Awakening to Background Score

[Plum]

Carrying over from a blog on this topic, thought it would be interesting if we go back and figure out when did we first wake up to the concept called background music. (http://forumhub.mayyam.com/hub/viewtopic.php?p=2001549#2001549)
Speaking of me, growing up in the 80's, a golden period for Raja's BGM, I must confess that I walked through such classics as Johnny, Mouna Raagam, Raaja paarvai without realising the gift I had been offered. My loss. It was with Agni N that my senses awoke to the touch of this animal called BGM.
This thread is for everyone to recall their BGM-Eureka moment.

[Vivasaayi]

If my memory serves right - it was while watching Nayagan on TV I guess.

The scene where nayakar meets his daughter in her house and learns that she was married and has a son as well.

The BGM that ran in the background made me hum that for few hours then.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZ8_V6kEUmg&feature=related

The part that starts at 4:28

[kid-glove]

Guna. I was deeply affected by that haunting musical motif (especially the chorus), it stirred down the rims of my entire emotional viscera. :cry2: The problem is to spot the exact sequence which touched or dazzle me like a 'celestial spawn of gazelle' that would forever change or awaken the whole consciousness to BGM. But the film, I'm sure, is Guna.

[P_R]

Still cat on the wall.

[MADDY]

Roja - i watchd it in theater - the scene where wasim khan gets caught, Music was so hollywood style action movie BGM, i used to wonder how rahman brought that effect. It set me to look for BGMs in other movies as well.

[MADDY]

Still cat on the wall.

Oh! Who was the MD for this movie?

[sathya_1979]

Lots by thalaivar - Bombay: When Manisha comes to A.Swamy House and he comes out and see her thru the spiral stairs - Thalaivar voice pullarikkum :-)

[Appu s]

Still cat on the wall.

Oh! Who was the MD for this movie?

:lol:

[Thirumaran]

Carrying over from a blog on this topic, thought it would be interesting if we go back and figure out when did we first wake up to the concept called background music.
Speaking of me, growing up in the 80's, a golden period for Raja's BGM, I must confess that I walked through such classics as Johnny, Mouna Raagam, Raaja paarvai without realising the gift I had been offered. My loss. It was with Agni N that my senses awoke to the touch of this animal called BGM.
This thread is for everyone to recall their BGM-Eureka moment.
(http://forumhub.mayyam.com/hub/viewtopic.php?p=2001549#2001549)

theriyaliyaeppaa :?

[viraajan]

Though I had been watching movies all these years, it took till 2004 for me to realize and experience the various aspects of a movie such a cinematography, music, re recording, theme music, background score etc etc.

October 17th, 2004, Thiyagaraja Theater, Thiruvanmiyur, is exactly when and where the magic happened. First time I experienced a movie along with mesmerizing background score which touched my soul. And that is exactly when I became a big fan of the composer of this movie! The movie along with the songs and background score will never be forgotten in my life! :bow:

The movie was 7G Rainbow Colony and the composer, Yuvan Shankar Raja! :bow: Kudos to Selva, Yuvan and 7G Team.

[VENKIRAJA]

Mowna ragam.
First time when I watched it, I couldn't understand the meaning of the movie or the drama between the characters. All that I could enjoy as a kid, and now has been Ilayaraja's music.

[Sureshs65]

Unfortunately I was first aware of bad BGM!!! Especially the stock ones that used to be part of Hindi films and serials like Ramayan and Mahabharath. I really can't remember which was the 'Eureka' moment but 'Geetanjali' (Telugu)was one movie which awakened my senses to BGM. Another movie which I loved the BGM was 'Swarnakamal'.

[Plum]

Unfortunately I was first aware of bad BGM!!! Especially the stock ones that used to be part of Hindi films and serials like Ramayan and Mahabharath. I really can't remember which was the 'Eureka' moment but 'Geetanjali' (Telugu)was one movie which awakened my senses to BGM. Another movie which I loved the BGM was 'Swarnakamal'.

Suresh, I was hoping your recall of the moment would be more detailed. Githanjali, ofcourse, starting with the heart-tugging title score (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FblAy5FiWg4) is a Tour de Force. However, the movie itself is underwhelming.

Swarna Kamalam - thanks for mentioning. Went (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZ89qH2tJvI) and (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gb2nvy5Rh9Q&feature=channel) caught (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gb2nvy5Rh9Q&feature=channel) some (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gb2nvy5Rh9Q&feature=channel) lovely (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fckaYK0kwD4&feature=channel) moments (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kvH4YNraSU)and (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjcfPhtDmWk&feature=channel) songs (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JUNPcxgRoo&feature=related) from the movie. Viswanath managed to capture the brahmin telugu lower middle class neighbourhood very well.

