Bharathi - Ilaiyaraaja - Background Score.

Yet Another Thanks to Navin Mozart for this Precious Score. Bharathi is my most favourite Ilaiyaraaja Score in the last 20 years. Seems like Raja have enjoyed so much scoring for this movie (Of course he does for all movies though)

• After Bharathi threw away his Kingdom's job,  Chellamma(Devayani) becomes worried of her future which Raja forewarns us in 4.41 to 4.46 piece. In fact this piece indirectly tells the viewers something is going to happen with an eccentric poet.

• What a beautiful piece of music Raja has embellished(Kummiadi Penne Kummiadi Penne) in the scene when a guy comes and felicitates Bharathi with a Shawl. The Piece starts (sounds like Guitar as well as keyboard) at 10.22 then shifts to percussions with Guitar Strummings at 10.33. Again, moving to Classical with Violin joining them at 10.39 till 10.50

• When Bharathi brings loads of books in carts and the moment he starts reading... Love's Philosophy, Flute comes alive  at 6.17 with subtle orchestration in the background, recreating European Western Classical era.

• And the haunting Bharathi Theme from 7.09 Solo Violin Piece.. see the sudden variation from 7.27.

Ilaiyaraaja, Ashok Kumar, Mahendran - The Trinity of Soulful Films.

Few days before, while I was watching Pazhaya Sogangal from the movie Eera Vizhi Kaaviyangal, the Opening Shot, in which, Prathap Pothen was sitting on the seashore, beside a boat immediately caught my eyes.

When checked in Wikipedia, it showed Ashok Kumar's name. I wasn't surprised. The late cinematographer Ashok Kumar was one of the best in the industry. Though he has done a lot of movies, he created some beautiful shots in Mahendran movies, in particular, Nenjathai Killathey, Nandu. Paruvame Pudhiya Paadal Paadu - with its mist, lush greenery, and morning light looked like a canvas painted on the screen.

Another favourite is Manjal Veyil Song from the movie Nandu. The opening High-Angle Shot in which the Camera looks at the entrance of the home with guests coming in for a Birthday party or Aswini holding her baby in a garden, shots looked lovely. Maniratnam says, "The relationship between Cameraman and Director is like Husband and Wife. The better their understanding better the film". I see Mahendran and Ashok Kumar as a perfect example of his phrase.

Good Cinematography is not about high-end technical gadgets or filming in foreign locations; its mere evoking an emotion, a feel. The same Ashok Kumar did the cinematography for Jeans too. In spite of shooting in great wonders of the world, he couldn't create a feel as like he did in Nenjathai Killadhey or in Nandu. There comes the script and the director :-)

Note: A bit about Manjal Veyil Compositon. What a stunning work from Maestro. Song starts with Veena and the moment the hero comes we hear a grand violin orchestration followed by a cello, the cello sounds as though someone is knifing our hearts. See Raja's foreshadowing brilliance here: the song happens in an auspicious event, for this Veena, Flute, Classical Guitar everything fits in. But the hero suffering from a critical illness yet to tell his situation and roaming alone disheartened; soon everything is going to be changed in a happy family. For this Raja prepares us subtly before that is going to happen.

The first lnterlude is an emotional outburst score. It starts with a baroqish solo violin with a group of violins subtly playing a different melody in the background then shifts to flute/classical guitar the moment the hero sees Vanitha and his lover on a rickshaw, here too, a Jugalbandi occurs between Flute, Guitar, and Veena. (The way, the trio expressing their emotions in their faces, is too good to see in the screen.)

In the Amadeus movie, Salieri beautifully describes Mozart's music in a remarkable scene :

" Sweetened into a phrase with such delight. This was a music I've never heard. Filled with such longing such unfulfillable longing as though I am hearing the voice of God. "

The same I felt, listening to this(Manjal Veyil Maalaiyitta Poove..) piece.

Oh Unnale Naan Penaane... Mano at his very best & Nilave Nee Vara Vendum - A Moonlight Sonata in Classical Guitar.

After years, I came back to this mellifluous song. I first heard this song in one of my relative's marriage which was held in Valliyoor way back before 25 years. Then, being a school boy, I didn't pay much attention to the song. Besides this, I have a clear memory of another song too - Muthamma Muthu Muthu Muthalamma.. from the movie Thanthuvitten Ennai. Again, yesterday, when I listened to this Oh Unnale Naan Pennaane... the song had a profound impact on me which made me listen continously for few hours.

This is one of the Ilaiyaraaaja songs with a subtle orchestration and mild rhythms. However, the very melodic tune and Mano's heavenly vocal(the way, Mano starts Thedatha Neram illaye... haunts us) have put the song on the pedestal.

Yet another rare gem from En Arugil Nee Irundhal. One of the heavenly preludes ever composed by Ilaiyaraaja - lilting Classical guitar woven with another Guitar to form a Counterpoint and this magic continues in both the interludes.

