பாட்டொன்று கேட்டேன்

BBCTamil.com had made a very good effort called 'பாட்டொன்று கேட்டேன்' http://www.bbc.co.uk/tamil/highlights/story/2004/08/040805_filmsongs.shtml. It is a 73 episode program which tells everything about Tamil film music. From Manmathaleelai to Manmatharasa. In these 73 episodes, 8 are for Ilayaraja, in that 8, Raaja speaks in 4 episodes.

It is again great to hear another interview from the man. One thing in the interview made a great impact on me. When asked about how he composes, he told, “Music is a happening, not a product”.

He told a little event that happened. Raaja was asked to judge some musical competition along with likes to T.K.Pattamal, M.S. Subbulakshmi, Semankudi Srinivasa Iyer, Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna. One singer sang a song. After that one judge asked the singer “who taught you this song”, he replies with some name. Then the judge asked, “Ok, what new thing you did in it”. It is the experience Raaja shared to us. Also, he said every musical piece should do something new and should not follow the usual pattern.

Why can’t we apply the same thing in whatever field we are working in? Particularly, Software engineers. Most of us fix the bugs created by some one else 100 years ago. Can’t we do some thing? This is the question raised after listening to his interview.

Not only Raaja’s songs interesting but also his speech. Listen from episodes 37 to 45. He speaks in last 4 episodes.