Maestro's "Nothing But Wind" on 5th June at Music

[ananth222]

This is from the Ilaiyaraaja facebook page (which I think is maintained by Agilan, but not sure):

Bhavatharini organized The Live Recital of The Maestro's "Nothing But Wind" on 5th June at Music Academy, TTK Road Alwarpet between 7pm - 9pm, Flute by Navin Iyer. Inauguration by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja. Guests of honour are Uttam Singh, Bharathiraja and Kavingar Vaali.

Tickets available at Landmark and Music academy. Tickets Prices are R...s 2,500
Hope someone in Chennai can check it out.

[naarayanan]

dream come true!!!!
maestro's nothing but wind live at music academy on june 5th.

maestro himself inaugurates the concert. tickets available at landmark.

advt. appeared in today's hindu.

tickets are priced @250, 500 and 1000 Rs.

[skr]

Yes,the show is on Nothing But Wind and other classical based Tamil Songs of Ilaiyaraja being performed by Haricharan,Swetha Mohan,Pop Shalini,Bhavatharini etc.Its supposed to be 30 Piece Orchestra and is said to be Bhavatharini's gift to her father on his b'day!!I booked my tickets online.Hoping for a gr8 show !!..

[sakaLAKALAKAlaa Vallavar]

i am also coming for the show...skr, lets meet if possible!

whom else are coming?

[Sanjeevi]

Decided to attend at last minute and attended the function.

The show rocked big time :clap:

I uploaded a small clip (Ilaiyaraja introduction)

check it the video clip (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAAcKuQfxN4)

[K]

thank a lot for the video Clip Great work

[sivasub]

http://kaiyendhi.blogspot.com/2010/06/raja-i-love-you.html

[eagle]

வெயிட் பண்ணுங்க ... ஜெயா டிவிக்கு போட்டியா ஒருத்தர் இந்த ப்ரோக்ராமை கவர் பண்ணிருக்கார் :)
அவர் யாருன்னு கரெக்டா guess பண்றவங்களுக்கு ராஜாவோட ஒரு hi -res புகைப்படம் பரிசாக அளிக்கப்படும்

[Sureshs65]

eagle,

Is it our Rajasaranam? If yes, I will PM you my address :lol:

[Sureshs65]

Sanjeevi,

Thanks a lot for the links. I feel bad that I missed it. Looks like there was a lot of interaction. Now I am eagerly waiting for someone to load the videos / audios.

[sakaLAKALAKAlaa Vallavar]

Soul filling show. Erkanave pala murai ketta album endraalum, when listened live, with Genius Raja along in the hall, it just made most of us cry in joy. Orchestration was superb. Few errors where there in reproduction, but as everybody in the violin troop played same, so i guess it should be notes error. Negligible errors anyways.

The hall got full easily, oru 25 year old album ivlo popular ngaratha pakkumpothu, very happy.

Only glitch is, few fans were uncharactersitic. He got tensed 2 times becos of fans, and he became sangojam/tharma sangadam 2 times becos of bavatharini and uttam singh. Nevertheless and needless to say, everyone was praising raja sky high, the right height.

Another highly irritating thing is, why raja is always compared with others and awards? As he was long before, dclared too high above most of the other composers and the awards they get, why always bring him down by comparing him? THat too this is always done by the ardent followers. Can't he be praised only for his music, without hitting others?

Baski and Rohini did great job and baski made the crowd in laughter splits many times.

Now the expectation is bavatharini or someone should do Raja Live every year on his birthday

[sakaLAKALAKAlaa Vallavar]

Here are 2 voice clips i recorded, it has complete speech by Mr.Uttam Sing, vaali and Raja, in that order.

Note:
1. The 1st clip has last bit of the final peice played, till 25.00 mins, after which the speech starts

2. Don't expect great audio quality. kindly bear :)

http://www.mediafire.com/file/yi2mqwmgnj4/Voice057.amr

http://www.mediafire.com/file/jtdzmmz4x4m/Voice058.amr

[Devaraagam]

Thanks for the files Sakalakalaa Vallavarey....

Hmm..unfortunately during this time I am out of Chennai.

[skr]

It was such a memorable musical evening.I feel so privileged to be there y day evening.Got to see the God of Music.The orchestration was mind blowing.Its really appreciating that such a concert was undertaken to showcase a gem of an album like Nothing But Wind which many are'nt even aware.Hope such ventures keep coming.Hoping for How to Name It next.It was so soulful,me and a friend literally had tears @ the way Naveen played the flute..Truly unforgettable Evening !!

[skr]

@sakaLAKALAKAlaa Vallavar
Guess we were blessed to be there last evening!! :)

[Sureshs65]

Sakalakalaka,

Thanks for the upload. Nice speech by Vaali.

[Sureshs65]

Liked the banter between Raja, Uttam Singh and Bosky. "Sir, once in a while you have agree you are great" :lol:

[Sanjeevi]

Liked the banter between Raja, Uttam Singh and Bosky. "Sir, once in a while you have agree you are great" :lol:

because truth is truth :lol:

[Sureshs65]

Liked the banter between Raja, Uttam Singh and Bosky. "Sir, once in a while you have agree you are great" :lol:

I probably mistyped it here. What Bosky was saying was something like ""Sir, once in a while you have to agree you are great" or "Sir, you have to agree that you are great."

