3/8/2019 Mavericks Of Music: Guitar Prasanna about Ilaiyaraaja

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Mavericks Of Music
Remembering the legends behind those notes and words...

thursday, january 16, 2014 Contributors

Guitar Prasanna about Ilaiyaraaja Kamal Aakarsh Vishnubhotla
Back in the late 90s, when the internet boom was picking up, there was a website Random Walker
for Ilaiyaraaja, in which there was a list of his discography, few articles and some
Sketchy Self
sound samples. I have no clue who built it or maintained it, but it would have
been good if they kept it up. Sadly, it no longer exists. It was the website which
had some very interesting sound samples (back then, in an era when mp3 culture
was still nascent) and I discovered some compositions there. Among the articles,
there was one article by Guitar Prasanna, in which he tried to highlight some of The Blogs I Visit Are
the elements of Raaja's music and quoted some of his favourite compositions. It Milliblog! - The 100 word
was quite an interesting read. Today, out of the blue, I remembered that article Review
and felt like reading it again. Since the website no longer exists, I had to google Top 10 Kannada songs of
up the article and found it in (only)two websites. I am not sure if those websites February 2019
will also vanish some day and I thought I must have that article shared here on 23 hours ago
this blog, for some reference, some day. So I am copy-pasting the article here:
Raaja, The Genius
Intricate harmonies in obscure
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
films/songs – part 11/18
- 5 days ago

“Have you written invertible counterpoint up a tenth?” Raaja (I am taking the liberty Ragaranjani
to call him affectionately as “Raaja” since he is, after all, a “Raaja” in what he does!) ILaiyaraaja- The Sagacious
has asked me this question a few times– a question I don’t encounter much, at least Musician
1 month ago
in India. In an age where most musicians (of course only in India!) spend their time
reading the latest software manuals rather than reading books on harmony, Deepak Raja's world of
counterpoint, orchestration or Carnatic ragas or whatever, Raaja is and has always Hindustani Music
been an anachronism. Book Review: The Sixth String of
Vilayat Khan
I have had several intellectually stimulating musical conversations with Raaja on 3 months ago
principles of counterpoint, Bach, Tyagaraja, jazz harmony and much more. (Raaja Chinmayi
has often asked me about jazz and I remember how excited Raaja was when I Questions and Observations on
played him great jazz like Charlie Parker and John Coltrane’s ‘Giant Steps’). Sabarimala
Raaja’s vast knowledge extends far beyond music. For instance, I have seen him 5 months ago
quote passages from “Tirukkural” effortlessly in casual conversation.
Sureshs65
Carnatic Music and Hinduism
In every field of activity, there are a chosen few that transcend their idiom. Let’s face
6 months ago
it! Film music is not classical music. By itself, film music as a medium does not have
the spiritual depth or artistic dimensions of say, a Tyagaraja pancharatna kriti or a Ram's Abode
Bach “Musical Offering”. It’s a medium of popular entertainment just the same way Lecture on MDR and his music by
Sriram Parasuram
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3/8/2019 Mavericks Of Music: Guitar Prasanna about Ilaiyaraaja
pop music is in the west. That DOES NOT however mean that it CANNOT be 8 months ago
artistic. (I think readers will get this ‘distinction’ that I am making), it’s just that its
Apoorva Ragam
scope and purpose is a little different. Raaja has transcended the idiom and brought
Solicitude
elements of ‘higher art’ into it while still maintaining the ‘immediate appeal’ that 2 years ago
characterizes (and should characterize) a mass medium like film music. It is
doubtful if any musician in the world dealing with a popular musical medium (like Raaja Paarvai - A Perspective
pop, rock, film music etc) has ever brought in such an immense and breathtaking on Raaja
array of musical vocabulary and has internalized and reflected it in so personal a Raaja Reggae
way. (What can we call Raaja’s music? – Tamil folk melodies meets Carnatic music 4 years ago
meets Hindustani music meets 70’s disco music meets Bach meets electronic Ramya Shankar
music meets ……….) What is amazing is that finally it bears a patent/trademark of That evening (the theme)
homegrown Raaja. (It is not Bach, it is not Earth, Wind and Fire, it is not Carnatic 5 years ago
music, it is Ilayaraaja.) In my personal opinion, Steely Dan and the later albums of
Sting come closest to standing rock solid on musical and artistic sophistication, As We Feel Raaja
Nostalgic Re-Visit of Nostalgic
while still being couched in a ‘commercial’ medium.
Blog..!
10 years ago
I grew up with Raaja’s music and I can clearly see how I can revisit his old songs
and find such technical virtuosity in his writing – his unmatched use of chormaticism www.backgroundscore.com/
in ‘Indianish’ melodies, his extensive use of intricate counterpoint, his vast
Ilaiyaraaja's Background
knowledge of Carnatic music, the ‘correctness’ of every chord in his songs and
Scores
above all the speed with which he composes clearly show that the man is secure,
knows exactly what he wants and delivers. Raaja has raised the standards of us,
South Indian listeners so much, that there are many of us who never bothered to
listen to Hindi songs for e.g.. (we never needed to, right?). He has raised the
I Listen To Music At
standards of musicianship to such a high level among studio musicians in Chennai
(I realized the huge gulf, when I worked with string players in Bombay for e.g.) that Indian Raga
many times I wonder how the musicians even played some of the parts that are Baba Bihari Ji Kathak
there in his music. 6 years ago
I have never heard a guitar even remotely out of tune in Raaja’s songs for example
(believe me, that’s very rare in general). I have to make a special mention of Indian Rasa
Music of Kutch : a glimpse
Raaja’s use of the electric bass guitar. I have never heard such meticulous written
8 years ago
bass parts (its clearly written carefully), as it is in Raaja’s - song after song after
song. Mention also to some brilliant acoustic drum work (a lost and ancient art in Raaga.com
India) on Raaja’s songs.
Ilaiyaraaja Collection @
I would like to end this article with what Raaja himself told me once (about the ThiraiPaadal
limitations of being in the film medium) “Enakku innum niraya ideas irukku. Ithule MusicIndiaOnline
ellam panna mudiyathu. Ithu Mint Streetille okkanthu Jabam panra mathiri!”
(translated as “I have lot more ideas. I may not be able to do all of them in this. It’s Hummaa! Music
like sitting in the middle of Mint Street and meditating”). I am sure we’ll agree that he
has meditated exceptionally well on Mint street!

