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V.Kumar: Malarum NinaivugaL

Topic started by bb (@ 24.6.231.170) on Wed Jul 7 00:37:21 EDT 2004.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

Saravanan is starting a new series on V.Kumar, titled 'V.Kumar: Malarum NinaivugaL'. He has been in touch with V.Kumar's wife and son and is planning a comprehensive series of articles on V.Kumar. I am sure this will be a treat for VK fans. This will also feature unique introductions to the songs by V.Kumar himself, in his own voice. Thanks to Govind and VK's family for their help on this.

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Responses:

• Old responses
  
• From: raja m (@ 67.87.27.19) on: Thu Jul 15 07:50:43 EDT 2004
  
  Thanks for all the details Saravanan -keep it up !
  
  
• From: SK (@ 199.90.34.67) on: Thu Jul 15 12:44:05 EDT 2004
  
  Excellent write-up and innovative information treat! Thank you so much!!
  'Sriram-Lakshman's mail was in very poor taste and should be removed to maintain the sanctity of this thread. To speak ill of a legend who is no more is unpardonable!
  
  
• From: sriram (@ 68.204.20.75) on: Thu Jul 15 13:26:33 EDT 2004
  
  Saravanaaaaaa, as usual, a wonderful write-up. thanks for the songs too..
  
  SK, take it easy. I think, SL mentioned sani to refer the misfortunes that V.Kumar had to suffer throughout his career in spite of being a great composer.
  
  
• From: sk (@ 216.52.229.254) on: Thu Jul 15 13:58:02 EDT 2004
  
  Saravanan:
  
  Enjoyed your writing, as always! aadi adangum vaazhkkaiyadaa is a wonderful song bringing out the emotions of a man who knows he is going to die soon.
  Interesting to know that ARR's father assisted VK. Talking of assistants, I saw mention of two persons: Guna Singh and Sundararajan as assistants of VK in the 70s movies. Do you know details about them? (If you are going to talk about them in your later write-ups, don't bother.)
  
  SK:
  I think you completely misunderstood what SL wrote in a light vein.
  
  
• From: GK (@ 206.132.99.2) on: Thu Jul 15 14:05:48 EDT 2004
  
  Saravanan,
  Great start for the series! I haven't heard the PS solo before. Its a nice song. Wasn't Neer Kumizhi and Ehir Neechal a staple of DD in the 80s during election times? I remember that DD used to screen movies through the night between election news bulletins.
  
  
• From: Gyan (@ 4.158.117.242) on: Thu Jul 15 15:57:38 EDT 2004
  
  i had read long time ago a very constructive criticism for IR from VK in Kumudam. "IR is relying too much on electronic sounds, etc... it would be better if he reduced such sounds."
  
  I think V Kumar was like Vijay Bhasker, Sathyam (some of his great Telugu songs also in Tamil) came up with extraordinarily different tunes than heard from MSV, KVM.... more playful and unexpected.
  
  
• From: Music4ever (@ 130.111.19.145) on: Thu Jul 15 23:21:23 EDT 2004
  
  Nice write-up Saravanan. I really enjoyed the TMS-PS duet and PS solo very much. The former brought me to the world of MGR and Saroja Devi, while the latter served to reinforce, among other things, the exalted voice of PS! To think that such a talented MD like VK paraded his wares in TFM during the era of V-R and KVM surely suggests an embarassment of riches.
  
  
• From: Saravanan (@ 213.42.2.26) on: Thu Jul 15 23:51:10 EDT 2004
  
  Thanks all for your kind responses!
  
  SK, As others have explained, SL was referring, in a lighter vein, to the fact the luck seemed to have eluded V.Kumar despite his talents.
  
  sk, I have been trying to get information on VK's assistants. R.K.Sekar seems to have assisted him only for Neerkumizhi and Naanal. Besides those you have mentioned, another name that used to figure in the titles on some of some of Kumar's films in the earlier years was P.L.Sriramulu.
  
  GK, you're right- I remember watching Ethirneechal in the middle of the night when election results were being declared.
  
  
• From: Da Vinci (@ 128.113.109.185) on: Fri Jul 16 11:03:31 EDT 2004
  
  I seldom look at the other threads than the SOTD thread and I am glad I stumbled on this thread today. I was expecting Saravanan to present the sequel in his wednesday specials, and was in fact surprised this wednesday to see a song by another composer ! I think BB should make a flashing URL, place this thread in the special features section or something of that kind for readers like me who may not go through all the threads.
  
  After knowing through this thread the various songs V.Kumar composed, I find that I have been struck by so many of them without knowing who the composer was !
  
  
  
• From: ! (@ 212.165.146.59) on: Sun Jul 18 01:25:05 EDT 2004
  
  V Kumar, epitome of 70s melody.
  