[MumbaiRamki]

This is a news ..

"“I had composed six songs for the album (Nothing But Wind) but due to the one hour duration I could use only five songs. And the sixth song was used as a song 'Valayosai kalakala' in 'Sathya'"

[sakaLAKALAKAlaa Vallavar]

[tscii:dda90eabb0]http://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/daughter%E2%80%99s-special-gift-104

On the occasion of Maestro Ilayaraja’s birthday, his daughter Bhavadharini recreated the legendary musician’s classical album Nothing But Wind. This album comprises five tracks which he had composed along with acclaimed musician Hari Prasad Chaurasia. The live concert was held on Saturday evening in Chennai.

After listening to the live band, the ecstatic Isaignani remarked, “I am extremely happy to see the tracks played to perfection by the troupe today. All credit should go to Bhavadharini for getting the act right.” He also revealed that he had lost the musical notes of Nothing… long ago, but Bhavadharini had managed to rewrite the notes by listening to the album.

Ace lyricist Valee revealed an interesting fact about Nothing But Wind. “The album had six numbers. But only five were used and recorded by Ilayaraja. Kamal Haasan, an ardent fan of Ilayaraja happened to hear the sixth track. Deeply impressed by it, he used it in his film Sathya which later turned out to be the super hit song Valaiyosai Kalakala.”[/tscii:dda90eabb0]

[app_engine]

AhA! One of my most fav TF songs, vaLaiyOsai, is a NBW-like effort :-)

Great to hear that!

[svarman]

http://beta.thehindu.com/arts/music/article448914.ece?homepage=true



suren

[kameshratnam]

http://naviniyer.com/blog/

[Fliflo]

Some clips taken thro' camcorder

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAAcKuQfxN4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPrnIT3nnpM&feature=related

[eagle]

Liked the banter between Raja, Uttam Singh and Bosky. "Sir, once in a while you have agree you are great" :lol:

I probably mistyped it here. What Bosky was saying was something like ""Sir, once in a while you have to agree you are great" or "Sir, you have to agree that you are great."

FYI that was not bosky but uttam singh who said the exact words "Raaja sometimes you have to admit that you are great"

[eagle]

வேற யாருக்கும் ராஜாவோட hi-res போட்டோ வேண்டாமா?

[ananth222]

Thanks for the links, audio and video clips! I feel so bad for missing the event, but trying to relive through these links...

eagle, is the answer eagle? if it was you, then please upload the video ASAP!!

[Bala (Karthik)]

:cool2: RS, Sakala, SKR and others who were blessed enough to attend the event. Thanks for the uploads too. Innum adhellam paakka mudiyalla.

And that was some trivia about Valayosai!! :)

[sakaLAKALAKAlaa Vallavar]

Bala, neshtu June ready ya irunga!! kalai thalaivar nammalai kai vittutaalum, innisai thalaiverum avar rasigargalum kai vida maattaanga.

atleast oru 5 times ppl shouted "How to name it eppo??" Finally basky replied "athu when to name it" u can hear the same in the audio clips..

[app_engine]

[tscii:a1e32d623f]இப்படியும் ஒரு ரிப்போர்ட் :

http://www.lankafocus.com/cinema/?p=2296



நத்திங் பட் ஆங்கிரி இளையராஜா காட்டிய கோபம்!
நத்திங் பட் வின்ட்! இளையராஜாவின் பிறந்த நாளையட்டி சென்னையில் நடந்த இசை நிகழ்ச்சியின் பெயர்தான் இது. ஆனால் அந்த விழாவில் ‘நத்திங் பட் ஆங்கிரி’ ஆகிவிட்டார் இளையராஜா. வேறென்ன? ரசிகர்களின் கூக்குரலும் கோபம் கிளப்பும் கமெண்ட்டும்தான். இத்தனைக்கும் வந்திருந்த அத்தனை பேரும் ராஜாவின் ஃபேன்கள்!.

கவிஞர் வாலி பேசும்போது, நான் எத்தனையோ இசையமைப்பாளர்களுக்கு பாடல் எழுதியிருக்கேன். ஆனா இளையராஜாவின் இசைக்கு எழுதும்போதுதான் மனசு நிறையுதுன்னு சொல்ல, கூட்டத்திலிருந்து ஒரு குரல். மனசு நிறையறது இருக்கட்டும்…. பாக்கெட் நிறையுதா? என்று! அவ்வளவுதான். பெரும் கோபத்தோடு குரல் வந்த திசையை நோக்கினார் இளையராஜா.

சிறிது நேரத்திற்கு பின் அவரே மைக்கை பிடித்தார். அப்போதும் இவரது கருத்தொன்றுக்கு பதில் சொல்ல முற்பட்டார் அதே இளைஞர். அவ்வளவுதான். அதுவரை பொறுமையாக இருந்த ராஜா கடும் கோபம் கொண்டார். ‘நீயும் நானும் ஒரே இடத்தில இருந்தா எங்கிட்ட பேசிகிட்டே இருப்பியா. அமைதியா இருந்து நிகழ்ச்சிய ரசிக்க முடியும்னா இரு. இல்லேன்னா கிளம்பு’ என்று கூற, நிகழ்ச்சி முடியும்வரை அந்த பக்கத்திலிருந்து ஒரு முணுக் சப்தம் கூட இல்லை.

