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Best five TFM artists of the century

Topic started by rameshb (@ spider-th042.proxy.aol.com) on Fri Dec 31 00:32:03 EST 1999.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

TFM has seen many artists in singing, composing , playing instrument(s), conducting etc. When we look at their overall contributions and achievements in TFM , i would like you to list and rank the top five (only 5) artists whom you think were the best between the years 1900 - 1999.

Here is a list the top 5 TFM artists , IMO .

1. S P Balasubramanium
This highly prolific singer has exceeded all the expectations and continues to hold strong in TFM .

2. Ilaya Raja

He is the only complete musician TFM has seen who could bring about a seamless coalescence of western and indian.

3. M S Viswanathan

His melodies are so valuble to be preserved for future civilisation as they could symbolize our quality of life in future.

4. P Susheela

This melody queen who has won millions of hearts is an institution in TFM having contributed many chapters.

5. A R Rahman

He has set the stage for the next millenium and is certain to lead his counterparts in the years to come.

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Responses:

• Old responses
  
• From: Arasu Dakshin (@ fw2.clmt.com) on: Mon Jan 3 12:24:12 EST 2000
  
  My List for the Top 5 :-
  
  
  # 1 - Illaiyaraja - He epitomized music for a whopping 15 to 20 years. Prior to his debut, MDs did not receive the attention they should have. After 16 vayathinilae (Ananda Vikatan had given riveting remarks (score of 61/100 those days) for the movie and had special praise for IR and his BGM), Illayaraja set many
  Trends rolling. New singers, new styles of music, "priya" in stereo (first movie), musical albums (HTNI …) etc were some of the achievements by this genius. Look at these numbers again … 780 movies in 24 years and still composing … That's a whopping number. Look around and see if anybody in India has done it. No doubt, he is the #1 TFM personality of the century.
  
  # 2 - MSV & TKR - I personally like this combination more than MSV all by himself. For sheer simplicity, melody and range of compositions, this pair is unbeatable.
  
  # 3 - Kannadasan - If I were to call somebody a poet it will be this guy. Songs with the simplest choice of words, apt meaning (should vibe with the movie situation) and perfect for the tune of the song. Aren't these the critical factors for a song? Who else can boast of having done it except Mr.Kannadasan?
  You want to equate your daily grind at work with a song .. Think about "Paramasivan Kazhuthilirunthu Paambu Keatadhu" …wonderful song and portrays life precisely.
  
  #4 - P.Susheela - The melody queen. "Unnai Ondru Kaetpaen" from "Pudiya Paravai" is a shining example of her voice, quality and sweetness. Cannot match her voice … Chitra comes close ..
  
  # 5 - SPB - This man goes on and on … superb performer. My favorite "Nallam Vazha " from Marupadiyum.
  
  I have to include a # 6 and # 7
  
  # 6 - KJY - The most soothing voice … Classical and film music. Some of Illayaraja's greatest melodies were sung by KJY. "Poove Sempoove.. Un Vaasam Varum"…. Wonderful song.
  
  PS :: ARR may be for the next century.. not now !!! Too early to see his contribution to TFM)
  
  
  
• From: Sirpi (@ 129.252.22.112) on: Mon Jan 3 12:51:26 EST 2000
  
  appadinna naanu ?
  
  
• From: aruvi (@ bones06.slip.yorku.ca) on: Mon Jan 3 13:20:03 EST 2000
  
  Too early to see his contribution to TFM:-)
  
  Huh!
  
  1) I believe you are talking about the guy who made the North Indians listen to tamil songs. Not to mention the tamils who only listen to hindi and english songs.
  
  2) I believe you are talking about the guy who broke all barriers concerning music in India. He introduced rap to the mass. He took malayalam all over India in his 'Jiya' song in 'DilSe'. He introduced fusion music to the common man.
  
  3) I believe you are talking about the guy who is responsible for the huge increase in profit for cassette companies. Source:Kumudam magazine.
  
  4) I believe you are talking about the guy who had a share in making tamil films popular even with North Indians.
  
  5) I believe you are talking about the guy who brought international recording standards to Tamil songs.
  
  6) I believe you are talking about the first Tamil MD who won the National award in his debut film, not to mention that he is the youngest MD to have done so as well.
  
  7) I believe you are talking about the guy who brought out the hidden talents in Instrumental music, like Kadri Gopalnath and Sivamani. Let me also mention that he is the only one who even thought of crediting these people on his CDs.
  
  8) I believe you are talking about the only tamil MD who did something like 'Vande Mataram'.
  
  9) I believe you are talking about the tamil MD that every MD in India envies and most try to copy.
  
  10) Lastly, I believe you are talking about the tamil MD who changed Indian Music. Who not only made tamil listens to tamil songs but also those around the world. He is, at the moment, the most popular tamil MD around the world.
  
  
  
  
• From: Arasu Dakshin (@ fw2.clmt.com) on: Mon Jan 3 13:44:26 EST 2000
  
  1. North Indian listening to Tamil songs ? I dont think they listen to the 'actual' tamil songs. They are cloned versions. Unlike tamilians who listen to the Hindi songs as is, people up there do not. This, IMO does not make it special. By the way, if the north listens , is it something great.
  In that case, the south listen to Anu Malik and Nadeem-Shra... . Are they good ???!!!
  
