IR concerts, TV shows and Interviews ...

[Vkrish]

Hi Guys,

The auditorium was packed…fans outside were asking for extra tickets..

The show was absolutely fantastic. The orchestration was great. It was a treat to watch so many musicians playing with the scoresheet. The interludes of all the songs were stunning and it was performed to the best. IR had earlier said in TV that his troupe will be playing the orchestra. hence you can imagine how best it should be… Purudhotaman, who is with IR right from annakili days, should have played a great role in it.

IR should be thrilled by seeing such a large crowd...he was at full form when he rendered songs like "Nan thedum", "Thendral vandhu ...", "Ada veetukkku" etc.

Sivamani had his role in all the songs...and the highlight was his performance in Ninnukori varanam. He finished the concert with his speedy performance..IR giving him the Jadis and Sivamani retaliating back was great to watch.. IR gave applause to him…Sivamani showed his gratitude for IR by singing "Guru Brahma Guru Vishnu…..Raja guruve namaha”.

Shreya, Chitra, SPB and others were all at their best.

There were few 2 concerns ….
1. The audio from the string section was little less for the first 10 songs..It was not much audible for people sitting at the back..(later came to know that a problem related to a mike was detected and corrected).
2. Songs selection was OK. But late 70’s and early 80’s songs could’ve been provided more preference. (But the need of extensive rehearsals and shortage of time are supposed to be one reason.) But still the song playlist was great with all songs having mesmerizing orchestration works.

SPB requested IR to conduct shows for the fans on regular basis. SPB narrated the incidents behind “Sundai Kannal” song. He wondered IR for his speed and his involvements in composing, writing notations, music arrangement, etc etc. all by himself.

Vaali praised Raja for his uniqueness in compositions..and his writing skills of Vemba, and his paiting skill, which many are not aware.

Here is the list….

1. Janani Janani (IR voice was slightly shivering in the first few lines)
2. Manjal Vandha (Happy to see the SPB + IR combo on stage after a lo…ng time)
3. Enna Solli Paduvatho (Casual rendition by Hariharan)
4. Ennai Thalatta
5. Kattril Enthan Geetham - Shreya Goshal voice was so beautiful and she rendered the song with ease. At one instance she sang “Kattril enthan …kanatha ondri Thoduthey…” but she later corrected much to the applause of the entire crowd.
6. Ethetho ennam…(Her voice implies how she got 6 national awards)
7. Mayil pola
8. Kattrinil varum geethame…
9. Nan Thedum Chevvanthy …. Same vintage raja classics…fans enjoyed every moment.
10. Potthy vaccha….
11. Eiii padal ondu …. Vijay yesudas
12. Gazraho…
13. Adi aathadii….the orchestration was great…but unfortunately the audio played a spoilsport.
14. Shenbagame…
15. Rasathi unnai kaanatha …
16. Manguieley….SPB + Chitra..
17. Chinna Kannan Azaikkuran…in fast beats with yuvan in lead.. IR later commented to yuvan as to why he dint sing in his style as “chinnnn kann azaikk kuran….”.
18. Sundary kannal – Pick of the show
19. Unnai vida…..
20. Oh priya priya…
21. Oliyile therivadhu…..(Great !!!)
22. Vanavilley …. (interludes were so beautiful..)
23. Padariyen ….
24. Aattamma ….
25. Ilankatthu veesudhey
26. Pattu solli …
27. Aagaya vennilave…
28. Thumbi…..(from the Mal Film Olangal..orchestration was simply superb and IR gave the vocals).
29. Aasaya Katthula….
30. Ninnukkori varanam….a treat to watch..
31. Thendral vandhu….(Great !!!)
32. Masi masam….vijay yesudas
33. The great 3 Note song wonder…. Rendered by shreya, SPB, and IR…


People who missed the show..don’t worry…njoy this diwali in jaya tv. If this gets released in DVD, then it will be the best show in TFM till date.

