Comments on: Between Reviews: A Little Midnight Music

By: raj

raj — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 06:24:14 +0000

Prakash, all the same Madhu B hasnt done justice to the lyrics of the song. I can understand and pardon this if the character on-screen is someone who is just taught the song and doenst have the situation or the mindset that the lyrics portray

By: Prakash

Prakash — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 10:53:25 +0000

Wow, I am thoroughly enjoying this discussion of Raja’s music of yore! I am hooked onto Pichaipathiram, as BR said, Madhu Balakrishnan has sung it with amazing grace & feeling.

By: Shankar

Shankar — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 12:57:10 +0000

raj, I’m not sure if Anandha Kummi story was by IR…I do know that the film was produced by him (Pavalar Creations) and it ran for exactly 5 days in Madras (back then)!!

By: raj

raj — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 05:26:20 +0000

I wouldnt grudge Oru Kili urugudhu its popularity. To my little brain untrained in musical intricacies, the percussion and rhythm of this song were quite special. ( I know Vijay is going to come and say that oh comeon, it was already done by so and so in such and such).

The tune and the rhyhtm sit even more comfortably on the telugu version Jili Bili Palukula from Sitara.

BTW, Anandha Kummi had an incestuous story line, did it? I vaguely remember IR was credited for the story of this movie – just the one instance where you could peel behind his ultra-religious, traditional, conservative image I guess. I may be entirely wrong, mind.

By: brangan

brangan — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 05:26:30 +0000

Shankar: Oh, what a song — one of SPB’s best (you can’t imagine anyone else singing it). And that extraordinary prelude is the musical equivalent of a fountain of joy — bubbling over and erupting with a crash of cymbals. I could never figure out why ‘Oru kili’ and ‘O vennilaave’ got more air time than this, which IIRC went practically unheard. Speaking of this song, trumpets are another aspect of Raja’s arrangments that I miss.

By: Shankar

Shankar — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 18:09:31 +0000

And specifically with usage of synth, “Thamarai Kodi” really blows my mind. That one is a synth zing fest!!

By: Shankar

Shankar — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 17:17:49 +0000

I was only referring to the appropriate feel that Raja brings in his songs, not just the rustic ones. I do agree with all of you with the various languages and appropriateness that Raja conveys in each. It is nonpareil.

With regard to the singing enhancing the song, going back to my earlier reference to “Kathal Oviyam’, I do feel Jency really enriches the feel with her voice. I’ve always felt that she was very appropriate for such love songs.

Another song that I’ve always liked (from the later stages) is “Nilave Mugam Kaatu”. If I remember correctly, Rajni and Meena have just lost a child and the song tries to convey their underlying sadness as well as Rajni comforting Meena. I do think the actors especially Rajni did this song superbly but Raja with the melancholy tune and pace really drives it home. That song as a whole worked for me.

Another song that I love is “Oru Kiliyin Thanimayile”…with all it’s counterpoints and vocal choruses. Even here, I always feel an underlying sadness in the song.

Baddy, “Ponnoviyam” is awesome and you are so right about the synth. I also miss the distinct bass tracks that have enriched even later stages songs like “Vaan Megam” (with it’s textbook orchestration)

By: Suresh S

Suresh S — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 08:43:16 +0000

I would agree with BR regarding the voice enhancing or lowering the effect of a folk song. I had once bought a double cassette of folks songs in Telugu films. I found that most of these were sung by Gantasala. While I would take Gantasala over any other singer, the fact remained that his perfection and smoothness made the folk songs sound less ‘folkish’. Guess in those days the ’standard’ singers sung all kind of songs !!!

S.Suresh

By: raj

raj — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 08:10:09 +0000

BR, no, I wasnt accusing you of insulting MSV. Just putting a POV that those songs were authentic gramiyam in their own way. Yes, I see the point about the voice of the singer, the choice of words and his diction(or enunciation, there once was a war in a tamil music forum on which is the correct word for this) – TMS had problems saying “annakili onna theduthe, aaru maasam oru varusam” instead of “…unnai theduthe, aaru maadham oru varudam..”. It seems IR wanted it adamantly the former way but TMS had his way and the song was recorded as TMS wanted it. It does seem like TMS et al looked down upon the gramiya way of singing.

By: Anand

Anand — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 06:59:05 +0000

BR: “How could a man who could use the synth like *this* do this to us now” – By this, I think you only mean Naan Kadavul. Even in this decade there are many times where Raja has used synth beautifully. Some examples – Cheeni Kum, Roja Poonthottam from Kannukul Nilavu, Kai veesi from Nandhalala, Ilangathu veesudhe from Pithamagan, Manjal Poosum from Friends, Khajuraho from Oru Naal Oru Kanavu.