[Sureshs65]

Plum,

To be honest, I don't think I recall every BGM piece of 'Geetanjali'. If I am not wrong, there is one moment where the mist creeps in on Nagarjuna and there is a music piece in the background. That scene had a lasting impact on many people and even now some people I talk to recall this scene.

Yup. 'Swarnakamalam' was well done by K Vishwanath. I especially like the BGM whenever Venkatesh and Bhanupriya meet in the early part of the movie. One of our hubbers, raagas, had earlier told that this was the ring tone on his mobile.

Another movie which impressed us with BGM during those times was 'Anveshana' though I can't recall a particular piece now but I still remember everyone discussing about the photography and BGM of this movie, not to mention the songs.

[Sureshs65]

Plum,

In the clip you had given the link to, where Venkatesh goes into the well, at the very end there is the piece of BGM which I like a lot.

[Plum]

Swarnakamalam Climax. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coBd9ZjGaqI&feature=channel)
Up with Raja's best BGM ever. This also features the theme music you mentioned for Venky-Bhanu.

[Plum]

One more from Geethanjali (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPUahcgtYuM&feature=related)
Shows Raja's mastery over the medium. Cats on the wall must watch this,

Watch how the Oh Priya theme surges briefly when Nagarjuna and Girija let their constraints of condition go, the flute poignantly plays a variation of Ohy priya priya. Then, as Nagarjuna in the flush of the situation, hops out, the violins and flute surge joyfully and come to an abrupt halt as he runs into her father. Then, as the doctor starts talking about his condition, the loop back to the title BGM, which is but a capsule of the movie's theme. One has to rub one's ears hard to believe that this was all sponatneous spur-of-the-moment score. This is beyond genius.

There is background score, then there is background score, and then there is Ilaiyaraja. Every fan can rightfully talk of his idol's BGM, and he would be justified, but this man goes beyond all and defines background score as an integral part of movie making.

[Plum]

This is the mist scene that Suresh was talking about (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6_0eiHj3JY&feature=related)

Suresh, is this the one? I am sure you know that this piece is from Nothing But Wind.

[Plum]

Ah! What treasures are hidden out there. You go searching for one treasure, and you stumble into another.
Here's Rudraveena's Love theme, a hint of Lalitha Priya Kamalam (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0K2JYuWDEsc&feature=related)

[Plum]

Mr Cat on the wall - how on earth will these scenes work without the BGM? If they would, I dont know that.

[Plum]

Mouna Raagam title (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFcDcdOmQos&feature=related)
Is there an end to the bounty that this man proffers on us?

[Plum]

Let me go the full hog and make this a repository.
Here's the unforgettable Mouna Raagam chase violins (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygtBewZNuUU&feature=related)

[Sureshs65]

Plum,

My memories are a bit misted now :) I thnk there was church scene in which you can see the mist coming in. At that time I had not heard 'Nothing But Wind' but it could be that as well. As you know unlike now there was no 'youtube' for us to go and listen to the BGM regularly. And as you mentioned, the movie was an ordinary one and I didn't feel like watching it more than once.

[AravindMano]

Recently, I heard these BGM pieces from a telugu film 'Aalapana'. The hero works in a railway station and the heroine is a bharanatyam dancer. Raja captures various stages of their thru the same piece. Simply the work of a genius. Pointed to be noted is, I haven't watched the scenes, but these pieces are enough to construct them in my mind! Check out the pieces here (http://solvanam.com/?p=1299). (For the uninitiated, second paragraph after the first train image in that page).[/url]

[Plum]

Suresh, there are two scenes with mist as a key player. One is this - the mozart I love you piece from NBW.
The other is when Nagarjuna leaves Girija in the snow and then comes back searching for her, I couldnt find that in youtube.

[AravindMano]

My first level "realization" was when i watched Kaadhalukku Mariyadhai. The BGM for romantic piece were of superior quality. Of course, the climax BGM is a masterpiece.

My second level "realization" happened very recently, after which i have started to keenly observe BGMs of many old Raja films. Nayagan was on TV and this BGM made me stop shaving and run to the TV hall to see what scene complements this masterpiece! Link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=496RlEZFjro&feature=related)

[Plum]

AM, Ah! Nayagan. Oh My God, tonight's going to be a long one - "Ethanai kOdi inbam vaithAi" must really be addressed to this man :-)

I realise we havent even touched the periphery of this man's genius - there's still Johnny, Nenjathai Killadhae, Gunaa, Mahanadhi...
And then the Malayalam movies...
And then the Telugu ones...