Vanthaale Allipoo.... Kan Sivanthal Mann Sivakkum

After a tiresome day, This song Vanthaale Allipooo.. made my day. One of the finest little gems of Ilaiyaraaja. Song starts with a classical rhythm and shifts to Guitar strummings with Raja's voice. Poornima... an epitome of beauty in this song. Her Cotton Sarees, smile, body language - absolute pleasure to watch. What a beautiful tribute to her.

Ingeyum Angeyum - A Rare Waltz Song from Sathya.

Inadvertently, I find out this brilliant Waltz in the Navin Mozart's Soundcloud uploads where I actually landed to listen Vetri Karangal Title Score. What a shame, all these years I've been so dumb to miss this rare piece from the movie Sathya. Venkateswaran Ganesan has this song in You tube with the best Stereo Recording. Ilaiyaraaja Fans who aren't aware of this song, give it a try.

Ilaiyaraaja and his Title Scores.

Navin Mozart has pulled off uploading "The Greatest Title Scores of Ilaiyaraaja" which none could imagine. I wonder how much painstaking effort would have gone in selecting the best movies and carefully cutting the Title Themes. This around 2 Hrs of Title Scores gives us some of the best musical experience in our life. Prior to Ilaiyaraaja none of the composer in Tamil Cinema has given a Title Score that is relevant to the movie. His scores are like Preface to a Novel-which helps the viewers to expect what from the movie, by capturing various moods of the movie from the Title Score itself. For Eg. in the Varusham 16: the theme is same but comes in various moods with happy mood in the flute and then gradually moving to melancholy mood in the full orchestration. This gives a picture of the movie's journey to the audience. Take any of Ilaiyaraaja's Title Score. It carries the weight of the entire movie. This is what that makes Ilaiyaraaja a class apart from the rest of the composers.

When listening to these 50 Title scores, all one can wonder at its versatile and rich orchestration conveying apt emotions based on the movie.

Esp.Japanil Kalyanaraman(What a grand orchestration all of a sudden),Nooravathu Naal nail-biting percussions followed by Bass Guitar, Nilavu Suduvathillai(What a Stunning Bass Guitar intro), Kickass and funky Paayum Puli, Ninaivellam Nithya, Netrikan - Solo Violin Piece and the sudden outburst of Violins in Vikram.

Finally, a solo Cello piece was so haunting but I couldn't recollect the movie name. When found it was so surprising that the piece was scored for a Dabba movie like Kannukulle. Ivar Manasukulle Ennapa Irukku.

The Lighter Side of Ilaiyaraaja Background Scores.

Of Course everyone knows the brilliance of Ilaiyaraaja when comes to BGM; We had/will read n number of articles/news/blogs exploring the Master's breathtaking BGM's on - soulful Idhayathai Thirudathey Title Score Or spine-chilling Sivappu Rojakkal Or Poovizhi Vasalilie "Om Om Hari Om" Or blissful romantic scores like Kathalukku Mariyadhai, Aanpaavam, Or sentimental Thalapathy Score and so on, but hardly we had read about Maestro's comical BGMs which are no way inferior to his other mainstream scores.

It happened on one or few instances while watching some comedy scenes, I was completely amazed by the scores, which eclipsed the actors in those scenes.This is something unusual.Generally, BGM doesn't play a major role in comedy scenes than compared to emotional or romantic scenes - as comedy scenes depend purely on its actors to do their slapstick gimmicks. In spite of this, Maestro's scores are remarkable in many comedy scenes as they even outdo the actors.

Some of the best funny scores of Ilaiyaraaja I love.

Mudhal Mariyadhai : In a complete emotional movie, there lies a single scene - where Radha challenges Sivaji to lift the "Maapillai Stone" - which shows Ilaiyaraaja's stamp.Scene starts with a beautiful Guitar strumming, closely joined by another Guitar, forming a heavenly counterpoint and finally ends as a postlude Keyboard piece.This is one of the most delightful score ever composed by Raja.(Of Course Sivaji's expression too priceless)

Naane Raja Naane Mandhiri : After all, Who could forget the classic phrase " இஷ்ட லக்கடி லாலா சுந்தரி கோலா கொப்பர கொய்யா!! " The movie which showed the Captain in a new and unusual role.Needless to say,he pulled off the role quite comfortably.Equally the BGM too take the credit.Listen to the Title Score. Ilaiyaraaja's Trumpet Grandiose starts the moment Vijaykanth comes.

Agni Natchathiram : VK Ramasamy tries to hide Disco Shanthi from his wife by moving her from one room to another.This is what the scene.But it has three emotions Humour - Secrecy - Sensual.On observing the score anyone could clearly figure out the three emotions.That's typical genius of Ilaiyaraaja!!!!

Micheal Madana Kamarajan : Divine Comical Carnatic Piece!!!(Note the mild Bass Guitar :)

Karagatakkaran : What's there to say in this BGM ? :-)

Padikathavan :

The above are some of the best known examples I have seen till now of Ilaiyaraaja.Raasukutti Theme is another good score from Raja but sadly I couldn't find it in youtube.Still there could be some scores which I missed and I will try to upload them in future.