இசைக்கு தாலாட்டவும் தெரியும், போட்டு தாக்கவும் தெரியும்!


[/tscii:a1e32d623f]

[Devaraagam]

இசைக்கு தாலாட்டவும் தெரியும், போட்டு தாக்கவும் தெரியும்!


app, punch is super :)

[app_engine]

Devaraagam,

That punch is not mine - it's in that website, I only copy-pasted it :-)

[ananth222]

இசைக்கு தாலாட்டவும் தெரியும், போட்டு தாக்கவும் தெரியும்!

Listening to the audio samples, some of the crowd behavior was unfortunate. It is sad that some people treated this event like a college culturals program. True respect to a composer/performer is shown by maintaining absolute silence and holding applause until the piece is completely over. I wonder if IR will be motivated to do another show like this...

[sakaLAKALAKAlaa Vallavar]

I already pinpointed this arocricity of some fans in the previous page

What is wonder is, those fans who are listening/liking such albums are behaving crass in a public forum, that too before Raja, a person who is generally hating functions mainly becos of similar nasty things.

If you listen to the audio clip, that "pocket um rombiyathu" dialog was repeated :shock: by the same idiot. raja became upset and i felt very sad and angry. just think of his irritation.

the fans are Nothing but stupids, How to stop it?

[Sureshs65]

the fans are Nothing but stupids, How to stop it?

Aaaha. namba own punch bala :D

I agree that there is a definite need to maintain a decorum. The remarks passed on Vaali was very unfortunate. After all he is a senior artist and has done far more to keep us happy that the fellow who shouted those remarks. No wonder Raja was irritated.

[tvsankar]

Raaja enga thaakinar....

avarudaiya vaarthaiyai gavaninga.....

Neeyum nanum orae idathula irukom na pesiate irupaiya.

amaidhiya irundhu rasika mudiyum na iru.

illai na kelambu.....

music madhiri dhan - ivanaiyaum sari panni irukar...

wavering mind ai ozhungi panni, pechai kaeka vechu irukar...

[Irene Hastings]

மனசு நிறைகிறது என்றால் என்ன சொல்ல வருகிறார் இந்த வாலி !? இதற்கு முன் இவர் கே.வி.மகாதேவன், எம்.எஸ்.வி. போன்ற மேதைகளுக்கு பாடல் எழுதும்போது என்ன ஆயிற்றாம் ? இந்த வாலி ஒரு பச்சோந்தி. முன்பு எம்.ஜி.ஆர்.ரின் அடிவருடி. இப்போது வெட்கமில்லாமல் கலைஜர் பக்கம்.

இதே வாலி நாளை ரகுமானின் நிகழ்ச்சிக்கு சென்றால் இன்னும் என்ன சொல்வாரோ !

இன்னும் ஒன்று புரியவில்லை. இசைஞானி ஒரு ரமண பக்தர் அல்லவோ ? மவுனத்திற்கு பெயர் போனவர் அல்லவா ரமணர். ஏன் இப்படி பொசுக்கு பொசுக்கு என்று கோபம் வருகிறது அவருக்கு ? இன்னும் மாறவில்லை இவர். இனிமேலும் மாறமாட்டார்.

[Bala (Karthik)]

Seri, neenga eppo maara poreenga? :lol2:

[Sanjeevi]

ஏன் எரியுதுன்னு புரியுது :lol:

[rajkumarc]

I think IR's reply to that person's behavior was more than apt. Mostly people on the stage hesitate to react. But I don't think IR is the one to stand there and take this nonsense. In the end it worked well as what Usha said.

Thanks for posting the audio and video links. It was good to hear the speech directly from IR rather than from the unbelievable media.

[rajasaranam]

புகைப்படங்கள் (http://www.flickr.com/photos/50928966@N07/sets/72157624111464089/)
Anybody in need of Hi-Res Images PM me :)

[rajasaranam]

youtube has become very slow :shaking:
Have been trying to upload the videos from morning :evil:
First 5 parts for now!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhnWgW_t3J4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNlfs5qGCo4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UO1SmphqL-o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5AQGcNR0ps
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIiSBPb0bz0

[Sureshs65]

RS,

Were you the official photographer? :) Super snaps.

[Sureshs65]

Got to see the first link. Wonderful playing by Navin and the orchestra. Just like the original.

Thanks RS for the upload. Need to appreciate your dedication and passion for getting this done. And not to mention the patience, given the upload speeds we get.

[rajasaranam]

RS,

Were you the official photographer? :) Super snaps.

Only few snaps were taken by me. others were them taken by my friends. This particular snap (http://www.flickr.com/photos/50928966@N07/4684537578/in/set-72157624111464089/) where Raaja looked directly at me was taken by 'rajasaranam' :oops:

[sakaLAKALAKAlaa Vallavar]

[tscii:0866af7d15]இப்படியும் ஒரு ரிப்போர்ட் :

http://www.lankafocus.com/cinema/?p=2296



சிறிது நேரத்திற்கு பின் அவரே மைக்கை பிடித்தார். அப்போதும் இவரது கருத்தொன்றுக்கு பதில் சொல்ல முற்பட்டார் அதே இளைஞர். அவ்வளவுதான். அதுவரை பொறுமையாக இருந்த ராஜா கடும் கோபம் கொண்டார். ‘நீயும் நானும் ஒரே இடத்தில இருந்தா எங்கிட்ட பேசிகிட்டே இருப்பியா. அமைதியா இருந்து நிகழ்ச்சிய ரசிக்க முடியும்னா இரு. இல்லேன்னா கிளம்பு’ என்று கூற, நிகழ்ச்சி முடியும்வரை அந்த பக்கத்திலிருந்து ஒரு முணுக் சப்தம் கூட இல்லை.

