SJ – Orchestral vocal instrument - Call and Response (1990s)

 The C&R journey from the 90s continued into the 90s as well. However, the pace of SJ being used in this orchestral format came down significantly during this decade. We will see a few examples from the 1990s.

The first track is from the song, ‘Maniye Manikuyile’ from ‘Nadodi Thendral’ (1992 Tamil). This is a PolyCaRe clip with the santoor playing the background melody throughout the clip. The call by SJ is responded by the flute and while the flute responds, the santoor continues in the background with its simple melody.

Let’s hear, ‘Maniye manikuyile’, C&R with SJ’s orchestral vocal instrument…

The next track we will hear is from the song, ‘Oru kunguma sengamalam’ from ‘NaangaL’ (1992 Tamil). This is a complex C&R arrangement – it has two back to back C&R arrangement with proper guitar chords. This is not just one more humming as it happens quite often in Indian film music. The initial call is by SJ with the guitar chords and the response is from the tabla. The second call, a different melody, from SJ is responded to by the flute with its own response. You have to pay attention to the further synthesizer and violins, playing  a C&R, after the SJ C&R ends.  This is to illustrate, how deeply buried is SJ, the instrument inside the Raja orchestra. Such is the thinking of a musical genius. You will never find such an arrangement by any Indian composer.

Let’s hear, ‘Oru Kunguma Sengamalam’, C&R with SJ’s orchestral vocal instrument…

The next track is from the song, ‘Oru Raagam tharaadha veenai’ from ‘Unnai Vaazhthi Paadugiraen’ (1992 Tamil). This is a simple back to back C&R arrangement. The initial call and response is played together between SJ and the violins. The second C&R is a proper division of responsibility between SJ and the violins where SJ makes the call and the violins respond. The violins are used to bridge the C&R to the final charanam in typical Raja style.

Let’s hear, ‘ Oru ragam tharadha’ , C&R with SJ’s orchestral vocal instrument…

I am sure there are a few more examples of SJ being used as part of a C&R arrangement in the 1990s. Feel free to include your picks in the comments…