[Sureshs65]

AM,

Yup. KM climax BGM is superb and shows how intricately music is mixed with our movies.

Plum,

I will recall the exact scene with help of some friends and tell you.

I have to confess that I am not a card carrying member of the BGM lover's brigade, the leader of which is Rajasaranam. Not that I don't like the BGMs. It is just that I don't watch too many movies and don't go to movies to just hear the BGM. (I said RS was the leader here because he has watched movies like SMS (Malayalam), Dhanam, Valmiki etc just for the BGM!!) Having said that, other than 'Swarnakamalam' there are two movies which I can watch just for the BGM. One is 'Aa Dinagalu' (Kannada). I have written about this BGM more than once in this forum. The other film is 'Nizhalkuthu' (Malayalam). Jai and I had a small discussion about this movie in another thread. Lucky thing is both of these are very good movies as well. (Ofcourse 'Nizhalkuthu' being an Adoor film, you must watch it only if you know about Adoor's style of film making. Else you will try to find out my address and come after me :) )

[venkkiram]

முதல் மரியாதை:

குறிப்பிட்டு சொல்லவேண்டுமென்றால் அதற்கே பக்கம் போதாது.

இருந்தாலும் என் நினைவலைகளுக்கு எட்டிய வரையில்,

1) செவிலியின் துர்மரணக் காட்சியில் ஒலிக்கப்படும் புல்லாங்குழல்களின் இசை.

2) மலைத்தேவர் இளவட்டக்கல்லை ஒவ்வொரு முறையும் தூக்கப் பார்க்கும் காட்சி. தோல்வியின் போது ஒலிக்கும் சோகம், வெற்றியின் போது ஒலிக்கும் குதூகலம்.

3) குயிலுவிடம் செவிலியின் அப்பா மலைத்தேவரின் கதையை சொல்லும் காட்சியில் வரும் உடுக்கையின் இசை.

4) மலைத்தெவர் குயிலு சமைத்த மீன் சோறு சாப்பிடும் காட்சி.

5) மலைத்தேவர் - குயிலு இருவரும் சந்தித்துக் கொள்ளும் சிறைக்காட்சி, இருவரும் மரணத்தை தழுவும் காட்சியில் வரும் இசை.

[app_engine]

I guess my childhood friends introduced me to "BGM" very early (say 5th / 6th grade period or early 70's) when they narrate stories of movies that they saw recently :-)

Personally, the powerful impact of BGM while seeing a movie was first felt while watching 'dharam-veer'. This was the only movie I saw during my 7th to 12th grade days, thanks to a self-imposed "NO" to movies. This movie happened as an exception when we went on a scout camporee to Madurai and all the mates went to minipriya theater and I had to accompany. I loved the movie those days (recently it took me many sittings to complete this cassette). The "Oh-Oh-Oh" theme music for the horse ride / death of the father character was so much liked by me that it was played in mind whenever I ran around in school afterwards :-)

Slowly, whenever me and my cousin discussed about any movie - BGM was always part of the discussion. So, when I resumed watching movies after going to college, attention to BGM was almost automatic. moondRam piRai was among the initial ones and right from the title, it grabbed my close attention :-)

(Also by this time the love for IR's interludes was so strongly developed and appreciation of BGM was just an extension)!

[app_engine]

Funnily enough, the best part of BGM in moondRam piRai was reserved for the worst part of the movie (scenes involving silukku).

However, the most liked piece when I saw the movie first was the intro scene of 'suppiramaNi' :-)

The only BGM that I didn't like in MP was the 'takkara takkara' sound when Kamal runs to rescue the girl from NatrAj :-( I instantly hated it then!

[Shank]

Plum, my earliest brush with BGM was Tik Tik Tik and Nenjathai Killathe. I was really young than but those really opened my eyes...

I tried finding some samples...couldn't find tamil ones but still a great listen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fd80y1TwIY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hdti_CkCA2k

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNBbdpb5zPQ

BTW, if you are wondering who I am, you know me from Baddy's blog. I just joined the Hub yesterday since the Raja conversations were getting too interesting for me to stay away!! :-)

[Sureshs65]

app's reference to 'Dharam Veer' reminded me of the English movie BGMs which were famous during those times. so famous that everyone would be humming the BGM eventhough they had not watched the movie. The BGMs by themselves were released as 78rpms. The famous amongst them were 'Laura's Theme' from Doc Zivagho, 'Come September' and the music of the Clint Eastwood's Spagetthi Westerns. Who can forget the theme of 'Good Bad Ugly' / 'For a Few Dollars More' of Ennio Morricone?

