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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: raj (@ 198.151.230.253) on: Thu Jun 20 04:55:51 EDT 2002
  
  Keep Goin Mani Sir.
  
  And though AMR gained Fame Overnight From kalyana Parisu He maintained that Fame with His continuous Hits From Then nilavu,Vidi velli,Aadiperukku etc..
  
  
  
• From: Sriram Lakshman (@ 195.188.191.69) on: Thu Jun 20 05:37:08 EDT 2002
  
  Mani, appadiyE enakkum mail anuppunga please....with all that info....
  
  OISG, you too...
  
  
• From: manisegaran (@ 161.142.2.11) on: Thu Jun 20 06:02:12 EDT 2002
  
  
  Raj
  
  Thanks for the comments. My favourite singer is AM Raja. His songs were my first collection, and I have, say 98 percent of his songs.
  
  Following Kalyana Parisu he had to be on his own with Anbukkor Anni, Then Nilavu, Vidi Veli,and Aadiperukku. Even then he was an irritation. AM Raja delayed composing BGM for Then Nilavu of Sridar. He delayed too long.Finally MGR heaard and had to intervene and pursuade AMR to complete the BGM. Sridar who gave him a chance in Kalyana Parisu released himself from AM Raja for good. AM Raja expected Nenjil Ore Aalayam (1962) of Sridar involvement to got to AMR, but Sridar gave it to MSV/TKR. That was the undercurrent.
  
  So even when he was on his own, he could not conduct himself.
  
  Then he did have a few chances. Veda gave him chance in Pasamum Nesamum in 1964.(Theriyuma Punnaga+ Paarthen Parthaai) This was the declining years for AM Raja.
  
  After a long time he sang in Rangaraattinam (Muthaaramey UN oodal Ennavo)in 1971
  
  In 1972 Shankar Ganesh gave a chance in Puguntha Veedu( Senthaamaraiye with Jikki)
  
  Then he tried again as MD in 1973 in Veetu Mappillai (with the famous Rasi Nalla Rasi etc)
  
  The came Payanam in 1976. I cannot even think of the name of the song- Yen Devane?
  
  
  I still maintain that AMRaja has real romantic voice, matchless in my humble opinion. But that is laurels of by gone days.
  
  
  
  
• From: ROTFL (@ 210.186.51.197) on: Thu Jun 20 06:33:32 EDT 2002
  
  En devane unnidam ondru kettppen
  En deviyin ponmugam endru kaanben
  Nee allavo thanthathu intha vaazhkkai
  
  What a voice, what a song!
  
  
• From: Raghu (@ 212.2.14.241) on: Thu Jun 20 06:43:49 EDT 2002
  
  Hello all;
  
  Small Digression, Y isn't shankaraparanam or Thiruvarudchelvar mentioned in this forum, or have they been mentioned,? KVM was the best Carnatic MD of the past, he had many many hits during 60's & 70's would appreciate if some body could list all his songs.
  
  Hello Manisegaran
  
  about AMR, He was THE most melodius singer during 60's & 70's Not, TMS, AMR voice is some what soft & feminish, bit like Unni Krishnan's voice now, but PBS was very melodius as well
  
  
• From: OISG (@ 213.150.188.254) on: Thu Jun 20 06:47:06 EDT 2002
  
  Payanam - ???
  
  I dont think so.It was a P MAdhavan movie and MSV was the MD.It had the following songs
  
  1. Payanam by MSV
  2. Aaramba kalam - KJY VJ
  3. Naatukku Kaval -SPB
  4. Thendralukku endrum vayathu - SPB
  
  ManiS i have been asking the question about AMR not getting used by other MDs starting 1960s.Your post answers my "Manathai Arikkum Kelvi".
  
  AMR lacked the macho voice IMHO.Since PBS started singing for Gemini ( MSV diplomatically avoided details of AMR fight in an interview by saying the "Kuzhaivu" he expected for Kalangalil aval vasantham was more with PBS voice)AMR had to take a back seat.But i believe S Rajeswara Rao,T Chalapathy Rao continued with AMR for some more time.
  
  Looking forward to your mail on TMS.But i am here in a place where neither Yahoo or Hotmail opens.I should be back where i belong by 2nd July.
  
  
• From: raj (@ 198.151.230.253) on: Thu Jun 20 07:18:45 EDT 2002
  
  I dont Feel that AMR Lacked It was the best Romantic voice still
  Nilavum malarum paaduthu, then unnum Vandu, Kangalin varthaigal are Examples Of his Voice
  
  May be PBS was a Replacement for AMr but not complete Replacement..
  