இசைக்கு தாலாட்டவும் தெரியும், போட்டு தாக்கவும் தெரியும்!

[/tscii:0866af7d15]

This is what he originally spoke "த்த, பெசிற்றுக்கும்போது எடையில பேசாத, நீயும் நானும் ஒரே இடத்தில இருக்கோம்கரதால இப்படி பேசலாமா? உன்னோட நான் டிஸ்கஸ் பண்ணவா இங்கே இருக்கேன்"

ithu evlo polite?? he never asked that guy to get out or said summaa iru etc

u can hear that clearly in the audio clips i uploaded, Voice58.ams - from 5.20 mins

enna solli enna, sila kazhuthaigal kathitte thaan irukkum

[rajeshkrv]

which part has vaali's speech
i didnt find that

[ananth222]

Thansk for the photos and clips RS!! Awesome!


Only few snaps were taken by me. others were them taken by my friends. This particular snap (http://www.flickr.com/photos/50928966@N07/4684537578/in/set-72157624111464089/) where Raaja looked directly at me was taken by 'rajasaranam' :oops:
andha photo'la mattum avar mugathula oru thanee paasam! ;)

[skr]

My most amazing musical experience !!
http://tuningmymelody.blogspot.com/2010/06/nothing-but-windnothing-but-hypnotism.html

[Sureshs65]

skr,

A very nice writeup in the blog.

[eagle]

சரி இப்போ எல்லாருக்கும் தெரிஞ்சிருக்கும் யார் இந்த நிகழ்ச்சியை பிரமாதமாக கவர் பண்ணியது என்று....its none other than our rajasaranam...அவரை மேடைக்கு அழைத்து hi-res photos ஐ வெற்றி பெற்றவர்களுக்கு வழங்குமாறு கேட்டுக்கொள்கிறேன் :D

[Plum]

[tscii:ed6d8a47ba]இப்படியும் ஒரு ரிப்போர்ட் :

http://www.lankafocus.com/cinema/?p=2296



சிறிது நேரத்திற்கு பின் அவரே மைக்கை பிடித்தார். அப்போதும் இவரது கருத்தொன்றுக்கு பதில் சொல்ல முற்பட்டார் அதே இளைஞர். அவ்வளவுதான். அதுவரை பொறுமையாக இருந்த ராஜா கடும் கோபம் கொண்டார். ‘நீயும் நானும் ஒரே இடத்தில இருந்தா எங்கிட்ட பேசிகிட்டே இருப்பியா. அமைதியா இருந்து நிகழ்ச்சிய ரசிக்க முடியும்னா இரு. இல்லேன்னா கிளம்பு’ என்று கூற, நிகழ்ச்சி முடியும்வரை அந்த பக்கத்திலிருந்து ஒரு முணுக் சப்தம் கூட இல்லை.

இசைக்கு தாலாட்டவும் தெரியும், போட்டு தாக்கவும் தெரியும்!

[/tscii:ed6d8a47ba]

This is what he originally spoke "த்த, பெசிற்றுக்கும்போது எடையில பேசாத, நீயும் நானும் ஒரே இடத்தில இருக்கோம்கரதால இப்படி பேசலாமா? உன்னோட நான் டிஸ்கஸ் பண்ணவா இங்கே இருக்கேன்"

ithu evlo polite?? he never asked that guy to get out or said summaa iru etc

u can hear that clearly in the audio clips i uploaded, Voice58.ams - from 5.20 mins

enna solli enna, sila kazhuthaigal kathitte thaan irukkum

enna irundhAlum unga ALukku thimiru jaasthi. konjamAvadhu adakkam vEndAmA? rasigargaLnA apdi ipdi thAn iruppAnga. kalaignargaL dhAn 10 rs kuduthu vandhuttu sambandham illAma visil adikka mattum therindha rasiganai kooda uyarathula vechu madhikkaNum. nadu nadula kaNmaNi ponmaNi ellAm kooda ezhudhikkaNum. idhellAm theriyAma ennayya unga ALu ipdi thimir pidichi pEsarAr.

[AravindMano]

[tscii:737f3b377b]Navneeth who played keyboard for the concert, has shared his experience. Not sure where this was posted, got this as a forward.




What all can one possibly fall in love with?
Girl, Guy, Song, Movie, Poem, Piece of art, Language, Instrument, Profession, Food, Sport, Country, City, Culture, Subject, Sun, Moon, Earth, Celestial bodies.

I fell in love with what would seem to most as some musical notes. But to me, they were anything but just those. I have not been able to resist myself from playing those on my keyboard. Those notes were the ones I had been practicing for days to attain perfection. In the end I played those notes for "Nothing But Wind - LIVE!!!" And no prizes for guessing the person who composed them, the Maestro himself.

