Ilaiyaraja and Background Scores

One of the greatest contributions of Ilaiyaraja (apart from his songs in multiple languages) are his background scores (BGM's) for movies, whose discussion would need a separate blog for itself! This is no exaggeration because if you see the movies where the maestro has scored music, you would notice that the movie "looks much better" because of the music. I can recount hundreds of scenes from movies where the music has taken the impact of that scene to a different level. You remove the music from the scene and the impact of the scene would not even be half of the original.
Making background music is no easy task. What makes IR special is that he gives equal importance to the background score as he gives to the songs. His BGM's are not just a patchwork which is very common otherwise. Ilaiyaraja's BGM's are characterized by:

1. Grand string arrangements-He has used 75 violins and an assortment of instruments you can think of.
2. Unconventional instrument usage for scenes-In Shiva (Telugu) chase scene he used a mindblowing violin piece for the chase which sounded perfect for that scene. Who would think of using violin for a chase, normally we would use some percussion instrument!
3. Great themes-The theme scores of Ilaiyaraja are so good that they can be released as a separate CD by themselves. The legend has used flutes, guitars, violins beautifully to create some immortal theme pieces. Case in point Mouna Ragam, Nayagan, Punnagai Mannan, Unnakagave Vaazhgiren and many many more.
   

Here is a totally incomplete, only-indicative list of movies which have some stunning BGM's by the Legend.

1. Kadhalukku Mariyadhai
2. Pithamagan
3. Mouna Ragam
4. Anjali
5. Mahanadhi
6. Aboorva Sagodharargal
7. Thalapathy
8. Kaalapaani (Malayalam)
9. Azhagi (what a masterpiece!)
10. Aruvadai Naal

The list is endless and this is just for a reference. Ilaiyaraja's music is an ocean, there are still so many hundreds of songs which I am discovering every now and then which reaffirm my faith that he is indeed the "composer of this century" as exclaimed by none other than Dr.Balamuralikrishna who himself is a legend! I don't think there is any other composer who is so COMPLETE as Ilaiyaraja who has proven his mettle thro' his songs, BGM's and creating tunes in almost every genre of music!

A Wednesday-Your story, my story

I recently saw the movie-A Wednesday. It was an awe-inspiring movie to say the least. I am sure most of us have already seen the movie. These kind of movies are what masterpieces are made of! I am so proud that an INDIAN movie, an AUTHENTIC thriller has been so good, when you have every other movie being ripped off from foreign films (not only Hollywood).

The director, Neeraj Pandey's script is so crisp, so taut that the movie is only one-and-half hours long! Thats pretty short for an INDIAN movie, where we have had yawns like Ekalavya :(
The message of the protagonist played by one of the most underrated actors of our era-Naseeruddin Shah is mindblowing!! If STILL you have not seen "A Wednesday" you must see it-your life will change. I have only one grouse against the movie-why have an english title, when it could have been named "EK DIN" or something like that, which definitely would not have sounded wrong.

RAFI RESSURECTED

Mohammed Rafi-the phenomenon continues to live among us through his songs. Sonu Nigam, one of his most famous fans (or should I say devotee?) has done an amazing project, which has released quite recently-RAFI RESURRECTED. Basically, Sonu has collaborated with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) to sing 16 songs of Rafi with a grand orchestral setup.

As expected the result is stupendous! I bought the CD recently & it was worth every penny because:

1. It contains a booklet (about 30 pages) of rare Rafi photographs & a mini-biography of the legend.
2. The CBSO has done a marvellous job of exactly replicating the music for most of the songs and the soul of the song has not been tampered with. Its so nice to listen to live instruments especially in today's age of electronic synth music.
   
3. Sonu has sung with his heart-it shows!

For all Rafi fans out there-for lovers of vintage Hindi music, this is a MUST-BUY. Go get your copy-its priceless!! Let us support such projects by buying the original CD's, that's the least we can do and spread the word too :)