Anything about IR found on the net - Vol 1

Appji, if you haven't seen this already. Best part about this is - this vLA is no way related to Raaja (some kolaveRi crap)

Masala Yatra - music by Raja:

http://vimeo.com/67236041

http://www.masalayatra.com/Masala_Yatra/Intro.html

Any idea who is this Chaya Rao?

http://www.masalayatra.com/Masala_Yatra/Music.html


This is a nicely shot video with Guru (Mal) theme (aka Music Messiah) & India 24 Hours:

http://vimeo.com/50253475

Nerd wrote: Best part about this is - this vLA is no way related

Yes, he is quite consistent in his IR appreciation

nanRi for hosting this clip again! (I've seen this video during hub days)

A rare song hosted by radiospathy

First-time-listen for me...movie "sir I love you" (GNR direction)

Welcome crvenky. Glad to see you here

app_engine wrote:Further blog posts of "Balhanuman" :

...


Looks like he visits our forum (don't know if he has signed up as a member or not)...

I see pictures from our vinyl thread in his recent blog posts

vAzhga vaLamudan!

Well, it is confirmed now

I've seen the latest post and he credits the pic to our forum

Haven't been visiting the forum often. :iyamsorrynnE:

Here's something that's brewing on Twitter; thought I'll share it here as well.

http://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1rkl4rd

#Raaja70 IRMafia meet-up: (Kick-off deck!)

Calling all Raaja fans in & around namma bengaluru on the occasion of IR's 70th b'day (frankly, just another excuse to celebrate the man's music!)
Sing aloud, play your favorite songs, share your favorite aspects of his music & personality.
If you can play any instruments, feel free to grace the evening with your talent!
Rough ideas for events - jamming sessions, pAtukkupAttu/anthAkshari, Raaja quiz.
This is purely a fun event, so leave your inhibitions behind & join the party!
No entry fee, entertainment tax, hidden costs, etc.
Date, time, venue - not decided yet; will depend on the number of people signing-up.

Pass the word around.

Jai Raaja!
#Raaja70

(tentatively - 16th Jun, roughly 1-5pm, at Koramangala).

Chanced upon this rediff review of Hey Ram, thanks to a tweet by equa sir:

http://www.rediff.com/movies/2000/feb/18ram.htm

Look at this part there (the review is written in a "letters to Kamal & his replies" style) :

Dear Kamal,


I think Illayraja did a wonderful job with the background score. Or was it a leftover from L Subramaniam's compositions?


Yours curiously,
A R Rahman


Dear A R,


How can you even ask such a question after what you have done with Peter Gabriel's Passion?


Kamal

Are those Q&A's true? Could not believe it.

V_S wrote:Are those Q&A's true? Could not believe it.

Even Gandhiji has written a couple of questions

I guess that's Mahesh Nair's imaginative way of reviewing that unusual movie...

Thanks. Didn't read it, was surprised with the ARR's question and Kamal's answer, that's why.

Long article by T Soundar, featuring IR, in his "inspirations in TFM" series (in Thamizh)

Though we know >90% of the IR-related-info presented in the article, it's still a worthy read...
(This HCIRF guy is quite knowledgeable, without question)

BR in full form @ vikatan it seems

Looks like vikatan's strategy to "counter" kumudam (that hosted rAsA Q&A) is to get VM & BR to throw some opposing titbits.

இசைஞானி இளையராஜா சகோதரர்கள் வெறும் 10 ரூபாயோடு வந்தவர்கள் என்றும், இயக்குநர் மணிவண்ணன் ஒரு பிச்சைக்காரனைப் போன்றவர் என்றும் மிகக் கேவலமாகக் கூறி வெறுப்பைச் சம்பாதித்துள்ளார் இயக்குநர் பாரதிராஜா.
...
...

எதிர்ப்பார்த்தது போலவே பாரதிராஜாவிடம் அதிக அளவு இளையராஜா பற்றியே கேள்விகள் வருகின்றன. இது அவரை மகா கடுப்பாக்கியிருக்கிறது.

News report on a dedicated & tech-savvy fan :
http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/chen-cinema/music-to-his-ears/article4810299.ece

Muthusamy has sourced the original master tracks of 600 films of Ilaiyaraaja’s compositions from audio companies in India, U.K., the U.S., and Canada. He also has original audio wrappers of all the films.

Now, he has begun working on Maestro’s tracks of the next batch of films, from 1982 onwards. “I want Ayya to take it to the public. I have listened to every single song of Ilaiyaraaja over 1000 times inch by inch while enhancing the channels. The music arrangement he brings to every composition is unmatched.”