I got this opportunity to play through Navin Iyer. Infinite thanks to him, first of all. Sometime in March, the main band was decided that would comprise of Navin, Me, Aalaap, Donan and Jeo. Leon the other keyboard player joined the party on the day of our first rehearsal in May. The 5 of us met up with Prabhakar uncle and Bhavatha in Prasad studio and our roles were confirmed to us. We were sent the album CD as well, which we had to listen and take notes from. Prabhakar uncle in the meantime had written all the parts, for the first 4 tracks for all musicians just by listening to the CD. What a musician!!!

But we also chose to take our notes, ourselves from the CD. Composer's breath had some breathtaking syncopations and extensive work for both keyboard and bass. Song of Soul was pretty straight forward and I just wrote the chords for reference and basically memorized the piece. In Singing Self, I practically had to hit a chord for 32 bars, so I just wrote what I had to do and memorized my cue.

Then we met at Navin's studio and checked our existing pieces. Those sessions can be remembered for the coconut biscuit and tea that we had everyday in a tea shop outside his home.

Back home I listened to the other 2 pieces "Mozart I love you" and I didn't hear any keyboard parts, then. And then the fifth piece, which was kinda tricky for a live performance because of the effects used. We had initially decided to chuck the effects. But Bhavatha informed me later that effects have to be done since effects play a major role in the definition of the theme of the album. Leon would subsequently join us to do that and much more.

Our first band ONLY rehearsal happened at Lakshman Sruthi on May 18th, where Navin, Me, Aalaap, Donan, Jeo and Leon played for the first time to Prabhakar uncle's conducting. We were quite comfortable by the end of the day, thanks to our own home work. Most of our notes were in sync with Prabhakar uncle's, except for some chord inversions and bass movements which he corrected. That day we got the news that film songs will be performed in addition to the album songs. With our notebooks corrected, we were ready to get on with more sessions in Aalaap's studio which would be our go to place for virtually every practice from then on.

We would practice under Prabhakar uncles's guidance for a couple of more days in Aalaap's studio and then the Strings independent practice sessions began, for the first time. They would happen for 5 days in Aalaap's studio booth. During one of those days he would give me an oboe piece in Mozart I love you, which would later give me an experience of a lifetime.

We weren't part of those sessions, but we rehearsed independently, in the studio 's console, this time including the film songs. Aalaap's studio sessions can be remembered for the tea, butter biscuit, vada and bajji for snack and sambar rice, curd rice and mini meals for lunch and of course for little lovable Leon's dangerously flexible body and his famous 360º plus 180º plus 90º arm twist that left us speechless :P.

And then we met up for our first all present rehearsal at Prasad Studio on May 31st. That was the day we got to see the size of the orchestra and the size of the music up close. We knew it would be big sounding, big impact stuff and it was much more than what we had braced ourselves for. Breathtaking stuff!!! I recorded Mozart I love you's rehearsal session on my phone, in which I played the oboe piece that Prabhakar uncle had given me just 2-3 days before, for the first time. After I played it I knew those were some magical "notes". Until this point, I had been practicing notes, but then on it will change.

Nothing but wind theme came. Leon was ready with his effects and chords. I was ready with my lead tone and brass tone. This brass arrangement was particularly difficult mainly because of very swift moving chords and highly variant dynamics. I realized that nailing this one is not a matter of merely learning it right. It is about getting into a particular state of mind to get it right. The way I looked at my keyboard had to change. I had to forget the instrument and focus on the music. In a way, it is like getting into a trance. And I realized, that the music preceding it does exactly that, get you into a trance. How did he even think of this? I don't know.

Composer's breath's solo. This is one bit I played as mere notes, which Ilayaraja sir would correct me later. Left and right had to alternate and I thought it was pretty much technical stuff at that point, though I played the "notes" correct.

In the meantime, I bought a Korg M50 keyboard, to use as a second keyboard and a 2-tier stand to support my super heavy Yamaha Motif and super light Korg M50. And I also bought a notes stand, just because it was able to stand 6 feet tall. I would inaugurate all the 3 in this concert.

Sound check day - June 4th: We were all there by 10 am. We set up our gear and started our sound check. Then we rehearsed our pieces in the hall and left. By this time, I was prepared for the shocks that the rehearsals would give. Still Mozart I love and the Nothing but Wind theme continued to haunt.

Show day - All there by 4.30. After a mini sound check we got to our green rooms. The show started on time. The curtains opened as Bhavatha started with her Janani Janani and I was droning the Tanpur tone on my new Korg M50, Paaa Sa Sa Saaaaaa... And then, I saw Him. I could feel it now.

First piece started "Singing Self", the maestro was looking at Navin intently. I just had to hit the chord for 32 bars in this. But the music of the strings and flute haunted and we could feel it.

Second was Song of Soul. The maestro looked at me for the first time, when I started with the EP arpeggio. He seemed happy with what I was doing, but I was starting to get nervous. I managed to end the piece clean.

Third - Ah! Mozart I love you!!! I wasn't prepared for what was to happen. The string arrangement and flute was pulling me into a trance. I was starting to feel a lightness in me. And then my oboe portion came. By now, I was prepared with the notes and the dynamics. But state of mind is a big differential in music that is of the quality that only geniuses can write. Once I hit my first note, the state of trance started to give me an out of body experience. It felt like I was watching me play from outside of myself. I can't explain it. I felt separated from myself. I felt my soul and it felt an entity caressing it. Every other thing, including my own body seemed irrelevant at that point. As the music progressed, I was in complete trance and didn't feel my body. Thanks to the audience's ill-timed thunderous applause, before the song was over, that brought me back to the earth.