Shank: 'Nenjathai Killadey' is definitely one movie in which the BGM was noticed by many. Again I don't remember the specifics but the BGM did contribute to the overall mood of the movie. There were some movies where cinematography and music are so intricately woven into the movie that without these two aspects the movie would not be as good as it was. 'Nenjathai Killadhey', 'Geetanjali' (Telugu), 'Nayagan', 'Bombay' etc. Maniratnam probably knew this better than anyone else and I personally feel that Mani's mediocre films are lifted a lot by these technicians.

[Shank]

Suresh65: I agree, if you watch most of Mahendran's and Balu Mahendra's films, cinematography and music are intricately woven. It's an awesome combination that frequently upholds the films.

Mani, besides being a very good film maker, is also probably one of the few that uses his MBA background to the fullest. His projects involve strategy, marketing etc. He enlists the top technicians, ropes in catchy musicians, has key actors in main and bit roles, has terrific marketing (posters etc), movie story is kept a suspense till the release etc. He has built a brand and fully leverages it...

[Plum]

Shank, welcome here. Baddyngaradhu yaaru? Avar gothram enna? ;-)

[Shank]

Plum...Baddyna Baradwaj Rangan...avar gothram ellam theriyathu!! :-)

Thanks for the welcome...

[Plum]

Plum...Baddyna Baradwaj Rangan...avar gothram ellam theriyathu!! :-)

Thanks for the welcome...
Was just kidding. Check your Private Messages.

[Shank]

Plum, got your PM and responded to it.

[raajarasigan]

could NOT recollect the exact time when I started concentrating on BGMs.... :roll:

somewhere in 90's when watching Idayam... the haunting theme music is still lingering in my heart... In fact, whenever I watched this movie, I was humming the theme for a couple of days without realizing that I was humming...

especially the scene where our mike murali got down in the bus... sillaraiya sedhara viduvaaru (literally namma heroine kaalla vizhara maadhiri)... appo oru violin beat... that follows kavidha kavidha..

indha paadhangal man meedhu nadakka vendiyavai illai..
malargal meedhu...

This is definetly the best example for turning a normal movie into a classic with the BGS...

absolute bliss!!!!

[Plum]

could NOT recollect the exact time when I started concentrating on BGMs.... :roll:

somewhere in 90's when watching Idayam... the haunting theme music is still lingering in my heart... In fact, whenever I watched this movie, I was humming the theme for a couple of days without realizing that I was humming...

especially the scene where our mike murali got down in the bus... sillaraiya sedhara viduvaaru (literally namma heroine kaalla vizhara maadhiri)... appo oru violin beat... that follows kavidha kavidha..

indha paadhangal man meedhu nadakka vendiyavai illai..
malargal meedhu...



This is definetly the best example for turning a normal movie into a classic with the BGS...

absolute bliss!!!!
welcome RR to this thread.
Thanks for your thoughts.

Idhayam is indeed an example of thodappalattaikku pattu kunjalam

[Bala (Karthik)]

Looking back now, i can kind of recollect the first time impact of Agni Natchathiram (clash theme), Mouna Ragam (signature theme and also Revathy-Mogan tension theme), Poo Vizhi Vasalile (spooky chants) and Nayagan (then paandi cheemayile and Kamal-Saranya theme). Of course, the most profound was Aboorva Sagodharargal, though it happened later.

[Plum]

Looking back now, i can kind of recollect the first time impact of Agni Natchathiram (clash theme) , Mouna Ragam (signature theme and also Revathy-Mogan tension theme), Poo Vizhi Vasalile (spooky chants) and Nayagan (then paandi cheemayile and Kamal-Saranya theme). Of course, the most profound was Aboorva Sagodharargal, though it happened later.

:-) same blood.Ofcourse, I wasnt talking about the profound understanding part. Just the awakening.

[app_engine]

As I reflected upon this subject, I found it really interesting that though I've been enjoying IR's music right from the glorious annakkiLi, the first time I saw a movie with IR's music was after more than 5 years, in 1981 (moondRam piRai) :-) Probably a good thing as my approach to watching movies had so much changed during this movie-watching-sabbatical with music becoming the primary focus (from the childhood watching of MGR-Shivaji movies with fight or weeping as two primary things).

