There are two reasons for my emotional reaction: I) Ilaiyaraaja’s music itself 2) your art of presenting the analysis in audiovisual medium. As someone who has spent hundreds of hours making analytical videos about musical experiences, I know how laborious an endeavour this is. I have cried myself to sleep trying to crack concepts audiovisually. You could have written this as an analytical essay, but who has the time to read long essays these days. You could have recorded this as an audio podcast, but you didn’t; it is not as adequate a form as video to showcase Ilaiyaraaja’s brilliance in all its glory. If someone only hears this video, playing it in the background while doing something else, they would miss all the analytical details you offer in terms of graphics and text on screen. Then, there is the narrative strategy and the task of splitting the 17-minute piece into manageable and musically-contained segments on which you could speak about. Your segmentation is spot on. Holding the tension, just as music holds the tension, before the release arrives. You use all the technical terminologies without worrying about alienating those who are not familiar with them, but you also provide a clear and precise explanation about each term that anyone who is musically curious would be able to understand. Then there is the art of delivering the written script in front of a camera; the pace is even, your tone conversational, with pauses and emphasis at right places. We are able to follow you throughout without any confusion. And there is so much more. Ilaiyaraaja’s team created plenty of promotional materials (interviews, teasers, concerts, etc.) for the symphony, but this is the best promotional media one could create for a work such as this. I can’t wait for your analysis of the second movement, but take your time. No rush.

This is an incredible, almost bar by bar, illustration and deconstruction of the first movement of Ilaiyaraaja’s Symphony No. 1. I’m speechless and in tears. Watched the whole thing in one sitting. Thank you, Nishad. This is your masterpiece. God bless you!