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Tamil pop - What's the impact?

Topic started by Ravi Raman (@ corn.cs.uiowa.edu) on Fri Mar 6 02:48:53 EST 1998.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

Hi

It was interesting to see so much discussion about
the Tamil film music. But I was just wondering if
the trend in Tamil Music is changing.

During my visit to India in January, I came to
know about this new cassette released by
Anuradha sriram. Unfortunately, I did not get a
chance to listen to it.

But there is this new trend of pop albums being
sold besides the sound track of movies. Earlier
music was either Soundtrack of a film/classical
music (at least that was how I saw it!!!) In
Hindi, "pop albums" are slowly gaining popularity
and I am sure it won't take long before it hits
Tamil too.

Just wondering if this is going to change the way
the next generation looks at music. Or for that
matter, even this generation. Any thoughts? Will
have an effect the Tamil Film Music as it is now?

Ravi

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Responses:

• From: raja m (@ draco.eisi.com) on: Fri Mar 6 10:28:59 EST 1998
  
  Ravi:
  
  The trend of non film music I think will be a very big industry in the years to come. Now with access to satellite TV, and audio equipment, this market should be big business, in the years to come. What I would like is our tamil MDs ( like IR and ARR) can produce top quality pop music which can get internationally recoqnised.
  Another thing that can happen is reissue of old classics in a new format.
  
  An example, is rock machine won an MTV award a few years back. It is not that they are a great rock band, it is that they indianised their music a wee bit. If Bally Sagoo can make a name for himself, and make a cassette `bollywood' where hindi hits were mixed `well' with new beats, just imagine a similar album, where classic TFM can be re-engineered, produced with eye-catching videos, it will open up a big market, with satellite tv to advertise it better. It is being done, but I think, if IR and ARR can spend more time and effort on this, this will open up TFM to the world. Copyrights may be another issue. Some random thoughts,,
  
  
• From: raja m (@ draco.eisi.com) on: Fri Mar 6 10:47:36 EST 1998
  
  Continues..
  
  The potential market of indians who are outside India, who have a tendency to identify with the local culture, at the same time listen to indian film music, I think is very big. In England, bhangra based dance music is very popular. I have seen critics of satellite music on TFM discussions.. I think with the advent of satellite , more Indians have realised how much there is to tamil film music. Only when you know something exists, you make an effort to find out more about it, if you are interested. As far as the current Tamil pop music is concerned, I don't know anyting significant.. Another example, is Tamil Pop music from Sri Lanka ( Nithi Kanagaratnam, Manoharan ?), these songs were popular in tamil nadu those days.
  
  I expect people to respond saying that pop music is bad .. etc. It is just a phase one goes through and if anyone intelligent enough and who has the potential for creating good music keeping in mind the current trend, there is a lot of `duttu' in non film music..
  
  
• From: raja m (@ draco.eisi.com) on: Fri Mar 6 11:03:10 EST 1998
  
  A digression..
  
  I personally think, the importance we give to music in films, has in a way prevented Indian films from reaching new unheard of heights internationally. In most of the trash we generate in the business of `commercial films' in all languages, one of the key factors are the songs and dances from the film. Most of the stories are a rehash of an earlier movie with very little original input. India produces the maximum number of movies but still very little international recognition. The recognition, is basically for outstanding directors, who have presented original ideas. I dont know how long the format of songs and dances, which are far removed from reality will continue. ( yes, one goes to the movies for entertainment) . Whether this format has done more harm than good for movies is a good topic for debate. Movies are one of the powerful tools for changing perceptions, and ideas. An example, I can give are the two oscar nominations As good as it gets and Good Will Hunting from Hollywood. Our MDs can still provide outstanding background scores which will enhance the movie's story.
  
  
  
• From: Gokul (@ 167-77-193.ipt.aol.com) on: Sun Mar 8 00:40:42 EST 1998
  
  Raja,
  
  I dont follow your line of thought saying,Music
  in Films have deteriorated the quality of films.
  Infact in most of movies the only substance that
  provides real entertainment is the music. Ofcourse
  the format of this could get improved a lot.ARR
  & Rajiv Menon tried to make this change to some
  extent successfully in MK.
  
