Dear Rahmaniacs, It was really a special Rahmania Show today, with Kavignar Vairamuthu who has been very very famous for his lyrics, and his love for Tamil, and who has been assosciated with ARR right from Roja till Sivaji sharing his thoughts on ARR. ( For people who know Tamil, MP3s links will be given in my future mails )
*INTRODUCTION :-* Kaviperarasu ( Renowned scholar ) Vairamuthu is credited with 5 National Awards for Tamil Literature, evergreen Lyricist, credited with Doctorate by Two Universities twice , The Living Legend. He had also won the Sahitya Academy Award for Kallikattu Ithigasam. Had also won the Padmashree Award for Literature. *BEFORE AND AFTER ARR MUSIC :-* Before ARR Music, since 1980 to 1990 ; After 1990 , It has been the wave of ARR. My music journey can be divided into 2 phases. One with Ilayaraja and one with ARR. Being with ARR was different , and being with Ilayaraja was different . during Ilayaraja time, it was classical religiuos music and during ARR time, I could admire heights of Western Classical Music. ARR discovered a blend of Classical and Western Music. Both the MDs have influenced me with their own styles. *How do you change yourself with the changing face of Music ??* This is a good question. Once upon a time, Music was composed based on writings. Later, the trend of writing lyrics for the tune emerged. When , music is composed based on lyrics, the lyricist has a lot of freedom. But when , the lyricist writes based on the tune, he becomes lilttle limited, just like a parrot wishing to fly, but caught in a cage. Then too, the beauty of the tune soothes us and we have started accepting that. But ARR , has accepted my lyrics for some songs and has composed the tune for them. And one of my favourites amongst that is " KANNUKKU MAI AZAHGU ( PUDIYA MUGAM)". The lyrics was already present, and he composed it based on the lyrics. The tune was so soothing, that I have my doubt if the same song would have been composed before the lyrics was ready. Chinna Chinna Aasai :- ARR gave the tune. That thought was little old to me. I had written a poem titled " ennakku Pudikkum ( I like it ) ". And it so happened that the lyrics of Chinna Chinna Aasai got inserted finely into the song. We took only that title Chinna Chinna Aasai from my poem, and the rest was seperately written by me. *ANY SONG THAT WAS WRITTEN WITH A TUSSLE WITH ARR :-* Ratchagan - chandiranai Thottatu Yaar Armstrongaaaaa - There was a healthy fight in this song. ARr had composed a beautiful tune for this song. ARR felt the word Armstrongaaa disturbing the tune a lilttle bit. I said to ARR that if this song was to be noticed, it would be only for the word Armstrongaaaa.. Both the tune and the lyric should grab the attention of the listener. The composition of music is great, and only if the lyrics are properly written, will the song become a hit. A song which gets hit because of the tune is like a bird flying on one wing, but if the same song gets hit because of the tune and lyrics, then it is a wholesome song. I asked ARR as to who is going to sing the song, for which ARR replied it would be by Hariharan. So, I told him to call Hariharan and see how the song could be adjusted to suit the beat. When Hariharan came for singing , he started writing the song in English, and Hindi. Harharan on seeing the lyric ' Armstrongaaa" started exclaming and praising Vairamuthu saying " This is Vairamuthu SIR".. ARR was smiling at Vairamuthu.. Hariharan stressed on Armstrongaaa and made the beat go right. This was a small tussle between me , for me it was safeguarding the Language, and for ARR it was safeguarding the music. But a healthy tussle, which ended fine. *General Opinion* I feel that there are two groups which exists all the time. One group wants to listen to music and forget the lyrics, and the other want to concentrate on the lyrics an do not give that much importance to the tune. According to me, For lyrics, tune should be composed, and lyrics should be highlighted. Because of Western Effects, Youngsters want to know the beat, the