Mandolin U.Srinivas plays Ilayaraaja's classics

[rajasaranam]

After the long slumber and of Maayakannadi's dismal effect! Here I listened to an album in a genre to which Iam totally naive of and man this was great piece of music!. earlier I wondered how people are able to listen to pure 'Thamizhisai' at all and would not dare to listen to this genre unless it was simplified as in Kaadhal oviyum/Sindhu bairavi/salangai oli etc.,. but this album broke all my preconceptions and i've started loving this album.

Especially when i listened to fourth track "manam Kanindhu" i was amazed how it had a feel of WCM in parts. At exactly after 21 mins [yes the track runs to 31 mins ] in this track there is portion which i would identify has employed some technique which would make it WCM if played with some other instruments like piano. and there is a mesmerising duet between mandolin and thampura over here i believe. and violin joining in later gives this piece a grand symphonic effect!

This album supposed to be composed long time back has been released in a CD version and available at landmark or you can shop @ nilashop.com http://www.nilashop.com/product_info...roducts_id=619

As you can see on the CD details the Raaga of the first composition is titled 'Raaja cahasi' Is this the Raaga that Raaja invented in the 80's or is it 'Panchamukhi' as i remember reading somewhere???