Synthesizer based PolyCaRe arrangements in

201x - interludes
We will continue the journey on PolyCaRe arrangements of Raja, with his compositions based on
synthesizer as the background melody instrument. In this post, we will particularly focus on his
interlude compositions in the 201x. As we made it very clear in the definition, the PolyCaRe
arrangement not only requires a background synthesizer melody, it also requires two call and
response melodies in the foreground played according to our rules of CaRe arrangements.

Let’s begin with the song ‘Kaatrai Konjam’ from Neethane Enthan Pon Vasantham (Tamil 2012).
This segment, has synthesizer as its background instrument. Here is how the segment is structured:

Song Film Year Backgroun CaRe - CaRe -

d Instrument Instrument
instrument 1 2
Kaatrai Konjam 201
NEPV 2 Synthesizer Guitar Saxaphone

1. The 5 seconds in the clip is the synthesizer play which will continue till the end of the
clip. However, Raja has composed several back to back melodies and it is not a constant
melody unlike other PolyCare compositions.
2. Between 5 and 10 seconds, there is a call from the Sax for which the guitar responds.
Note that the background synthesizer keeps going
3. Between 11 and 15 seconds, there is another call by the Sax and the guitar now
responds with a slightly different melody compared to #2. I am sure, the orchestra would
have practiced several times to get this right. Just brilliant use of the technique

The foreground melodies can stand on their own feet as simple CaRe arrangement. The background
synthesizer melody makes them polyphonic and hence PolyCaRe. There are 4 foreground melodies
playing on top of the constant background synthesizer melody in these 15 seconds.

Let’s hear the brilliant, modern PolyCare arrangement of Kaatrai Konjam…

Let’s next analyze the interlude of the song ‘Mauni Naanu’ from Sooryakanthi (Kannada 2010) .

This segment, has synthesizer as its background instrument. Here is how the segment is structured:

Song Film Year Backgroun CaRe - CaRe -

d Instrument Instrument
instrument 1 2
Mauni Naanu 201
Suryakanthi 0 Synthesizer Piano Violins
1. The first 8 second sis an unusual beginning to a PolyCare arrangement. It has the
synthesizer playing on the background, a melody that continues throughout the clip. However,
there is a counter melody of the piano playing a few melodies in the foreground. By itself, this
segment can make it worthwhile. However, Raja wants to raise the bar and that’s how, this
turns out to be a very pleasant PolyCare composition
2. Between 8 and 14 seconds, the violins play briefly for which there is a response from
the piano while the synthesizer is still going about its background melody
 3. Between 15 and 19 seconds, the violins play briefly for which there is a response
from the piano (a different one than #2) while the synthesizer is still going about its
background melody
4. Between 19 and 31 seconds, the violins and piano do a C&R 4 times over with the
melodies varying in typical Raja style

The foreground melodies can stand on their own feet as simple CaRe arrangement. The background
synthesizer melody makes them polyphonic and hence PolyCaRe. There are 12 foreground melodies
playing on top of the constant background synthesizer melody in these 31 seconds.

Let’s hear the modern PolyCare arrangement of Mouni Naanu…

Lastly, in this section, let’s next analyze the interlude of the song ‘Mella Oorndhu’ from
Nandalala (Tamil 2010) . This segment, has synthesizer as its background instrument. Here is how
the segment is structured:

Song Film Year Backgroun CaRe - CaRe -

d Instrument Instrument
instrument 1 2
Mella Oorndhu 201
Nandalala 0 Synthesizer Bells Synthesizer
1. The first 2 seconds is the basic synthesizer tone that lasts till the end of the clip. This
is the background melody
2. Between 3 and 13 seconds, there are 4 call and responses between the bells and the
synthesizer. I use the term Bells to indicate simple discrete tones on the synthesizer.

The foreground melodies can stand on their own feet as simple CaRe arrangement. The background
synthesizer melody makes them polyphonic and hence PolyCaRe. There are 8 foreground melodies
playing on top of the constant background synthesizer melody in these 13 seconds.

Let’s hear the modern PolyCare arrangement of Mella Oorndhu…

In summary, the synthesizer based PolyCaRe work of Raja in the present decade is full of creative
use of C&R on top of his staple strength, counterpoints.

This section must be read by detractors of Raja, who think that he has lost his creativity…