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Interview: Govind Vasantha (Masterclass on scoring background music)
Posted on August 21, 2020
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Baradwaj Rangan 
sai16vicky
August 22, 2020
Wow! Totally totally excited about this. I remember vividly the time the ’96 soundtrack came out and listening to ‘Andhaadhi’. It remains the song closest to my heart. I still listen to it (at least once a week) and it stirs up so many emotions in me, which I have trouble spitting out in words. It has this verite feel and appears to be poured out of someone’s heart more than meticulously composed/orchestrated (not that Govind is a slouch in that 🙂 ). Very few songs have made me feel like ‘Andhaadhi’ and maybe that’s why I keep going back to them; isn’t ‘pazhaya vaasanai’ after all a healthy dose of nostalgia?!
Anyways, I guess I have rambled enough! Will probably do another round after the interview.
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brangan
August 22, 2020
The Masterclass is up.
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brangan
August 22, 2020
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abishekspeare
August 22, 2020
If more channels did interviews like these YouTube would be a happier place
Govind Vasantha looks like BR time traveled and became a composer to retain his hair
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KS
August 23, 2020
I have known that BGM was important, but didn’t realize the extent of impact it can have! Even with the slightest of changes to the BGM, GV adds another layer of meloncholy to that Trisha intro scene in 96.. Just brilliant! (And, as always thanks BR..)
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brangan
August 23, 2020
Happy birthday, Rahini. Have a great day and year ahead! 😀
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Isai
August 23, 2020
Happy Birthday Rahini!
Wish you a really special year ahead!
God Bless!! (You don’t seem to be very big on God, but I think it may change this year. Let’s see).
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Madan
August 23, 2020
Wonderful conversation. Interesting personality because he composes completely by ear with limited facility in terms of playing but is interested in composing background scores and also prefers listening to instrumental music. Guess sometimes that kind of background is what produces different and unexpected results.
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Rahini David
August 23, 2020
Thank you, BR and Isai
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Madan
August 23, 2020
Happy birthday Rahini
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Jayram
August 23, 2020
Happy Birthday Rahini.
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Rahini David
August 23, 2020
Thank you, Madan and Jayram 🙂
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Kay
August 23, 2020
Happy birthday, Rahini!
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Rahini David
August 23, 2020
Thank you, Kay
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vivaciously_yours
August 23, 2020
Very nice interview BR! It’s difficult to interview two kinds of creative people, one who does so much from their head and heart, and things that happen to them, that they can’t put it into words. So it’s difficult to decode that genius’s thought process. There is another type, who knows how, why and what when they composed a certain bgm or created an art, but they have an issue with communication aka language. I really liked how you let Govind Vasantha just talk at his own pace and speed, without interrupting, at the same time guiding him to answer the question at hand especially when it’s over a skype/zoom environment. I loved how he took us through his methods. A good interview is as good as the interviewee herself/himself!
I don’t know how many would remember this Bharathiraja interview that came in Doordarshan in the 80’s. He was asked about Ilayaraja, and he took the viewer through- There is a scene in Mudhal Mariyadhai, where Sevuli-Ragini’s character and her lover will have a race to touch the water. In order to give Ragini a head start, she will propose that she start running first and he plays the flute and would stop when she hears him stop. But, she would be murdered by an unknown person, and the lover would come running looking for Ragini. When he sees her body floating, he will throw his flute in the air, and run towards the waterfront. Bharadiraja talked about this clip with and without music and how far music elevated this scene. Please look at this scene- everytime I watch Mudhal Mariyadhai, everytime I am in awe how music was a hero in this movie as well… I was reminded of this when Govind showed the Trisha entry scene. Look at this clip at 1hr 34 time..
Also, the Ivan scene he talked about, absolutely absolutely fantastic piece of music that shows the conflict of emotions when Aiyya is not there, but Aiyya is there at the moment.
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vivaciously_yours
August 23, 2020
The flute going up in the air, freeze pane and drop, amazing bgm !!
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KayKay
August 24, 2020
Well, if a Kay can wish you, a Double Kay certainly can’t be found wanting!
Happy Birthday, Rahini D! Take care and stay safe!
