There is a reason why Ilaiyaraaja is next to God for many, especially those who are musicians - Amateur or Professional. Playing any of the track in any given Raaja song is not only a very challenging and enjoyable experience, its also a very addictive one. One which would shift your allegiance to him for good.. Don't trust me? Try yourself at your risk..
So when I heard the new song "Mudhi Mudhi" from Paa, two things struck me at once. First is the simplicity of the tune.. Just with predominant usages of Poorvanga notes of Mohanam (i.e., D, E and F# in this case) how he repeatedly comes up with innovative tunes. Such varied syncopation with such limited resource is like trying to (successfully) create 80 combination with 3 inputs while mathematics claim only 8 is possible; Second is the arrangement that's behind this tune - which is a stark contrast to its simplicity.
"Mojo" of an average listener is so much high now a days that I am sure websites and reviews are already blaring with how "Jazz"-ish and "Cool" this song sounds. So I decided to take a shot at how Jazz it really is..
Although Jazz is not an alien in this part of the world, it has been mostly used in commonly appreciable Swing or Cool jazz styles. But without any shade of doubt, its not usual that you will find such high quality free flowing jazz chord progressions in regular Indian film music. The spontaneity is mind blowing that the tune is certain to motivate the keyboardist to cut loose and bring out his best. Not to scare you with the following chords, but the song's prelude in DM7th is an indication of what to come. GM7th, Bm6th, Bm (9th), A6th, D (9th), A (9th), F# sus (4th), an inversion of C#m 7th (without the perfect 5th note) are some of the chords used in this song !
To demonstrate these chords, I quickly threw in an inbuilt rhythm in my keyboard and arranged the accompaniment track first. Then I played the lead melody of the song. It was a cool tune to play because I haven't had the chance to use Pitch Bend so effectively in a while. The inherent melody of the song which toggles either side of E provided ample scope for this. Then I played the chords in yamaha DX Piano tone on top of this with a higher volume (So its heard better in isolation) and recorded it. Because in the original song even though you hear them, its still very easy to overlook them.
Actually I have taken a hybrid version of the chords from both Shilpa Rao's and Shaan's version. Hopefully (and rightfully) this would demonstrate the genius of Raaja for the new listeners who never heard him before.
You can watch it in Youtube here.
With Love
Vicky
Nicely played Vicky. Yes nice chords. Even the Ninnukori Varnam song (which is also based on Mohanam) has lot of major 7th and minor 7th chords. Raja obviously has great mastery over chords and harmony.
ReplyDeleteVicky,
ReplyDeleteSuper stuff. I honestly don't have much idea about chords. I mean, even after your chords for dummies :) but now I am getting a feel to what you have been saying. The playing on top of the song is nice idea and it make me understand it better.
As you say from just 3 notes, this man makes 80 combination. What is not possible in Maths is made possible in music!!
Once again, lovely stuff there and you have done a very quick job this time.
Dear vicky,
ReplyDeleteMarubadiyum solren..
"IR engira Syllabus ai kathu kodukum
Very Nice Teacher You are"
"We are Gifted Vicky".
Jazz Chords from you - Therinjinden Vicky........
Neraiya home work - in IR"s Chords - ungaluku than iruka poradhu...
Chords ai play seiya arambithadhal......
With Love,
Usha Sankar.
May be you should publish the chord sheet also...wonderfully arranged on the keys.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, thanks for the article. Chords are solely responsible for painting the colors where the melody is the overall sketch/outline. In this one, the chords clearly differentiate this song form most of the Indian songs. It demands a super-brain to come up with a chord progression like this...and only Raja can do that. I could not agree with you more on this.
ReplyDeleteI am obviously not qualified enough to say the following... But, I feel Rajaa's concentration on the melody part has decreased these days. For me it looks like a rough sketch painted with amazing/complex/out-of the box thinking color/chord combination. I strongly feel, this might be one of the reasons why Raja's songs are not making it big these days.
Would appreciate your comments on this. I consider you as a priest who communicates with God and people. I cannot ask this question to the God (Raja). So I am asking you...
:)
awesome demonstration of a brilliant song.its posts like these that will make the world understand why he is one out of the world composer.please try to demonstrate the song "unnai patri sonnal" from "mathiya chennai",on similar lines.its charanams are so well crafted that the chord patterns & basslines give me goose bumps.
ReplyDeletekeep posting.you will always have an audience.
Bala,
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't agree with the melody part decreasing comment. Just take 'Swapnangal Kannezhudiya' or 'Kunnathe' and you can clearly see that your conclusion is not correct.
