RAAJAngam and other kingdoms!

Note:This post was written on 23.9.2010 but took this long to post.

I never expected me to be writing this with a LOT of Intrams ground work pending but a salutation to Raja (and BGM scores) feels equally significant.At last,a separate category for Background score has been formed by the Indian government for it's annual film awards.And the winner is ilayaRaja.(There is sound logic to capitalise the R rather than I)Background score has always been essential to the essence of story-telling in Indian movies.There is a beautiful scene in "Mozhi" which underlines how a scene is meaningless without BGM and more importantly,how a BGM enhances a meaningless scene.A case in point.The love episode of the dwarf Kamal in "Aboorva Sagodhargal" is childish.A girl plans to get married to a doctor in a registrar's office.The girl gives the ring to a dwarf clown just to ensure that it is kept safe.She jokingly says to the dwarf that she plans to marry him.The dwarf believes it and "dream-duet"s with her.(What.A.Verb!).When he comes to know the truth,we should have barked loud:"You fool!are you such a small child to believe this prank?".Instead,we empathised with him.We emoted.We shed tears.Simply because of the stirring score by Raja.The violins pull strings in your heart so effectively.

Raja's BGM score has worked as a piece of cloth to a freezing nude guy many a times.But it also served as a jewel to ornaments like "Thalapathi" and "Mouna Raagam".Prose about Raja is inevitably followed by a comparison with the Ella Pugazhum guy.Rahman is surprisingly lazy when it comes to writing BGM scores.Rahman gives little importance to BGM scores but he still manipulates well to prove that he is a master in his own style.He tweaks the tunes in his songs and uses them as BGM cues.In "Sivaji",Rahman used the high-energy "Balailaka" song for BGM cues in different scenes with disparate moods(Music shop fight,opening of Sivaji University and beating up of Sivaji by police).Almost all of "Delhi 6" BGM cues were direct lifts from the movie's sound track.Raja considers music integral to the story whereas Rahman seems more intent on churning out competent soundtracks with stand-out tracks.

Whatever I wrote will sound rude considering Rahman's BGM scores for Iruvar(He uses the same trumpet cue without any change for a sad as well as an all-is-well scene.Both produce the required repercussions.Brilliance!),Thiruda Thiruda(I am still waiting for Rahman to do another TT.The pumped up score always make me say a Goundamani styled "Adra Sakka Adra sakka Adra sakka"),Rang De Basanti(Even without the video,some BGM cues can make a sane person cry.Typical Rahman stuff where he uses bass guitars for freedom struggle scenes) and Lagaan(One genre where Rahman still scores over Raja:period movies).Even his recent "VTV" had an elaborately done score full of exciting cues.

Yuvan has done more serious stuff in "Katradhu Tamizh"(There is a scene with high scope for overdose of violins yet Yuvan opts for "Neerarum Kadaludutha" anthem producing a more sober effect) and "Pudhupettai".Still,the highest praise he gets is that he is the son of his father.Yuvan should do something radical to stamp his own imprints like Rahman.Otherwise,he might end up as a wannabe.

Harris may be a chartbuster specialist but he does horrible BGM work.There is a scene in "Ghajini" when there is no action in the scene yet a guy keeps roaring in the background :"jo jo jo jo" as if Surya is missing Jyothika.Harris overdoes his BGM scores and is yet to realise that silence can be the best BGM cue at times.

I still remember posting in this space that "If Ilayaraja does not get a national award for his BGM score in "Naan Kadavul",let the armed forces take over the government".I am yet to see "Pazhassiraja".So I cannot pass judgements about whether the award is well deserved.But even if it had been awarded to Raja for a C-grader like "Veluprabhakaranin Kadhal Kadhai",I would still be proud and happy.In the world of BGM scores,he is a Federer with no Nadal(or a Nadal with no Federer).Even after almost 20 years,those arrogant lines still remain true:"Netru illai!Naalai illai!eppavum than Raja!"