A Reply to Shaaji’s article about Ilayaraja

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• Last night when I was surfing the Internet, I came to know about a song titled “The Journey Home” by John Doan ( master of the twenty-string harp guitar).

• I’m loving this song, really mesmerizing. Great to hear.

• I have a doubt.Is there any connection between “The Journey Home” by John Doan and “The Journey Home” by our master AR Rahman? This sounds silly.Right?

• Sometimes John Doan’s “The Journey Home” reminds me of AR Rahman’s “The Journey Home” from Bombay Dreams.Is this an illusion? or Is there something musically similar(may be the genre) between The Journey Homes?

• Listen to the song “The Journey Home” by John Doan here.This was released in 1998 i believe.

• Here is the song “The Journey Home” by AR Rahman from Bombay Dreams released in the year 2002.

• No doubt both songs are great IMO. What do you feel about these songs? Pour your comments if possible.

• Its time to update that blog post.”Thumbi Vaa” tune has been remastered by our Raaja sir for the movie “Paa”.A shorter version of that song is released in Net.

• Listen to the song here

Download the Song

Michael Kamen and A.R.Rahman

• “Chinna Chinna Aasai” song from the movie “Roja” is one of my all time favorites.Its a very melodious number in reggae style.

• An amazing composition by our master A.R.Rahman(the very 1st film song composed by him.Its a mind blowing number)…

• Especially i love the prelude to the song.It adds a beautiful feel to the whole song.

• I happened to watch the movie “Highlander” this morning.The orchestral score done by Michael Kamen is simply Amazing.

• The opening section of a soundtrack in Highlander is very similar to the best part of the prelude in “Chinna Chinna Aasai”.

• Yes.A very small snippet from the Highlander’s soundtrack is used by our Master A.R.Rahman.Its really interesting..

• The same snippet is used by New Line Cinema as a theme.

• Here is the New Line Cinema Intro with the snippet composed by Michael Kamen.

• Listen to the song “Chinna Chinna Aasai” here.

Download Here

• I am not able to find the Original soundtrack  from Highlander 1 in Internet.Watch the movie again and you will come across the prelude for sure.For your Information,Highlander’s release date : March 7, 1986.

Enya's Boadecia and Yuvan's Thathi Thathi

• Enya -The first album released by Irish singer Enya in the year 1987.

• “Boadicea” is my pick of the album.Its simply nice to hear.I like it very much.

• Can you find a tamil song equivalent to “Boadicea”?Off course, you can. How?

• Some parts of “Thathi Thathi” soundtrack from Kadhal Kondaen Movie is heavily inspired(or influenced) by Enya’s “Boadicea”.Hence,We got a Tamil song equivalent to Boadicea.

• To be more Clear , here is the soundtrack “Thathi Thathi” from Kadhal Kondaen movie released in the year 2003.

Download Here

• Listen to the track “Boadicea” by Enya here.

• Though the prelude in “Thathi Thathi” song is heavily Inspired from Enya’s Boadicea,I love the feel(soul) given to the song by Yuvan Shankar Raja very much.

• Actually speaking,the song “Boadicea” has been sampled by so many bands.Here is a short list.

The Fugees sampled “Boadicea” for “Ready or Not” song

Mario Winans for “I Don’t Wanna Know” song

The Pirates for “You Should Really Know” song

Nina Sky for their Single “Time to Go” song

and the list goes on and on….

A.R.Rahman influenced by MSV

• M.S.Viswanathan is the King of Light Music popularly known as “Mellisai Mannar“.

• Though he needs no introduction,most of us are not familiar with beautiful golden oldies given by him.

• He has influenced many music directors in the current generation. Our Master A.R.Rahman is one among them(This is what i think.Its my perception only).

• If you closely notice some(may be a few) of our master Rahman’s soundtracks,you can find some traces of MSV sir.

• One such song which is strongly influenced by MSV sir’s music is “Pennalla Pennalla” song from Uzhavan composed by our Mozart A.R.Rahman.

• You can find traces of MSV sir’s “Pesum Mani Mottu Rojakkal” song(from the movie “Neela Malargal”) in pennalla Pennalla song.

• Listen to the song “Pesum Mani Mottu” song from Neela Malargal released in the year 1979.

Download here

• Here is the song “Pennalla Pennalla” from Uzhavan released in the year 1993.

Download here

• There is one more song composed by our MSV sir in 1960 which sometimes reminds me of both “Pesum Mani Muthu Rojakkal” and “Pennalla Pennalla” song.Here it is… “Chithirai Poovizhi Vaasalile” song from “Idhayathil Nee”..

Download here

• An interesting fact is that both “Pennalla Pennalla” song and “Pesum Mani Mottu” song are sung by our own SPB sir.

The Lonely Sheperd - Meendum Meendum Vaa

• Gheorge Zamfir is a well known pan flute musician from Romania.He is the master of the Pan flute.

