More than a Master Piece. Review on Bharathi Songs

“Bharathi” is the celluloid version of the biography of a great Tamil poet “Subramaniya Bharathiyar”. When Bharathi’s thought provoking, energizing, enlightening and revolutionary poems are set to tunes by a musician like Maestro Illayaraja the outcome would obviously be a master piece. But this album is even more than that.

The songs of this album form a dictionary for divine melodies. It will answer a lot of questions like how beautiful Tamil language is, what tune composition is, what orchestration is, how to select a voice suitable for a song, what melody is, how striking simplicity will help a melody and more than all Who Illayaraja is and how great a composer he is. It is the album where perfection meets excellence. The album disproves the fact “Perfection can never be achieved”. After all what is perfection, it is a state where there is no scope for betterment. There can’t be any better tunes composed for these poems. The album has totally 11 tracks let us take up one by one.

Nirpathuvae

Before listening this song, just read the poem for which the song it set to tunes. You will come to know how great the composition is because the poem will look just like a free flowing verse and we don’t see any clue of such a classic melody hiding behind these words. In this poem the poet admires the beauty of nature and also asks whether all these are illusions in my dream. As always, IR makes it sound simple and melodious by using flute, Veena and solo violins in prelude and interludes and the tabla is put to rhythms in the background. Harish Ragavendra a new singer has done full justice to the song with his unique soothing vocals.

Mayil Pola

Bhavatharini is the daughter of Illayaraja. With her mellifluous and innocent rendition with subtle octaves, She won best female singer national award for this song. It is a very unique folk number with simple and catchy lyrics by Mu.Metha. The out of the world flute pieces in this song gives a pleasant village folk feel to the song. The basic tabla rhythm and the beats are very different from usual. This is again a great melody which everyone will like instantly.

P.S: Bhavatharini did the background score for movies like Mitr- My friend and Phir Milenge with the name Bhavatha raja.

Kelada

Who can better fit to give voice for Bharathiyar than his own grand son? Yes, Rajkumar Bharathi the original grandson of this great poet himself gave his voice for this song. Being a classical singer he does a neat job in rendering a semi classical number. The poet puts effectively the Oneness of all and also power of women in very simple words that even an illiterate can understand. The second interlude with Thavil and Nadhaswaram is great. Illayaraja has composed the song as simple as possible to bring the meaning of the poem to fore.

Ninnai Sarandainthen

This song is a truly divine soul stirring melody that will definitely bring tears in our heart. This song comes in two solo versions one sung by Bombay Jayshree and the other by Illayaraja himself. The song is best example of what a perfectionist Illayaraja is. You cannot find even a single note difference in two versions. Each and every note of the song adds more beauty to the melody and also sung with soul and deep emotions. The minimal instruments and the orchestration create an ambience and mood of the song within us. The music perfectly complements the strength of the words in the poem. The song may sound easy to sing but it requires so much dedication and concentration because even if you miss a single note it will fall flat.

Bharatha Samudhayam

Here is a song with revolutionary words which has a completely different feel after four melodies. The background beats and percussions are innovative. The song is well justified by K.J. Yesudas’s powerful voice. Interludes have grand violin orchestration typical of any Illayaraja composition. The poet speaks about the Greatness of Mother India and its culture and society. Listen what an effective orchestral backing IR has given to the words “Thani Oruvanukku Unavillayenil Zagathinai Azhithiduvom” which means “Destroy the world even if a single being in this world starve for food”.

Ethilum Ingu

This song is written by Pulamai Pithan. Yet again I have to use the same word master piece to this song what to do I am helpless and short of words to express my admiration to such a composition. It is a devotional melody. The lyricist does an extraordinary job in penning a devotional on Lord Krishna. It is a song devoting the One and his Greatness. The instruments, rhythms, strings all are very different from usual IR melody and it delivers a divine sound when perfectly triggered by IR’s notes and layered together. When I hear this song I feel God in me. Madhu Balakrishna again a new singer gives his career best in this song with his refreshing voice.

Vande Mataram

An inspiring fast number majestically rendered by Madhu Balakrishna. Just follow the mild violins playing fast twisting notes in the background which explores how a subtle usage over exposes the brilliance of a composer when noticed. The interludes have great orchestrations. The beats and the rhythm in this song are again very innovative. The music perfectly sounds the energy and power of the words in the poem.

Agni Kunjondru

It is a short number but a good one sung by K.J. Yesudas. There can’t be a better rhythm for the Bharathi’s words “Tha thairikida thi thom”.

Nallathor Veevani

This song explores the emotions that choral singers can bring in a sing. It is a very slow pathos song sung by Mano, Illayaraja and Chorus. The song with minimal instruments in the background is a true example of good usage of choir and orchestration in blend with voices in the fore. Illayaraja’s rendition is so deep and his rustic voice sounds at its emotive best in this song.

French Music

It is a usual military band orchestration with French horns but it sounds authentic to the period of the movie.

On the whole, the album is more worthy than what you spend to buy it. I may have used certain praising words repeatedly for the songs and it is not an exaggeration it is the truth, the album deserves all the praise.