Hate to see some composer's of today....

Its a very common phenomenon nowadays. There are so many songs that are blatantly lifted from old classic gems.Its termed as inspiration,tribute and whatever synonyms of copying they can think off. It just reflects the dominance of mediocrity.

It irks me hear the same beautiful tune with some gibberish filled in it all bloated in a flashy video to support the trash. The so called composers do not even have the aesthetic sense that one cannot be fooled with such desperate gimmicks. There is so much brouhaha about cd sales being affected and music companies running into losses. The internet is not to be blamed as its been popularly targetted, itsthe rise and rise of absalute mundane stuff.

Then there is the private album market thats reached the point of starvation. Apart from the seasonal devotional songs, there arent many tunable melodies. At one point in the distant past the private album markets were bustling with exodus of good music. Composers of that time made extra efforts to pay attention to the segment. I stillcherish the colonial cousins album, Breathless, Ghazals by Jagjit Singh ji and the Bhajans of Lata ji, Asha ji, Suresh Wadkar ji. It was a true treat to hear these songs.

The times have changed, so has the private album segment. They are no longer profitable. The hazardous disease of piracy adds on to the mess. The songs in films have also become mere bad clones of yesteryear classics.Its people like ARR, Ilayaraja sir, Shankar Ehsaan Loy , Shantanu Moitra that are fighting a lone battle of survival because they are original. They may have to repeat a few old tracks (at the insistence of the directors) that apart they are the face saving elements in todays sinking music industry.

PAA.....

The music of Paa has just been released recently. I was one of those who ran to get the CD. I am a huge fan of Ilayaraja sir and have been one of those dedicated devotees to listen to all his creations.The music of Paa is quite different from Cheeni Kum. I was kind of expecting something similar as the team is almost the same minus Tabu and Abhishek Bachchan.

The songs have a startling resemblance of Raja sir's music in Tamil in the 70's and 80's. I was a bit suprised to hear Sunidhi Chauhan. I was also particularly surprised not to hear Vijay Prakash. I thought Sooni Sooni in Cheeni Kum was a gem. Bhavatharini's Gum Gum Sum is an intelligent remake of Thumbi Va Thumba Kudathil. I really remebered S Janaki from the south.Hichki Hichki is a nice little song with its childish tinge. Galli Mudhe Ittefaq se by Shaan is a nice little song. Its quite different from the songs that Shaan has sung in the past.


Shilpa Rao too was a surprise package Udhi Udhi Ittefaq se was as impressive as the male version. Her rustic earthy voicehas given it a new dimension. I like the album a lot and would consider it as one of those good compositions of raja sir.I am waiting for the movie quite eagarly. A good buy for Raja sir fans. I must admit.

Swami Sharanam..

The arrival ofthe Vrichika Masam brings in the devotional songs markets alive and bustling. The otherwise dull market gets a facelift during the sabarimala season. There are tonnes of music companies quequeing up with composers to launch their albums. The composers are also happy to be part o the profitable and devotional venture. The singers arent complaining either as they get toreap in the harvest of a energized music album market.

There used tobe a time when the audio private album sector was a huge thing in Kerala. There were tonnes of cassettes released every month and a festival on the cards calls for a cassette or two for the people to enjoy. Onam, Vishu, Christmas and eid always made the cassette companies smile and the composers happy enough to laugh away to the banks.Now a days the biggest threat to these compananies is lack of good songs an the internet. Everything is now downloaded from the net even before it reaches the market officially. It has hampered the once prosperous album industry.

All one can say is that if there is demand there will b supply an ifthe demand hasto grow the product has to be of superior quality as now the consumers are smart and are not hapy with mediocrity. Even amidst so much of damp business, good albums still sell,though maybe not on the earlier scale. So hoping for a musical sabarimala season for all. Swami Sharanam!

Kallam Ezhuthi Pattu...

I have been always a huge fan of Kallam Ezhuthi Pattu. Its a typical song sung by some very talented singers in rural Kerala. Its sung after drawing out the sketch of Kali or Chamundi with colors. Oncethe sketch is ready ,lamps are lit and women sing the song. It does not have many instruments to accompany the singers. Just one simple Udukku or the damru maybe with an Iktara to support. The ambience that it creates is just mesmerizing. Its fablous.

I remember attending several such pattu since childhood. I used to be a little scared of the women ,when they start swinging their hair in a circular motion. Its a kind of a trance that they get into, may be due to devotion or because they completely surrender themselves to the music. As I grew up I realized the devotional and the cultural relevance of the Pattu.Its quite often used in movies too. Its been an inspiration to so many artists. It has a beautiful amalgamation of Painting, Music, Divinity and ecstacy. Love it totally!

Nakhrewali.....

Nakhrewali. The song from New Delhi features Vaijayantimala Bali and Kishore Kumar. The music is by Shankar Jaikishen. Needless to say its a heavy orchestra song with an array of violins, accordion and drums. I guess thats exactly what I love about Shankar Jaikishen. They had magic for the listeners.The slow Jazz mode of the song really entices me into listening it again and again. There is a certain sense of calling in the song.It is as thoughthe song is asking us to have a listen. I dont get tired of listening to it a wee bit. Maybe its Kishore Da's voice or the music, I havent really understood the real reason. All I can say is that I love this track.

Oh Vennila....

I owe a lot to ARR. He calms me when I am stressed, makes me happy when I am blue (not the movie) and makes me jump with full energy in all his songs. But I don’t know why I have to listen to this song everyday. It sort of completes my day. its as though like a dessert after a sumptuous dinner. The rendition by P Unnikrishnan is just ethereal. I guess some songs are like that and will always be evergreen. One never gets tired and lousy after listening to them even in the umpteenth number of times. I find a lot of solace in this song. It relieves me of a lot of my stress.

The piano in the song is fabulous. The slow pace and the emphasis given on each and every word of the song is very beautiful. It keeps me engrossed for hours and I dont even know when the song gets over and re started on my player. Its one of those all time favorite songs. I love ARR when he composes slow soulful numbers. I like his fast peppy numbers too. But there is something about the melodious tracks. Its as though it comes straight from his heart and strikes straight into our hearts. The passion and intensity is of greater heights. All his songs communicate to me emotionally and this one is no different in that respect. I have felt the similar feeling in terms of emotion in Kahin to Hogi from Jaane tu ya jaane na in recent times.

I just wish ARR all the health so that he can continue to make more such astounding soulful tracks for me and a lot of his fans all across the globe. I Thank You ARR.

Remembering Shahul Hameed....

Shahul Hameed. A soulful singer of the early 90's. A reguar at Rahman's songs. I love his voice. Its as though he is trying to call out to someone. There is a yearning of love,sorrow in his voice. I still listen ti Usulampetty Pengutti, Rasathi..and so many od his beautiful tracks. I feel sad that he left us all soon.Its the soothing smooth voice texture that I fell in love with when I was 10. Thiruda Thiruda and Rasathi..It still haunts me deeply.

I heard recently that ARR was so shattered after hearing Shahul Hameed's sudden death that he stopped all work for a month. He was special to all. I miss his voice.I have never had the good fortune to meet him. I regret it deeply. I was just listening to rasathi. It brought back memories of my childhood. I enjoyed it but had a shade of sadness attached to the whole song. I lost a dear friend at the time. I used to listen to this song every night. I felt miserable and lost. I felt as though I should have called her back. The song grows on you. It still does make me sad and all tearful.