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KAVIYARASU KANNADASAN

Topic started by On behalf of Sankar (@ 210.186.51.129) on Mon Dec 30 07:11:34 EST 2002.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

Kaaviyathayin Illaya magan
Kadhal Pengalin Perun thalaivan
Paamara jaadiyil thani manidan – naan
Padaippadhanal yen per Iraivan

Naan Manida jaadiyai aati vaipen – avar
Maandu vital adhai paadi vaipen
NAAN NIRANDARAM AANAVAN AZHIVADILAI
ENDA NILAYILUM ENAKKU MARANAM ILLAI

These are the great lines of Kaviyarasu Kannadasan in the movie Ratha Thilakam where he acts in the movie singing these lines. ( Song.. Oru Koopayilae yen kudiyiruppu)

What a visionary he was ? Indeed, he is NIRANDARAMAANAVAN.

I share some of my observations about Kavingyar. I want all the fans of HIM to join this discussion and add more quality material in praise of his great works.

This is the only way we pay tributes to this GENIUS.

a) Raga Gyanam of Kavingyar

In the file ‘ Thiruvarutchelvar’, no one can forget the great song ‘ Mannan Vandhanadi’. This song was penned by Kannadasan and music by legendary KVM and sung by P.Suseela. I do not think we can ever get a better song in the Raga Kalyani in our tamil movies when compared to this song . This song has all the nuances of Kalyani in a capsule form.

In the Charanam, look at these lines,

Viraivinil Nee… Ni
Mana malar Tha .. tha
Thiru Marbaa… Pa
Thamadhama… Ma
Mayil ennai Ka… Ga

Ni.. tha.. Pa.. Ma.. Ga….
The words end in the avorahanam of Kalyani ( descending order of the musical notes)

Similarly, there is one stanza which will have the first letters in the arohanam ( ascending order).. I do not recollect the exact lines..

Sa…
Ri.. ri ga ma pa da ni sa..
Ka.. karunaiyin Thalaiva
Ma.. Madhi migu Mudhalva..

Do we have any such poet today ?

b) Kannadasan’s command over Language

Also, can any one forget the ‘Then’ song in Veera Abhimanu.. This duet is again a KVM song in Raga Sahana by PBS and PS.

Paarthen Rasithen pakkam vara thudithen
Unai then ena naan ninethen – andha
Malai then idhu ena malaithen

What about the ‘voor’ song in the file Oorkkaval.. PBS is the singer

Endha voor endravanae
Irundha voorai chollava
Andha voor neeyum kooda
Arindha voor allava

The great ‘ Kai’ Song ‘ Athhikkai Kaai kaai’ in Balae Paandiya.—About this song, I will dwell in detail subsequently.

c) Kannadasan’s knowledge of Litreature:

(i) There is one tamil poem in ‘Pura Nanooru’, the old tamil literature.

To know the meaning of this poem, you also need to know about the philanthrophist tamil King Paari. He was so noble and kind hearted that on one occasion, when he found a jasmine creeper without a support, he let his chariot as the support for the creeper so that it could grow. His fame and wealth was an eyesore to cheera , choola and Paandya kings and they waged a war against him and killed him. They also want to marry his daughters who were too young and the marriage proposal was stopped by Tamil Sage Avvaiyar.

The poem is written to a situation where, the daughters of Paari, on a full moon day, recalls that their father was with them on the last full moon day and he is now more now and they were grieving for his death.

The poem in chaste tamil starts as

Attrai thingal Auv Vennilavil…

Kannadasan has taken this incidence to write his song

‘Androru Naal Idhe Nilavil
Avar irundar en arugil’ in the film ‘Nadodi ‘ ( wagabond)

(ii) In Kamba Ramayanam, the poem which describes Kaiykeye seeking two boons from Dasaratha starts as

‘Aazhi sooz ulagelam Bharathanae Aaala’ and ends as ‘ Theeyavai yaavinum Sirandha Teeyal’
whereby kambar describes Kaiykeye as the worst of the worst for her act .

I think Kannadesan must have been inspired by these lines and in the movie ‘ Karnan’, there is a song by SG, Tirchy Lokanathan, PBS, TMS which is penned to the situation of Karnan performing pooja to his father Suryan ( the Sun God). There the stanza

Mannavar porulgalai Kai kondu…. Ends with ‘ VARUMAIKKU VARUMAIYAI VAITHTHOR MAAMANNAN VAZHGAVE…VAZGHA VAZGHA.

Here, he used two negatives ‘ Varumaikku Varumai’ to elate Karnan’s noble charity that there was no poverty because of his abundant charity.

Also, I feel vairamuthu must have been inspired by Kannadasan’s lines that he had sai ‘ maanatthin Maanathai vaangi vittan’ in the song ‘Poo Malai Vaangi Vanthan’ in Sindhu Bhairavi.