[app_engine]

http://www.newstodaynet.com/17oct/mu1.htm

"An ardent fan of Ilayaraja, coming all the way from Mumbai, said it was a lifetime opportunity to be part of the evening, worth going miles to see.

Such is the magical prowess of the one who made a quiet entry in Annakili and is still on the mesmerising mode. "

says the above report...

[app_engine]

Some questions to those present for the show:

-Orchestration exactly original mAdhiri irundhadha, or were there any instrument changes?

-Any improvisations (or on-stage-variations) by other singers? Like Balu...or was everyone trying to sing exactly like on the original...

-what were the other pronunciation goof-ups (`kANamal ennai thodudhE' being one reported)

-How did the substitutes fare in comparison with original singers for SJ, KJY songs...any better performances?

-Did the orchestration for old songs create any feeling like 'ippO uLLa nalla recording equiments vachu, more or less original notes& instrument'ai maRupadi oru muRai record paNNinAl evvaLavu nallA irukkum...?'

[app_engine]

Except one or two (i.e. very recent ones), all others chosen were good numbers...(though one can always say why his / her favourite didn't find a place)...if they come out with audio CD pack for the live show, it will be worth buying...DVD should be even more valuable, I think...

[Sanjeevi]

Hi app_engine,

Orchestra did not do well in some songs. IR showed his reactions to orchestra group to stop the song and told to redo especially for Naan thedum first interlude music (what a wonderful one). And I also felt there were some diffculties to orchestra to make music due to less time of practice.

I think, always IR songs will not easy for any orchestra to regenerate.But fortunately, most of songs did came very well.

Once IR told about some lyricist always tell two times with heavy tone their lines at stages even if it was simple lines. IR criticize Vairamuthu indirectly?

And I slightly disappointed due to no single performance by karthik raja. Yuvan did very well in Chinna kannan alaikuran ended his typical huavuava.

[*]

Here's a review of the concert i got as a forward
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October 16, 2005. The Nehru Indoor Stadium was full-packed by 6 PM. The crowd got anxious, as minutes went past 6:05 PM. It was a mild disappointment for those who expected the concert to start on time. Yet, at 6:35 PM, when Ilayaraja appeared from an elevated revolving platform singing "Janani Janani", flanked on both sides by 2 little kids in white frocks, the whole stadium reverberated with applause. Here was the man clad in a white shirt & dhoti, who has proved through his countless genius compositions, that he is no less than Mozart and Beethovan of those days. It was a dream come true for many, seeing the Maestro face-to-face.

SPB kicked off the concert with the mesmerizing "Mandram vantha thendralukku" (Mouna Raagam). Claps came roaring as he started the initial humming of the song. While singing the line “Maedaiyai pola, Vaazhkai alla...”, Raja & SPB smiled at each other, revealing the legendary bonding between them. Ilayaraja commented at the end of it, "You sing better on stage than while recording".

Parthiban (actor) and Mahathi (budding playback singer) compered the event. Mahathi kept giving technical tips about each song and it's raaga.

It looked like violin fascinates Ilayaraja the most! No other instrument dominated the show as much as that group of violins. The utmost seriousness with which Raja conducted those 35 to 40 violinists was amazing. Many times during the show, Raja signalled to the crowd to concentrate on the violin scores. Even a small variation from his notes irritated him.

When the violinists struggled to play the interludes of "Senthoora Poovey", Raja himself dictated the notes aloud "Play Ne Tha Pa..., it's C# B A....". The violinists were a bit fast when playing for Bhavathaarani's "Mayil pola ponnu onnu", and a slightly disappointed Raja remarked to them, "She is a small girl! See how fast you played! Didn't I tell you during rehearsal itself?". Then he turned to the audience so humbly and asked, "How was it? Was it okay?". The applause that followed gave the answer.

SPB came back to sing "Sundari Kanaal oru sethi, solladi innaal nalla thethi" (Thalapathy) - a notable composition in Kalyaani. Earlier, comperer Mahathi was at loss of words describing how Raja had used Kalyaani raaga in such a war related song sequence. SPB recalled the incident, when Raja recorded this song in Mumbai using R.D.Burman's orchestra and the whole orchestra gave a standing ovation to Raja after playing those complicated interludes.