Fourth - Nothing but wind theme!!! I was to conduct this piece. Started pretty clean, I got the melody going. The pulse was good as I started. Saw the maestro through the corner of my eye. He had his eyes fixed on me, as I played and that got me both nervous and going. The syncopation started. Leon, Aalaap and I were playing it. Minor errors started creeping in. Acceptable in some shows, but errors nevertheless, considering the standard of required performance we had set in our minds. And then the trance began, after the train and the aeroplane effects. My nervousness had kinda weakened me, so I was vulnerable at this point. But once I crossed the zone, I got into the state of mind I needed to be in to play the brass arrangement. Breezed through that segment, unscathed. Haricharan and Navin ended the piece after that.

Fifth - Then came Composer's breath. The 18 minute monster, that I was actually MOST confident of nailing cleanly. Everything seemed to be smooth. I got the arpeggio running in the correct tempo, Navin seemed comfortable with my tempo. The alternating technical zone came. I thought I got it pretty fine. The REALLY thunderous applause in the end confirmed my belief.

Then the film songs seemed relatively easier to us and we played like we usually do. I went home as an immensely satisfied man, having had an experience of a lifetime.

2 days later. Aalaap calls me and tells me the main band is to meet Ilayaraja sir at his home. I was back to cloud 9 mode. Dressed myself up and rushed to Aalaap's place from where we went to Raja sir's house. Raja sir was calm, relaxed and pleased. He told us to sit. And the first thing he did was call me and tell me to go to his piano.

He came and told me to play the composer's breath bit to him. I played him the correct notes. Nothing was wrong with the notes, arrangement wise. He then came to me and showed me what I should have done. It is not just the notes, it is about how you make it sound. He told me to not play the bass notes with my left hand and instead play the same bass notes with my left hand on top of my right hand and with a different pedal usage. He played and showed to me. Then I played it. I felt the difference immediately. What I thought was a mere technical exercise is actually not just that. It is yet another tool of trance. Yes, it puts you into a trance and the trance is ended by the return of the flute after the keyboard section after slowly easing it out through a keyboard and strings relief portion. At this point I really felt enlightened and felt as if my life's goal had been fulfilled. You can compare the feeling to landing on your judgement desk after your death and being told that you're going to heaven. After that everything happened there seemed like heaven.

He answered all our questions for the next 90 mins. He even talked about his composing technique, arranging style, approach etc., that are too technical for discussing in this note. And then he gave his mobile phone and showed us videos of Thiruvasagam rehearsals with Budapest Symphony Orchestra and orchestra performance of Sundari KANNaal oru seidhi from ThaLapathi. Then we sought his blessings and left. That was the moment I truly felt complete. Every ounce of sweat we had shed for our rehearsals was completely worth it. It has given us a transforming experience. Getting into the maestro's mind itself was an experience of a few lifetimes. Experiencing the true power of his composition (though just 5 of them), that too of the highest standard, is something very few have got to get. All this has been achieved, by the maestro through what everyone calls notes. The ones on "Nothing but Wind" are anything but just those. They are much more than that. They are a bundle of cosmic energy that you have to be privileged to be receptive to. He has this ability to control space and time through his "notes". Yet another secret of the cosmos has been revealed and we felt it. Like a wind!!!

How to name it?
Nothing but wind...
[/tscii:737f3b377b]

[raagas]

Got to see the first link. Wonderful playing by Navin and the orchestra. Just like the original.

Thanks RS for the upload. Need to appreciate your dedication and passion for getting this done. And not to mention the patience, given the upload speeds we get.

Suresh has an uncanny way of seizing exactly my words, most of the times. I need to look for other words to express same thought.

Phenomenal work by RS as usual. The pictures are amazing.

[raagas]

How the * (pardon me... but i am really stunned at the level of accurate reproduction in the concert) did they pull it off man??? I am amazed. I am kicking myself for missing this one concert. Damn! damn!

[Sureshs65]

Aravind,

Thanks for posting the writeup. It was a nice gesture for Raja to call the team and appreciate them. I am sure the keyboard player would have felt great being taught by Raja. As they say in Tamil, "modhira kaiyal kuttu".

And yes raagas, phenomenal playing by the orchestra.

Plum,

sariyaga sonneergal :lol:

[app_engine]

Thank you AravindMano, for posting Navneeth's experience!

Goose pimple stuff, especially the way IR gave him a piano tip (tool of trance, what a nice way of describing it) !!

[ananth222]

[tscii:e66e5a2f19]Navneeth who played keyboard for the concert, has shared his experience. Not sure where this was posted, got this as a forward.


...
The way I looked at my keyboard had to change. I had to forget the instrument and focus on the music.
...[/tscii:e66e5a2f19]
Thanks for posting the write up. Great to read! This line in particular was interesting. Unfortunately, in recent times musicians have been doing the reverse.

[skr]

Thanks Suresh
I really feel blessed to have been there that day !!It was once in a lifetime experience !..

