amar goes, "idhu naan pOttadhu aNNE". Gangai Amaran quoted this incident to say how sometimes they both *think* alike. Mano with his usual, aang, apdiyaa, tch tch etc., while listening to this anecdote made this comment immediately after Gangai Amaran finished - "aanaa orchestration kaatti kuduthudum, tune vENaa avarai maadhiri irukkalaam aanaa orchestration andha aLavukku varaadhu.."

This blog has re-posted some VM answers from vikatan :

http://www.adrasaka.com/2012/11/blog-post_15.html

Has VM heard the NEPV songs at all?

Or, is he living in his own world?

I get this doubt because in his answer to the age-old question about IR-BR-VM koottaNi, he blabbers as:

வாத்தியங்களில் இருந்த இசை தொழில்நுட்பத்துக்குத் தாவி விட்டது

I was surprised last night to see that my 6 yr old was playing NEPV songs from my wife's iPod...asked her 'idhellAm eppadi inga vandhuchchu'. She said her cousin (engg student) placed them in it during her recent trip to India.

That plus a recent phone call to another youththu in Trichy when I got pleasantly surprised by 'sAyndhu sAyndhu' as the ringback tone confirms me of the decent reach of the NEPV album to the TN youththu.

Is VM listening?

Interestingly, though I've not heard the song, read here and there that the latest MR-ARR-VM kootaNi song from kadal is fully based on vAththiyangaL (and not technology)



oorai EmAththuRa vElai...poyyilE piRandhu poyyilE vaLarndha pulavar perumAn...