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A JOURNEY WITH K.V. MAHADEVAN

Topic started by Manisekaran (@ 161.142.2.11) on Fri Jun 14 01:54:38 EDT 2002.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

This is an effort, in a modest way, to trace the great contributions of KVM to the Tamil Film Music. As Tamil Film songs originate from the Tamil films, I am aslo taking the liberty of discussing the background of the films where KVM had comsposed- with the intention of adding spice. I believe this article would serve as a nostalgic tonic to the fans of old songs.

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• From: Manisegaran (@ 161.142.2.11) on: Fri Jun 14 05:38:49 EDT 2002
  
  PART 3
  
  A few words about the other two Thilagams- MGR and Sivaji Ganesan cannot be avoided. We would have known so much about these two majestic personalities. It is my intention to establish their active involvement with KVM. These two cine idols ahd their own areas and strength and weaknesses- areas of accord and discord. MGR knew almost everything in the cine field except "acting" This is highly debatable, subjective, relative, controversial etc etc. Please allow me to qualify that this is my peronal opinion. But one of MGR's greatest strength was the choice of proper MDs and best music. Knowing his weakness in the area of acting, MGR compensated by pushing forgood fights, young and beautiful heroines, eye-catching outdoor scenes, dialogues to soothe and suit the downtrodden and illiterate, and good humour. He avoided too much sad scenes. These were among the areas of strength. But the real strength of MGR's films was songs in movies acted by him. He would himself involve in setting the lyrics,tunes and even screenplay for song sequences. MGR himself had said that most of the songs in films acted by him were approved by he himself. He was a hardworking and active man who made it a point to learn basics of both modern and classical music. With some knowledge and knowledge of the taste of fans for cine music he used to sit with MDs to "OK" the tunes. That included KVM. When I met KVM in his house in 1984 for a personal interview, KVM mentioned the difficulties he had with MGR for composing the tune for "Aayriam Nialve Vaa" with SP Bala. This song was a matter of personal prestige for MGR as he wanted to build up SP Bala agtainst TMS who defied MGR's orders. But MGR squeezed MSV more than KVM because MSV was most accommmodating. With KVM MGR maintained a respectable distance for two reasons- firstly KVM was an elderly person, and secondly MGR knew KVM would come out with good music without supervision.
  
  But it was MGR who made a choice of going for MSV for modern hits and KVM for semi classical hits. MGR produced three movies under his banner-
  1) Nadodi Mannan- MD was his close friend SM Subbiah Naidu
  2) Adimai Penn- MD was KVM
  3) Ulagam Sutrum Vaaliban-MD was MSV.
  
  So MGR knew whom to use for which taste. And all the three films had songs which are still on our lips. KVM was part of MGR's life history in that sense.
  
  Again on the choice of playback singers- MGR went for the best available and it was TMS. TMS sang for almost all stars of his time and did not really depend on MGR, although MGR's film song undeniably boosted some market for TMS. But where did MGR pick up TMS? It was during the recording of songs by KVM. In the early days Trichy Loganathan was one of the singers for MGR, along with MM Mariappa. In 1954 KVM was composing a song for Sivaji Ganesan for the film Koondukkili- the only film where both the Thilagams acted. It was a production of RR Films. The song that TMS sang for sivaji Ganesan was
  
  "Konjum Kiliayana Pennai
  Koondukkiliyakkivittu
  Kottu Melam Kottuvathu Sariya Thappa? Sariya Thappa?"
  
  
  That was also the first song of TMS for Sivaji Ganesan under KVM's composition. As TMS was singing in the studio, MGR heard the song and imediately took a liking for the golden voice of TMS. MGR enquired the details of the singer. He was told of the "Madurai Boy" TMS. MGR immediately recommended and used TMS in his next film "Malaikkallan" produced by Kovai Patchiraja films in the same year of 1954.There TMS sang "Ethanai Kaalamthaan Ematruvar Intha naattiley. MD was SM Subbiah Naidu. Malaikkallan is another history by itself. Sufice to say KVM's contribution for MGR in berief.
  
  
  Next we come to the other Thilagam Sivaji Ganesan who knew everything on acting except other things that MGR knew- "good fights, young and beutiful heroines, eye-catching outdoor scenes, dialogues to soothe and suit the downtrodden and illiterate and good humour"
  
  But Sivaji's full concentration focussed on acting alone, an area which to him was like fish to water. Other technical details were left to the other technicians and artistes. In the area of music for the films he very seldom sat down with the MDs. He firmly believed and was right that he could just cash on the strength of his mind boggling acting ability. That is the reason we see that while MGRs films genrally had excellent songs, Sivaji's films generally could never guarantee great songs. In the case of Sivaji's films the producers and directors and song writers did the job of working out great songs. Sivaji only sat down for his own films like Puthiya Paravai, Kungumam and his other proxy movies.
  
  This being the general case, Sivaji Ganesan divorced from his usual working style and sat down with KVM for the movie Thillana Mohanambaal. As the Nadaswaram tunes were composed, Sivaji Ganesan put his head on the lap of Kannadasan and listened to the great tunes composed by KVM and Pugazhendhi. He was almost in the verge of forgetting his own self.It is said that this had never happened in the life of any MD except forKVM.
  
