Daisies

 Nithila's poem " The Bird's Eye" was selected last year as part of the Children's day competition conducted by the publisher I am an Author. The poem is now published in a collection of stories & poetry in the book "Daisies" !

Happy Republic day !

Ashokism 75 : Digital expressions in Art

 

My second book in the Ashokism series

"Ashokism 75 : Digital expressions in Art "

Is Now available in Amazon for international readers. Grab your copy and let me know your feedback!

For USA

https://www.amazon.com/dp/9390876893

For Australia

 https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/9390876893 

For UK

 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/9390876893

For Canada

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/9390876893

 

For India

https://www.amazon.in/dp/B09P5BBVCS/ref=cm_sw_r_awdo_navT_g_FNKGNSXJR9DVQS519E29

My Favorite 9 : Love duets in Ilaiyaraaja's voice

Happy New Year! Let's start the year on a melodious note! Love duets composed and sung by the Maestro Ilaiyaraaja !

A difficult task of shortlisting my 9 favorite love duets from all the songs that I love from Maestro Ilaiyaraaja's compositions. The important fact in this list is that these songs are also sung by the Maestro himself...Ilaiyaraaja has a unique timbre quality in his voice that make the compositions special and he easily lifts the songs to a different level with the expressions he infuses into his melody effortlessly! 

1. Naan thedum sevandhi poo idhu - (Movie : Dharma Pathini, 1986) Ilaiyaraaja with S.Janaki ; Lyrics by Kanmani Subbu.

One of my most favorite songs...A semi classical composition based on Hindolam raagam with western orchestration mixed with classical embellishments! Raaja preludes the song with a divine aalapanai that sets the mood. The female voice of S.Janaki is a perfect complement to Raaja's voice. I have sung this song once on stage during Sobha Utsav.

2. Poo maalayae thozhsera vaa (Movie : Pagal Nilavu 1985) Ilaiyaraaja with S.Janaki ; Lyrics by Gangai Amaran.

Truly a masterpiece that enthralled me from my childhood. The burst of violins playing in two different octaves gives the song a dramatic start and this magic continues in every interlude throughout the song.  A song that demonstrates voice counterpoints - both male and female portions simultaneously flow with overlapping different melodies. 

The first time I sang this song on stage was with my junior Vennila during a music show at SAP during my masters. 

3. Thendral vandhu theendumbodhu - (Movie : Avadharam, 1995 ) Ilaiyaraaja with S.Janaki; Lyrics by Vaali.

Another Raaja masterpiece that takes a bit of simple 'folk'-ish melody and marries it with western "symphonic" orchestration to deliver an out of the world composition and experience to listeners. Click here to listen to Movie Director Nasser's interesting account of his experience in the making of this song. 

4. Oru Jeevan azhaithadhu - (Movie : Geethanjali, 1985) Ilaiyaraaja with K.S.Chithra ; Lyrics by Vaali.

An amazing romantic melody that has remained fresh even after 36 years and gives me goosebumps every time I hear it. 

5.  Kannamma-  ( Movie : Vanna vanna pookal, 1992) Written and Sung by Ilaiyaraaja along with S.Janaki.  One of the best compositions rendered in Raaja's voice.. No one could have sung it like Raaja has...! Mesmerizing is the only word! 

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6. Adi aathaadi - (Movie : Kadalora kavithaigal, 1986) Ilaiyaraaja with S.Janaki; Lyrics by Vairamuthu.  A super hit number in Sivaranjani ragam. Effortless singing in high to low octaves with beautiful expressions!

7. Andha nilavathaan - (Movie : Mudhal Mariyadhai 1985) Ilaiyaraaja with K.S.Chithra; Lyrics by Vairamuthu

A folk style composition in Natabhairavi ragam... its peppy and playful and uplifts my mood whenever I hear it! 

8.  En Ganam indru arangerum ( Movie : Eera vizhi Kaaviyangal 1982) Ilaiyaraaja with Jency ; Lyrics by Vairamuthu

An underrated song (infact the entire album) that did not become popular in its time but was rediscovered more recently and was raised to cult status by Rajaa fans! 

9. Sangathil paadadha kavidhai (Movie : Auto Raja, 1982 ) Ilaiyaraaja with S.Janaki; Lyrics by Pulamaipithan; Another heart touching composition in Kaapi ragam by Raaja that has stayed evergreen for the last 40 years

The song was first composed by Raaja for the malayalam movie 'olangal' as "Thumbi vaa". The tune was immensely popular and was reused in Tamil, Telugu (Nireekshana, 1986) and Hindi (Aur ek prem kahani, 1996) as well. In 2009 Balki again used this song in Hindi movie Paa in a new contemporary avatar!

Just for the record, some of the other songs that came close on the list are:

1. Oru ganam oru yugam ( nadodi thendral)

2. Kadal ovium ( alaigal oivadhilai)

3. Siruponnani asaiyum (kallukul eeram)