Just wanted to deviate from my
regular topics. As we approach the holidays week remembered our passions that
we loved so much when we grew up. Coming from a small town we were close knit
friends who I would consider more of a family than friends. From high school to
Masters - during that time our main passions were Cricket, Music and Story
books. Most of the discussions were about Cricket, story books we read (mostly
written by great Sujatha and historic epics by great Kalki were our favorites)
and music. Tamil movies music was our major topic during every gathering and
would discuss about the songs for hours. Great Maestro Illayaraja started his
peak ascend during these years.
Maestro Illayaraja (Music Legend)
We loved his music and that continues until
today. The thing with his music is that there is something soul touching in it.
Just by listening to his song we can go back and re live those days again. We
can relate each and every song of his to our life’s happenings.
Great legends SP
Balasubrahmanyam and KJ Yesudas
songs in his music gave us best of music to listen to.
with Legend SP Balasubrahmanyam
with Legend KJ Yesudas
Malaysia Vasudevan (Had the privilege to see these three legends concerts in person), Female legends S.Janaki and Chitra gave us the best songs. There are so many such
discussions in the internet and also comparisons with other musicians that are available
in plenty. But every time when we discuss among us, we get, what to say the
crux of it and feel as if we had a glass of freshly squeezed sugarcane juice
with a slight tinge of lemon and ginger. Especially three of us who were close
friends riding in the same bike (we used to call triples) to high school and
undergrad college; Discussion about music (as a fan) was the main topic. After
those years we were all scattered all over the World and started our own
careers, me - An Environmental Scientist and Information Technologist, my friend Venu became IT guy (US) and third friend Sowmy became a nano technology chemistry professor in a different
part of the World (Bahrain), but we are still close (thanks to technology) and discussion
on the music still goes on. I wanted to share those discussions that I enjoyed
so much.
One day during a discussion it went
along these lines - new music by new generation is different and it is becoming
hard for us to accept that. Our dads were fans of their generation musicians
and even they did not come to terms with Illayaraja music. So I was saying
that we have become similar to our dads and current music is for the younger
generations and they too have become World famous - example AR Rahman won two Oscars
and Anirudh’s Kolaveri song has reached so many people all over the World. To
that discussion, my friends shared their wonderful views:
Good
perspective! – By Venu:
மாற்றம் ஒன்று தான் மாறாத ஒன்று!
(meaning Change is the only one that never changes)
When it comes to music
we all belong to our own cult! MSV cult, Raja
cult, ARR cult etc We associate closely
with our growing up years. Though we move on, we have some special soft place
for things that we associate when we were young! Parents, Certain food,
place, game, friends, house, animals, first love etc. Music is certainly one
of them! So all three
generations went through that and next gen goes through that as well which is
natural progression. Next comes the
objective side of the music.
1.
MKT/Kittappa-complete classical(மன்மத லீலையை, ஜெய் கிருஷ்ண முகுந்தா முராரே) very good start for
the Tamil film music
2. G. Ramanathan, SV
Naidu and many more -diluted a bit still adhered to classical as the mainstream,
introduced new western instruments and new western idioms
3. KVM-classical, folk
and still more dilution of the classical
Legend Singer TM Soundarajan
Legend Music Director MS Viswanathan
These great duo along with another Legend P. Susheela gave us the best songs.
4. MSV, TKR-big
positive deviation started here. introduced the real light music, lots of new
genres were introduced, western instruments and idioms were used to ornament
the melodies, introduced lots of innovations in the form, texture,
orchestration and arrangements. still maintained the soul and the sensitivity
in the music,(பழமை மாறாத புதுமை). They stood on the
shoulders of the MKT, GR et al and delivered real stunning music for decades!There are other MDs
like TR papa, V Kumar, Vijay Bhaskar et al. They supported MSV /TKR’s
path/trend.
5. Raja stood on the
shoulders of these stalwarts and took the music to the next level whether is it
is orchestration, arrangements, style, innovation, fusion, folk, western
classical, Jazz, Carnatic classical, singing style, BGM and you name it (How to
name it? Right? It is just “Nothing But Wind?) he excelled in all of
them. He propelled the changes in lightening speed! Even he touched the
electronic side of it -first time stereophonic recording, computer based
composing.
6. ARR-took this
digital side of it to global and brought some great innovation to marketing and
global appeal!
OSCAR winner AR Rahman
7. Today’s Anirudh,
Yuvan et al, When I listen today's music, my mind automatically asks “what is
new in this?” May be popular, beyond that? Our mind automatically
checks the library and if it is already done. Ok and move on. Nothing to say
big about it. To me, probably, that is what happening. Perhaps to you as
well! Are we becoming old? They really need to do
something beyond what we have already listened to rave about them.
With New Generation Singers
I remember reading
when somebody asked about Einstein’s achievements, he mentioned that, “I stood
on the shoulders of Newton and et al and I told what I saw”. He made it
so simple (it was always his strength) but not easy to claim the shoulders of
Newton. Right? Lengthy post...I could
not resist..when my favorite topic was tossed in front of me! I have less mind
control on this.
By
Sowmy:
As usual, Venu's
article depicts the Crux of yester years achievements. It highlighted all
the stalwarts except few. For me if MSV paved the ROAD of modern
music, Raja – already laid 8 way track superfast express highway.
RAJA's forte was he never forget to respect his elders, mentors. Besides
being a genius among all, his heart melts for SM Subbaraman (who was our
fathers favorite), ....Madanmohan, Roshan, SDBurman,...Not to mention about
MSV. He can go to any extreme level of politeness/ humbleness to express
his regard and reverence for them.
In Tamil – Illayaraja goes
to say MSV கடிச்சுத்துப்பிய விஷயங்களைத்தான் நாங்கள் இப்போது செய்கிறோம். எனக்கு அவர் எந்தெந்தப்பாட்டில் என்னென்ன டெக்நிக் யூஸ் பண்ணியிருக்கார்னு தெரியும், எல்லாவற்றையும் சொல்ல மாட்டேன் (என்னுள்ளில் MSV ப்ரொகராமில்.) இதைவிட வேறு, அதுவும் ராஜாவைப்போல் இசை ஞானத்தால் உயர்ந்தவர் சொல்லும்போது, அவரின் மரபு சார்ந்த பண்பு பிரமிக்க வைக்கிறது.பின்பு வந்தவர்கள் யாரும் தன் முன்னோர்களைப்பற்றிப்பேசிய மாதிரி எனக்குத் தெரியவில்லை.
When talking about Tamil music, I should mention the song writing legends Kaviarasu Kannadasan and Valli.
Wonderful Quote by Plato:
“Music
gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and
life to everything.”
Enjoy your Music.
