Ramesh on Music

Duet Music

I was watching Actor/Producer Prakash Raj's TV interview on Pongal. He was talking about his newly launched label "Duet Music". He wants to create a platform where musicians (other than those related to films) can showcase their talent. Music albums is not yet popular in south and it seems he wants to encourage such albums and also form a business around it. As Prakash Raj mentioned in an interview:

“In another three years I wish to make music a buoyant, thriving industry, independent of cinema. The thought made me float Duet Music as a label for talents. Unlike places like Punjab where the art is celebrated, most of us have an ear only for film-oriented stuff. A capable flautist or sitar player warrants a showcase too. Duet will do it,”

Duet Music recently released its maiden audio, the songs from the yet to be released movie, "Vellithirai". In an unique move, he also released the karaoke versions of the songs in the movie, so that people can sing along with it.

I think this is a welcome move by Prakash Raj. His "Duet Movies" already identifies good scripts, new directors and encourages them.

Favorite songs of Music Directors

Here are some of my top favorite songs of each music director. I can keep listening to these songs without getting bored. I generally won't change the station / channel when I listen to this song on air. Each and every music director have their own specialty and these are some songs that I enjoyed listening too.

I have not included Ilaiyaraaja, since there are lot of songs of his that I can keep mentioning. It is difficult to point out top 1 or 2. Similarly I have not included A R Rahman too.

Here is the list in no particular order:

Yuvan Shankar Raja

Idhu Kadhala - Thulluvatho Ilamai
Pogaathe - Deepavali

Harris Jayaraj

Ennai Konjam - Kaakha Kaakha
Ennai Pandhada - Ullam Ketkume

Bharadwaj

Enakkena - Paarthen Rasithen
Thaiyathaa - Thiruttu payale

Vidyasagar

Anandham Anandham - Murai maaman
Pinjumazhai Saaral - Varnajaalam

G V Prakash

Idhu Enna Mayam - Oram Po
Minnalgal Koothadum - Pollathavan

Karthik Raja

Veesum Kaatrukku - Ullasam
Konjum Manjal - Ullasam

Ramesh Vinayagam

Kadhalai Valarthai - University
Enna Idhu - Naladhamayanthi

Deva

Nalam Nalam Ariya - Kadhal Kottai

S A Rajkumar

Anandham Anandham - Poove Unakkaga
Irubadhu Kodi Nilavugal - Thullatha Manamum Thullum

Devisri Prasad

Un Paarvaiyil Paithiyam - Unakkum Enakkum

Dhina

Uppu Kallu - Karuppusamy Kuthagaitharar

Imaan

Manjal Mugame - ABCD

Sirpi

Ragasiyamaanadhu Kadhal - Kodambakkam

Sabesh Murali

Unnai Charan Adainthen - Thavamai Thavamirundhu

Mahesh

Poonkuyil Paadinaal - Nammavar

Vijay Antony

Uchi Mudhal Padham Varai - Sukran

Mani sharma

Hey Penne - Aasai Aasaiyai
May madham - Shahjahan

Minnalgal Koothaadum

One of the recent songs I like very much is the "Minnalgal Koothaadum" song from Pollathavan. This is a very simple song with simple tune, simple beat and simple accompaniments but I never get bored of this song, even though I hear it on radio almost dailly. This song is picturized on a hill station and the song conveys the appropriate mood. I observed that when we listened to this song on the bus during a trip to Coorg. I was impressed with the fact that even a simple song can be made into a big hit with the right ingredients. Bombay Jayashree's voice in this song is another big plus. Manjal Veyyil song from Vettaiyadu Vilaiyadu (Harris Jayaraj) is yet another example of a simple song with the right ingredients making it a super hit.

There is some freshness in G V Prakash's song. I especially like his "Idhu Enna Mayam" from Oram Po and the "Vizhiyil" song from Kireedam.

One more recent song that I like is the "Yaarukku Yaarendru" song from Ajantha composed by none other than Ilaiyaraaja.

And this is my last post in the year 2007. I had published the maximum number of posts in this year when compared to the earlier years. Hope I continue to keep my blog active during 2008.

Wish you all a very Happy New Year !

Sennheiser Headphones

I recently purchased a Sennheiser HD 202 headphones. Earlier to that, my colleague had purchased the same model in India and I listened to it and was bowled by its audio quality and clarity. He had bought in a Sennheiser showroom in Chennai for around Rs. 3000/-. He told that it doesn't cause any headache or irritation in the ear, sits comfortably and is better than the models from Sony for the same price. He also suggested to buy in the US, since it would cost only about $25 which is roughly Rs. 1000/-. So I ordered it online and got it delivered to my cousin, who brought it down here when he came to India last month.

I have been using it for the past few weeks. The quality is good. External noises are cancelled. Bass depth is very good. I was told that it is a studio-ware. The website says it is ideal for DJs.

Here are some links for you to learn more about this model:

One thing I found uncomfortable was that it changes the angle of my specs when I wear it and hence my eyes get tired. May be I need to tighten my glasses. If you are wearing glasses, make sure you try it out before purchasing.

BGM piece from Alaigal Oyvathillai

Here is a BGM piece from Alaigal Oyvathillai with music by Ilaiyaraaja. This piece comes when Karthik runs behind Radha on the beach and holds her hand. The piece was so good when watched along with the visuals. This is in Raag Hindolam, conveying the same mood as in "Dharisanam kidaikaadha" song which appears earlier in the film. Towards the end of the piece you will notice a mood change with an emotional male humming. Now listen to the piece and then read further.

As I said earlier, this piece is in Hindolam. But when the male humming starts, it changes to Srothaswani raga (Ni3 counterpart of Sudhdha dhanyasi) in a different shruthi. The madhyamam of hindolam becomes the shadjamam of srothaswani. And that is why the female humming ends at Sa ma ga ma, Sa ma ga ma, Sa ma ga ma, Sa ma ga ma, and the shruthi changes and the male humming starts at the upper Sa which is equivalent to the ma of hindolam. This technique of changing the shruthi is being called as shruthibedam. Lets look at the notes of the scales and see how the transformation was done and why it didn't sound odd when both the ragam and shruthi changes.

Hindolam (in 1/2 kattai)

Dha

Srothaswani (in 4 1/2 kattai)

Western Notes

So as you can see above, even though the scale changes, almost all the notes which will be played / sung are the same. It is only with the relative base shruthi that you identify with the swaras and the ragas.

Some of my earlier posts on Shruthibedam in film songs - Kavithai Kelungal and Raa Raa. Infact Raa Raa is also based on Srothaswani.