Friend Vijay Ramachandran has an interesting observation here on the number of songs composed by A.R. Rahman that start with what is known in Tamil grammar as an adukku thodar — immediate repetition of the same word. This was new to me, in that while I have listened to these songs multiple, in some cases, hundreds of times, I have not observed the pattern.
Given the sheer size of Rahman’s work, one can discern many other patterns. Like how some of his popular songs are centered on a one-word theme, that appears throughout the song (or form the basis either the pallavi or the charaNam).
- Chinna Chinna Aasai (Roja) — aasai
- Kaadhal Rojave (Roja) — gnyaabagam
- Kannukku Mai Azhagu (Pudhiya Mugam) — azhagu
- Poovukkul Olindhirukkum (Jeans) — adhisayam
- Pachchai Kiligal (Indian) — aanandham
- Anjali Anjali (Duet) — anjali. Incidentally, this is a double whammy as it can be classified under both patterns — the keyword is anjali, and the song begins with an adukku thodar.
- Kannum Kannum (Thiruda Thiruda) — artham. Oh, a triple whammy — the name of the movie is also an adukku thodar.
- Anbendra Mazhaiyile (Minsara Kanavu) — thOnrinaanE.
- Break The Rules (Boys) — thappu
- Thenalikku Ellaam Bayam (Thenali) — bayam
Not listed above are favorites like Oorvasi Oorvasi (Kaadhalan), Kuchi Kuchi Raakkamma (Bombay), Madrasai Suththi (May Maadham), Azhage Sugama (Paarthaale Paravasam) and Oru Dheivam Thandha (Kannathil Muthamittaal), and not-so-favorites like No Problem (Love Birds) which can receive half-votes.
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Tags: a.r. rahman, Rahman of Madras
True, it’s the lyricist’s work actually. Some non-ARR songs that comes to mind immediately are:
Nee sirithal sirippazhagu – “Azhagu”
Mutham mutham muthama – “Mutham” (Adukku thodar)
I think it is more than a lyricist’s work. It cannot be a mere coincidence…
Look at the post I wrote quite a while back listing around 100 songs.
http://7swara.blogspot.com/200.....-more.html
The list doesn’t stop … Even the recent hits like:
Marudhaani Marudhaani
Taxi Taxi
Oh Saya Saya
Jai Ho Jai Ho..
There is a pattern.. The repetition gets registered in the listener’s mind easily. For eg: after you finish Chaiya Chaiya song, you are left with “Chaiya Chaiya” all over as that word is used more than 100 times in the song!! Several ARR’s song has this pattern.
Wow, Mohan, that is quite some list!
Nice observation thalaivare.. @Mohan – Whoa! That’s some list there.. Good to know you have also noticed the pattern..
Thalaivare, Been out of touch with your blogs. Will visit more often from now..
u must read this:
openscroll.org/ramesh/ramesh4.html
The one-word theme isn’t as interesting to me, but the sheer number of songs starting with adukku thodar as documented by Mr.Mohan is definitely non-trivial. It maybe linked to the fact that with ARR, lyrics are written after he composes and perhaps how there are lots of tempo changes through many of these songs. Think about a song like Kelaamal Kayyile, which you have noted before as a constant rhythm song (a la Harris) There is a certain kind of poetry that has been written for constant rhythm songs. Left and right margins aligned.
But with music with a lot of jumps, a jumpy structure is required and probably adukku thodars contribute to such a structure by filling in gaps! 