  I do like PBS
  but AMR is above PBS
  
  
• From: ROTFL (@ 210.186.51.108) on: Thu Jun 20 08:01:21 EDT 2002
  
  Mr. Mani
  
  Please send me the information on TMS as well.
  Thanking you in advance.
  
  
• From: OISG (@ 213.150.188.254) on: Thu Jun 20 08:40:35 EDT 2002
  
  ManiS
  
  May be i am jumping the gun.But please cover the split of KVM with APN.I always wondered why APN moved to Kunnakudi even for his social movies like
  
  Vaa Raaja Vaa
  Gumastavin Magal
  Thirumalaith Thenkumari ( a socio-bahkthi movie)
  Navarathnam
  Mel Naatu Marumagal
  Manidhanum Deivamagalam etc..
  
  Save for Mel Natu Marumagal other movies were not having music as a strong point ,Nothing to do with Kunnakudi s talents though.
  
  Also Devar s moving to SG needs a writeup.KVM had his moments under these two movie makers.
  
  Also on KVM s KAdhal Kiligal which had the great duets like
  Sevaname then kondova & Nadhikarai oorathu
  But honestly this movie the overseas ambience in music was missing.
  
  
• From: G.Ragavan (@ 202.144.44.226) on: Thu Jun 20 09:14:10 EDT 2002
  
  OISG, I slightly disagree with u about the songs in APN-KK movies.
  "Kallelam Chilai Chenjchan Palavaraja" is a hit song in Vaa Raaja Vaa.
  "Ezuthi Ezuthip Paadi Vandthean: Ezuthuk Kooti Pazahi Vandthean" is a hit in Kumasthavin Mahal. It has one more hit song and I dont remember it.
  Thirumalai Thenkumarai has only hit songs. (Eg. Thirupathi Malai Vazzum, Mathurai Arasalum).
  Navarathnam. No need to mention whether "Kuruvikaara Machane" is a hit song.
  "Kaavaluku Velundu: Aadalukup Porulundu" from Manithanum Deivamahalam is also a super hit sung by SG.
  Also include Raja Raja Chozan in the list. I think "Karaikkaal Ammaiyar" is the last movie with APN-KVM combination. But it is a deadly combination. I really didn't find any reason for the separation.
  
  
• From: OISG (@ 213.150.188.254) on: Thu Jun 20 09:40:28 EDT 2002
  
  GR
  You had mentioned songs which were never a rage like Deivam or Muthamizhil padavanthen (MNM)by Kunnakudi.
  
  Other song in Gumasthavin magal was Kalam seyyum vilayattu by Malaysia Vasudevan(debut)
  
  Rajaraja cholan was by Umapathy and not APN,i think.
  
  
• From: Sriram Lakshman (@ 195.188.191.69) on: Thu Jun 20 10:40:19 EDT 2002
  
  Kunnakkudi, IMVHO should have stuck to Bhakthi Sangeeth and should not have ventured into film music at all. His music in 'vAzhayadi vAzhai', 'navaraththinam', 'kaNkAtchi' etc....oh my God !!! Anyway, APN's movies actually deserved only that standard of music, but KVM depended solely on his initiative and creativity and came up with aces that have all of us discussing them after a good 40 years.
  
  
• From: OISG (@ 213.150.188.254) on: Thu Jun 20 11:54:02 EDT 2002
  
  SL
  
  But Deivam was an exception.It was another one of those movies in which all the songs were hit and the attempt with the original Tamil Bhakthi singers was unprecedented and a great effort.
  
  I share your opinion on Vazhaydi list.
  
  ManiS
  
  KVM s work on Hindi remakes like Vani Rani,Nalla neram,Uthaman etc .can be another topic in your write up.
  
  
  
• From: Manisegaran (@ 161.142.2.11) on: Thu Jun 20 21:30:48 EDT 2002
  
  PART 11
  
  KVM AS SINGER CUM MD
  
  Following the film Kumari in 1952, KVM got another a few more chances to compose in films. Rohini, Naalvar and Mathana Mohini are those films that came looking for KVM in the year 1953. There is nothing much to mention about Rohini. Mathana Mohini and Naalvar deserve some mention. Mathana Mohini was a commercial flop, but a success for KVM and lovers of music. KVM had sung four good songs in this movie. It was neverpre- decided that he would sing. But when the booked playback singer failed to turn up, KVM had no choice but to sing out the four songs. There is one most famous song that KVM sang with P. Leela, and the song is “Kannodu Kanninaai Ragasiyam Pesi” Oh what a nice song! It was well composed. This song was very much welcomed by the song fans all over Tamilnadu. Even today one could enjoy the sweetness in this song. There is one more song that KVM sang and it goes “Unmaikke Ulagil” written by M. Pabanasan Sivan. A.P Komala sings a song called “Aanum Pennum” Again there is one more song that KVM sang for Narasimma Bharathi called “Vaazhiya Senthamizh Thaaye” P. Leela sings a song called “Vaana Methi Meley” P. Leela, the well-seasoned singer of semi classical songs, in an interview has mentioned about this great song and appreciated the mature voice of KVM. P.Leela herself had felt that KVM could have been the main singer in songs composed by him, given the golden voice. But he was magnanimous enough to groom the others and contented with composing alone. It is also a fact that KVM’s voice was far better than some of those singing in his days.
  
