Musical Ramblings - Engengo Pogindra
As usual i came back from school, took a bath, switched on the computer and randomly searched for some musical pieces to feed my relaxation. Interesting i came across this "obscure" IR piece..obscure not because its old, but because it has been forgotten after the damn movie is yet to release after 2 years, but the piece is something magical despite its sentimental content.
The song is not ur TFM or IFM cup of pathos music. Its IR style, different style,different genre yet sticking to the feelings as we have always heard. The song is like those slow jazz pieces which are like lounge type but very pathos. So far people rate IR as someone with a excellent understanding of classical and WCM music and also various types. But one part where they fail to credit is IR's remarkable usage of drums. Every song he composes the instrumentation has a specific purpose with their own orchestral rhythm. The drum here is like just being used as if the drummer just wants to drum their sorrow away with each beat and it adds to the already melancholic saxophone's rhythm.
The tune has this nice ending stanza that just amazes you. When the singer continues her pathos feel of the song she ends it so abruptly with aarrriiii,aarriraaro. So what does IR do? give a carnatic violin touch to make it more sad or let the lullaby sound through like a echo? As unpredictable he is he goes for the latter and the song totally gets it feel. The problem with pathos songs nowadays are they are very easy to guess from the rhythm with no understanding whatsoever...meaning they are just executed for the purpose to sound pathos like. But when it comes to IR he makes sure his music reaches as pathos and at the same time being understood. From one listen especially the aariraaro part and humming accompanying at times, its a mother crying out for her loved one and at the same time spelling out a lullaby to enchant her loved one. You can actually feel her feelings from there.
Another achievement in IR's songs is that the instrumentation is made to sound in tandem with the singer's voice and the tune. There is no sudden domination from either side, there is a harmony within that would be easily understood by anybody coming across the song. What do i mean? Let me demonstrate.
Kaatraley Undaagi Kaatraagum Geethaangal(Pitch relatively high and dragging slowly)
----the music goes down slowly with a eerie like effect
Kaatrodu Pogaatho sollaatha Sogangal(Ditto)
--- the music goes up slowly with a eerie like effect
Two different patterns but they still sound in tandem with the expressions of the singer
Aari Aariraaro(Dragging Low pitch voice)
--piano just plays continously and mildy with one pattern (do-re-me do-re-me do-re-me)
Notice that the first three notes are used to make sure the music is not disturbing the singer's expression
In both areas the impact can be felt easily through the singer's expression and at the same time through the music. Sure its not a goosebump like violin piece or a tearey sounding piano but they all play to the strengths of the tune..the singer,lyrics,instrumentation all giving their part to make the tune one whole meal. That is one of many varieties of IR's tunes. Not only is he able to give a song sounding like a magic orchestra or a tune given to life by the lyrics and the singer, he is also able to make all of them pitch in simply and give a class song.
The song is not ur TFM or IFM cup of pathos music. Its IR style, different style,different genre yet sticking to the feelings as we have always heard. The song is like those slow jazz pieces which are like lounge type but very pathos. So far people rate IR as someone with a excellent understanding of classical and WCM music and also various types. But one part where they fail to credit is IR's remarkable usage of drums. Every song he composes the instrumentation has a specific purpose with their own orchestral rhythm. The drum here is like just being used as if the drummer just wants to drum their sorrow away with each beat and it adds to the already melancholic saxophone's rhythm.
The tune has this nice ending stanza that just amazes you. When the singer continues her pathos feel of the song she ends it so abruptly with aarrriiii,aarriraaro. So what does IR do? give a carnatic violin touch to make it more sad or let the lullaby sound through like a echo? As unpredictable he is he goes for the latter and the song totally gets it feel. The problem with pathos songs nowadays are they are very easy to guess from the rhythm with no understanding whatsoever...meaning they are just executed for the purpose to sound pathos like. But when it comes to IR he makes sure his music reaches as pathos and at the same time being understood. From one listen especially the aariraaro part and humming accompanying at times, its a mother crying out for her loved one and at the same time spelling out a lullaby to enchant her loved one. You can actually feel her feelings from there.
Another achievement in IR's songs is that the instrumentation is made to sound in tandem with the singer's voice and the tune. There is no sudden domination from either side, there is a harmony within that would be easily understood by anybody coming across the song. What do i mean? Let me demonstrate.
Kaatraley Undaagi Kaatraagum Geethaangal(Pitch relatively high and dragging slowly)
----the music goes down slowly with a eerie like effect
Kaatrodu Pogaatho sollaatha Sogangal(Ditto)
--- the music goes up slowly with a eerie like effect
Two different patterns but they still sound in tandem with the expressions of the singer
Aari Aariraaro(Dragging Low pitch voice)
--piano just plays continously and mildy with one pattern (do-re-me do-re-me do-re-me)
Notice that the first three notes are used to make sure the music is not disturbing the singer's expression
In both areas the impact can be felt easily through the singer's expression and at the same time through the music. Sure its not a goosebump like violin piece or a tearey sounding piano but they all play to the strengths of the tune..the singer,lyrics,instrumentation all giving their part to make the tune one whole meal. That is one of many varieties of IR's tunes. Not only is he able to give a song sounding like a magic orchestra or a tune given to life by the lyrics and the singer, he is also able to make all of them pitch in simply and give a class song.
posted by Chandrasehar at 7:25 PM
2 Comments:
Yours is the only blog I came across discussing about an underrated song from Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.
Its one of my favourites too and evokes a nostalgic feeling in me whenever I hear it (like it belongs to Azhagi).
Keep writing more about Maestro's music. I am following many of your postings in TFM Page :)
Nandri venky sir..will try to write about any other underrated songs of maestro that i will come across...going through more than 900 films is no joke :D
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