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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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Responses:

• Old responses
  
• From: kik (@ 207.0.105.131) on: Tue Jul 30 01:18:22 EDT 2002
  
  Manisegaran: Are the lines below the virutham before kuruvikkoottam? They don't feel like naavukkarasar dEvAram. The closest I can think of is munnam avanudaiya naamam kEttaaL, moorthi avanirukkum vaNNam kEttaaL...thalaippattaaL nangai thalaivan thaaLE made famous by kalki in sivakamiyin sabatham and used in parthiban kanavu and agathiyar too, I think.
  
  Anroru Naal Avanudaya Perai Ketten
  Adutha Naalil Avanirukkum Oorai Ketten
  Indru Varai Avar Mugathai Naanum Kaanen
  Avan Ennai Thedi Varum Varaikkum Vidavum Maatten
  Androru Naal avanudaiya Perai Ketten Oorai Ketten
  
  
• From: Kupps (@ 156.153.255.134) on: Tue Jul 30 01:48:07 EDT 2002
  
  Manisegaran sir,
  
  there i slight change in the words of the song aedho aedho aedho oru mayakkam. The TMS part of the pallavi is :
  
  
  Intha Intha Ingey Peru Theriyum
  Kannai Izhuthu Valaichu Ennai Paru Puriyum Hei!
  
  This I'm writing from my memory based on my latest listening to this song a year ago (he..heee). So please ensure it before making this suggested change.
  
  
• From: Saravanan (@ 213.42.1.166) on: Tue Jul 30 01:54:33 EDT 2002
  
  Mani Sir,
  
  I have learned a lot from this thread. You have shared so much information with us. Hope you will find time to continue soon.
  
  BTW, I read somewhere that all songs in 'Kanni thaai' were by Panju Arunachalam. Is it true?
  
  
• From: Manisegaran (@ 161.142.2.11) on: Tue Jul 30 02:01:42 EDT 2002
  
  Dear Kik,
  
  Kannadasan gave a list of his songs and related the literature from which he got the idea. This particular song has been lifted from Naavukkarasar's song that you have quoted. Its the idea that he took, and not the essence itself.
  
  Anroru Naal is a separate song altogether from Kurvikkoottam, which is the first song in Kudumba Thalaivan.
  
  Please refer to a 1997/98 discussion on literature in tamil films or something like that wher Kanchana and I have quoted so many songs taken from tamil literature. I cannot remember off hand.
  
  Kupps,
  
  I am also typing from memory. Your version may be the right one.
  
  Thanks,
  
  Manisegaran
  
  
  
  
• From: Manisegaran (@ 161.142.2.11) on: Tue Jul 30 02:41:27 EDT 2002
  
  
  Dear Saravanan,
  
  Thanks for this interesting question. I may want to expand further.
  
  The vinly records indicate that in Kannithaai
  
  Kelamma Chinna Ponnu is by Panju Arunasalam, and another song catalogue (not song book) says it is Kannadasan.
  
  Yendrum Pathinaaru is by kannadasan
  
  Ammadi Thookkamma is by Kannadasan
  
  Vaayara Mutham Thanthu is by by Kannadasan
  
  
  I dont trust the song vinly records in full because they too do not give the exact truth. We should by now know the story of URIMAIKKURAL. The record says Vizhiye Kathai Ezhuthu is by Vali. But it is by Kannadasan. Likewise the record says Malligai EN Mannan mayangum is by Kannadasan. But it is by vali.
  
  The record says Kan Mai Enthum Vizhiyaada in Poojaikku Vantha Malaris by Vali. But actually by Kannadasan.
  
  Next, do we believe what those directly involved inthe cinema industry say? I dont.
  For example Mukta Seenivasan who had been involved in Tamil cinema from 1947 ( 55 years now) has written a book on history of Tamil cinema, in which he makes grievious mistakes.
  Mukta Seenivasan says Haridass ran for slightly more than one year. (Actually more than two years)
  
  Mukta seenivasan says Ulage Maayam was by CR Subbaraman. (Actually my MSV)
  
  Vali who had been invoilved from 1956 also makes mistakes in his book "Naanum Intha Nootraandum"
  
  I posted saying that Thai Piranthaal vazhi Pirakkum song was by Jikki and you rightly pointed out that Jikki has no song in the film. You are right. I was taaken for a ride by the compilation of Maruthakazi songs.
  
