Yeah, I also agree that it is not just current technology. It is creativity and, please allow me to add, intention of the composer.
Same technology today is available to all composers in World, India and Bollywood, but no other ARR could come up as yet. I would say those people got outright lost whose intentions were wrong - those who relied on copying, on getting inspirations, could never do enough experimentation to come out on their own. But ARR never copied so he did experimentation and exploration. Thus, the things he rejected also increased his learning. Others who copied some successful music lost on this part of learning that had come due to failed experiments. ARR succeeded because he was comfortable with technology to begin with. Older people mostly held technology in lesser vain, mostly criticized newer technology, didn't adopt it quickly, so they lost as the times changed. Still, I forcefully say that older people also have a lot of creativity, good intentions, they did a lot of innovation, exploration, experimentation. That is how Indian/ bolly music reached a place where ARR could take over. Naushad could be called the father of bollywood music whose Rattan (1944?) was the first film that had music that reached the heart of all hindi music listeners. I still listen to Rattan's music and it sounds good to me. go to wiki naushad page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naushad and see some of what all experimentations he did in that era. (It is mostly updated by your friendly neighborhood... he he he). He was one of those who brought playback music as compared to live singing while shooting, he got the echo effects first time, he used 100-piece orchestra first time in 1952, but 11 years later he used just 6 instruments for one song, he developed the system of western notation for bolly music, he used classical singers in bolly music, he used pure bhojpuri lyrics in a hindi film (1961). In Barsat (1951), Shankar Jaikishan was the first to use a longer interlude in Hawa meain udhta jaaye, that became standard right since then and endures even now. Even ARR follows that. Several other veterans also had a lot history of innovation and experimentations that helped bolly music. These all were more than technology change, it were paradigm shifts, that made it possible for bolly music to evolve and establish. So, I can say that, in every era, there had been people who made their contributions, their sacrifices. They all are greats like ARR is. The only ones who are not great are copy-cats. -- Rawat On 2/4/2009 12:08 AM India Time, _NarayanSwamy_ wrote: > It is one of the toughest topic to discuss but always the key topic > when people try to critic Rahman. > > This is my opinion. Given the technology, sophostication and what > not, no one could meet Rahman's standards. See it is not the > technology that is the issue here. It is the sole creativity that is > involved in identifying a person. ARR has created that kind of impact > not just locally but internationally. It needs a lifetime dedication > to achieve this and we all know that ARR has achieved this by > sacrificing himself to stand where he is today. Learning music alone > is an ocean. But also having the mindset to be distinct and carry > Indian music international is what that actually made him a musical > god of india. Seeing some of the toughest moments in life, it is > obvious that many would have taken the same composing style and > ideologies that persisted years together. It takes some massive > amount of courage to break the trend and keep proving to our audience > and critics that music is music and it still needs creativity. He > only introduced something new was the sound. Ofcourse, it is more > western in the core essence and arrangement, but that is the ultimate > majic right. Why should we be destined to hear only MSV or > Illayaraja's music alone and restrict our space to just Orchestral > music. Of course, Rahman accepts those composers were real legends > who scored music with heart and sweat in it. He only wanted to kill > that stereo type into more versatile music. Life needs change and so > is music. To me, a nice rhythm, just tampoora sound is also music. > What ARR has achieved is even more tougher. Its not just scoring > music and giving the sheets to the musicians. Sound engineering is an > art and people in hollywood are respected like Gods. ARR is a master > of both divine compositions and sound engineering. I think it would > take atleast a couple of decades for someone to prove something > different to what we are hearing today. There is always a time > factor. ARR himself has said that he will do this job until he and > rest of the world finds it interesting. So I would just say lets > enjoy his music every bit and not worry too much about who is big. > > OMG, its been so long i wrote something elaborate like this. Sorry > guys, i was just typing whatever came to my mind. Forgive me if i > confused too much lol > > Swamy > > --- In arrahmanfans@yahoogroups.com, "Nagaraj" <arr_naga...@...> > wrote: >> >> Please understand. What Chord is trying to say is >> 'Include IR to this discussion though he is alive'. >> >> Thanks. >> >> --- In arrahmanfans@yahoogroups.com, Vithur <vithurm@> wrote: >>> *"What if RD Burman, Madan Mohan, Naushaad, or even Illayaraja >> etc. had >>> been alive today "* >>> >>> A small observation... By God's Grace, Ilayaraja is alive today. >>> >>> I hope this topic doesnt create warfare. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> On Tue, Feb 3, 2009 at 9:31 AM, Chord <purevibz@> wrote: >>> >>>> I don't like to compare composers of different times using >> blanket >>>> statements. The Indian film industry has a rich history of >> brilliant >>>> composers, each with their own unique strengths and >> contributions. >>>> ARR is another in a series of brilliant composers. Is he THE > best >>>> ever? I can't really answer that. Is he THE best to me? Sure! >>>> >>>> What if RD Burman, Madan Mohan, Naushaad, or even Illayaraja >> etc. had >>>> been alive today with their same talents but with the luxury of >> sound >>>> technology and computers. Would their music also reach across >> globally? >>>> Would love to hear your thoughts. As far as I'm concerned, >> nobody has >>>> EVER combined different genres of world music more beautifully >> than >>>> our ARR. How does ARR compare to other composers in the past >> just in >>>> terms of pure melody? Originality? >>>> >>>> Please please please do not turn this discussion into >> a "Illayaraja is >>>> way better than Rahman" or "RD Burman is nothing compared to AR >>>> Rahman" type of warfare. I'm just curious to know your thoughts >> about >>>> the above. >>>> >>> -- >>> regards, >>> Vithur