Also very fortunate that I didn't have to suffer the butchering of so many of his classics (though it happens occasionally now with youtube but I'm spared of visiting a theater for such horrors) :-)

Coming back to BGM, the next IR movie that I watched was payaNangaL mudivadhillai - the sweet reminder of iLayanilA during the climax stood in mind for days.

[app_engine]

However, the "profound" thingy with IR's BGMs happened later during college days with tik-tik-tik.

What a score! One of the best scores by IR till date! Even while watching the movie in Sona theater in Trichy, the brilliant score was the top one to hit me (so many pieces - the clock + chorus humming during titles and later when KH-Madhavi are hunted, raa-rara-rara piece while deciding to visit a call-girl, the horror while pulling the pants from her body, the funny-dog-chase, diamond hiding drum-beat sounds, Kamal doing a Madhavi-nerve-tickling love theme etc ).

One hostel mate (he was the one who made the famous statement "ராசா படத்தைக்கண்ணை மூடிக்கிட்டே பாக்கலாம்ப்பா" and used to watch all and sundry movies of IR) later had all the tik-tik-tik pieces recorded into his TDK cassette when they were published in the LP record of ninaivellAm nithyA. It also had ullAsappaRavaigal title score (fantastic one). One of those tik-tik-tik pieces is used as a "loop" background - IMO - for 'suttum vizhichchudarE' of ghajini.

And we used to listen to those BGM pieces with a lot of enthu those days (me even more than songs, which later led to my affection for Paul Mauriat's scores).

[app_engine]

Side note - one asst director of BR told my cousin (on a bus journey together) during the tik-tik-tik days, that IR (the unit used to call him "laddu" it seems because of his sweet tunes) was paid 65K for this movie in 1981.

Total injustice by any reckoning!

[raajarasigan]

Idhayam is indeed an example of thodappalattaikku pattu kunjalam

idhai naan kelvipatturikkiren,... aana enna artham :roll: ??

[app_engine]

raajarasigan,
நான் கேட்டிருக்கும் (சமானமான்) பழமொழி : "வெளக்கமாருக்குப்பட்டுக்குஞ்சலம்":

வெளக்கமாரு = துடைப்பம் = broomstick

அதுவோ குப்பையைக்கூட்டும் சாதனம், யாராவது அதுக்குப்போயி விலை உயர்ந்த பட்டுநூல் கட்டி அலங்கரிப்பாங்களா?

In other words - "undeserved" :-)

[Sureshs65]

app_eng,

Nice recounting of tik tik tik music. Unfortunately I haven't seen the movie. Yup. I know. I have missed a lot of such movies, me not being a great movie goer.

Upon further reflection, I still cannot place an eureka moment for awakening to the background score !! In our young days, as can be expected, only scary music impresses you. Not music really but the sound effects mostly. One such movie where the music played a part in our movie experience was 'Omen'.

[Sureshs65]

About 'Idhayam' I fully concur with RR about the music and with Plum on his assessment :D Horrible movie.

[pure bliss]

terminator 2 theme music influence in the bgm score for idhayam
Right from the movie title scene can't be classified as classic

Bgm for All other movies mentioned in the later posts are amazing indeed

[app_engine]

app_eng,
Nice recounting of tik tik tik music. Unfortunately I haven't seen the movie. Yup. I know. I have missed a lot of such movies, me not being a great movie goer.


Sureshji, please get a dvd of this movie and watch - great BGM by any standards. Movie is average but definitely can be seen with "eyes wide open" :wink:

(Kamal was possibly looking his best in this time period. அழகா, ஸ்மார்ட்டா இருப்பாரு. மற்றபடி அந்தக்காலத்தில் இமைக்காமல் பார்த்தவற்றை இப்போது FF செய்ய வேண்டி இருக்கும், அடுத்த நாளைக்கு சாப்பாடு வேண்டுமென்றால் :D )

[Shank]

app_engine, I agree with your views on TTT...some of the scenes seem so corny and the villian (motta boss) looks hilarious, watching the movie now. However, as I mentioned, the BGM was awesome.

I think 1981 was my BGM awakening moment...films like Alaigal Oyvathillai, Paneer Pushpangal, Raja Parvai besides TTT, Nizhalgal and Nenjathai Kalladhe really captured my imagination. Even the songs of TTT...I hadn't heard anything like that before...the modern sound hooked me. I guess I was lucky that I got mesmerized by Raja's music when I was so young (9/10 years old)...this allowed me to fully enjoy the 80s and future years.