Here are some of my personal favorites in no particular order (which just came up to I Refer To
me as I am writing) from a very 'technical’ perspective from certain chosen angles.
Of course I feel these are great songs anyway to listen to without getting ‘technical’ Sangeethapriya
about them. Urdu - English Dictionary

karnATik
Kanavil Mithakkum from Eera Vizhi Kaaviyangal (1982) - Everything. This is
a total classic. Ilaiyaraaja Database
Pazhaya Sogangal from Eera Vizhi Kaaviyangal (1982) - Listen to the
beautiful classical guitar parts and the Rhodes piano.
Poonthalir Aada from Panner Pushpangal (1981) - The use of counterpoint
in this song is at a staggering level. I would like to analyze this song in detail Visitors
in a later article.
Aruna kirana from Guru (Malayalam) (1997) - The orchestration in this is
great by any standards.
Dilwale from Mahadev (Hindi) (1989) - Has anyone heard this song or have
it?, Its so hip, an exceptional arrangement!.
Vaan Meethile from Raagangal Maaruvathillai (1983) - Has anyone heard
this?. The groove, the bass guitar.

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Vaanam Keezhe from Thoongathe Thambi Thoongathe (1983) - Everything. Followers (15)
To me this song is a mini magnum opus in its arrangement. It is quite
stunning.
Etho Mogam from Kozhi Koovuthu (1982) - Chromaticism, harmonies, the
pastoral feeling.
Illamai Itho Itho from Sakalakalavallavan (1982) - Quintessential disco – with
Raja’s sophistication though. Look for SPB’s Homer Simpson like
‘hoohoo’s.
Vikram from Vikram (1986) - To me, this sounds really hip even today. Look
for the three-voice counterpoint in S. Janaki’s ‘humming’, the guitar/ Follow
keyboard chords behind Kamal’s ‘rap’.
Ninnukori Varnam from Agni Natchathiram (1988) - Well! ‘Hip’ is the word!.
Oh Butterfly from Meera (1992) - Stunning chromatic string passages in the
end. Blog Archive
Ilam Pani from Aradhanai (1981) - Great song.
Kathal Pannpadu from Eera Vizhi Kaaviyangal (1982) - Stunning ▼ 2014 (2)
arrangements, harmonic changes. Brilliant!. ► February (1)
Ada Machamulla from Chinnaveedu (1985) - The funkiest use of ▼ January (1)
mridangam, horns. Another mini magnum opus. Guitar Prasanna about
Devanin Kovil from Aruvadai Naal (1986) - Raja’s vocal harmony, bass Ilaiyaraaja
guitar.
Pattu Enge from Poovizhi Vasalile (1987) - Horn section arrangements, ► 2013 (4)
vocal arrangements.
► 2012 (4)
Paadivaa Thendrale from Mudivalla Arambam (1984) - Brilliant guitar parts.
Illaya Nila from Payanangal Mudivathillai (1982) - Of course!. ► 2011 (3)
Naalum En Manam from Nilavu Suduvathillai (1984) - Guitar/ voice ► 2010 (1)
counterpoint. Great song.
► 2009 (6)
Vaa Vaa Pakkam Vaa from Thangamagan (1983) - Sophisticated Rhythm &
Blues a-la Raja. This is super hip. ► 2008 (11)
Vaanengum Thanga from Moondram Pirai (1982) - Just the intro is enough!. ► 2007 (6)
Kaathal Oviyam from Alaigal Oivathillai (1981) - The song that taught me
► 2006 (14)
maj7 chords.
Putham Puthu Kalai from Alaigal Oivathillai (1981) - Flute intro! The groove! ► 2005 (38)
Great song.
Tholin Mele from Ninaivellam Nithya (1982) - Superb use of African rhythms
that somehow transmogrifies into ‘raja’. Shall we say ‘Rajafrican?’.
I want to tell you something from Anand (1987) - Stunning vocal harmonies
and arrangements.

And so on and on and on…….I haven’t even touched the great Carnatic material
yet!

- Guitar
Prasanna
Posted by Kamal Aakarsh Vishnubhotla
Labels: Guitar Prasanna, Maestro Ilaiyaraaja

4 comments:

Ravi said...
Thank you so much. I have been searching this for such a long time. I don't
know who you are but you sure made my day.
10:24 am

Anonymous said...
Thanks for posting this article
10:22 pm

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3/8/2019 Mavericks Of Music: Guitar Prasanna about Ilaiyaraaja
ramesh said...
Thanks for this wonderful post.
2:30 pm

Ilangovan said...
Thanks Guitar Prasanna. Wonderful article. Feels invigorating to read about
how great our home grown RAAJA is. May your (our) tribe grow.
4:46 pm

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