• I happened to hear his song “The Lonely Shepherd” recently.Such an amazing song.This song is used in Kill Bill if i am Right.

• The starting flute piece of “Meendum Meendum Vaa” song from the movie “Vikram”(Kamal Hassan’s movie) composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja sir is very much similar to “The Lonely Sheperd” flute piece..The starting flute piece alone is inspired(In My Opinion) but the tune is something exceptional.

• Lonely sheperd Release year – 1981
  Vikram soundtrack Release year – 1986

• Listen to the song “The Lonely Sheperd” by Gheorge Zamfir and James Last here..

• Here is the song “Meendum Meendum Vaa” by Ilaiyaraaja sir..

• I personally thank god for reminding me of this wonderful song “Meendum Meendum Vaa”.The song is set in Dharmavathi Raga.

• Another outstanding song set in “Dharmavathi” is “Edhu Sugam Sugam” from Vandhicholai Chinnarasu..Great composition by our Master A R Rahman.

• Here is the song “Edhu Sugam Sugam” composed by A.R.Rahman

All that Jazz - Vennila Vennila

• “Vennila Vennila” from Iruvar is one of my all time favorite songs.Our Music master A.R.Rahman has tried real Jazz in this song.

• Please don’t ask what is Jazz?Its hard to define.There are no proper definitions for Jazz in the music world.Then how did i say “ARR has tried real Jazz in “Vennila Vennila” song”?Here is the Answer.

• Yesterday Night i was watching the movie “All that Jazz“.Its really a great musical movie.

• I happened to hear a soundtrack “Take Off With Us” from that movie which has a striking resemblance with our master’s “Vennila Vennila” song at least in the beginning.

• After hearing the song “Take Off With Us” i came to a conclusion that A R Rahman has tried a real Jazz in “Vennila Vennila” song.Both songs are really rocking.

• I have a doubt.I agree that “Two songs are of same genre Jazz”.But, should they sound similar? Or Is it a case of Inspiration?(This question arose in my mind due to the lack of some basic musical knowledge).Someone please Clarify.

• For your Information…………Release dates
  All that Jazz – 1979
  Iruvar            - 1997

• Listen to “Take Off With Us” from All that Jazz composed by Stanley Lebowsky here

• Here is the “Vennila Vennila” song from Iruvar by our A R Rahman ji.

• If you find any difficulties or problems with streaming the video or audio,Please let me know through your comments

Prathidwani-Sholay-Avar Enakke Sontham

• As we all know,Sholay is the highest earning movie of all time in Indian Cinema.

• The British Broadcasting Corporation(BBC) proclaimed it “Film of the Millenium”.

• The theme music of Sholay by sir  Rahul Dev Burman has been enjoyed by everyone.Though its a great great tune,the initial guitar piece seems to be inspired from the movie “Prathidwani” which has music by sir  G.K.Venkatesh.

• Prathidwani with Dr.Rajkumar in the lead got released in the year 1971 whereas Sholay with sir Amitabh Bachchan in the lead released in 1975 only.

• An interesting part here – Ilaiyaraaja sir assisted G.K.Venkatesh sir for the movie “Prathidwani” as a Guitarist.The guitar piece is Ilaiyaraaja’s own composition(as reliable sources said and i also hope the same) and he played it for the song “Mareyadiru sneha”.

• Another interesting fact is that Ilaiyaraaja has used the same guitar piece for the song “Devan Thiruchabai Malargale” in the movie “Avar Enakke Sontham” which got released in the year 1977.

• Listen to Sholay Theme Music here.

• Listen to the song “Mareyadiru sneha” from the movie “Prathidwani” here.(after 53 seconds)

• Listen to the song “Devan Thiruchabai Malargaley” from the movie “Avar Enakke Sontham” here.(Initial guitar Piece)

Great Minds think alike

• Last Night i was watching one of  my favorite movies  “The sixth sense” directed by M. Night Shyamalan.

• All of a sudden,i happened to hear a sound track in the movie which reminds me of a title track in some Tamil movie.

• I have been thinking about this all night long and Off course i got the clue.

• You should have a look at the following video from the Tamil movie “Marupadiyum”(which means “Again” and That’s why the post title).Follow the soundtrack in the video embedded.(First 30 seconds)

Originally uploaded by yowan1977 in Youtube.Thanks to him…

• and here is the sample bit of “Malcolm is dead” soundtrack from the movie “The Sixth Sense”…

Download here…Source : MovieMusic dot com..

• Don’t you feel any similarity between the above two soundtracks?A great Coincidence.Right?

• Please be clear about one point.My intention is to give viewers a rare similitude like the above one.I am not trying to say that the “Malcolm is dead” sound track is inspired.This may be(or should be) a pure coincidence…Great Minds Think Alike…

• Info about the soundtracks

Marupadiyum sound track Release Year : 1993Composer : Ilaiyaraaja

The Sixth sense Sound track Release Year : 1999

Composer : James Newton Howard

• Comment on it if possible…