tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125128644057118787.post7441379509390315694..comments2023-07-09T09:10:37.256-04:00Comments on Raja, the genius: Techno Baroque - A Raja genreravinathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07220357576335516655noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125128644057118787.post-31021196109752559492010-06-04T15:40:22.298-04:002010-06-04T15:40:22.298-04:00Thanks Mr. Ravi Natarajan for such an excellent an...Thanks Mr. Ravi Natarajan for such an excellent analysis. A member of our Ilaiyaraaja group called me sometime on March and remarked that he was wondering whether it was same raja as he was in 80's and added that he missed the soul of live instruments in raja's present compositions. I stressed the point that Raja retained the melody and beauty even in synthesised music and quoted " enna solli paduvadho" from en mana vanil. The prelude is a synth sound but it immediately strikes a chord with you. The melody is intact, it stirs the soul, it gets repetitive listening even after 8 years. That is our Raja. <br />Mention should be made about " Koda manjin" from Kochu Kochu Santhosangal when we talk about synth sound. Drums, Rhythm pattern and the rendition captures your soul in the same way as a live instrument could do.Logesh Aravindannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125128644057118787.post-64748025895719394382010-06-04T13:07:00.095-04:002010-06-04T13:07:00.095-04:00Hi Aakarsh
Firstly, thanks for your views. It i...Hi Aakarsh<br /><br /> Firstly, thanks for your views. It is such views that help me analyze music better.<br /><br /> To start with, I know that this is a controversial. However, I saw that no fan/detractor taking a detailed look at what Raja was trying to do. Most reactions have been top-of-mind or sheer dismissive ones. This is my attempt and I may not be entirely right. In the early days of Raja, most listeners criticized his use of Western modulation techniques as they were so alien to the Indian ears. Like modulation, now we are having a problem with 'reverb', 'synth driven rhythm', and other Techno effects. <br /><br /> I still recall folks complaining about the way Raja used solo violins in the 80s for tracks such as 'Kaala kaalamaga' or 'Pani Vizhum' as it was not Carnatic style. Today, we hail these as great innovations by Raja. <br /><br /> I will be happy if some of your views change wrt the new musical style of Raja at the end of the series. Just like contrapuntal music was new to us in the 80s, this is new to us now. <br /><br /> What strikes me the most with Raja is his ability to be Edison and Einstein at the same time. On the surface, his endless experimentation may give you the impression of Edisonian (he has gone thru many failed filament materials for his film music electric bulb) characteristics. However, his unique way of trying to take a 17-century music and fuse it with 20th century Techno creates an Einsteinian impression. All his competitors have the same tools that he has. Not the mind he possesses. In the end, it's all that matters!<br /><br />Cheers<br /><br />Ravi Natarajanravinathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07220357576335516655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125128644057118787.post-17858570488688246842010-06-04T02:03:09.560-04:002010-06-04T02:03:09.560-04:00Very good post. I have always been a huge fan (and...Very good post. I have always been a huge fan (and hence a critic too, if you can understand the perspective right) of his music.<br />Regarding post 2000 era, I have my set of likes and dislikes too, depending on the amount of techno quotient that raaja has put in. There are many songs, like the recent "Aaro Paadum" (Katha thodaranu) where the balance is just right.Or even something like "Vennalavin Pera Matravaa" (Ramana).While there have been some,where i felt that he just went overboard. I completely agree that his sense of application is the same.Just that sometimes it clicks and sometimes it doesnt. But thats fair, because experiments are all about succeeding & failing.And what we should be glad about is the fact that he has not ceased to experiment.<br />Technology has always been his forte and I wish he continues to use to his advantage.Yet,for me,what works completely is his grasp over acoustic instruments and the huge canvas he paints with them.His "Saara Yeh Aalam"(Shiva 2006) is an example of that. I do enjoy his experimental ventures into techno & stuff,but his core(est) strengths lie in conjuring up songs like those and I hope he continues to belt out such numbers, instead of completely surrendering to Techno Baroque.Aakarshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15943886586244410709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125128644057118787.post-4313595725790162302010-06-03T11:49:40.560-04:002010-06-03T11:49:40.560-04:00Excellent post Ravi.
I have also been a constant...Excellent post Ravi. <br /><br />I have also been a constant advocate on 2000s Raja and have been arguing heavily that he has not lost even an inch of his interest and has been constantly striving to innovate in this new genre of his!! You have given a nice name to it, Techno Baroque. All I can tell people is to listen to his Malayalam output of the last 10 yrs. Anyone with even a minimum sense of music can discover for himself / herself that genius of Raja in this new avatar.<br /><br />Good work. Looking forward to more posts on this with examples, as usual :) And as usual, I will also give my suggestions.Suresh Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08775860840384645432noreply@blogger.com