(iii) In one of the Sirappu Then Kinnam ( remember the yester years in Radio… Chennai Vaanoli Nilayam !!), Kannadasan himself had said that he wrote the song

Thookkamum Kankalai Thazuvattume
Amaithiyum Nenjinil Nilavattume

Since he was inspired by the lines of shakesphere in ‘Macbeth’

(iii) The famous song in ‘Vaazhkai Padagu’

‘ Neetru varai nee yaroo naan yaroo
Indru mudhal nee vaero naan vaero’

Is based on the ‘Pura Naanooru’ padal

‘ Yanum neeyum yaaraa giyaro
yendaiym numadiyum evan kollo
Sembulap peyar neer pola
Anbudai Nenjangal Tham Kalandaduvae’

(iv).. One Sanga kaala illakkiya padal was the inspiration for Kavingyar to write the famous song in “Balae Paandiya’ – ‘ Atthikkai Kai Kai’

One newly wed bride is separated from her husband since he need to be in the battle field shortly after the wedding. On the full moon day, the lady, is thinking about her husband and feeling lonely without him on a romantic night. She requests moon ‘ I am always remembering him but not sure about how he feels.. Already I am sore without him… you also do not add to my suffering with your full radiance.. instead of glowing here, you shower your moon light on the direction where my husband is so that he also gets romantic mood and gets back to me’

This is what the song

‘Athikkaai kaai kaai
Aalangai Vennilavae’

Athikkai is fig. Also it means glow in that direction ( thikku in tamil means direction / side).

What a great song.. full of name of various vegetables. At the same time, has got a different meaning in chaste tamil.



d) Ability to convey his message through his songs.

(i) Kavingyar came out of Congress but had great admiration for Kamaraj. He wanted to convey his respect and desire for an ever lasting association with Kamaraj. Hence

‘Andha sivagami maganidam sedhi solladi – yennai
serum naal parka solladi’

came in the movie ‘Pattanathil Bhoodam’. In the movie , the song was set as it to praise Lord Muruga..

Kamaraj’s Mother’s name is Sivagami !!

(ii) Similarly

Nalandana … Nalandana…
Udalum Ullamum Nalandana..

Nalam Pera vendum nee Yendru
Naalum Yen Nenjil Ninaivundu
Ilai marai kaai pol porul kondu
Yevarum ariyaamal sol indru….

Was written in ‘Thillana Moganaambal’ for as the meeting song between Sivaji and Padmini after sivaji’s injury.

But, this song is actually written with C.N. Annadurai in mind when he was ailing in the hospital and kavingyar was away from him .

One more great song by KVM in the raag Sivaranjani.


WILL WE EVER GET BACK A KAVINGYAR LIKE KANNADASAN ??

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Responses:

• Old responses
  
• From: Sankar (@ 203.124.138.34) on: Thu Jan 2 23:13:26 EST 2003
  
  One good incident to share with you all...
  
  One young boy from Srirangam (Trichy) came to Chennai in the mid 60's. His name is Rangarajan and he came with lot of hopes to write songs for Tamil films. Despite several attempts, he did not get the right break and with a heavy heart, he packed off and getting ready to depart to his home town. Just then, he heard the following lines from the song ' MAYAKKAMAA KALAKKAMAA...' by PBS written by Kavingyar..
  
  Look at these lines:
  
  Vaazhkai endral aayiram irukkum
  Vasal Thorum Vaedhanai irukkum
  Vanda Thunbam yedhu endralum
  Vaadi Nindral Oduvadhilai...
  Unakkum Keezhae ullavar kodi
  Ninatthu paarthu Nimadhi Naadu.
  
  What a motivating , self assuring lines to build one's self confidence ??
  
  Rangarajan got charged with these lines and decides to stay back and persue his job as lyricist and ultimately succeeded and is today, a world renowned figure among Tamils.
  
  That Rangarajan is our Kavingyar VAALI...
  
  Our sincere thanks and Tributes to Kaviyarasu Kannadasan for giving VAALI to Tamil Litrary Field.
  
  
• From: fan (@ 219.92.155.153) on: Wed Jan 8 01:40:36 EST 2003
  
  contact kavinyars grandson at 012 3586740 for a whole new experience. He is down on a personal holiday but when I contacted him he was friendly and welcoming. he will go back to madras in mid feb 2003.
  
  
• From: R. MAHENDRA RAJ (@ ) on: Thu Jan 30 04:55:46 EST 2003
  
  I am an ardent fan of Kaviarasu Kanndhasan having recorded his numerous experiences and broadcasting over Radio Malaysia for a considerable period of time. The response from the general audience was overwhelming. I am prepared to share the experience through this hub. However, it is a pity none of Kaviarasu's descendants have an indepth knowledge as to his works. This I can testify because I have personally met them in Chennai as well as in Singapore and Malaysia. It is also a pity that no body took any concerted effort to document his efforts. Whatever is being available is only through ad hoc basis that too by outsiders.
  