  MDs too make mistake after mistakes. MSV had once said that Antha Naal Nyabagam Nenjile Vanthathe Nanbane in Uyarntha Manithan was written by kanadasan. Vali has denied this and established that he was the one who wrote it.
  
  I have enough material for a long article on this.
  
  So it depends what is our source. Different sources may give different details. This is what I had feared all along. And that is the very reason why I dare not or wish not "correct" some opposing views. Sometimes the cine personalities are to be blamed.
  
  
  Coming back to sum up, Panju was with Kannadasan for along time, and had written many snongs and they came under the name of Kannadasan- a fact!. Panju wanted to be independednt but had no guts. When Kannadasan was a bit late for composing song for Sarada, Panju composed the full song and Kannadasan came on time and corrected one line- Kunamirukkum Kulamirukkum Engal Vasalil"
  
  But he wanted to be independent. Kannadasan was touring Malaysia, and the film Gowravam was delayed as the songs were not written at all. Panju asked the producers to give him the chance to write for the entire film. The producers were grat fans of Kannadasan and refused. As Kannadasan returned, he was told of the scheming by Panju. Kannadsan go so wild, and immediately he found a way of hitting Panju and a situation was already there in the film The song is "Palootti Valartha Kili" If only someone could give teh full lyrics we can enjoy reading the lines in full.
  
  Therafter, Panju had to beon his own.
  
  Likewise, please allow me to say one more piece. Pugazhendhi compose many songs and they came out under the name of KVM with the full consent and approval of Pugazhendhi. he wanted it that way. Do you remember Ponni THirunaal? What great songs we have there? WOW! All were by Pugazhendhi, but came out under the name of KVM.
  
  So, I still maintain that we are all quoting diferent details depending on where we pick up the news.
  
  I need about a few hours to do one posting andthis affects my job. I cannot go on like this. However, from my psoting you can see how mush my soul is immersed in the subject matter. Just cannot go on. It nis too deep a subject that needs much reference. KINARU VETTA BOOTHAM has emerged.
  
  Sorry, long winded, but I believe this is relevant to some extent.
  
  Could someone give the full song -Palootti Valartha Kili please?
  
  Thank you,
  
  Manisegaran.
  
  
• From: Saravanan (@ 213.42.1.167) on: Tue Jul 30 05:03:03 EDT 2002
  
  Mani Sir, thank you for your detailed and instructive reply.
  
  As you have rightly illustrated, Pugazhendi is said to have been the actual composer for so many songs credited to KVM. I still remember seeing a record of 'Guru Datchinai' in an old recording shop in Virudhunagar, which attributed the music to TK Pugazhendhi. There was no mention of KVM at all.
  
  Panju Arunachalam, if I remember right, was the lyricist of 'Pon ezhil pooththathu' from Kalangarai Vilakkam. Also some songs from Kattu Roja, Naanum Manithan thaan and Ezhai Pangaalan (Thaayaga maarava thaalattu paadavaa). Perhaps these songs too were not actually written by him?
  
  It is news to me that Kannadasan was thinking about Panju's 'treachery' when he wrote 'Paalooti valartha kili'- but when I am thinking of the lines, I feel what you said might be true.
  
  Mani Sir, I am writing the lyrics of the song from memory. E & O E!
  
  Palooti valarththa kili
  pazham koduththu paartha kili
  Naan valarththa pachchai kili
  naalai varum katcherikku,
  Chellamma endhan Chellamma--
  
  Needhikke thunindhu nindren
  ninaithathellam jayiththu vandhen
  vedhanaikku oru maganai veetinile valarththu vandhen
  Chellamma--
  
  Sattamum naan uraiththen
  dhairiyamum naan koduththen
  pattam mattum vaangi vandhu
  paaindhu sella paarkkudhadi
  Chellamma--
  
  Aandavan sodhanayo
  yaar kodutha bodhanayo
  theeyile irangi vittan
  thirumbi vandhu thaazhppanivaan
  Sathiyam ithu sathiyam
  Chellamma--
  
  
• From: Manisegaran (@ 161.142.2.11) on: Tue Jul 30 20:35:36 EDT 2002
  
  Saravanan,
  
  You are right. Thayaga Maarava and Oor Azhutha Velayile in Ezhai Pangalan is by Panju. The most wonderful song "Manathil Enna Mayakkan" by TMS and P.Suseela picturised on Gemini Ganesan and Rahini is also by Panju. Veettukku Vantha Machan by P.S. is by Vali.
  
