Nasser about Thendral Vandhu Theendum Podhu Song

T.N.Seshagopalan about Illayaraja

Nee Thaane En Pon Vasantham Recording at London

Raaja's new album in Gautam Menon's film. The recording done at London.

From the heart...

Illayaraja Interview - Padithurai

A bit surprising to see Illayaraja appearing in more interviews these days. Another interview from Illayaraja with Arya as a Producer Avatar for the film Padithurai.

The song set in Hamsaanandhi is really captivating..

Illayaraja Interview - Nandhalala

Seeing Illayaraja in an interview after a very long time for a Tamil channel.

Gets better every time

Playlist - Divine

There isn't a one right way to do things. Call it a hangup or whatever. I prefer playlists based on a theme, genre and a common flow. For instance, it would be a bit hard for me to jump from a Track where I envision Madisaar Maamis singing a traditional song like "Maasaru Ponne Varuga" to a twister dance of "Ninnukori Varnam". Hence, I try to organize my playlists with either a common theme or genre.

After a nice warm shower in the morning and a meditative yoga session, I wouldn't prefer to jump into regular cinema-'ish soundtracks. Is that a guilt? I can't answer. I usually start with a playlist that I call "Divine" due to the nature of genre associated with the tracks. Not all of them are truly "GODly", but, I just call it so as it sets the tone for the day. The songs that feature in my "Divine" playlist goes like this:

1. Kai Veenai Yai Endhum (Veitnam Colony) - What a way to start the day off! Treasure in a garbage, that's how I would place this track for a movie like Veitnam Colony!

2. Maasaru Ponne Varuga (Devar Magan) - Sets the stage for an auspicious take off!

3. Sollayo Vaai Thiranthu (Moga Mul) - Serene and silence enters the soul!

4. Kaatril Varum Geethame (Oru Naal Oru Kanavu) - Can't ask for a better melody in the morning..

5. Amuthe Thamize (Kovil Pura) - Sweet honey..

6. Raama Naamam Oru (Sri Raghavendra) - 110 mph vocal cyclone of KJY good enough to kickstart my day ..

By this time, I am already at my work place and don't think could have a better start for a day than Raaja's Divine list. The list is very lengthy, though the distance I commute everyday lets me listen only to 4-5 songs. If I get to Track #6, I make it a point to thank I-75 traffic!

Bending the unbendable

I was under the impression that only song in Kanakangi raaga was by Raaja for the movie - Sindhu Bhairavi - Dhom Dhom Dhom song.

Thanks to Daffy to have pointed out another song in Malayalam set in Kanakangi raaga. And personally I think this song has more melody parts compared to the former.

A Radio show about Raaja

http://c2.libsyn.com/media/18467/560.mp3?nvb=20100602103128&nva=20100603104128&sid=61eccae92f2aa7a1b07acef61d7251bc&t=01e3caea1dcf6accba0f0

Thanks to Mohunraj for sharing the link.

Illayaraja in "Happi" - Bavna Talwar's Venture

Thanks to Mohunraj for sharing the clip.

Raaja Rasigan's Creation

Non Stop Illayaraja Songs

Check it out: http://www.hayyotv.com

Making of Thiruvaasagam

Raaja's Chennai Concert in Netflix

http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Illayaraja_Win_Isaithalu/70111713?trkid=226871

Long Pallavis

Some songs that I recollect with long pallavi...

Gundumalli Gundumalli (Solla Marantha Kathai)
Kanmaniye Kaadhal Enbadhu (6 to 60 varai)
Oru Raagam Paadalodu (Aanandha Raagam)
ABC Nee Vaasi So Easy Un Raasi Vaa Rosi (Oru Kaithiyin Dairy)
Poovil Vandu Koodum Kangal .. (Kaadhal Oviyam)

The coincidence in all of the songs is that they are all set in Mohanam raagam.
Can you think of other ones?

Math and Music - Part IV

"Axis of Symmetry" is a line that divides the figure into two halves, with either side is a mirror image of the other. In the world of music, with all the figures formed with 7 Swaras, Shadjamam and Panchamam have a special significance. If the frequency associated with Shadjamam is X decibels Hz, and the Shadjamam at the next octave is 2X decibels Hz, then, the Panchamam stands in the middle of it as an axis of symmetry - at 1.5X decibels Hz.

In short, Shadjamam and Panchamam notes are special because they act as epicenters, around which other swaras dwell. In this post, I would like to bring some interesting aspect, what I call "Sa Pa Symmetry". Play a sequence/pattern of notes with your Sa as the home key and try to play the same sequence/pattern of notes with lower/upper Panchamam as the home key. There you go!

Keeravani and Mayamalavagowli raaga offered this symmetry naturally. Raaja has used this pattern in many many songs. To highlight with a classic example, "Poovama Oorvolam" song from Chinna Thambi. Listen to the verses -
"Aranmana Annakili Tharayile Nadapadhu Nadakkuma Adukkuma
Paniyilum Vetta Veli Veyilum Ulla Sogam Aranmana Kudukkuma"

If the first line of the above stanza is centered around upper Shadjamam, the second one follows with lower Panchamam. Another example in "Poova Eduthu Oru Maala" from "Amman Kovil Kizhakkale". Listen to the verses -
"Kannadi Vala
Munnadi Vizha"

Other evident usages that comes to my mind immediately are - "Om Namaha" from Idhayathai Thirudadhe; "Poo Poo Poo Pootha Solai" and many more..

