The Maestro Cover-up
Posted by JoNov 27
I have high regards for composer Ilaiyaraja. Of late, however, the maestro has begun to show some sort of musical sterility in his works. There is no variety or fresh approach in his music anymore. His music doesn’t move you or excite you much these days, even in his trademark melodious tunes. Perhaps this could be one reason why A R Rahman got more popular than Ilaiyaraja, because ARR kept improvising throughout his career. Also Ilaiyaraja has been recycling his old tunes for new movies. His Hindi music scores for the films like “Cheeni Kum” and “Paa” are good examples of this.
When I heard the songs from the movie Pazhassiraja, composed by Ilaiyaraja, it did not move me a bit. Ilaiyaraja’s music for this epic movie was disappointing and average. Usually the movies directed by Hariharan would have some great songs. But this one was a huge let down.
But now the composer is blaming the lyricist over one particular song from Pazhassiraja. Ilaiyaraja said that he is dissatisfied with poet ONV Kurup’s lyrics for the film and he spoke about it at the audio release of the Tamil version of the film at Chennai.
According to the music director, ONV was unable to write the lyrics for a tune that had been selected by Hariharan, from among several tunes that Ilaiyaraja had presented before him. A few months later, the director had approached Ilaiyaraja again with lyrics that had been written by the famous lyricist, and had asked him to compose a tune for the same.
Ilaiyaraja said that the lyrics had the manner of a march past anthem. It had none of the anguish experienced by the warrior. Probably the lyricist must have had a different picture of Pazhassi in his mind, he added. [via]
I think it is up to the director and script writer to decide what kind of lyrics they want for a situation in the film. In this case, it seems that both the director and script writer do not have any problem with the lyrics penned by ONV. Then why should the composer have any issues? Or is it his way of covering up his inability to come up with a good tune for the lines that ONV wrote?
PS: The song Gum Sum from the Hindi movie Paa is a tune composed by Ilaiyaraja for an old Malayalam song (Thumpee Vaa). The original Malayalam lyrics for that song was written by ONV and most of us Malayalees listen to that song equally for it’s poetic beauty.
Update: Here is another take on the songs from Pazhassiraja.
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13 comments
Comment by Narayanan on November 27, 2009 at 5:34 am
I didn’t watch ‘Pazhassi Raja’ so I can’t comment on the re-recording. However I liked the songs. Ilayaraja is known for his moods and arrogance. One of the things I don’t like in Ilayaraja are these qualities forget his lack of originality these days..as evident in PAA. One can be a ‘Maestro’ but…has to learn to be calm and collective ! IMHO – IR lacks there. It’s unfortunate that he made that comment about ONV.
Music of PAA sucks big time. The director ‘Balki’ said in a interview a few months back that all the songs would be ‘Original’ and not recycles. However, after listening to the songs I have to say that only one sounds like original.
Not sure how this happened..but it is a big letdown.
Comment by jana on November 27, 2009 at 9:44 am
Time and again, Ilayaraja has proved that he can deliver the goods if the director impresses him. Of course, some are very good with their work, like Bala of recent days, or not, as most are. Is Ilayaraja in a creative and social rut? Yes, because his music and persona is from the past. Today, even ARR can’t give a perfect album to the audience.
It’s not the first time Ilayaraja was vocal to the point of offense. Nor has he never defended that all his songs were gem. Actually, he was the first to say that songs are like dipping into the ocean for treasure. Sometimes, you pick rocks, sometimes pearls. I must say though, that lyrics sometimes, even without good tunes, can make or break songs. So I don’t want to take any credit from the writers.
Regardless, no excuse for IR. But the media blowup is definitely not needed either.
Fuming about Ilayaraja’s inability to produce good songs today, and him pointing fingers at others for his shortcomings as a creator, is just about the same thing.
Comment by Karthik on November 27, 2009 at 11:31 am
I consider Raveendran master as the true maestro. He is far better and versatile than ilayaraja. It is a great loss for all of us that he is no more now.
For an epic film like Pazhassi Raja, raveendran master would have been the apt choice had he been alive.
Comment by Ramesh on November 27, 2009 at 11:37 am
Read that for the first time in Indian cinema Hungarian Symphony was used for re-recording. Do we really need a symphony to provide the background for a story set in tribal areas of Malabar? For Illayaraja, modern music seems to be only symphony-driven. Ironical that he accused of a song that was comparatively better than the others in the movie.
Comment by Jo on November 27, 2009 at 11:40 am
Ramesh: That’s a very relevant question that you asked Ramesh!
Comment by Ramya on November 27, 2009 at 12:54 pm
I am a die hard fan of Maestro’s music of 70’s n 80’s., thats his golden period,anyone wud agree. Its not very exciting now, our minds really expect fresh things and his tunes become typical n predictable, but those 80’s songs excite me more than wat he composes now n They r evergreeeeeeen. Those few I get to hear now from him, nice ones r just countable.
