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Ilaiyaraaja

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Ilaiyaraaja

Ilaiyaraaja ( இளையராஜா in Tamil) (born June 2, 1943) is an Indian film composer, singer and lyricist and one of India's most prolific musicians. He has composed over 4000 songs[1] and provided background music for more than 800 Indian films[2] in various languages in a career spanning 30 years. He has been pivotal in the shaping of South India's film music landscape in the late 1970s and 1980s. During this period, Ilaiyaraaja's work brought to the fore Tamil folk lyricism, introduced broader Western musical sensibilities to the south Indian musical mainstream and served as a vehicle for some of India's most gifted voices. Ilaiyaraaja has won the Indian National Film Award for best music direction thrice.[3] He is married to Jeeva, and the couple's two sons (Karthik Raja and Yuvan Shankar Raja) and daughter (Bhavatharini) are film composers and singers.

Early life and education

Ilaiyaraaja (Gnanadesikan at birth; referred to as Daniel Rasaiyya in school records) was born into a poor rural family in Pannaipuram near Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. His early, formative contact with music-making and performance came at 14 when he joined the travelling musical troupe of his elder step-brother, Paavalar Varadharaasan, a propaganda musician for the Communist Party of India.[4][5] In association with his brother, he journeyed through many villages, towns and cities in south India for about 10 years as one of the musical Paavalar Brothers. Arriving in Madras (now Chennai) in 1968, he came under the musical tutelage of a Master Dhanraj, who, noticing the young musician's talent, christened him Ilaiyaraaja ('young prince'). Ilaiyaraaja was introduced to Western classical music during his training, and the music and compositional styles of Bach, Beethoven, Mozart and Schubert, among others, were lasting influences that would later become a motif (as seen in the use of elaborate counterpoint, for example) in much of his compositions. Ilaiyaraaja's classical training culminated in him completing a course in classical guitar (higher local) with the Trinity College of Music in London.

Career and music

Summary of career

In Madras, Ilaiyaraaja worked in a band for hire involved in performing music for various stage shows and formal functions. Ilaiyaraaja also worked as a session guitarist and keyboardist/organist for film music directors, such as Salil Chowdhury from Bengal, who would often record in Madras.[6][7][8] Later, he was hired as an assistant to a film music director called G.K. Venkatesh, an event that marked his entry into film music direction. During this stint he learnt the practical methods of orchestration, and would hone his compositional ability through frequent experiment accomplished by persuading session musicians to play, during their break times, the scores that he wrote.[9] Ilaiyaraaja's break as a full-fledged music director came in 1976, when film producer Panchu Arunachalam decided to commission him to compose the songs and film score for a Tamil-language film called Annakkili ('The Dove'). This soundtrack, and the others that quickly followed, earned Ilaiyaraaja critical recognition for his fusion of Tamil folk poetry and music with popular Tamil film music.[10][11] By the early 1980s, Ilaiyaraaja had established himself as the leading music director in the south Indian film music industry[12] which he proceeded to dominate for more than a decade and in which he continues to play a significant part.

Traits of his music

Ilaiyaraaja's music is characterised by the use of a distinctive orchestration technique that is a synthesis of Western and Indian instruments and musical modes. He pioneered the use of electronic music technology that integrated synthesisers, electric guitars and keyboards, rhythm boxes and MIDI with large orchestras that also featured the veena, venu, nadaswaram, mridangam and tabla.[13][14] The popular appeal of Ilaiyaraaja's music can be attributed to his flair for catchy melodies, and to his employment of subtle nuances in chord progressions, beats and timbres.[15][16][17] His songs, many of which demand considerable vocal virtuosity, have found expressive platform amongst some of India's respected vocalists and playback singers, such as K. J. Yesudas, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki , P. Susheela, K. S. Chitra, Asha Bhosle and Lata Mangeshkar.[18] Occasionally, Ilaiyaraaja sings his own compositions.