And yes, Vicky, 'unnai patri' from Madhiya Chennai will be a real treat from you!!
Beyond Comments Vicky. Another Navin in the making! Sorry Already arrived!
ReplyDeleteRegards
CSR
Without your permission, (accord post facto approval)I provided the link of this Youtube and your blog in the comment section of the Big B blog also.
ReplyDeleteBy mistake, let a few north souls see that and realise about IR.
Great write up on Raja Sir. Enjoyed it very much.
ReplyDeleteVicky, i dont know much about chords and all, but after reading your post, i am very eager to learn ! And while this dummy starts to learn chords, it is reassuring to know that we have you with us to document about such brilliant--mostly unnoticed--facets of raaja's music..hats off to you - Vel
ReplyDeletenice post da...
ReplyDeleteAll:
ReplyDeleteI am really humbled by all your fantastic responses. Thanks. Thanks and Thanks a lot..
@ Ramesh..
Thanks a lot. Yes . Ninnukkori is phenomenal as far as arrangement and chords are concerned.. Also 6th chords are superbly used in that song I guess..
@ Suresh:
Thanks.. The melody of the song (in distortion guitar) is also played by me. I had a real dilemma that, should I pre- record the chords and play the melody live or the other way around. Finally I resorted to playing chords so as to bring this esoteric stuff to the forefront. Also it was a painful decision to suppress the volume of the melody track because actually I am equally in love with that track while playing. It had scope for some great usage of bender and I really haven't been able to play a melody like that in a long time;
@ Usha:
Thanks.. Yes.. you guessed it right.. Playing Raaja's chords just by listening is indeed a tough homework ..
@ TN:
Thanks man.. Yes I will post the chords too.. But the problem is its rather difficult to map the chords in paper because of the extempore timing in which these chords are played (also in the original). This is more of a norm with the Jazz based songs I guess.. So its better to digest the chords first and go with your own interpretation for such songs (thats what I have done in the video)
@ BM:
Ennadhu.. Priest-aaaaa!!! Man.. Hope you are not putting "pattai" on me or thrusting an "Udukkai" in my hand and ask me to "kulukku-fy".. Ha ha...
Jokes apart.. I am explaining my views on this on the next comment..
@ Aakarsh/ Suresh:
Unnai patri sonnal is surely one of the songs that gave me a great satisfaction and went on loop for sometime. Indeed dissection of that song would be a mouth watering proposition. I will surely do it and will keep you personally updated for the fear of not giving "same" kind of posts.
@ CSR:
Its always great to have you here.. The pleasure is mine, that you quoted this in AB's blog. Can you please share the URL to me..
@ Ganesh:
Thanks a lot and welcome here.
@ Vel:
Thanks a lot Vel.. Its my privilege to be able to assist. Please let me know if and how I can help.
@ Nanni:
Thanks and welcome here.
With Love
Vicky
@ BM/ Others:
ReplyDeleteRaaja's output post 2K (or more specifically post 2005) is a highly subjective debate. When his songs are not in regular "Top 10s" anymore, either you can question him or you can question the criteria to get into "Top10". I second Suresh that, there is surely no drop in the quality of melody construction from Raaja. If anything I would actually put my finger on the other half of the song.. i.e., "deliberate" and "not-tuned-to-the-present" way of arranging Rhythm as a factor that's become a dampner (personal opinion again); His electronic Rhythmic tones are somehow not "sounding" like those other loops. The answer is clear for everyone to see from horse's mouth here.
Poor Movie selection, outrageously conspicuous logistical choices both involving him or not(i.e., for audio management, unexplained delays or invisibility of his movies such as nandhalala, Ajantha), Over reliance of Keeravani in his tunes, Obsession to sing more of his own songs as compared to the past, Appalling Lyrics ("Rasathila Uppa Pottupputten" ellam oru lyric! this is in the Karugamani song..), deliberate singers who are rather stale in executing 'hip' songs (as compared to the natural flair of SPB lets say), Absence of solid variation and unexpected surprises in his interludes (which has been a corner stone so far) are some of the factors which I would attribute to the perceived drop in quality by us while the chief factor is also that, when "Nakka Mukka" becomes the topper there is of course no place for Raaja in such a list..