  
• From: muarbalu (@ 210.187.121.166) on: Tue Jul 20 03:18:46 EDT 2004
  
  this is some of v.kumar's unforgotable hit..
  
  kannoru pakkam - niraikudam
  nalla naal paarkavo - bommalattam
  thamarai kannagal - ethirneechal
  punnaga mannan poovuli kannan - iru kodugal
  unnai valthi padugiren - nootrukku nooru
  padaithane bramadevan - ellorum nallavare
  alayam nayagi - nangooram
  muthu kulika varreeyala - anubavi raja anubavi
  
  
• From: G.Ragavan (@ 203.126.245.198) on: Tue Jul 20 04:15:21 EDT 2004
  
  Anubhavi Raja anubhavi was by MSV. But all other songs are good and was by V.Kumar.
  
  There is a TMS-Vani Jayaram duet by V.Kumar. I forgot and couldn't recollect what it is. can anyone help?
  
  
• From: Saravanan (@ 213.42.2.29) on: Tue Jul 20 23:58:53 EDT 2004
  
  G.Ragavan, is it 'naaL nalla naaL' (Panakkara Pen)? The unreleased Manoranjitham too had a great TMS/VJ duet by V.Kumar- 'oru paarvai nooru kavithai'
  
  
• From: G.Ragavan (@ 203.126.245.198) on: Wed Jul 21 00:53:26 EDT 2004
  
  Thanks Saravanan. Yes. It is "Naal Nalla Naal" song from Panakaara penn. Wonderful song it is.
  
  What are the LREswari songs with V.Kumar? Nothing clicks in mind except "Kaathoduthaan Naan Pesuvean".
  
  
• From: Bala (@ 199.67.140.76) on: Wed Jul 21 07:08:00 EDT 2004
  
  Saravanan
  
  Isn't it Manoranjitham by IR? (I always felt it was similar to 'Indraikku En indha Anandhamo... song in some way.)
  
  Bala
  
  
• From: Saravanan (@ 213.42.2.26) on: Wed Jul 21 23:45:49 EDT 2004
  
  G.Ragavan, how can you forget 'muththaaramE un oodal ennavO'? :)
  
  Bala, Manoranjitham was by V.Kumar. One among his many unreleased albums.
  
  
• From: bb for Saravanan(@ 24.6.251.57) on: Thu Jul 22 02:29:27 EDT 2004
  
  

  Part II - naaNal

  A devoted Congressman called G.N.Velumani entered the tinsel world as a costume designer. He gradually climbed the higher echelons of film-making, and in the late 50s, was one of the partners of ‘Buddha Pictures’ which was engaged in the making of pathibhakthi (1958), the other partners being writer M.S.Solaimalai, director A.Bhimsingh and MSV. The success of the venture led to Velumani forming his own production company called ‘Saravana Films’. His friends Bhimsigh and Solamalai came forward to make a film for him, and Velumani’s first production baagapirivinai (1959) ran for more than 100 days. The success story continued with paalum pazhamum (1961), and Velumani was all set to be counted among the prolific producers of the 60s. paadha kaaNikkai (1962), paNathottam (1963), idhu sathiyam (1963), padagOtti (1964), panchavarNakkiLi (1965), kalankarai viLakkam (1965), gowri kalyaNam(1966), chandhrOdhayam (1966), selva magaL (1967), kudiyirundha kOyil (1968) were some of the films that he produced under his various banners: Saravana Films/ Saravana Pictures/ Saravana Combines/ Saravana Screens.
  
  And it was Velumani who sought KB in the aftermath of neerkumizhi in 1965 to make a film for his ‘Saravana Pictures’, and KB embarked upon naaNal. naaNal starred K.Vijayan, Muthuraman, Nagesh, Sundararajan, Srikanth, K.R.Vijaya and Sowcar Janaki. KB wanted a complete change from the tearjerker that neerkumizhi was, and so set about making a taut, racy thriller.
  
  naaNal was adapted from the English classic Desperate Hours (1955/ Paramount Pictures). Based on a story by Joseph Hayes, the film traced the suspense-filled hours when three escaped convicts take over a house, and holding the terrified occupants under house arrest, use the house as a sanctuary while the entire police force is on their hunt.
  
  KB tailored the story to suit a Tamil milieu. The tranquility of the house of K.Vijayan, whose family consists of Sowcar Jananki, Vijaya and Srikanth, is rudely shattered when Sundararajan and his accomplices gain an entry. The moments of agonizing terror and final deliverance from this ordeal form rest of the story.
  
  The same story found place some years later in a Hindi film called Chattees Ghante (1974/ Tilak Movies). Raj Kumar, Sunil Dutt, Parveen Babi, Mala Sinha, Danny and Ranjit starred in this film which was produced and directed by Raj Tilak. In recent times, Arjun’s Otran (2003/ Popular Films) shared striking similarities in the core theme.
  
  If Nagesh was the mainstay of neerkumizhi, in naaNal, it was Sundararajan, essaying the role that Humphrey Bogart played in the English original, who stole the show with his powerful performance.
  
  * * * *
  
  An important feature of all films that came from the ‘Saravana Films’ banner was their music- all the films boasted of excellent songs. Velumani was a staunch MSV loyalist. Right from baagapirivinai till the MSV-TKR break-up in 1965, all of Velumani’s films had music by the mellisai mannargaL. Among the last films that the duo composed together was Velumani’s pancharvarNakkiLi. And once the split was official, Velumani was the first producer who unhesitatingly booked MSV for his kalangarai viLakkam.
  