Impact of his career

Ilaiyaraaja's arrival onto the scene of film music direction broke new ground in the industry. It saw the centralisation of expressive control in the hands of a musical director brought to an unprecedented level.[19][20] The Indian filmmaker Mani Ratnam illustrates: "Ilayaraja (sic) would look at the [film] scene once, and immediately start giving notes to his assistants, as a bunch of musicians, hovering around him, would collect the notes for their instrument and go to their places. When the orchestra played out the notes, they would be perfect, not just in harmony but also in timing - the background score would commence exactly where it should and end at the exact place required... A [film] director can be taken by surprise at the speed of events."[21]

The range of expressive possibilities in Indian film music was broadened by Ilaiyaraaja's methodical approach to arranging, recording technique, and ability to draw from a diversity of musical styles. Ilaiyaraaja's "deep understanding of so many different styles of music allowed him to create syncretic pieces of music combining very different musical idioms in unified, coherent musical statements".[22] Indeed, Ilaiyaraaja has composed Indian film songs in styles that include pop, acoustic guitar-driven Western folk, jazz-inflected tunes, the ballad, rock and roll, disco, funk, doo-wop, cabaret, pathos, native folk/tribal, and Indian classical (in both the predominantly classical and semi-classical formats). [23] By virtue of this variety and his effective interfusion of Western/Indian music elements, Ilaiyaraaja's compositions simultaneously appeals to the Indian rural folk for its rustic rhythmic qualities, Indian classical music enthusiasts for the deft employment of Carnatic ragas, and urbanites for its modern Western-music sound.[24] Ilaiyaraaja is also famed for his evocative background music for films.

Non-film works

Besides scoring music for Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and other Indian-language films, Ilaiyaraaja has composed two fusion music albums. The first, How To Name It? (1986), is dedicated to the Carnatic master Tyagaraja and to J. S. Bach. In this album, Ilaiyaraaja fused the Carnatic form and ragas with Bach partitas and fugues and Baroque musical textures.[25] The second album, Nothing But Wind (1989), which features flautist Hariprasad Chaurasia, suggests in its title that music is but a natural phenomenon akin to the wind, and the album's music takes this conceptual approach. Ilaiyaraaja has also composed a set of classical Carnatic pieces which were performed by the electric mandolin player U. Srinivas. Ilaiyaraaja has worked with eminent Carnatic musicians like Mangalampalli Balamurali Krishna and T.V. Gopalakrishnan. He is the inventor of a raga called Panchamukhi, considered by some Carnatic purists as faux and by the general crowd as an achievement. He has composed several devotional songs inspired by the Hindu mystic Ramana Maharishi. Ilaiyaraaja has also written song lyrics in both the Tamil and Hindi languages.

Accolades and notable works

His composition Rakkama Kaiya Thattu from the movie Thalapathi (1991) was amongst the songs listed in a BBC World Top Ten music poll.[26] He composed the music for Nayakan (1987), an Indian film ranked by TIME Magazine as one of the all-time 100 best movies,[27] for a number of India's official entries for the Oscars, such as Anjali (1990)[28] and Hey Ram (2000), [29] and for Indian art films such as Adoor Gopalakrishnan's FIPRESCI Prize-winning Nizhalkkuthu ('Shadow Kill') (2002).[30] Besides composing film music and solo albums, Ilaiyaraaja has composed music for events such as the 1996 Miss World beauty pageant that was held in Bangalore, India[1]. Among Ilaiyaraaja's more recent works are his songs and film score for the comedy film Mumbai Xpress (2005) starring Kamal Haasan, and his Thiruvasagam in Symphony, an oratorio of ancient poems performed by the Budapest Symphony Orchestra, conducted by László Kovacs.[31]

Live performances

Ilaiyaraaja rarely performs his music live. He held a live show on a grand scale for the first time in 25 years on 16 October 2005, at the Nehru Indoor Stadium, Chennai, India for a largely Tamil-speaking audience.[32] The show was telecasted widely on television in India and abroad. Lesser known was his live performance in Italy in a music festival in 2004.[33] A TV retrospective show called 'Ithu Ilaiyaraja' has been produced, chronicling his career.[34]

Awards and honours

Ilaiyaraaja has won the National Film Award for Best Music Direction for his work on the films Saagara Sangamam (1984), Sindhu Bhairavi (1986) and Rudra Veena (1989). He also won the Gold Remi Award for Best Music Score at the WorldFest-Houston Film Festival for the film Vishwa Thulasi (2005).