  For starters let me explain the background to many of his popular songs, that is, the raison de'etre of penning such songs which ultimately fits well with the picturasation of the particular scene concerned. Amomngst the hundreds I will start off with one and depending on response from the audience I will accomodate further.
  
  The producers of 'Avanthan Manithan' were rushing our poet laurete to pen the songs for their film which was scheduled to be shot in Singapore in the month of May 1973. Each opportunity they remind him of the month of May knowing Kaviarasu's attitude of taking everything easy and lightly. Finally, one fine day they insisted that he pens them the songs then and there. Without choice all the songs were written in a jiffy in a suite at Hotel Artlantic, Chennai. Before taking leave Kavirasu requested the producers and Music Director M.S. Viswanathan to take extra care on one particular song. Then he was gone. The group tried to decipher that particular song for a very long time until M.S.Viswanathan found the answer. All the songs in the film to name a few were hits such as 'Attuvithal Yaar Oruvan" "Manithan Ninaipathondru" "Engirintho Antha Kural" "Anbu Nadamaadum Kalaikudamae" etc. The code was broken by MSV. Yes, Kaviarasu got cheesed off with the verbal reminders by the producers when they emphasises the shooting schedule in Singapore in the month of May. He deliberately penned the song "Anbu Nadamaadum Kalai koodumae". To listeners it is just like another of the many romantic songs Kaviarasu has penned. But if you hear the song carefully each and every line ends with the word "May"!! Such is the compensation for incurring the wrath of Kaviarasar. The whole group had a good laugh over this incident whilst acknowledging Kaviarasar's acute sense of literacy and good humour.
  
  Literally all his songs have backgrounds. I will accomodate depending on response from this hub.
  
  Thanks.
  
  
• From: OISG (@ 193.188.97.152) on: Thu Jan 30 07:42:30 EST 2003
  
  This incident does not involve KD directly.
  
  My cousin and his friend ,both ardent admirers of KD were present when the body was placed for public homage.My cousin moved by the scene said
  
  "Che!Aniyayama romba seekiriram erandhutraruda"
  
  His friend standing in the queue behind patted and said
  
  "Maplai!Kavingar eappa erandhirandulum naama idhayendhanda solliruppom!"
  
  Isn t it true?
  
  Iraivan inge varavillai-enave
  Naan angu pogindren
  Ezhmai Ulagil theerntha pinne
  marupadi oru naaL naan varuven!
  
  
  
• From: geeth (@ 213.121.248.170) on: Thu Jan 30 08:55:54 EST 2003
  
  Mahendra Raj, very interesting to read about the Avanthaan Manithan episode. It reminds me of another article read before in this forum - Maayavanathan, Maayavanathan, Mayaavanaathan....
  
  Please share more with us.
  
  
• From: R. Mahendra Raj (@ 210.186.0.188) on: Wed Feb 5 04:55:19 EST 2003
  
  Thanks a lot Geeth. Could you highlight on the article "Mayavanathan"? I think I missed it.
  
  The producers of "Gauvravam" (1973/1974)booked Kannadhasan to pen the songs for their film. But the latter was away in Malaysia.Once in Malaysia he forgets all his reponsibilities back home! It is a well known fact that Kaviarasar had a wide circle of associates in Malaysia. He gets well blended in Malaysia. He once remarked that being a strong believer in reincarnation he hoped that his next birth will be in Malaysia!
  
  His assistant (I do not wish to cite his name for obvious reasons as he is still around and a well known film producer too)urged the producers to give him the opportunity to pen the songs citing Kannadhasan's attitude. Incidentally, this assistant is Kannadhasan's own nephew and he took him from nowhere and groomed him up. If you see films of the sixties and seventies era you can catch up his name as assistant to Kaviarasar in the film credits. The producers of "Gauravam" did not want to take the chance but instead preferred to await Kannadhasan's return. The moment Kannadhasan returned he heard the story of how his assistant-cum-nephew nearly manoeuvered him out of this film. He could'nt stomach the fact that the very child he groomed could do such a thing. But back to business. He penned all the songs but amongst them there were two songs where he really poured out his emotions. The songs fitted the film picturisation well but only those who were close to Kannadhasan knew that they were aimed at his nephew-cum-assistant. The songs are "Paaluti Valartha Kili" and "Neeyum Nanumaa Kanna Neeyum Naanumaa". The next time if you happen to hear these two songs close your eyes and you can feel the emotions of Kaviarasar. Anyway, the whole episode was forgotten as usual as Kannadhasan is a child-at-heart person and was never known to be vindictive throughout his life. He forgives and forgets. Thats his secret of remaining jovial till his last breath in spite of all the shortcomings he faced. See you all again with yet another song background story. Bye for now.
  
  

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