[Bala (Karthik)]

Aravind,
:ty:
Paramaadham, pullarippu, perinbam :clap:

RS/Sakala,
Thanks again for the coverage and reports. Still haven't watched it :argh:

[rajasaranam]

Have uploaded all the videos
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=72D7E34E29B52F63

Composers breath and Raaja's speech were split since there was 10 min per video time limit in youtube. During the last song ithu oru nila kaalam battery drained off :( Nevertheless it was a great performance by the orchestra with some improvisations :thumbsup:

[Sureshs65]

Thanks once again RS. Is the Vaali speech missing?

[K]

Aayiram kodi Nandrigal RS Sir

[rajasaranam]

Thanks once again RS. Is the Vaali speech missing?

Yeah I knew battery is going to drain off, so I skipped recording Vaali and saved it for Raaja :wink:

[sakaLAKALAKAlaa Vallavar]

RS :clap:

Suresh, u can find vaali speech audio clips few pages back

[sakaLAKALAKAlaa Vallavar]

i hope this event will appear in some 2nd tier channels like jaya, makkal tv , raj tv etc in a non prime-time zone. maybe aug 15 or some amaavaasai special day.

Tier 1 channels like Vijay, Sun wont get the hope to air this rare event. Anybody knows if which channel covered this event?

[Plum]

SKV, nIr summA irum. I only get SUN TV. SunlEyE varattum

[Sanjeevi]

i hope this event will appear in some 2nd tier channels like jaya, makkal tv , raj tv etc in a non prime-time zone. maybe aug 15 or some amaavaasai special day.

Tier 1 channels like Vijay, Sun wont get the hope to air this rare event. Anybody knows if which channel covered this event?

enna idhu jaya tv thana sponsor/cover pannuchu. Moreover jaya tv-kum IR concert-kum nalla raasi undu :)

[rajkumarc]

RS - உங்கள் சேவைக்கு எனது மனமார்ந்த நன்றி.

Very nice photos and thanks for posting it in flickr.

[Sanjeevi]

IMO Idhu oru nila kaalam (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opghWJ4iknI&feature=related) equally mesmerised as like as a NBW soundtrack in the show. Aprt from NBW, 80% songs are MR movie songs!? Truly Tik Tik Tik songs and especially BGMs are stunning pieces (but underrated?)

[irir123]

"idhu oru nilaa kaalam" is one of the most difficult tracks of IR to reproduce! especially the second interlude as well as the "jathi" singing in the first intetlude - i guess the second interlude had some very complex mixing of the 'wah wah' guitar effect with some vocals! even now it gives me goosebumps!

If IR is given the context and the situation, it wont be difficult for him to come up with stuff like "idhu oru nilaa kaalam" or a "paatenge" (poovizhiyi vaasaliley)

and yes, "tik tik tik" as a movie, script, editing, and the way whole movie is presented, the tracks and the BGM - makes it a very unique film way ahead of its times! i very vividly remember Thengai Srinivasan's "idhu enna dark room aa, illai darling room aa ? love aa ?? kizhichhidaren" when he sees Kamal dancing along the rows of freshly developed prints of Madhavi's photos towards the end of the immortal "poo malarandhida" track - and later when Kamal bends down to pick up the photos as thengai tears them down one-by-one, thengai to kamal "porukkaadhey porukkaadhey, pombalangalai porukkadhey" - coupled this with Kamal's chaplinisque graceful expressions throughout the film (Kamal's introduction in a big hall with him trying to keep a crying child quiet! wow - such a creative means of introducing his character - that of a bumbling, quixotic photo-journalist!) - K Bhagyaraj was in charge of the screenplay and he had a penchant for scripting thrillers with aplomb!

"tik tik tik" is definitely one of my alltime favorite films! very suave, slick and smartly made

[writeface]

I remember being mesmerized by the songs of TTT. The film,too, was quite impressive at that time. I recently came across a hollywood movie (don't remember the name) which seems to have been the source for it.

Gokul

[venkkiram]

நன்றி ராஜா சரணம்! நிகழ்ச்சியை ப்ரயத்தனத்துடன் பதிவு செய்திருக்கிறீர்கள்! பிரபாகர், நவ்நீத், நவின் எல்லோருக்கும் பாராட்டுக்கள்! முதல் முயற்சியே இந்த அளவுக்கு இருக்கிறதென்றால், தொடர்ந்து நாடு முழுவதும், உலகம் முழுவதும் இதே நிகழ்ச்சியை தொடர்ந்து செய்ய முற்படும்போது, அவர்களது இசைப்பணியின் தரம் மேன்மேலும் உயரும். How to name it, Nothing But Wind போன்ற இசைக்கதம்பங்கள் உலகம் முழுவதும் இசைக்கப்பட வேண்டியவை. பவதாரினி போன்றவர்கள் எந்த அளவுக்கு இதை எடுத்து செல்லப் போகிறார்கள் என்பது மிகப்பெரிய கேள்விக்குறி.

[app_engine]

A slide-show in the hindu :
http://beta.thehindu.com/arts/music/article453517.ece

[app_engine]

Another blog :
http://www.sylvianism.com/2010/06/11/nothing-but-tears/

Hey, question - is the sardAr conducting the orchestra on screen for 'oru iniya manadhu' of Johny (Sridevi singing on stage) Uttam singh?