[Plum]

app, nice set of posts. This is what I was looking for.
Shank, again, would be great if you expand on your posts.

[Bala (Karthik)]

However, the "profound" thingy with IR's BGMs happened later during college days with tik-tik-tik.

What a score! One of the best scores by IR till date! Even while watching the movie in Sona theater in Trichy, the brilliant score was the top one to hit me (so many pieces - the clock + chorus humming during titles and later when KH-Madhavi are hunted, raa-rara-rara piece while deciding to visit a call-girl, the horror while pulling the pants from her body, the funny-dog-chase, diamond hiding drum-beat sounds, Kamal doing a Madhavi-nerve-tickling love theme etc ).

One hostel mate (he was the one who made the famous statement "ராசா படத்தைக்கண்ணை மூடிக்கிட்டே பாக்கலாம்ப்பா" and used to watch all and sundry movies of IR) later had all the tik-tik-tik pieces recorded into his TDK cassette when they were published in the LP record of ninaivellAm nithyA. It also had ullAsappaRavaigal title score (fantastic one). One of those tik-tik-tik pieces is used as a "loop" background - IMO - for 'suttum vizhichchudarE' of ghajini.

And we used to listen to those BGM pieces with a lot of enthu those days (me even more than songs, which later led to my affection for Paul Mauriat's scores).
Digression but couldn't help mentioning this:
My daughter is enamored by the starting multi-point harmony and counterpoint in the opening humming of "Idhu Oru Nila Kaalam" ('laa lala laallala...') - So much so that i and my wife have to keep doing that bit, falsetto and all :lol:

[svbp007]

Carrying over from a blog on this topic, thought it would be interesting if we go back and figure out when did we first wake up to the concept called background music.

****

For me it was Saagara Sangamam. Specifically the mrudangam and keyboard/santoor bit. The scene that even woke me up was when Jayaprada goes into thinking of her past while sleeping...and then it dissolves into the past. That is when I "awoke" to the impact of background music. This was also reinforced by the music after Kamal Hasan thinks about his love, calls her....and after Jayaprada puts down the phone....the music that comes when she grabs the flower with her saree.....

Then...that specific moment I realized what IR is...and that I should look for his background score. No looking back this then I guess -:)...especially after the title music of Sitara

[venkkiram]

சலங்கை ஒலி! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9o0fA8LAdE&feature=SeriesPlayList&p=358894815CE21420)

svbp007,

நீங்க சொல்றது 5.30 - 5.55 வரையிலான பின்னணி இசைதானே! வார்த்தையால் வர்ணிக்க முடியாத ஒரு சுகானுபவம் அந்த இசை.

[Plum]

சலங்கை ஒலி! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9o0fA8LAdE&feature=SeriesPlayList&p=358894815CE21420)

svbp007,

நீங்க சொல்றது 5.30 - 5.55 வரையிலான பின்னணி இசைதானே! வார்த்தையால் வர்ணிக்க முடியாத ஒரு சுகானுபவம் அந்த இசை.

svbp and venkki, thanks for your posts. Keep coming back at your leisure!

[Aalavanthan]

Indha thread-a engaiyo paatha madhiri nyagam Plum :) .. Inga iruku..

There were times when background music is confused with the dubbing and mixing of a movie. Since my bro is the assistant of AS Lakshmi Narayanan (aasthaana audiographer for Mani) the difference between the dubbing/mixing and the bgm is always known to me.

I hope this thread is not targetted against the IR movies but with a broader perspective. We should also talk about the black and white movies and our own Gemini and AVM production BGMs.. (we still have the BGM of AVM, whenever the production banner is displayed before the movies) .. We should be greatful to the creators of AVM BGM as we still hum "pe pe pe peeeee" :)

Rajini in Thillu Mullu talks to Nagesh " empaa. Y Vijaya saaga poraennu sollumbodhu backgroundla 'pee' oru sound varumae .. yaen varala" to which Nagesh replies "ippa ellam audience-ae indha scene varumbodhu 'pee' sound vida aarambichitaanga".. This movie was released evenn before my birth.

The awareness of a BGM has been in the people's mind. Its just that they are not aware of the fact that BGM and dubbing are two different things.

This thread may not be the right place to provide this info, but a dubbing is the voice of the characters in the movie (yes, they double-do the dialogues whatever they speak during the shooting) and a mixing is the mixing of the voices of characters along with the prop sounds (like a walk of a hero, bomb blast etc) .. And we have DTS mix to provide the best of the sounds when we watch the movies in theatres, especially Sathyam. The poor thing is the audiographers have to watch a movie more than 100 times and theh bad thing if they have to dub a very bad movie.. One such movie where I asked my bro is "how did you do Jithan " :lol: .