This might be one of the reason why Keeravani and Mayamalavagowli are very popular in light music and especially Raaja has used to its full potential in film songs.

Math and Music - Part III

"Octave Equivalence" is an interesting concept that I have discussed in my earlier post - http://7swara.blogspot.com/2008/08/science-of-sound.html

You can observe that in a keyboard, the keys goes like this: Sa, Ri, Ga, Ma, Pa, Da, Ni .... and it repeats with Sa, Ri, Ga, .... and so on.. The frequency of Sa in the lower octave is half of the frequency in its adjacent higher octave and so on. When the frequency doubles, it sounds similar and hence its called "Octave Equivalence". (i.e.) Sa in lower octave sounds similar to Sa in higher octave except for the fact that the frequency is higher.

You cannot imagine how music would sound in the absence of this "Octave Equivalence". As many composers, Raaja has used this "Octave Equivalence" in several hundreds of his songs. The usage of this concept automatically brings a beauty to the piece of music inadvertantly.

Let me illustrate with an example -
"Vaanile Thenila Aaduthe Paaduthe" song from Kakki Chattai movie.

The notes for "Vaanile Thenila Aaduthe Paaduthe" goes like -
P D1 P P D1 P P D1 P P D1 P

In the Charanam, the last phrase goes like this - "Maivizhi Paingodi Mannavan Poongodi"
The notes for the above phrase is EXACTLY same as pallavi -
P D1 P P D1 P P D1 P P D1 P
but, in the higher octave.

Another example -

The swaras in "Aasai Nooru Vagai Vaazhvil Nooru Suvai Va" - Pallavi is identical to the swaras used in later part of the Charanam.

"sorkam maNNil varum sondham kaNNil varum vaa"

In other words, the tune for the two parts is identical except for the fact that one is in lower octave and the other in higher. Raaja has employed this technique especially with repeating the Pallavi's tune in Charanam (in higher octave) in many songs.

You can observe the same pattern even in the recent "Kangal Irundaal" song by James Vasanthan. (Kangal Irandaal (Pallavi) - S G R G M; Unai Indri Verum Enadhillai (Charanam) S G R G)

Meet you next time with a different pattern.

Math and Music - Part II

Hello All !

In my previous posts, I had emphasised the importance of mathematical patterns, predictable sequencesand symmetry in music. It would not be fair to say that applying these forumula in music alone will make a musical hit. However, it plays a big role and I wish to talk about one such formula today, that I call "Break the sequence".

Here is an interesting sequence -
131 131 131 421
The interesting part here is the sequence "1 3 1" is repeated over and over again and the sequence is deliberately broken in the last by "4 2 1". The repetition of sequence and breaking it gives birth to melody. Illayaraja has used this pattern in 100s of his songs and I want to highlight some famous ones:

"ABC Nee Vaasi So Easy Un Raasi Vaa Rosi" song from Oru Kaidhiyin Dairy. If you assign Sa = 1, Ri = 2, Ga = 3 and so on, the swara sequence goes like this:

312 312 312 312 521

"Vaanile Thenila Aaduthe Paaduthe Vaanampadi" song from "Kaakki Chattai"
The sequence goes like this:
121 121 121 121 1442

"Vizhiyil Vizhundhu Idhayam Nuzhaidhu Uyiril Kalandha Urave"
The sequence goes like this:
888 777 555 444 111 001

Wow!!! Mere avarohanam played in a sequence of "Sudha Dhanyasi" scale. Oh God! I can't believe, he created a magical with such a simplicity. The beauty and melody lies when the sequence breaks at "Urave".

The super famous "Thakida Thathimi" has a sequence:
123 123 123 123 1 2 3

This is a different way of breaking the sequence. Not in swaras, but in the time signature. If the first 4 sets has a quarter note signature, the last part broke the sequence by a half note!

Another variation of the sequence in "Solai Poovil Maalai Thendral Paadum Neram" from "Vellai Roja":
88 88 88 88 7 6 7 8
We can go on and on by illustrating several sequences Raaja has employed in his hundreds of songs. Some of the others include:

Siriya Paravai Siragai Virithu Thudikiradhe
Naan Enbadhu Nee Allavo Deva Devi
Raathiriyil Poothirukkum Thaamarai Thaan Penno
Oru Kanam Oru Yugam Aaga
Kaalam Kaalam Aaaga Vaazhugindra Kaadhalukku Nangal Arpanam
Vidiya Vidya Nadanam Sandhosham
Arumba Arumba Saram Thodutha
Poovil Vandu Koodum Kangal Moodum Vandhu Odum
Iru Vizhiyin Vazhiye Nee Dhaan Ingu ponadhu
Innum Ennai Enna Seyya Poogirai
Iravum Pagalum Ulagai Rasikka Ninaithathu
Aalapol Velapol
Onnu Rendu Moonu Naalu

I will meet you all in my next post with different patterns that Raaja has used.

BBC on Illayaraja

I am sure all music lovers would enjoy this series of analysis of Raaja's music and interview with none other than our Maestro by BBC:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5_WuymlhMs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVkQ12b9O48&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpgudIfVMAQ&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3zLGvDSmNI&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TCx3-DKWBc&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgkC-mG47G8&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwBmlAhOvtg&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9UWshVmJqw&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHCnN746Mbg&feature=related