  Around this same time, a famous Hindi movie called Deedar was released with very good songs, composed by Naushad (whom I met in December 2001 in Mumbai, along with MD Ravi and Aanandji). There is a song called “Mere Kahani” KVM sang the Tamil version of this song that goes “Kaathal Enraale” (There is also a duetby AM Raja and MS Rajeswary in this tune. That was the only song where MSR and AMR sang). KVM sings a duet with A.P. Komala that goes “Malar Vizhigalai” This is another wonderful song. So KVM has also sung dubbing songs.
  
  
  It is quite surprising why KVM sang very few songs, with such a golden voice. In a TV program called “Thirayum Isayum” conducted by MSV a few years ago, KVM sang the first few lines of the song “Mannavan Vanthaanadi Thozhi” Even at that advanced age his voice was just par excellence.
  
  
• From: Manisegaran (@ 161.142.2.11) on: Thu Jun 20 22:15:52 EDT 2002
  
  
  PART 12
  BEGINNING OF MANY GOOD BEGINNINGS
  
  Now, a word of the film Naalvar released in 1953. This film was indeed a turning point for KVM and AP Nagarajan. This was the first film for AP Nagarajan. From this film right up to Thirumaal Perumai” released in 1968 APN and KVM enjoyed excellent working relationship. The films produced by their combination gave some of the best songs for the Tamil cine world. Some of the best Puarana movies were also the product of this combination. Going to theatres to see the puraana films of APN and KVM combination was like going to temple, as divine fragrance could be felt in theatres, among other things for reasons of saoul stirring songs and music.(Will discuss at the appropriate section comes)
  
  AP Nagarajan was a product of the Tamil Stage Dramas. He used the Tamil Drama stage as a spring board to land himself in the cine field. In those days, the Tamil dramas were facing a steady decline owing to the speedy growth of the cine line. Cinema was the prime and number on enemy of Tamil Dramas. No prospect was to be found in Tamil stage dramas. Drama by itself was seeing a dead end. Cinema gave so much glamour that dramas could not provide at all. Cinema became the crowd puller for both the elite and the ordinary man on the road. So those who were far -sighted switched on to cinema at the slightest opportunity made available, while some appeared in cinema and maintained the stage. One of those who were such a far-sighted stage drama actor was AP Nagarajan. He was a stage actor, scriptwriter and producer of stage dramas. Therefore he had acquired sufficient training to take off well in the cine field.
  
  Naalvar was a drama that APN himself wrote and acted. It was so popular that APN was affectionately called “Naalvar Nagarajan”
  
  Nagarajan befriended M.A.Venu, the Production Manager in Modern Theatres. Venu was of the strong opinion that successful dramas could be made into lucrative movies. The 1940s and 1950s were also a period when dramas that were successful were turned into great movies. Venu saw the success of the drama Naalvar. APN gave the green light and it was made into a movie with APN as the main actor and Kumari Thangam as the heroine. This film became such a big sensational hit in those days, so much so that APN said goodbye to stage dramas and switched camp to the cinema field. The composition of music went to KVM. KVM, K. Rani, Rathnamala and Trichy Loganathan sang in this film. There was a song by Trichy Loganathan and MLV called “Vaanameethiley”. MLV sang “Inbam Kolluthey” and another thanippadal by Ayaloor Krishnan called “Mayile”. MLV also sang a solo called “Irul Soozhntha Vaazhvil Oli Veesum Nilavey”- an excellent song. KVM and K. Rani sang “Abaraatham Roobaai Aimbathu”. KVM also sang a comedy song that goes “Lovekku Love” The songs were not too bad and the film was a big hit. This film was said to be the beginning of many good beginnings for KVM. So another milestone in the joureny of KVM.
  
  
• From: MS (@ 129.252.25.241) on: Fri Jun 21 00:18:19 EDT 2002
  
  Mani:
  
  Please see to it that whatever information u want to share with us, pleasant or unpleasant, is put in a complete form here in the DF itself. This way it would:
  
  (1) lower the amount of time you may spend in mailing specific info to people.
  (2) ensure that maximum info is catered to max audience.
  
  If I may ask, please feel free to use excerpts of communications between you and other DFers / MDs.
  
  Thx
  
  

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