For instance, I’ve come across a lot of articles and reviews about the 'Shruti Bhedam'('Tonal shift' in Western musical terms), which means shifting the reference note of the song scale and making it sound like another Raaga. No doubt that in
Cine-music, Raaja has mastered this art like no others did.. But little I find are the articles about the equivalent transitions in the Rhythm that he has done. I don’t know any particular name for this phenomenon.. Drawing an analogy with the same concept in shruti, I think we can call it 'Tala Bhedam' (May be visitors who can find a better term for this phenomenon can kindly help me!!???) This is a novelty that is found in abundance in his songs. There is a huge scope for analysis in this not much explored area of his music…
It also goes with his chord arrangements. In almost every song of his, just a catchy undecorated melody becomes elegant and attains its final shape with extra ordinary chord sequences. When most of the composers took shelter in the concept of ‘sub chords’ or the pre-defined chord formula in their melodies, Raaja evolved as a revolutionary in this area. What I exactly mean is, when a song of his is composed in Am, You rarely see a stale traditional progression of Am-G-F-E progression or When there are two adjacent lines in a song with the same melody, he comes up with two different chord sequences, one each for the lines!!! There are even some songs, which makes one feel if the chords are composed for the tune or vice versa. Such is the blend of the chords with the tunes..
His meticulously written Bass guitar track is another area. His usage of rare combination of notes and vivadhi Raagas, which even the Vidhwans and Pandits dared to attempt is another. There are many such factors. Factors that are so unique to this man, who emerged from a small village of Pannaipuram, which cannot be even located on the geographical maps of Madurai district. But later he took the South Indian film music by storm. It’s these factors that make him special even today as he accomplishes super human tasks of composing for more than 850 albums and counting, writing a Symphony for Royal Phil Harmonic orchestra - London, a few to mention. This site tries to bring out only a few of such aspects in his compositions and aims at giving the reader a different view of realizing his songs from a musical perspective. He has composed songs in numerous styles of music. But in his songs, be it Bilahari or Baroque; Be it a Folk or a Fugue; Be it a ReethiGowla or Rock; there is something common in all of them. I truly wonder how they sound very much original and 'Ilayaraaja'.
I really don't know ‘How To Name It??’
With Love
- Vicky