instruments and ask if their bodies can be shaked for the tune. But I want it to be like Music should be for external effects and Language should be for Internal effects. *SHORTEST TIME FOR WRITING A SONG :-* It all depends on the situation, the mental state and the need of the song. For ARR, I have never written a song in short notice. But Thillana Thillana ( From Muthu ) , was written within an hour and was written on the garden of ARR's Home in Chennai. At that time, the film crew had already come, and singers had come, and ARR requested if the song could be prepared immediately. Vairaamuthu wrote the lyrics swinging on ARR's swing. *LONGEST TIME FOR WRITING A SONG* :- veerapandi Kottaiyile ( from Thiruda Thiruda ) . Because I had written a lot of times, the lyrics, and it took time for finalisation. *WHAT YOU LIKE IN ARR ??* Dedication, Simplicity, and a sense of discipline in all matters. ARR never takes his pride to heart, and is always the same as I saw him during Roja times. ROJA RAHMAN to SIVAJI RAHMAN is just the same. Except the physical differences, there is nothing different in ARR. *FIRST MEETING WITH ARR :-* I got a call from Kavithalaya . They told that a new movie for Maniratnam.I asked who is the music composer, and they told " Just come and see". when we went to meet ARR, ARR was sitting on the floor on a carpet, with a keyboard. That time, Vairamuthu exclaimed ' Dileep.... U are going to compose ??????????". At that time, ARR was very very shy, and a lot of innocence . But now, the world has taught ARR a lot of things, but still, his innate qualities are the same *OOh Lal La La ( Minsara Kanavu ) :-* I told ARR that it is little bit tough to write for this song, as the tune was lil different . So saying, he returned home. ARR & Rajeev Menon came to Vairamuthu House. ARR started singing the tune..and Vairamuthu wrote the lyrics for the song. *QUESTION THAT U WOULD LOVE TO ASK ARR :-* Why not highlight the taste of Tamil Music by reducing the Western Approach a little bit ?? *YAKKAI THIRI SONG ( AYIDHA EZHITHU ) :-* The speciality goes to Maniratnam. At that time, I was writing an essay on KOnjam Theener Naraya Vaanam ( Little bit of tea a lot of Sky ) . Mani was reading that series and got excited and insisted that he wanted a song like that . That time, ARR composed the track, and I went and mixed it with ARR 's tune. *DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ARR & OTHER MDS :-* ARR - Night Bird ; Other MDs - Day Birds *ABOUT ARR THAT YOU WOUDL LIKE TO WRITE ON THE ANNALS OF HISTORY* :- The One who has taken Tamil Music to heights. *YOUR LYRICS WHICH HAS HAD AN IMPACT ON ARR :-* May be Chinna chinna aasai, but En Kaadhale ( DUET ) . *THING WHICH WILL SURPRISE YOU IF ARR ASKS YOU ??* - I will be surprised to see ARR asking me to teach Tamil. I will aslo be happy. *OLD SONG FOR WHICH U WOULD LIKE ARR TO COMPOSE MUSIC* :- Paalum Pazhamum ( >From film Paalum Pazhamum ) . I have faith ARR would do good music for that . *FAVOURITE HINDI SONGS OF ARR* :- All Songs from GURU. *APPROACH TO REMIX :-* Its just a wave. No remixes have been able to give a good feel to the original. Its more a mockery to the old song and tune. *MY INSPIRATION :-* Being Alone AND SKY . *REQUEST TO ARR :-* ARR has to cross this boundary of Filmography. He has to cross this and transcend much more heights.. He and me have to cross these borders, and take a gigantic leap. ARR is a big Volcano. That volcano should not be used for lighting cigarrattes. Many people are using ARR for that . There should be an album titled " Rain and Love". Hearing that album, there should be rain. Similarly, there should be an album on " The JOurney of a Woman ". There should also be an album on " WORLD PEACE ", and I am interested in working with ARR for that. ARR is famous worldwide. ARR is doing a lot of service by uniting Tamilians worldwide, and encouraging them to speak and write in Tamil. Greatest Service by ARR is that he ecnourages people to listen to Tamil songs through his music. regards, Vithur A.R.RAHMAN - THE ABODE OF DIVINE MUSIC