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Rahini David
August 24, 2020
Thank you, Double Kay. 😊
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Madan
August 24, 2020
Not related to BGM but just something I wrote about jazz and this looks like a good or least bad place to post it:
https://rothrocks.wordpress.com/2020/08/23/just-some-jazz-about-jazz/
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Isai
August 24, 2020
“Govind Vasantha looks like BR time traveled and became a composer to retain his hair”
Hmm..when I read this, I thought if BR time traveled, he would become like AR/SR (Arjun/Sandeep Reddy) and today I am seeing an upcoming interview of SR by BR!
I really dunno about BR but I have heard/seen short tempered/angry guys who were like Arjun Reddy at 20 and like Sandeep Vanga in their 30s, learn some Zen philosophy, lose hair and grow mellower into a seemingly genial person like BR. That is why I have some soft corner for guys like ARs, for I believe with time, they can also evolve into BRs.
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Madan
August 24, 2020
Isai aiyya: Now theory based on daadi also? Vaana pa. Let me humour you with why I started to have a beard and that too just since end of last year. Somebody moved in next door and was over at home visiting mum when I came back from work. The lady looked at me and asked, “Paiyan college padikaraana?” I didn’t mind that at all but mum was aghast that I was still being taken to be a college student in my thirties. She asked me to grow a beard to look more my age. Usually parents want you to NOT grow a beard so when I was put in the opposite situation, I gleefully accepted. It’s since grown bigly during the lockdown.
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Isai
August 24, 2020
“Now theory based on daadi also?”
Madan, daadi has nothing to do with the theory. I believe you also know that and are just using my comment to boast about how you are still looking so young!
“She asked me to grow a beard to look more my age…I gleefully accepted..”
IIRC, she also asked you about joining a consulting firm..why don’t you give it another shot?..I am saying this because I think you commented twice about that and somehow that keeps coming back to my memory whenever I see any comment of yours..Even if you weren’t too happy in your earlier stint, you may now be in a better position to handle such people and experiences..
Some of the best stories I have read are based on the author’s personal experiences..Maybe you can gain more experience in such firms and eventually write a book based on your stints.. why don’t you just apply and see what happens?
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Shankar
August 24, 2020
Belated wishes, Rahini! Hope you had a great day!
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Madan
August 25, 2020
“I believe you also know that and are just using my comment to boast about how you are still looking so young!” – Er no, the point was growing or removing a beard is a hairstyle and does not reflect a change in the person’s nature (angry to mellow or vice versa).
“she also asked you about joining a consulting firm” – No, she mentioned my friend in consulting having a good post (not that I don’t). The topic of joining a firm again never came up. I have never made a job decision based on what parents or other elders said I should do and I wouldn’t recommend that to anyone. It’s your life, your job.
“Even if you weren’t too happy in your earlier stint, you may now be in a better position to handle such people and experiences..” – No, they shed a lot of positions in later years because of govt simplifying tax processes while also clamping down on tax planning. So I lost nothing, regretted nothing.
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Isai
August 25, 2020
“I believe you also know that and are just using my comment to boast about how you are still looking so young!”
Er no, the point was growing or removing a beard is a hairstyle and does not reflect a change in the person’s nature (angry to mellow or vice versa).”
Madan, I was just trying to tease you.
The point was not about the beard. It was about how people grow mellower as they get older. I remember my dad behaving like Sandeep Vanga in his 30s. In his 40s, he grew mellower and behaved more like how BR now usually does. His elder brother was even more short tempered and he grew mellower only in his 50s. But, his younger brother was always a calmer, softer person. So, I was curious about how they were in their younger years. My dad told me how he and his elder brother used to get into fights for silly reasons when they were in the 18-25 age group, not unlike Arjun Reddy. I have lived in men’s hostels and have seen guys like that. That’s why I was wondering about how people may change as they get older.
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Rahini David
August 25, 2020
Thank you, Shankar.
I certainly had a great day.
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rsylviana
August 25, 2020
Belated birthday wishes Rahini ! Have a great year ahead…
@BR – Any chances of you doing an ARR interview? ARR has been so active on social media these days that I even thought that maybe his account had got hacked. For some reason I felt that his interview with you was just round the corner. I was expecting one during Dil Bechara release itself and even wanted to ask about it on Aug 15th (Roja’s anniversary) but then it completely slipped my mind after Dhoni dropped that bombshell.
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