  In Kaattu Roja of Modern Theatres, the songs of Kanadasan are:
  
  Vandondru Vanthathu by TMS and PS
  
  Chinna Chinna Kannanukku Enna VEndum by TMS and PS
  
  Chinna Chinna Kanni Enakku (Sad) by PS.
  
  Entha Oor Enravane by PBS
  
  Kathavu Thiranthathaa by PS
  
  Enadi Roja Ennadi Ninaippu by PS .
  
  TO expand:This song was written in favour of Padmini, and hitting at Saroja Devi in real life. The early 1960s was the time when Saroja Devi was at the height of her glory. Almost all her movies were great hits. She was said to be the only one who had acted with all the active male stars and made successful movies. Padmini married and went off to USA and there was a rumour that she would be settling there for good. But she returned soon, and was booked for Kaattu Roja with SSR (the only film of this pair next to Raja Desing) Kannadsan wrote this song to sound as though she was addressing Saroja Devi
  
  Enadi Roja (SarojaDevi)
  
  Ennadi Sirippu Ethanai Kandaiyo
  Andru (USA)Ponaval Inru Vanthuvittaaal
  Enru Punnagai Seithayo
  
  Im not sure of other lines, but it goes on to say that
  
  Naan Chinthira Pennmaiyadi (Deiva Kuzhandaiyadi)
  Ethanai Kaalangal Marinapothilum
  Enrum Ilamayadi
  Enakku Enrum Ilamaiyadi
  
  
  The song is written as though Padmini sings to a rose flower, but allegorically refers to Saroja Devi.
  .....
  
  There is one song by Panju and that is "Ennai Paaru" by Jamunarani.
  
  Naanum Manithan Thaan is by GK Venkadesh. The song by Panju is "Kaatru Varum Kalamithu" by PBS and S.Janaki- a wonderful song and would remain one of my favourites
  
  The other songs are:
  
  Intha Intha Nillu by TMS and LRE-lyrics by Trichy Thiagarajan
  
  Vaa Vaa Vaa En thalaiva by S.Janaki-Lyrics by Trichy Thiagarajan
  
  Naanum manithan Thanadaa by TMS-lyrics by Kannadasan.
  
  I think this is Anandan's own picture, acted by him and Sheela (one time wife of Malaysia Ravichandran)
  
  
  
  In Kalangarai Vilakkam the song Ponnezhil Poothathu, as your rightly pointed out is by Panju Arunasalam. In a radio interview he had mentioned that it was this song that gave him actual recognition as an independent song writer. Just look at the wordings, one could think of two things- the training under Kannadasan and the poetic strength of Panju himself.
  
  I wanted to fetch Rajinikanth, Sri Devi and SP Muthuraman for the shooting of Priya in 1978, and wanted to get first hand info fromPanju, but when they landed in Kuala Lumpur airport, Panju was already fully "loaded" So I had to satisfy with his radio interviews.
  
  
  Are you from Viruthunagar? Sivakasi is not very far. If you happen to go to Avani Nadar Theru in SIvakasi, there is a shop having thousands of old records-78 RPM. Im not sure of the door number. You can get more details from the records.
  
  Thank you for the lyrics on Palootti Valartha kili. Kannadasan was coming to Malaysia very often in the 1970s and in one of his visits he mentioned this to a few of us.
  
  Once again thanks for so much input.
  
  manisegaran
  
  
• From: kik (@ 207.0.105.237) on: Wed Jul 31 01:01:28 EDT 2002
  
  Dear Manisegaran: This is more of a digression: I thought the Enadi rOjaa song was to reintroduce Padmini to tamil audiences since she had been focusing on hindi films for a few years - her career there was undistinguished excepting Jis desh mein ganga behti hai with Raj Kapoor. I think after Raja Desingu (1960), her tamil movies are few and far between (non-existent) till kaattu rOjA in 66/65. Of course, she may also have got married at this time.
  
  If there's any reader from New Jersey, pl clarify with her and let us know - in fact, we should probably set up a live chat/interview. I'm sure she would add a lot of interesting details to what we know. OTOH, she was said to be moving to chennai later this year and may be that has occurred already.
  
  Kishore
  
  

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