  
  It is common for us to forget ourselves when we listen to great songs. Many domestic accidents have happened when great songs are played in the radio. Many stories could be related about how the MDS or sound engineers have felt great after creating great songs with fine melodies and tunes. But there has been one instance where the sound engineer was so mesmerised by the tune that he forgot to switch off the recording machine even many seconds after the recording was completed. To the best of our knowledge this happened under KVM's composition. The film was Samboorna Ramayanam. (In the case of Ilayaraja too a related incident had happened. The compsers forgot themselves as they were composing the song "Maatha un Kovililey" by S. Janaki. Precedence was still by KVM)
  
  
  There is one more unusual achievement of KVM.It is not usual for one MD to use another MD as a singer. But KVM has used G Ramanathan to sing a song composed by KVM in Alli Petra Pillai. The song is "Yejamaan Petra Selvamey En Sinna Yejamaaney" A horse was shown singing this song. Singer GK Vengatesh has sung for MSV and TKR, but that was a work within the same unit. But GR Is completely a competitor and a great MD, and to bring him to sing under KVM's tune, the tune itself must be of good quality. And KVM ensured it. This is still my favourite song in Gramanathan's voice. Even Gandasala the Telugu MD had sung under KVM's tune. Gandasala's last Tamil song too was by KVM- Muthukku Muthaaga- in Anbu Sahodararkal.
  
  
  Agian, in those days and even today, the song writers would sit with the MDs to create a song. Whenever the MDs found it difficult to compose tune to the lyrics, the MDs would request the lyricists to give alternative words. There has been no exception where song writers were alive. In the case of composing tunes for songs of deceased poets lile Barathi and Ramalinga Swamingal it is a diffferent matter altogether. But where lyricists were alive, the MDS felt at ease composing tunes for the songs with these lyricists hanging around. The only exception was KVM who was highly talented in composing songs in the absence of the song writers. All he wanted was blank lyrics. KVM would compose any song without changing the words. Kannadasan himself testifies to this. OF the 1,500 songs of Kannadasan KVM had composed, at least 800 songs in the absence of Kannadasan. This needs a great ability.KVM possesed it.
  
  
  To cut the long story short, even MSV had sought a singing chance from KVM.The only duet by Trichy Loganathan and P. Suseela was composed by KVM- "Adikikira Kaithaan Anaikkum"- a thanni aditha paadal from Vannakkili. AVM always used Sudharsanam for movies it produced, but finally came to KVM as well. The film Konjum Salangai of 1958 was said to be the best film for wide usage of Nadaswaram music. But Thillana Mohanambaal broke the record and gave a geater exposure to nadaswaram tunes, and credit goes to KVM. This film was nominated for Oscar award in 1969, but NaavalaR Nedunjeliyan redcommended ENga Veetu Pillai on party stand. That came back as it went. It was KVM who introduced LR Eswary, "Kavirithaai" Jayalalitha and AM Raja to the Tamil film music.
  
  
  ONRAA IRANDD EDUTHU SOLLA?
  
  
  So far only prelude explained in brevity. Details would snow ball as the series keep flowing.
  
  
  Contiunes next week.........
  
  Have a nice Weekend.
  
  Anbudan
  
  Manisegaran
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• From: vengayam (@ 203.200.84.66) on: Fri Jun 14 07:18:44 EDT 2002
  
  One film Of KVM I like is Veera Abhimanyu . Parthen sirithen & the other duet - ada cha the song on the night before abhimanyu goes to battle & dies are superb.
  similarly while shankarabharanam is known all over his score for subhalekha is also very nice - an easy frothiness in contrast to the heavier stuff of shankarabharanam.
  His last great combo in Tamil was for APN films but after that the music quality came down
  Vani rani, radha, were mediocre.
  
  
• From: vengayam (@ 203.200.84.66) on: Fri Jun 14 07:25:58 EDT 2002
  
  manisegaran,
  re asking other MDs to sing under own's baton two other cases immly spring to mind.
  1. VKumar wanted MSV to sing "unakkenna kurachal nee oru Raaja" & Kb had to tell MSv( as Kumar was shy to ask him) Msv obliged & we had a gem.
  2. MSV saw a singer performing in a katcheri in a wedding reception. He liked the voice & decided to use him for a song. The youngster was called the recording was over- Msv asked thambi neenga enna panringa . Sir naan ippa than MD pannikkiturukkan. Madhura geetham padathukku naan than compose panninen enru.The young man was Chandrabose & the song" Endi Muthamma" from Aru Pushpangal probably the only highlight of apedestrian film!
  
  
• From: mahabs (@ 203.197.138.163) on: Fri Jun 14 10:09:01 EDT 2002
  
  manisegaran,
  
  wonderful article. i started reading it and omitted nothing. eagerly expecting your posts.
  
  anbudan
  mahabs
  
  
• From: MS (@ 129.252.25.241) on: Fri Jun 14 12:06:13 EDT 2002
  
  Mani:
  
  you are no new face to newtfmpage and I know u are from MY. Please continue the good work.
  
  
• From: kiru (@ 192.138.150.249) on: Fri Jun 14 14:14:03 EDT 2002
  
  Mani ..fantastic job. Your portrayal of KVM seems pretty accurate..even I am with you on the generalisation of MGR and SivAji. I do think that sivAji had good taste for music as well. Also, I understand, he really sang for the song sequences in the films.
  MS, could we turn the posts by Mani to articles on KVM so that it will be a permanent fixture in newtfmpage ? They are well written. Pretty professional.
  (BTW, even as a kid I was pretty moved the kandhan karunai songs which was repeated in all temple festivals at that time)
  
  

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