  
• From: kiruba (@ slipper.watcom.on.ca) on: Sun Mar 8 18:03:35 EST 1998
  
  Songs in movies have made the 2-3 hours we spend in the theatre bearable. But this has robbed the sense of realism in the movies. Imagine 'Titanic' with the hero-heroine actually dancing to Celine Dion's music. Or for that matter any Hollywood action movie..just insert a song and out goes the effect.
  Tamil and other Indian movie directors should veer away from using songs. At best they can use the songs in the background.
  But I dont think this is going to happen overnight. We need the TV/Video industry to get bigger and reach more people. Once we have more music videos people will not expect songs in the movies. Ofcourse, our economy has to improve as well so that more and more people can afford TV and audio equipment.
  
  So I dont see this happening overnight. Its a complicated issue.
  
  
• From: Ravi Raman (@ goat.cs.uiowa.edu) on: Thu Mar 12 03:26:55 EST 1998
  
  There are cases where songs in the movie made a movie a big hit. Given this fact, I guess the directors and producers would want to be on the safer side and I don't see them trying to take any risk in the near future.
  
  I am just wondering why is music inevitably tied with the films? I don't think it is the viewers fault, there aren't many options open. Probably, the MDs should take risk and make more albums (I hope they make more money making albums that scoring for a specific movie becomes second priority to them). Probably, the producers and directors should let music play an important role but not a dominating role (unless the story warrants it).
  
  But one thing is that, this line of thought may be altogether wrong. Tastes differ and probably there are a million people out there who would want the existing format to continue. I personally believe this new music trend is a refreshing change and I hope such a trend continues. I guess there is nothing much we can do but wait and see what happens. Kaalathin kattayathal edhuvum nadakkalam.
  Poruthirundhu parppom.
  
  
  
• From: bhava (@ 202.54.43.62) on: Tue Mar 24 01:55:17 EST 1998
  
  Mr Raviraman!!
  
  I must say that U are extremely fortunate. Neenga Anuradha sriram album kekkala illa? She is an insult to tamizh pop - give me 5 English CDs and i will come out with a tamizh pop album. Adu dan trend Sir."Chennai girl" has awful lyrics " I am a modern ponnu..tamizh pesum modern ponnu.."- ideyallam avangale ezhudi irukkangannu perumai veru..talavidhi!!
  
  if u see songs like "Ho jaye gi Bhalle bhalle" i am sure the artiste has taken some effort to promote Punjabi Music making it pop-ish .Inga apadi illa "aahng!! Mariah carey oda patu nalla irukka?inda pudi ade melody.tamizh la kanna pinaa nnu lyrics" out with a song.Next is Whig field..apadiye Whitney Houston, Madonna nnu oru round..avlodan one album with 6 songs..eeks!!!
  
  idellam enga poi mudyumo?
  
  
• From: nithi Kanagartanam (@ ) on: Tue Nov 5 22:43:40 EST 2002
  
  
  Tamil pop music from Sri Lanka was based on original Sri Lankan rhythms (called baila) and the songs were based on social reformation. Later it took a different path due to other singers entering the field with trash.These tunes and rhythms were copied by tamil movies and the current situation is that almost all the tamil film songs are nothing but copies of english tunes.
  Tamil pop started in 1967 is still popular in Sri Lanka, Malaysia, South India,and other countries where Tamils are living today. I have been visiting these countries very often and for the record, Chinnamay song by me was palyed at the Malaysian Kings birthday in 1977 and agin recently at the 45 Merdeka day in Malaysia. THe diffrence was taht a large number of singers sang and danced at the main celebrations.
  If you want to know more please feel free to contact me
  Regards
  Nithi Kanagaratnam
  Dubbed as Father of Tamil Popular Music in Sri Lanka
  
  

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