  It was a great honor for Kumar that a producer of the stature of Velumani, whose films till then had all gone to MSV-TKR, should find it fit to ask Kumar to compose the music for naaNal. Perhaps it was at KB’s insistence, or perhaps it was Kumar’s work in neerkumizhi that made Velumani come to Kumar. Kumar excitedly went all out to justify the trust placed in him by this revered producer and came with an alluring album, consisting of 4 songs.
  
  A word here about Kumar’s choice of singers in general. Tfm of the 60s, as we well know, was an absolute fiefdom of TMS and PS. These two outstanding singers were always the first choice of any MD who was composing music then. PBS for second-line heroes, and LRE for female duets and for comical/‘club-dance’ songs- this was more or less the unwritten dictum that was observed. As for Kumar, while mostly swimming with the tide, he did spring a few surprises occasionally, opting for some uncommon variety in his choices.
  
  Thus in naaNal, while we had PS singing two wonderful songs for the youthful K.R.Vijaya, the astute Kumar chose Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi to sing for Sowcar Jananki. Rajalakshmi, who was much in demand in the 50s, was not often heard in the 60s. More on her here:
  
  http://www.dhool.com/sotd2/386.html
  
  The first song in the album, kuyil koovi thuyilezhuppa was itself considered highly innovative. The song seeks to paint the serene beauty of dawn in a backdrop of a typical household. The mistress of the house bustles about her chores, gently singing this song. In a landmark departure from the prevailing trend, the imaginative Kumar completely eschewed instrumental accompaniment. With just the tampura giving her muted support, Rajalakshmi gives an unforgettable rendition. Alangudi Somu takes the cue from a paasuram, and continues it to suit the situation. Sowcar Janaki heralds the sunrise by a soulful prayer, and then goes to the people in the house, waking them up gently with a cup of coffee, all the while continuing to sing. The old man who has lain awake most of the night, and has dozed off towards the dawn, Vijaya who had burnt the midnight oil studying for her exams and has now exhaustedly fallen asleep over her open book, and finally the lazy Srikanth who rarely gets up at daybreak- all of them are thus lovingly attended to. Kumar begins the song with the clangor of the distant temple bells, and ends it with the chiming of the clock.
  
  Listen here: http://www.newtfmpage.com/cgi-bin/stream.pl?url=http://www.dhool.com/sotd/vkumar/kuyil1.rm
  
  naaNal, though a nail-biting thriller, was not without moments of light-hearted romance, thus finding a berth for a breezy love duet. Vijaya and Muthuraman travel in an open car, and joyously sing viNNukku mElaadai. The gleeful repartees by TMS and PS are wonderful to listen to. Suseela's humming, apparently stalling for time while she thinks of an answer to his ‘paththukku mElaadai?’ is a veritable treat. Suradha, the master of analogies, in full flow here:
  
  http://www.newtfmpage.com/cgi-bin/stream.pl?url=http://www.dhool.com/sotd/vkumar/vinnukku.rm
  
  The light moments are now behind us. Dark clouds of terror have enveloped the placid sky of the household. The mistress of the house is trying to put on a brave face, and consoles her petrified sister-in-law. Daybreak again, everything is same outside, but inside the house, nothing is as before--the scoundrels control every move of the hapless inmates. Sowcar Janaki prays to the almighty for deliverance, whilst Sundararajan amusedly mocks at her wail of despair. kuyil koovi thuyil ezhuppa again, Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi singing Alangudi Somu's lyrics--
  
  http://www.newtfmpage.com/cgi-bin/stream.pl?url=http://www.dhool.com/sotd/vkumar/kuyil2.rm
  
  Vijaya’s prospective in-laws, along with Muthuraman, are coming to ‘see her’ as arranged and they are unaware of the reign of terror prevailing inside the house. Sundararajan warns the inmates to behave normally and threatens them with dire imprecations if the visitors were to get any hint of the presence of the four criminals hidden in the house. Vijaya, as is usual in such circumstances, is asked to sing. What would she sing in such a dangerous situation? ennathaan paaduvathu, naan eppadi thaan aaduvathu ? is the song that Kumar came up with for this sequence, and who else but PS to bring to stunning life the anguish that the state of affairs summons---how much agony is condensed in her ‘ammamma’! Imaginative lines by Alangudi Somu again. Listen here:
  
  http://www.newtfmpage.com/cgi-bin/stream.pl?url=http://www.dhool.com/sotd/vkumar/ennathaan.rm
  
  Thus in his very first year in tfm, Kumar made a glorious entry with neerkumizhi and naaNal, leading us to naturally surmise that he must have been flooded with offers the next year. Was he?
  
  
• From: raj (@ 61.246.255.3) on: Thu Jul 22 07:53:33 EDT 2004
  
  Poovai senguttuvan claims that Kuyil koovi thuyil ezhuppa is by him..
  
  Sara asusual w'ful Writeup particularly abt Vinnukku meladai..
  
  
  

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