According to this sound wizard, Ilaiyaraaja’s mind is the best music instrument. Every piece of his music is a perfect creation. We listen to music through instruments. For him, it plays out beautifully in his mind. And, that’s what makes him a maestro,” he says and closes his eyes as Ilaiyaraaja’s ‘Idhayam Oru Koil’ washes over us.

(To know more, call 94437-08290 or mail ilaiyaraaja.muthusamy@gmail.com)

I have sent Mr Muthusamy an email. I want to discuss this more with him, share our past experiences with efforts like this (half-finished/unfinished endeavors) and hope he does not get disappointed along the way and give up.

The news report says he had already finished with ~100 films of 1976-1981, most albums that didn't have the benefits of stereo (or other modern technologies to help). (The # of songs of course has an error, it cannot be 5500 from those 100 films )

It would be quite interesting to hear the "new / DTS" version of 'vizhiyilE malarndhadhu' & suchlike ones!

And so the day eventually arrived - #Raaja70Blr.

I need to start off with a clarification - only the basic idea was mine. The planning, logistics, food, venue, etc – everything was taken care of by annan @Seevin & @Nchokkan. This couldn't have happened if not for the magnanimity of @Seevin and his folks! (Imagine putting up with an enthu gumbal of around 20 makkal engaged in high decibel singing & gibbersh in the name of orchestration; asura porumai his family folks must have! pakkathu veettu kAranga complain pannAlum aacharyam illa, so loud we were!). And he also went a step ahead and had made arrangements for personalized Raaja70 memorabilia! @seevin yengyO poiteenga saar!

The introductions (though I missed out on a fair number) gave a glimpse into each person's journey with Raaja; always makes a very interesting topic. The singing sessions then started with @Seevin’s friend (Sridhar?) donning the role of the lead vocalist (who later on sang some fantastic thodi pieces from Gangaikarai Mannan while narrating an interesting anecdote of KJY laboring to nail IR's ponging-like-aruvi sangathis during recording of this song) and others chipping-in with a lot of energy. @thachimammu was sakkapOdupOding on the rhythms! The gathering was clearly missing people who could play the chords (on either the keyboard or guitars) - would've added so much more texture! I tried to initially keep company with some chords but very soon realized it was far beyond my novice abilities on the instrument and happily retired. (Had hurriedly 'practiced' vandhAlE allippoo, pani vizhum malarvanam & kAdhal Oviyam with cousin for about 30mins previous evening but 'take' appo kayyum Odala kAlum Odala :embarrassed: :nesstumeetpannuvOm:). Taking a break from the singing sessions, @nchokkan shared some very interesting perspectives on ‘Raaja the vocalist’ in his typical articulate style. Mr. & Mrs. Usha and @equanimus made the conversation even more interesting with their thoughts & experiences. The singing sessions resumed and @Seevin’s friend then pulled out the next weapon from his armory - violin! Though it was towards the end of the day, his solo performance featuring some passages from HTNI were superb and brought the event to a great finish! Thank you, sir! Looking forward to more jamming sessions with you!
Notes to self for future Raaja jamming session - hunt down a bassie, keyboardist/pianist & guitarist!

(I had put-together an agenda of sorts (that went largely unused) for the day and Raaja quiz was one of things on the list. I’d tempo-vechu-kadathified quiz-expert aka hub-quiz-terrorist @aravindmano for questions and he’d sent me a list of some very interesting & fun questions. Alas, kinda ran out of time and wasn’t able to do the quiz this time. AM sir, sorry; we could probably do a kutti quiz over twitter or in Raaja Forumms with the questions.)

All the Raaja-fetish apart, it was of course good to put a face to the twit handles and to catch-up with people like Mr. & Mrs. Usha Shankar (who are probably among the nicest and warmest people I've met! Their enthusiasm is just infectious!). And all you folks who’d dialed in online and those who stayed up so late into the night – so nice of you all! :pullarips: :Anandha-kanneer:!

(Also got the original Naadi Thudikudhadi CD from @Seevin. Nandri'nga!)

Raaja naamam vAzhga!

kv wrote:And so the day eventually arrived - #Raaja70Blr.

Great!
mikka nanRi kv, for sharing the fun!

Glad you guys had fun

kv, Thanks for sharing. Nice gist. I just missed it (google hangout) may be by 1/2-1 hour (in the morning). Lot of guests at home previous night, thought of getting up early, could not. Nice to see you all in the video.

idhu romba aniyaayam. enakku vadai smell kooda kedaikkalai!! :-(

V_S wrote: Nice to see you all in the video.

Link please...there had been so many tweets / trails, it's difficult to browse thru and find links. (Advantage FORUM )

inthaangO few more:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ic2Kf6fkH0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BMmrrC1MrE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cNmsi5Nfk8

nanRi V_Sji!

Looks like some seasoned percussionists perked up the proceedings