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It might be mere coincidence that
the two most wanted composers in Tamil
cinema have birthdays that fall within
a couple days of each other. It was
only day before yesterday that we
relived all the wonderful moments
and songs that A.R. Rahman has created
over the years and today we are reminiscing
the relatively younger but equally
exciting career of Harris Jeyaraj.
One cannot help but notice similarities
between Rahman’s and Harris’s
careers, perhaps it might be because
of the fact that Harris was for some
time a Rahman assistant. Not all composers
are blessed with such rousing starts
to their careers. If it was Roja for
Rahman, it was Minnale for Harris.
One cannot compare the effect and
reach of two albums nearly 9 years
apart, but there is no doubt that
both of them were superhits, long
term chartbusters which are still
on the favorites lists of many music
lovers. In fact, many believe that
neither Rahman nor Harris, in spite
of many more absolutely brilliant
compositions, has been able to match
the pure joy provided by their debuts,
there is nothing as special as the
first time. It is said that Minnale
was not the first movie that Harris
scored for, it was the Prashanth starrer
Majnu which was eventually delayed.
But it was as if destiny wanted him
to burst on the scene with the gems
of Minnale. It also saw the beginning
of one of the most successful and
fruitful director-composer partnerships
of all time, perhaps standing shoulder
to shoulder with the Bharathiraja-Ilaiyaraja,
Mani Ratnam-Rahman or Shankar-Rahman
duos.
Gautham Menon and Harris Jeyaraj made
an inimitable and sure fire combination
for superhit music over the years.
Everyone who loves Tamil cinema and
its music will know enough about this
duo’s roll of honor without
being elaborated upon. But Harris
Jeyaraj is not only about an association
with Gautham Menon. Over the 7-8 years
that he has been around, he has become
one of the most consistent and reliable
music directors of our times. A Harris
Jeyaraj album is always awaited with
great expectations on the stands and
he almost never disappoints, whoever
be the director.
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7-8 years old is very young for a
composer and Harris is very much a
work in progress. Melody is definitely
his best, but he has shown us that
he has got more than just melody in
his repertoire. 2008 has been a great
year for the man, with albums like
Bheema and Vaaranam Aayiram, the latter
making the whole of Tamil Nadu swing.
It has also been the year when we
heard the bad news of the Gautham-Harris
duo parting ways for reasons best
known to them.
On his 34th birthday, we wish him
many more laurels and successes ahead.
May Harris Jeyaraj be able to scale
the heights that await him. And please…
mend whatever has gone wrong with
Gautham - you two make a hell of a
team.
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