Chitra gave her very best in "Naan oru sindhu" (Sindhubhairavi). The part in the song where the she sang the swarangal in sync with a solo violin - was just too awesome.

The song that came as the crowd's favorite was "Naan theadum sev-vanthi poo ithu", sung by Raja himself. With popular demand for a "once more", Raja laughed & started singing it once more, replacing the lyrics with his own words praising his fans.

Raja called upon Yuvan Shankar to sing a small song, which was more like a classical one. And at the end, Raja jovially remarked, "Yuvan, what is this! You didn't sing this in your style!" and Raja himself mimicked it in pop-style. Yuvan made a futile effort to sing that song again in pop fashion. Although "Drums" Mani tried to increase the rhythm and support Yuvan, it didn't take-off well.

Hariharan, Bhavathaarini & chorus - sang "Kaatril varum geethamey" (Oru Naal Oru Kanavu). They sang the "swarangal" part of the song together, absolutely in sync. Raja really admired them singing it and joined them towards the end.

Good old singer Jeyachandran came with his best "Raasathi Unnai Kaanatha nenju" (Vaitheki Kaathirundaal). With experienced singers like SPB, Hariharan, Jeyachandran, Chithra, etc one could see Raja quite relaxed and at ease.

Then came "Maanguyiley Poonguyiley" (Kara-kaatakaaran). When Raja had composed that tune, its director Gangai Amaran had remarked, "I am your brother, can't you compose a better tune for me?” But Raja had insisted on sticking to that tune, and we know what a hit it turned out to be!

When Bharathiraja came on stage and spoke high words of praise, Raja gently turned down to accept such high praises, and smiled to the orchestra saying “Let’s play our music and keep going, that’s enough!”.

Towards the end, Raja spoke about his perception of music: "A tune should either convey a mood, or it should deliver a message. If it doesn't serve either of these, it is not of any use. Nowadays, well... many pop songs are coming up, let's not talk of those. It is like the difference between a healthy meal and popcorn. But let's not worry why popcorn sells better!"

A brief video on Ilayaraja's biography was shown. Born in Pannaiyapuram village, Raja used to go to the fields in his young days and make flute out of hollow sticks, even without knowing the basics of music. From Pannaiyapuram to Burmingham Symphony - his musical journey is amazing. His unimaginable level of mastery over Carnatic and Western Classical was evident throughout the show!

Inspite of all those showers of praises by so many people who came on stage, Raja bid farewell with a very humble message, "I became a music director not by any of my efforts, but by God's grace". That humbleness said it all - why this man still remains an unbeaten genius.

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There seem to be some factual errors but lets just get the drift

[Sanjeevi]

I enjoyed with two lady singers came from north india. Shreya goshal (my fav) and Sadhana sargam have sweetest voices. But Shreya lost to Sadhana in the category of tamil pronounce.

Sadhana did very well in pattu solli, enna solli and vanavillae. Shreya did very well with her sweet vocie in two ONOK songs, Unna vida and the special katril enthan geetham with thoduthey.

Amoung young male singers Karthik sung much fantastically the song "Oliyilae therivathu".

[app_engine]

Well Sanjeevi, my question was more related to instruments themselves...(& not whether the orchestra struggled...it's quite possible to miss some on stage performances, especially on some tough ones with less rehearsal)...

Did they use the original instruments themselves or `simulated' using keyboard / synth gimmicks...I've seen some orchestras manage many sections with keyboard sound replacements as they cannot get / afford instrument players for the stage performance...was there any such sodhappals... (Even with Raja, for e.g., I heard samples of the Italy concert on the web...it lacked a lot of original instruments and was pathetic)

[venkyforraaja]

thops, you are good at dropping one line comments, busy ripping ofr videos and audios ?

-Venky

[sureshmehcnit]

here is my long take on the concert

http://ursmusically.blogspot.com/200...-lifetime.html