He has been bestowed a number of honours and titles. He was conferred the title Isaignani ('genius of music') (1988) by former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and received the Kalaimamani Award, an annual award for excellence in the field of arts from the Government of the State of Tamil Nadu, India. He also received State Government Awards from the states of Kerala (1995), Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh (The Lata Mangeshkar Award) (1998) for excellence in music.

He was conferred honorary doctorates by Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu, India (Degree of Doctor of Letter (Honoris causa)) (March, 1994), by the World University Round Table, Arizona, U.S.A. (Cultural Doctorate in Philosophy of Music) (April, 1994), and by Madurai Kamarajar University, Tamil Nadu (Degree of Doctor of Letters) (1996) . He received an Award of Appreciation from the Foundation and Federation of Tamil Sangams of North America (1994) and later that year was bestowed with an honorary citizenship and presented with the key to the Teanech township, by Mr. John Abraham, Mayor of the township of Teanech, New Jersey, U.S.A.

Discography: Notable film albums

Note: In light of this musician's extensive output, it is seen as impractical to list here his oeuvre or provide an adequate representation of his best works. A very limited set of examples are provided in this section. For an extended music catalogue, go to

  1. Raaja Information Center: Film Music Database (categorised by film name, song name, singer, etc.)
  2. IMDB for a chronologically listed version of the above, or
  3. Here for a listing of this musician's non-film albums.

Tamil

  • 16 Vayathinile (1977) (contains National Award-winning song Sendhoora Poove, sung by S. Janaki)
  • Moondram Pirai (1982) (the Award-winning film by Balu Mahendra)
  • O Maane Maane (1984)
  • Sindhu Bhairavi (1985) (a film by K. Balachander; awarded the National Award for best musical direction)
  • Mudhal Mariyathai (1985) (contains the National Award-winning song Poongkatru Thirumbuma)
  • Mouna Ragam (1986) (a Mani Ratnam film)
  • Punnagai Mannan (1986)
  • Enga Ooru Paatukaran (1987) (contains the popular song Shenbagamae, sung by Asha Bhosle)
  • Nayakan (1987) (400th film; film direction by Mani Ratnam)
  • Karakaatakaran (1989)
  • Mannan (1990)
  • Thalapathi (1991) (a Mani Ratnam film)
  • Guna (1991) (contains the popular song Kanmani Anbodu, a duet by Kamal Hassan and S. Janaki)
  • Kadhalukku Mariyadhai (1997)
  • Bharathi (2000) (contains National Award-winning song Mayil Pola, sung by Bhavatharini Ilaiyaraaja)
  • Azhagi (2002) (contains National Award winning-song Paattu Solli Pada Solli, sung by Sadhana Sargam)

Telugu

  • Sitaara (1983) (contains the National Award-winning song 'Vayyaari Godaaramma', sung by S. Janaki; directed by Vamsy)
  • Saagara Sangamam (1983) (contains the National Award-winning song Naada Vinodamu, sung by S.P. Balasubramanyam; directed by K. Viswanath)
  • Swathi Muthyam (1985) (selected as India's entry to the Oscars, directed by K. Viswanath)
  • Swarna Kamalam (1988) (a National Award-winning film directed by K. Viswanath)
  • Anweshana (1987)
  • Rudraveena (1988) (contains the National-Award winning song Cheppaalani Undi, sung by S. P. Balasubramanyam; a film directed by K. Balachander)
  • Geethanjali (1989) (A National Award-winning film directed by Mani Ratnam)

Malayalam

  • Olangal (1982)
  • Sandhyakku Virinja Poovu (1983)
  • My Dear Kuttichathan (1984)
  • Yatra (1985)
  • Poomukhapadiyil Ninneyum Kathu (1986)
  • Moonnam Pakkam (1988)
  • Adharvam (1989)
  • Ente Sooryaputhikku (1991)
  • Pappayude Swantham Appoos (1992)
  • Kaalapani (1996)
  • Man of the Match (1997)
  • Kochu Kochu Santhoshangal (2000)
  • Friends (2001)
  • Manasinakkare (2003)
  • Achuvinte Amma (2005)
  • Rasathantram (2006)