[Sureshs65]

It looks like him app. And thanks for asking. I listened to the song because of the question and ofcourse, that lovely lady Sreedevi. Sigh. They don't make heroines like her any more :(

[app_engine]

They don't make heroines like her any more

உங்க IDல இருக்கற 65 நீங்க பொறந்த வருஷமா?

பார்த்து, சுரேஷ்ஜி, இப்படியெல்லாம் சொன்னா உங்களுக்கு வயசாயிடுச்சுன்னு சொல்லீடப்போறாங்க :-)

[Sureshs65]

Thanks app for the warning :) So I should probably post something like, "Wow. Tamannah looks superb in the 'adada mazhai' song. What a super heroine" and then go and participate in some Tamannah thread so that people don't consider me old :lol:

[Sureshs65]

Wait a sec. I _actually_ liked Tamannah in the 'adada mazhai' song!!!

[tvsankar]

Thanks app for the warning :) So I should probably post something like, "Wow. Tamannah looks superb in the 'adada mazhai' song. What a super heroine" and then go and participate in some Tamannah thread so that people don't consider me old :lol:

suresh and app,
ipadi solradhala - young nu artham ilai. :oops:

Sridevi madhiri varuma - ipadi pesinaldhal dhan vayasaradhu nu artham........ :D

[tvsankar]

Thanks app for the warning :) So I should probably post something like, "Wow. Tamannah looks superb in the 'adada mazhai' song. What a super heroine" and then go and participate in some Tamannah thread so that people don't consider me old :lol:

suresh and app,
ipadi solradhala - young nu artham ilai. :oops:

Sridevi madhiri varuma - ipadi pesinaldhal dhan vayasaradhu nu artham........ :D

analum , sila vishayam - Old is Gold.

Sri devi - pola - Thamana - Nilaithu iruka muidyuma.........
idhu dhan vishayam....

Sri Devi - ethanai vidhamana characters la - iyalba nadichu irukanga.....

end dig..........

[AravindMano]

Thanks folks. :)

Better late than never - my two cents about the show, in tamil. (http://sirumazai.wordpress.com/2010/06/15/nothing-but-wind-live/)

[Sureshs65]

Usha Akka, :D

I change my stand now to 'tamannah pola varuma' :lol:

[Sureshs65]

AM,

Superb blog post. Very humorous. Loved it and left a comment there.

[kiru]

I thought you guys would be talking about Nothing but Wind, but you are all on about Nothing but actresses :-) .
Seriously, I too think Sridevi is a very good actress..by today's standards she might be considered overweight..but the many good looking young women these days on screen cannot emote or express like her. I happened to see her shoot in our college (guindy) and the moment the director shouted action her face got all the expressions for the scene all in a moment's instance. It was very dramatic..er very cinematic but impressive.
(Suresh, please check your pm).

[Sureshs65]

kiru,

Hmmm. So your age is confirmed :lol: I have only seen Tamannah :lol:

Seriously, it must have been quite an experience watching some of the better actors while they are acting. Like Sridevi and Kamal. The same way it would have been great had we been present when Raja explained some of his composing techniques to the group which played NBW. (Observe how smoothly I got back to the subject :) )

[Plum]

Hmm.. orE 40 plus gumbalA irukkuppA indha threadla - ennaiya maadhir ilaignargaL vandhu pOra thread-nu oru respect-E illAma ipdi pazhangadhai pEsikittirukkAngaLE...

[Sureshs65]

Plumura Unga paere ungala oru pazhamnu solludu. apparam edhuku Murali madhiri college student vesham !!!

[tvsankar]

Dig

Sri Devi ku - Thread iruka ? ilailya...

irundha - anga pesalamae.. Sri Devi nadipai.

End Dig...

[app_engine]

ArvindMano,

கலக்கல்!
:clap:

[AravindMano]

Suresh & app_engine - :ty:

[Punnaimaran]

Nice writeup AM.

[venkkiram]

AM,

கட்டுரை மிகவும் அருமை. வாசிக்க சுவாரஸ்யமாக இருந்தது.

[jaiganes]

Aravind Mano.
Oru nalla writer is hiding inside neengal.
Sorry - after reading your article - i got excited.!!!
Keep it up!!

[AravindMano]

Punnaimaran - :ty:

venkkiram - நன்றி நண்பரே :)

jaiganes - ah, thanks much ! :)

[Sanjeevi]

huh missed the aravindh's article, nice man :)

[AravindMano]

Sanjeevi - :ty:

[sakaLAKALAKAlaa Vallavar]

Aravind Mano, superb writeup!!! I too sync with you about Awards etc.

இன்னொரு இசையமைப்பாளரையோ அல்லது ஒரு விருதையோ குறிப்பிட்டு, ராசா இதையெல்லாம் தாண்டியவர் என்று கம்பேர் செய்து தான் ராசாவை பாராட்ட வேண்டும் என்றால் அந்த பாராட்டே அவருக்கு தேவையில்லை.

Even though, the Orchestra performance of Nothing But Wind-Live was great, there were some minor blind spots. i guess Music Score played the spoilspport rather than their playing skills.

Btw, just imagine if these ppl play Raja's music!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphony_Orchestra_of_India
http://beta.thehindu.com/news/article454239.ece
http://www.soimumbai.in/

saambiL - http://www.ncpamumbai.com/resources/videos?load_video=soi_orchestral_concerts_richard_ strauss_don_juan