  2. Taking Malayalam to everybody ? Hello... MSV took Tamil everywhere in "ek dujhe Ke liye".. Does this mean anything ?
  
  3. Cassette sales .. Yeah. I agree. But everybody does it to a certain extent. Even Deva sells a lot for his music !!!
  
  4. Read # 1. (Ennapa.. North Indians Tamil cinema paatha, namaku avvalavu peummaiya ??)
  
  5. Idhu Nyayam..
  
  6. National Award! (Did RD Burman win one ? !!!)
  
  7. I can read this in another form. HE needed Kadri for Duet. I see more of Kadri's "own" contribution in the album..
  
  8. No comments.
  
  9. If Anu Malik, Deva, Nadeem-S envy who cares ?
  
  10. HE did not change music. He is bringing in a fusion of everything he can lay his hands on. The icing on the cake is the recording.
  
  As I said, another five , ten years...I will then decide.
  
  By the way, this is all IMHO. So why get worried.
  If you are a fan of ARR, I respect it. Have fun.
  
  
  
• From: Arasu Dakshin (@ fw2.clmt.com) on: Mon Jan 3 14:03:22 EST 2000
  
  # 2 should have been ::
  
  LP took tamil everywhere. MSV took tamil everywhere in the corressponding versions. Bottom line.. If at all there is some credit you want to claim for this, it goes to Manirathnam for having it in the song sequence !!!! Just because the song was a hit and had some mallu words does not make it special and a item to be considered. Sorry.
  
  
• From: aruvi (@ perth11.slip.yorku.ca) on: Mon Jan 3 14:06:23 EST 2000
  
  Arasu,
  It's not like that at all. I am as much a fan of any other MD's as I am ARRs. But I really think that he deserves to be mentioned in any list, other than those of personal taste. But one can't say that he has not contributed because it seems to me as though he has contributed more than most other TF musicians. Just by looking at the change that has come after his entrance. But then, even I don't know where I would place ARR in personal preference. Yet, to be fair, he probably will top the spot in TFM history in the future. IMHO. This by no means is to offend any IR, Deva, Sirpi, SAR, MSV or TR Rajender fans.
  
  
• From: tamilkavi (@ gwnj.utstar.com) on: Mon Jan 3 15:03:41 EST 2000
  
  My list
  
  1. MSV
  2. Kannadasan
  3. IR
  4. SPB
  5. SJ
  
  I do not include Susheela in this list . She sang a lot of songs, but her voice has no comparision to S.Janaki. In number of songs, SJ would beat PS any way.
  
  So, I replace PS with SJ.
  
  ARR's contribution to this century is few even though some of them are pretty well done.
  
  But, leaving out Kannadasan from this list is something atrocious and unforgivable mistake. I hope Ramesh was sleeping when he wrote this list.
  
  Ramesh, why not give each reader right to vote?
  
  
  
• From: rameshb (@ spider-wc013.proxy.aol.com) on: Mon Jan 3 16:02:38 EST 2000
  
  Tamikavi avargaLe
  >>
  leaving out kannadasan from the list is something atrocious and unforgivable >>
  
  Kannadasan could have made to the top 5... , but i consider the creativity in melody making and in its rendering as highly engrossing a task than the lyrics. This is only my subjective opinion.
  
  <<
  Ramesh, why not give each reader right to vote? >>
  certainly, that is the whole idea of this thread!
  
  <<
  I hope Ramesh was sleeping when he wrote this list. >>
  i wasn't studying for any examination(s).. :-)
  
  
• From: thathuvavaathi (@ inehou-pxy02.compaq.com) on: Mon Jan 3 16:24:56 EST 2000
  
  Here are my choices for the
  'Top-5 tfm artists of the century' :
  
  1. Visvanathan-Ramamurthy
  2. Kannadhasan
  3. Ilaya Raja
  4. SPB
  5. MKT Bhagavadhar
  
  
• From: neruppu (@ abd5d2f0.ipt.aol.com) on: Mon Jan 3 16:26:25 EST 2000
  
  rameshb,
  "but i consider the creativity in melody making and in its rendering as highly engrossing a task than the lyrics" - melody making, agreed. but surely, writing lyrics is many times more of a creative endeavour than rendering. "rendering", without any disrespect, is rendering of what has already been created, atleast as far as tfm goes. This is inspite of the fact that singers have left a trace of their individualism by innovative styles.
  It would be an unfair task to compare 'creativity' involved in different jobs, but defenitely writing lyrics is atleast more 'engrossing' than rendering.
  
  
• From: rameshb (@ spider-wc013.proxy.aol.com) on: Mon Jan 3 17:10:53 EST 2000
  
  Mr neruppu (what a name?)
  lyrics cann't get through the minds of people by just reading it out. You need to atriculate and rhyme it in order to absorb the minds. There are cases when a song without meaning ful lyrics have become successful compositions. ninathale inikkum is a best example of this category. You need a singer of SPB or TMS calibre to do this.
  
  I would be digressing if i start elucidating my analogy in comparing the stint between lyrics writing and rendering. However i wouldn't mind participating in a debate on this, if a need (for separate thread) be.
  
  
• From: suren (@ proxy.mcmail.com) on: Mon Jan 3 18:34:02 EST 2000
  
  If aruvi had forgotten IR should be the one to be credited for bringing back Tamil rasigargal from the Hindi bhodhai...I could very easily remember t those Adi masa cutcheries during the late 70`s which were full of nothing but Hindi songs except for "surengani, surangani".mmmm time has definitel changed!
  
  

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