Beyond Time

Today I am going to discuss 2 songs from a same movie which got released in 1999.

It was time when trend changed but this man (since being a trend setter) didn't change. He didn't use those fancy sounds which ate up lyrics and feel. He kept composing those simple and soul touching melodies.

Only we classify his compositions as 70s, 80s, 90s etc. But his compositions are beyond our perception of time.

The 2 songs 'Kadhal Neethana' and 'Thavikkiren' from the movie 'Time' which I am going to discuss can be put in "I think I have heard these songs" category

Kadhal Neethana

In the earlier paras, I told his compositions as simple. It is simple only for ears of lay-man like me. But the amount of complexities that have gone behind each song will be known only to Raaja's close associates and few expert audiences.

This lay-man ears can sense some rhythm pattern magic in this song but couldn't explain what it is. One could sense that in the prelude itself.

Unnikrishnan is known for carnatic based or 'tough to sing' melodies with high range of pitch. But he needed a music director named Ilayaraaja to show case just the melody in his voice without gimmicks. Sujatha is known for her soothing voice.

The Q&A kind of charanam with these romantic voices... Awesome.. Especially the lines like

"Enna Kanavu kandai" in higher half of octave

and

"Nee Vandhai Mutham thandhaai" in the lower half of octave. Raaja's touch! 

Next song from the same movie is a peppy melody

Thavikkiren

This time its Bhavatharini with her unique voice and Hariharan with his evergreen voice.

The prelude will no way appear like approaching the tune of pallavi but raaja (and only raaja) can do a fast and smooth transition in just 1 or 2 bars. Briliant!

We could get some jazzy feel in 1st interlude. The 2nd half of 2nd interlude is so interesting to hear. No rhtyhm. Harmonium and bass guitar doing all the job. Intelligent!

In 2nd charanam, there is a line

"காலமே காலமே காலத்தால் அழியா வாழ்வு கொடு"

The lyricist might have prayed to Time that the songs of IR should last long. But he is not aware that Ilayaraja already got the boon of composing songs which will last for milleniums.

Today I am posting about these songs.

Even after 100 years, there would be a guy writing about this is in some form in some medium. Yes after 100 years, everything might have changed. Blogpost,  Orkut, Internet, the way we type, the medium through which we hear.. Everything... But there will be comething constant. It is those gifted group of people hearing the compositions of our isaignani.

Because, his compsotions are beyond Time.

Download link

Kaadhal Neethana

http://music.cooltoad.com/music/song.php?id=464274

Thavikkiren

http://music.cooltoad.com/music/song.php?id=464279

My Life at IIIT-B

June 2008

From a small town to the IT hub of India. From a college known for notorious things to an institute known for its unique way of education and great professors. Dirty and dry campus to a green and clean campus. Chalk piece to smart board. The transition was beyond my expectation.

First day induction at the big main class room... New faces. No known friend with me. I was looking dumb like a lay-man who doesn’t know anything. I was sitting amidst an elite group which has idea about anything and everything. I was not sure whether I will be able to understand what others speak. My name in the scholars list was a shock. “What is wrong with those people? Why choose me?”

First time at hostel. When my father left me at hostel and told “I need not advise you since you know things better. Take Care” I was just stopping the tears that was about to flow like a flood. The individual room MH1-429 was looking like a hell. “Who is that guy in the next room, Senior? Will he rag me?.... Wi-fi? Proxy? Ubuntu?”. Lot of questions and doubts were lingering in my mind!

June 2010

2 years passed like a second. I have changed a lot and IIIT-B too has seen lot of changes. Both myself and IIIT-B have put extra weight :) Great to see renovated IIIT-B campus with an extra floor and lot of space for tech firms and incubation companies.

Now I have many close friends from IIIT-B. The number of people with whom I share a smile and wave hands while passing in campus is huge. Being part of ‘Student Activity Committee’ facilitated me to move with many and organize many events.

I have completely enjoyed the stay away from home (the number of tours I had gone with friends and the number of movies I have seen in theatre during last 2 years are enough to explain the amount of fun I had).

Now, I am telling myself “Karthik, you are not that dumb”. It is because, I have learned a lot from everyone and everything around me. Even now, I am no where near my geeky friends of IIIT-B.

The wrong notion I had about professors vanished and I started showing great respect to that profession. I came to know a ‘Prof.’ who is known by everyone right from Gates to Narayanamurthy, Clinton to Sibal. Now I am in that Prof’s ‘known people’ list. What more can I ask for?

Yes, I decided not to sit for placements after UG. I was adamant to do masters rejecting the advice from many that I will regret for this decision. I believed (a blind belief), I will get something better after completing MTech course, but I never thought I will join Siemens research group. Thanks to my parents for leaving me decide my own future and thanks to IIIT-B for setting a strong basement. I am indebted!

Thanks to all my friends at IIIT-B for making these 2 years a blissful one. I am looking for a day I meet you as managers, CEOs, scientists, founders of your own firms, billionaires and you still remember and recall the incident of me sleeping in class room during pre-sem which got projected in screen ;)

Wishing everyone a happy life :)



P.S: I just posted whatever that came in my mind. Sorry for the unstructured post.
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