Having said all this, I must point out the other side of Raaja's last few years. Show me another composer who can compose a song like Sabhdamayee or Om Enum pranava (classical), Bagyadha Balegara (Folk), Paa or any of the other ones (For urban/ jazz).. or for that matter the old Acoustic Raaja thats still possible to find in songs like Ninnukori (sunny) or Indha Ulagil (Madhu) or umpteen other songs.. As much as we "feel" a perceived drop in quality, we have also failed to notice the kind of songs we want from him. That is, we are expecting unmusical output from him because that has become a norm even before we realized. This is my opinion as also proven by him in that youtube link.
(Sorry for the mini blog in the comments section. The topic was such)
With Love
Vicky
Super Vicky!
ReplyDeleteOne suggestion... Please delete your latest comment, make it more detailed and post it as a blog. I am worried, being a comment, this will not have the "visibility". Those are really strong statements and I want them to be heard by many....
Thanks! :)
Vicky,
ReplyDeleteYou have put across your views very well. I would mostly agree with what you say and also agree that many have started expecting unmusical output from him. When I hear the latest 'hit' song in Tamil / Telugu or Hindi I honestly cannot comprehend what the fuss is all about.
Other than the fact that no one still gives the variations that he does, it is also true that many of the 'missing' factors are coming back this year. Especially the funky and unexpected interludes. I was definitely taken in by the songs of 'Jaganmohini'. Very funky and enthusiastic. Of course Pazhassiraja was freak out in rhythm section and now 'Paa' give us jazzy pleasure. There is lot more to look forward from him.
Did you notice that Bhavatarini doesn't appear much nowadays and slowly Raja's appearance in songs in also decreasing. (Ofcourse his voice was inch perfect for 'Ambum Kombum'.) Lyrics and Logistics still need to be sorted out :(
S.Suresh
Vignesh,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for this wonderful article..
No words to express...
The views that you have expressed about Raaja Sir's composition are really true. Thank you so much.
Lathadas
@ Bala:
ReplyDeleteIn future I will try to include these views on a related post.. Thanks..
@ Suresh:
Thanks.. Yes 2009 has been very prolific reminding his hay days of the late 80s. Yes.. Its a welcome relief (at least for me personally) to see less of Bhava. Although I have personally nothing against her, in my personal opinion picking her for some songs are just not done (such as Kannanukku Enna Vendum).
@ Latha:
Thanks a lot ..
With Love
Vicky
@Vicky:
ReplyDeleteIt is also a generational shift that he no longer works with like minded directors like Balu M, Mahendran, Mani, B.Raja etc who gave him aesthetic as well as challenging situations to compose songs. As his fan i myself am struggling to come to terms with today's songs/music !!
Hi Vicky,
ReplyDeleteI have been reading you post very sliently, needless to say I have been enjoying, reading your post and listening to the particular song its mind blowing.
Wanted to know if Mudi Mudi and Thanga Rosa from Time movie have any connection, to my ears I feel both are similar.
Cheers,
Vinodh
I just saw the movie, and this song instantly caught my attention for its simplicity and resemblance with starting progression of John Coltrane's my favorite things you all can see on youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_n-gRS_wdI
ReplyDeleteJust start the two songs one after the other and note the first 15 seconds.
I then arrived at this blog and the author made it very simple and clear that it IS a jazzy tune beautifully intermingled with blinding supreme Ilayaraja-ness.
A good movie and some great music after a long time.
Thank You.
@ Raj:
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot for your comments. Yes. For those of us who are spoiled by high quality outputs from such great directors you mentioned, it does take a while to get used to life with out them :-)
@ Vinodh:
Welcome. Thanks for taking time to post your comment. Sorry for the late response. Yes. Both "Naan Thanga Raasa" and "Mudhi Mudhi" is based on the poorvanga domain of MOhanam (i.e., predominant usage of the swaras Sa Ri Ga as opposed to other notes in the scale); So the similarity is perfectly understandable.
@ Pink Lonkar:
Yes. The 7th note of the M7th chord used in the prelude does bring in an inevitable sound of familiarity of both the numbers you mentioned. However "My favorite things" is a minor base song while Mudhi Mudhi has a major key. So in that sense, there is no similarity in the songs themselves (except for ofcourse the first few seconds which you mentioned). Having said that, "My favorite things" has inspired Raaja DIRECTLY in at least one number which is "Than nanna naa dhinam" from the movie Yathra (Malayalam). Its rather a direct re-hash of "My favorite things"; Another Raaja number influenced by this number is "Pootukkal Pottalum" from Chathriyan although its more of a meter (sandham) similarity there than the melody itself.
Thanks a lot for dropping by and for your comments.
With Love
Vicky