Literary works

Ilaiyaraaja has written poems and autobiographies. Some of these include:

  • Sangeetha Kanavugal (trans.:'Musical Dreams') (1st ed., 1984; 2nd ed., 1999). Published by Kalaignan Pathipagam, Chennai. A book about his European tour and other musings.
  • Vettaveli Thanil Kotti Kidakkuthu (1st ed., 1985; 2nd ed., 1993; 3rd ed., 1998). Published by Kalaignan Pathipagam, Chennai. A collection of poems.
  • Ilaiyaraajavin Sinthanaigal (2000). Published by Thiruvasu Puthaka Nilayam, Chennai.
  • Vazhithunai (1998). Published by Saral Veliyeedu, Chennai.

References

  1. ^ Behal, S. 2006. Melodious music. The Hindu, July 23. Available from: http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2006072300230500.htm&date=2006/07/23/&prd=mag&. Accessed 12 October 2006.
  2. ^ Allirajan, M. 2004. Musical journeys. The Hindu, Thursday, June 10. Available from: http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2004/06/10/stories/2004061000010100.htm. Accessed 12 October 2006.
  3. ^ Wikipedia contributors. 2006. (Indian) National film award for best music direction. Available from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Film_Award_for_Best_Music_Direction. Accessed 12 October 2006.
  4. ^ Ramnarayanan, G. 1989. Matchless in quality and speed! The Hindu, May 26. Available from: http://www.raaja.com/Rv-Matchless-Gowri.pdf. Accessed 13 October 2006.
  5. ^ Ilaiyaraja. 1999. Sangeetha Kanavugal (2nd edition). Chennai, India: Kalaignaan Pathipagam.
  6. ^ Gautam, S. 2004. 'Suhana safar' with Salilda. The Hindu, Tuesday, Nov 13. Available from: http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2004/11/23/stories/2004112300580100.htm. Acessed 13 October 2006.
  7. ^ Chennai, S. 2005. Looking back: flawless harmony in his music. The Hindu, Sunday, Nov 20. Available from: http://www.thehindu.com/mag/2005/11/20/stories/2005112000340500.htm. Accessed 15 November 2006.
  8. ^ Choudhury, R. 2005. The films of Salil Chowdhury: Introduction. Available from: http://www.salilda.com/filmsongs/films.asp. Accessed 16 November 2006.
  9. ^ Ramnarayanan, G. 1989. Matchless in quality and speed! The Hindu, May 26. Available from: http://www.raaja.com/Rv-Matchless-Gowri.pdf. Acessed 13 October 2006.
  10. ^ Greene, P.D. 2001. Authoring the Folk: the crafting of a rural popular music in south India. Journal of Intercultural Studies 22 (2): 161–172.
  11. ^ Sivanarayanan, A. 2004. Translating Tamil Dalit poetry. World Literature Today 78(2): 56-58.
  12. ^ Greene, P.D. 1997. Film music: Southern area. Pp. 542-546 in B. Nettl, R.M. Stone, J. Porter and T. Rice. The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music. Volume V: South Asia - The Indian Subcontinent. New York: Garland Pub. (p. 544).
  13. ^ Greene, P.D. 1997. Film music: Southern area. Pp. 542-546 in B. Nettl, R.M. Stone, J. Porter and T. Rice. The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music. Volume V: South Asia - The Indian Subcontinent. New York: Garland Pub. (p. 544).
  14. ^ Balaji, R.S. 2002. Lessons from Maestro Ilayaraja: Lesson 10, expressing moods through music - 2. Available from: http://www.geocities.com/lessonsfromraja/lesson11.htm Accessed 15 November 2006.
  15. ^ Subramanian, V. Undated. 9th chords in Rajaa's music. Available from: http://www.geocities.com/violinvicky/9thChords.html. Accessed 13 October 2006.
  16. ^ Subramanian, V. Undated. The boss of bass. Available from: http://www.geocities.com/violinvicky/BossOfBass.html. Accessed 13 October 2006.
  17. ^ Balaji, R.S. 2002. Lessons from Maestro Ilayaraja: A case study on Maestro Ilayaraja's style of music. Available from: http://www.geocities.com/lessonsfromraja. Accessed 13 October 2006.
