Yuvan Shankar Raja, Ilaiyaraja’s second son, is (probably) the heir to Raja’s throne. Along with A.R. Rahman and Harris Jayaraj, he is one of the top three contemporary music directors in Tamil. His partnerships with the current crop of movie directors – Selvaraghavan (they have fallen out now), Vishnuvardhan, Venkat Prabhu, Ameer and Simbhu – has produced some of his best music as well as among the best ever director-music director combinations in Tamil.
But what this Ilaiyaraja scion lacks is the ease of his father’s rendition. Let’s face it, Yuvan is not the best singer around, and he has proved it on many occassions. On the contrary, Ilaiyaraja is a fabulously gifted singer – you can name a number of songs that couldn’t have been any better if sung by another person. The depth in IR’s voice made him an automatic choice for songs that required transitions to a higher pitch. Which is why you would find that a good percentage of IR’s songs (the one he has sung) are of the sad variety. It is a testimony to IR’s abilities that Yuvan himself picks his father to sing in his movies. “Ariyaadha Vayasu” from Paruthi Veeran is a top pick.
Not all of Yuvan’s efforts are poor. He excels himself when the song does not require the singer to maintain a high pitch consistently – the effortless songs, so to speak. “Pushing It Hard” from Kanda Naal Mudhal comes to mind instantly. Another song that has grown on me over the past week is the title song from Yaaradi Nee Mohini (Youtube link).
But the more emotionally charged songs? Most reviews of Pudhupettai’s soundtrack felt that the album’s best(?) song could have been much better if the music director had picked someone else to sing it. Similar comments have been made about many other Yuvan songs. Maybe this Raja protege should restrict himself to his core competence! After all, he is very, very good at it.
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Tags: Ameer, Harris Jayaraj, Ilaiyaraja, Kanda Naal Mudhal, Paruthi Veeran, Pudhupettai, Selvaraghavan, Simbhu, Venkat Prabhu, Vishnuvardhan, Yuvan Shankar Raja
Restrict oneself to one’s own core competence – the most scarce ‘obvious thing’ in life
I concur… In fact I hate most of yuvan’s singing… He becomes too nasal to bear with in higher pitches…
True! But actually I feel that IR also did the mistake at times taking up songs where he could’ve let some othes outperform. I agree that IR is a much better singer than Yuvan by any measure and it’s true that he’s given some real good songs like Engae sellum indha paadhai or ariyaadha vayasu; but I felt the same about some songs sung by IR himself.
The creator has every right to choose how to do it,thats my opinion.
Of course, Madhavan, but it doesn’t always turn out great.
yuvan voice has something special to me .
yuvan creates magic in his songs n he s different frm all de other music directors…his singin s also beautiful…
yuvan voice wonderful.It’s have feel.. his voice touch my heart…his music differ from other music director.. i love yuvan music..