Comment by Anamika on November 27, 2009 at 2:45 pm
http://www.sivajitv.com/events/Ilayaraja-Released-Pazhassi-Raja-Audio-Launch-Video.htm – This is what Ilaiyaraaja actually talked. Please do not put words into his mouth!
Comment by Arun P Rajasingh on November 27, 2009 at 6:10 pm
Jo, what happens…… happens. If a person thinks that the creativity in that person is of their own and it is their possession, that person got to be the first and the last idiot. Existence uses people/animals/plants/all that exists….. to manifest truth, it’s beauty, it’s charisma, it’s creativity. This is spontaneous and you never know when it is gonna be “in” and when it is gonna be “out”. The sacred experience of existence should never be treated as a commodity which is manufactured in a factory in 1000s. Musicians end but Music remains forever. Live-Love-Laugh! Arun
Comment by Dhanush on November 28, 2009 at 9:53 pm
While watching the movie Pazhassi Raja ,I wished if the music & background music was by Rahman. It would then have been a different film all together. Something like Jodha Akbar or Bose.
Comment by Geetha on December 1, 2009 at 12:55 am
It was after reading the controversial report that I happen to view the song scene. ( I didn’t see picture yet). But on seeing the scene, I felt that the lyrics are quite okay with the scenes. Mammootty is showing no signs of pain on his face and he even smiles at one point. He is simply watching the forest with a certain curiosity – that is all. That is, the scene does not demand lyrics that depict mental anguish or pangs of pain. (This is what I felt).
Comment by Praveen Lakkaraju on December 2, 2009 at 2:28 am
I recently read the bio of a.r.rahman. In that it was mentioned that during raja’s prime (i.e before ARR) he used to just give out tunes and the director had to take them, they dint have any say about the music. This was the main reason why Mani ratnam opted out and moved to rahman. It was foolish for raja to practice this coz ultimately making a movie is a team effort and the director’s vision has to be respected.
Comment by akhilesh on December 2, 2009 at 7:11 pm
Blurting out disagreement publicly was inappropriate from Ilayaraja, and probably ONV is due an apology, but why do we behave as if we have to collect very bit of dirt on the man and throw it at him? What has this issue got to do with composing music for ‘paa’?
Agreed, he is becoming less prolific and less creative with age, but for god’s sake isn’t he entitled to get old? All creative people tend to lose some spark towards the end. The world never blamed Einstein for not formulating a third theory of relativity in his 60s. Why should we?
But again, is reusing his own music in another language something to be ashamed of? Afterall, he is not stealing. As you rightfully said, Jo, it is eventually the prerogative of the film director to finally include the music the composer provides. Apparently, he doesn’t have any issues. For all we know, it may be the director himself who fell in love with the music for thumbi vaa and was fastidious about it to be included in his movie.
I don’t think reusing one’s own music in another language per se does not imply the MD is lacking creativity. He may want some of his best pieces to reach a wider audience, and in the Indian scenario, reuse in a Hindi film may be the best way. When the music of mantram vantha was used in ‘cheeni kum’, the northies largely loved it, and didn’t holler out, ‘hey, that is not fair deal to us; you are reusing your tamil film music to get to us!’
I think as long as the targeted audiences are different, reuse is okay. Going by your logic, if Ilayaraja happened to hum instantaneously to his wife a tune that occurred to him during his honeymoon days, and if, subsequently he decides to use it in a film, should his wife be like: ‘hey dear, where is your creativity? you were singing this tune to me a couple of years back!’ The principle is – different audiences.
Experimenting with other music systems is fine by me, be it Hungarian or Slovakian or Fijian. Regionalism is narrow-mindedness. If regionalism should be the standard, how come almost all MDs use western instruments in orchestrating background score for even historic Indian movies, and we never object?
Disagreeing with what he said is one thing, but picking any stone to throw at him is not fair.
Comment by Kiron on December 12, 2009 at 10:14 pm
I really agree with karthik’s comment. Raveendran Master was more versatile and creative. Unluckily he is not with us. Raveendran master’s and Devarajan master’s demise created a huge void in malayalam film industry that has not been filled with and will not be filled in future too.
Regarding the comment of Ilayaraja, it was really a blunder. In my opinion both lyrics and music of pazhassi raja are just average. What emotion do u get after hearing “kunnathe konnakku”.. some good piece of violin. wat else? Compared to the talent of both its below average i must say. ilayaraja can express his opinion, but before than he must re-consider that his recent works in Malayalam(rasathantram etc) were good or not. Lyrics, music and rendition are the 3 factors of a good song..No point in blaming others after its released. utter disgust! Nothing else.