Now back to BGM..

All the period movies of Sivaji, the commercial movies of MGR, romantic movies of Gemini have had their share of best BGMs. But the man who turned the BGM into something which people started humming (oter than his songs) is the man himself who's known as Maestro. The masterpiece of Punnagai Mannan, the " ting ting ting" of Nayagan, the "aala" of Devar Maghan when periya Devar dies sure gets the audience into the soul of the movie.


Recently I was watching Indian, and ARR has beenn brilliant in each and every scene of the movie.. Be it the backwater of Kerala, the greenery of Thirumullaivaayal or the freedom movement scenes, this man sure has showed his excellence. The beauty is the sudden change of BGM when there are different scenes going on in the Foreground.

For eg.. there was a romantic beat going on in the background and then a Rajasthani beats and then back to a different romantic beat.. Yes the scene is where Kamal consoles Manisha and then he gifts a little camel and a song following this scene.

[P_R]

Two exhibits

1) Dayavan - Incredily stupid movie. The scene in Nayagan where Kamal meets his daughter is one of my favourite BGM empowered scenes (i.e. viral vitta eNNa koodiya instances where I am awake to it). Apart from the terrible acting in Dayavan I saw the MD was clueless in the scene. appoppo ting-ting-nu oru sound-u :lol: sollittu seingadA

2) Was watching Mahanadi - dubbed in Indhi - on UTV movies last night. Though the dialogues were bland the movie had all the high points in visuals and actin, except they changed the BGM slightly. Was watching the jail-meeting scenes. The famous guitar piece (Kamal-Sukanta) was there but it's extension through violin was not. And the fantastic shenoy(?) piece when Shobana appears in her half-saree was not there. Just drew a blank there. Why ?? Why would they fiddle with perfection. Some misplaced notion about the music not suiting the indhi audience ? :huh: The movie felt lesser.

[jaiganes]

punnagai mannan - tatadadata tataaaa
tatata tatata tatata...

ezudhi puriya vekka mudiyaadha isayai appaththaan modhalla kaetten. adhukkappuram Raaja paarvai prelude to andhi mazhai
and then udhirip pookkal
podhume senmaththukkum adimai paththiram ezudhi kodukka....

[Plum]

P-r, thought I saw a post on swarna kamalam. Gone missing?

On nayagan, glad. May you experience more such moments.
You've observed all the top moments of bgm in mahandhi so subconsciously, it is working :-)

[Plum]

Jai, naangallam already signed-up.

Av, thanks. Indian-laam avlo closeA paarrthadhillai. Will comment later if I happen to rewatch.

[Shank]

[tscii:1a436bec12]Plum, sorry for not getting back to this earlier...I have been thinking of expanding on my earlier posts as suggested...

Here are some BGM tracks from all the movies I mentioned earlier...
1. Uthiri Pookkal
Mesmerizing climax...the story and actors lend to this heart-felt climax. The Maestro enhances the overall feel terrifically. I remember watching this movie in Madurai with my sister and some of her friends. I can still remember them sobbing all the way home!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mZBBj5JiEQ

2. Nizhalgal
I used to visit my aunt in Mylapore and the songs from this film used to blare at all times in the radio and tea shops. This whole BGM piece is terrific.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFI7JEJZnPU

3. Ninaivellam Nithya
This is the main love theme. I still remember being introduced to the concept of situational themes with films like this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_g6dHZrjc8

4. Paneer Pushpangal
Another amazing film filled with rich thematic score. Raja really helmed some films that focused on young love (Alaigal Oyvathillai is another that comes to mind) and produced outstanding songs as well as BGMs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zASfw_4jPw8

5. Nenjathai Killadhe
The level of WCM in this score is incredible…just blows your mind.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNBbdpb5zPQ

6. Nayagan
There was some discussion by others about the Nayagan score. This scene is one of my all time BGM favorites and is a lesson on how the score lifts the film to greater heights. This needs a composer who has absorbed the medium of movie making and knows all aspects of it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=496RlEZFjro

7. Alaigal Oyvathillai (Kadhal Oviyam)
Plum, a slight digression if you don’t mind. This is not a BGM score but a song. The reason I wanted to post this and talk about it is to highlight how Raja composes for situations that relate to young, pure love (as per the script). In my mind, this song is an all time favorite of mine and I feel the combination of the debutants (Karthik & Radha), their discovery of love, the tune…especially the singers, is perfect in this song. I’ve always felt that Jency had a terrific voice that could convey teen love and this song is an example. The second interlude is to die for…especially the guitar work. Infact, the separate bass line for this entire song is mind blowing. What a treat..even after 28 years!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jc4GSXvhE-Y
[/tscii:1a436bec12]

[app_engine]

Shank, great clips!