  18. ^ Raaja Online. 2005. Discography: Film database - List of singers. Available from: http://www.raaja.com/ric/index.html. Accessed 13 October 2006.
  19. ^ Mohan, A. 1994. Ilaiyaraja: composer as phenomenon in Tamil film culture. M.A. thesis, Wesleyan University (pp. 106-107).
  20. ^ Greene, P.D. 1997. Film music: Southern area. Pp. 542-546 in B. Nettl, R.M. Stone, J. Porter and T. Rice. The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music. Volume V: South Asia - The Indian Subcontinent. New York: Garland Pub. (p. 544).
  21. ^ Rangaraj, R. 2005. Mani Ratnam on Ilayaraja, Rehman. ChennaiOnline, March 9th. Available from: http://www.chennaionline.com/film/Events/2005/03maniratnam.asp. Accessed 13 October 2006.
  22. ^ Greene, P.D. 1997. Film music: Southern area. Pp. 542-546 in B. Nettl, R.M. Stone, J. Porter and T. Rice. The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music. Volume V: South Asia - The Indian Subcontinent. New York: Garland Pub. (p. 544).
  23. ^ Baskaran, S.T. 2002. Music for the people. The Hindu, Sunday, Jan 6. Available from: http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mag/2002/01/06/stories/2002010600150500.htm. Accessed 15 November 2006.
  24. ^ Greene, P.D. 1997. Film music: Southern area. Pp. 542-546 in B. Nettl, R.M. Stone, J. Porter and T. Rice. The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music. Volume V: South Asia - The Indian Subcontinent. New York: Garland Pub. (p. 545).
  25. ^ Greene, P.D. 1997. Film music: Southern area. Pp. 542-546 in B. Nettl, R.M. Stone, J. Porter and T. Rice. The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music. Volume V: South Asia - The Indian Subcontinent. New York: Garland Pub. (pp. 544-545).
  26. ^ BBC World Service. 2002. BBC World Service 70th Anniversary Global Music Poll: The World's Top Ten. Available from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/us/features/topten. Accessed 13 October 2006.
  27. ^ TIME Magazine. 2005. All-TIME 100 Movies. Available from: http://www.time.com/time/2005/100movies/0,23220,nayakan,00.html. Accessed 13 October 2006.
  28. ^ IMDB (Internet Movie Database). Undated. Biography for Mani Ratnam. Available from: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0711745/bio. Accessed 13 October 2006.
  29. ^ Loewenstein, L. 2001. Hey Ram (review). Variety, January 29. 381 (10): 60.
  30. ^ Press Information Bureau of the Government of India. 2003. Feature film: Nizhalkkuthu. Available from: http://pib.nic.in/archieve/iffi/iffi2003/nizhalkkuthu.html. Accessed 17 November 2006.
  31. ^ Viswanathan, S. A cultural crossover. Frontline 22 (15), July 16-29, 2005. Available from: http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2215/stories/20050729004110200.htm. Accessed 13 October 2006.
  32. ^ Rangarajan, M. 2005. The Raja still reigns supreme. The Hindu. Friday, October 21. Available from: http://www.hinduonnet.com/fr/2005/10/21/stories/2005102100140200.htm. Accessed 13 October 2006.
  33. ^ Rangaraj, R. 2005. Events: Ilayaraja live in Italy. Chennai Online, August 3. Available from: http://www.chennaionline.com/music/Events/2005/08ilayaraja-italy.asp. Accessed 13 October 2006.
  34. ^ The Hindu Online. 2005. 'Ithu Ilaiyaraja'. The Hindu, Friday, July 1. Available from: http://www.hindu.com/fr/2005/07/01/stories/2005070102420400.htm. Accessed 13 October 2006.

Further reading

Prem-Ramesh. 1998. Ilaiyaraja: Isaiyin Thathuvamum Alagiyalum (trans.: Ilaiyaraja: The Philosophy and Aesthetics of Music). Chennai: Sembulam.

External links

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