[Plum]

Shan, great selection
Udhiri PookkaL is heart wrenching. And then Raja brings in the patta maram theme from Azhagiya KaNNE interlude and closes with a slightly hopeful sitar(sounds keyboardish) strain from the prelude of Azhagiya kaNNE. It rendered me immobile for a few minutes.

[Plum]

shank :hammer:

ungaLAla udhiripookkaL paarthu, litre litre-A azhudhu, family enna vinOdhamA pArthu(never been a movie buff in their eyes - apdi maindain paNNikitturndhEn :evil:), vEppila adikkaNumAngara levelukku vandhuttAnga.


What a movie!

[Shank]

Plum ithuthan namma cinemavoda arumai, illaiya? Direction, kadhai, music, acting ellam inainthu varumbothu...athule oru thani magic irukku.

Rajavoda music feel panna mudiyum...nammalai "touch" seyum. Vera yaaralayum antha alavukku isiayil feelings kondu varathu kashtam. That's why I said, the composer has truly absorbed the medium of cinema...

[tvsankar]

AAN PAAVAM has nice bgms.

Unakagavae Vaazhgiren has Excellent BGMS.

[Shank]

Johnny has a terrific score too...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgeDJZxsX44

[Sureshs65]

Shank,

What you say is very true. Someone like Rajasaranam has been consistently saying this when it comes to Raja and I also fully believe it. Not only has he absorbed the medium so well, he perfectly know what his role is. So never do you see him going beyond the brief that he has set himself!! This aspect alone requires a long article from those who have followed his contributions to BGM closely.

[sureshmehcnit]

Vote for Best Background Score 2009

http://backgroundscore.blogspot.com/2010/01/and-nominees-are.html

[naarayanan]

http://maestroquiz.blogspot.com/search?q=1064

geetanjali

http://maestroquiz.blogspot.com/2009/05/mq-1080.html

aan pavam.

my first awakening to bgm was 16 vayadhinile but i saw it only during early 80s.

[thriinone]

[tscii:572e04c706]Plum, sorry for not getting back to this earlier...I have been thinking of expanding on my earlier posts as suggested...

Here are some BGM tracks from all the movies I mentioned earlier...
1. Uthiri Pookkal
Mesmerizing climax...the story and actors lend to this heart-felt climax. The Maestro enhances the overall feel terrifically. I remember watching this movie in Madurai with my sister and some of her friends. I can still remember them sobbing all the way home!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mZBBj5JiEQ

2. Nizhalgal
I used to visit my aunt in Mylapore and the songs from this film used to blare at all times in the radio and tea shops. This whole BGM piece is terrific.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFI7JEJZnPU

3. Ninaivellam Nithya
This is the main love theme. I still remember being introduced to the concept of situational themes with films like this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_g6dHZrjc8

4. Paneer Pushpangal
Another amazing film filled with rich thematic score. Raja really helmed some films that focused on young love (Alaigal Oyvathillai is another that comes to mind) and produced outstanding songs as well as BGMs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zASfw_4jPw8

5. Nenjathai Killadhe
The level of WCM in this score is incredible…just blows your mind.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNBbdpb5zPQ

6. Nayagan
There was some discussion by others about the Nayagan score. This scene is one of my all time BGM favorites and is a lesson on how the score lifts the film to greater heights. This needs a composer who has absorbed the medium of movie making and knows all aspects of it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=496RlEZFjro

7. Alaigal Oyvathillai (Kadhal Oviyam)
Plum, a slight digression if you don’t mind. This is not a BGM score but a song. The reason I wanted to post this and talk about it is to highlight how Raja composes for situations that relate to young, pure love (as per the script). In my mind, this song is an all time favorite of mine and I feel the combination of the debutants (Karthik & Radha), their discovery of love, the tune…especially the singers, is perfect in this song. I’ve always felt that Jency had a terrific voice that could convey teen love and this song is an example. The second interlude is to die for…especially the guitar work. Infact, the separate bass line for this entire song is mind blowing. What a treat..even after 28 years!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jc4GSXvhE-Y
[/tscii:572e04c706]

Treasures. thankyou.