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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: Manisegaran (@ 161.142.2.11) on: Fri Jul 26 19:47:57 EDT 2002
  
  a.a.
  
  Thanks for the querry. Perhaps I did not explain clearly. Yes, Gemini Ganesan acted as the limping brother of MGR in Mugarasi, but that was not the hero's role. As a hero Gemini Ganesan appeared only in Vazhavaitha Deivam. As a matter of fact, Mugarasi was produced in just 13 days and was a 100 days movie-surprisingly!
  
  Thank you.
  
  Manisegaran
  
  
• From: kik (@ 207.0.105.173) on: Fri Jul 26 21:50:36 EDT 2002
  
  I want to correct an earlier post of mine in this thread during one of Manisegaran's breaks - GurudhatchaNai (Sivaji, Padmini,JJ) directed by A.P. Nagarajan was made for the Sri Gajalakshmi Films banner - judging by the banner logo this is a variant of Sri Vijayalakshmi Films. Only the music supervision is by KVM - the music itself is credited to Pugazhenthi. Since nalanthaanaa can be heard in one of the scenes on a radio (Padmini plays it on the radio while Sivaji and Manorama listen - ironic?), the film must have been released in '67-68 or thereabouts?
  
  The songs are ok - onRe onRu ulagam onRu (PS w/ chorus for Padmini who is a teacher and her students), oraam girahamadi kanni (TMS & PS for Sivaji and JJ - I counted up to onpathaam girahamadi kanni and then gave up), paaru paaru nallaa paaru (Seerkazhi) are the most memorable. The film itself is a colossal waste of the talent gathered therein (including Balaiah, G Sakunthala, Thangavelu, A. Karunanidhi?, Nambiar, SV Sahasranamam, Ramaprabha).
  
  
• From: Manisegaran (@ 161.142.2.11) on: Fri Jul 26 22:12:49 EDT 2002
  
  kik
  
  Thanks again for your correction. Sorry I did not notice. It only shows your magnanimity in correcting your own mistake. You have been also kind enough to correct me. In fact this is a team effort in assisting TFM team.
  
  I did see GURUDACHANAI on the TV and switched off! Your assessment of the movie is correct- colossal waste! Enna Porutham namakkul Intha Porutham?
  
  I am trying to get the full version of Aaha Nam Aasai Niraiveruma in Thaaikku Pin Thaaram. After you posted it I kept on humming, it really is a killer song. I have to listen to the Cassette and come back.
  
  Two emails have come to me to write all the lines of all the songs. Humanly impossible-for me. Right now I am already making some mistakes- a clear sign rusting brain. Perhaps readers can do that if they have the full lines.
  
  Thanks,
  
  Manisegaran
  
  
  
  
  
• From: Manisegaran (@ 161.142.2.11) on: Fri Jul 26 23:41:22 EDT 2002
  
  PART 33
  
  THAAI SOLLAI THATTATHE (1961)
  
  Some useful info
  Following Nadodi Mannan in particular, film titles, songs, tunes, dialogues and and were carefully scrutinised and approved by MGR. He was already a charismatic personality with temendous influence in the cine field.
  
  THAAI SOLLAI THATTATHEY is a turning point among Devar Films. Devar who made his debut by appearing in a small role in Kaithi (1951) never dreamt that he would make it as a highly successful producer. It is from this film onwards that Kannadasan was brought in quite permanently and some of his masterpieces came to be contributed. While THIRUDATHEY brought MGR back as a normal person following his leg fracture, it was THAAI SOLLAI THATTATHEY that proved that MGR could also play well in movies with modern and social themes. He comes as CID Raju here.
  
  Effective 1960 a new trend developed in the Tamil cine world. Prior to this year films were branded as success or failures. There was no clear detail of the number of days a particular film ran. We have details about HARIDASS of MKT, which had run for 768 days (from 16 October 1944 to 22 November 1946), and a few other movies. But we do not get details of how many days each film ran. But it was from around 1960 that the success of any movie was judged by the number of days a movie ran, either 100 days or 25 weeks. This was created to boost the ego and prestige of MGR and Sivaji Ganesan. But the spill over affected other stars and soon came to be regarded as a permanent yardstick to gauge the success of movies.
  
  Effective THAAI SOLLAI THATTATHEY, MGR trapped Devar. After THAAIKKU PIN THAARAM, Devar went for other stars. MGR did not want Devar to do the same after THAAI SOLLAI THATTATHEY. So he made sure that he took deposit for the forthcoming movie as well. That is to say while receiving deposit for one movie, he would take a deposit for the next Devar Film movie as well. This is one of MGR’s cunning and shrewd ways for survival. Of course MGR also did relax slightly when Devar used other actors with Thivagar as MD.
  
  Now we come to the songs. All songs are wonderful in this movie.
  
  A very popular and popularised solo by TMS:
  
  POYUM POYUM MANITHANUKKINTHA
  BUTHIYAI KODUTHAANEY-ATHIL
  POIYUM PURALUM THIRUTTUM KALANTHU
  BOOMIYAI KEDUTHAANEY-MANITHAN
  BOOMIYAI KEDUTHAANEY
  
  A solo describing nature:
  
  KAATTUKKULLE THIRUVIZHA
  KANNI PONNU MANAVIZHA
  SIRIKKUM MALARKAL THOOVI
  SINGAARIKKUM PONVIZHAA HOI OHOI
  
  
  A duet by TMS and P Suseela:
  
  TMS: SIRITHU SIRITHU ENNAI SIRAIYILITTAAI
  KANNAM SIVAKKA SIVAKKA VANTHU
  KATHAI PADITHAAI
  PS: NINAINTHU NINAITHU NENJIL
  ADAITHUVITTAAI
  PAKKAM NERUNGI NERUNGI
  INBACHUVAI KODUTHAAI
  
  
  Kannadasan has written a song based on Aandaal’s Thiruppavai and sung by P. Suseela. This was to boost the personality of MGR.
  
  ORUTHI MAGANAAI PIRANTHAVANAAM
  URUVIL AZHAGAAI VALARNTHAVANAAM
  ORUTHI MANATHIL NIRAINTHAVANAAM
  UYIRIL UYIRAAI KALANTHAVANAAM
  
  There is one more solo by P. Suseela that would remain an asset for the fame of P. Suseela, Kannadasan, Saroja Devi and KVM. The wording is really wonderful, and Kannadasan used to sing the song out whenever he quoted this. I remember Kannadasan singing this out in his trip to Malaysia at a community hall in a northern town called Butterworth. KVM has composed a tune that just cannot be explained. The music is simply heart lifting and chest soothing. P. Suseela has sung with so much feeling. Saroja Devi has just expressed with high-level emotion. Those lovers of Tamil literature would be able to appreciate the poetic lines here.
  
  POO URANGUTHU POZHUTHUM URANGUTHU
  NEE URANGAVILLAI NILAVE
  KAAN URANGUTHU KAATRUM URANGUTHU
  NAAN URANGAVILLAI- NAAN URANGAVILLAI
  
  MAAN URANGUTHU MAYILUM URANGUTHU
  MANAM URANGAVILLAI
  EN VAZHI URANGUTHU MOZHIYUM URANGUTHU
  VIZHI URANGAVILLAI
  (POO)
  
  THENDRALILE ENATHU UYIR THEINTHATHU PAATHI
  ATHU THINDRATHELLAAM POGA INGU
  IRUPPATHU MEETHI
  THINGAL NEEYUM PEN KULAMUM
  ORU VAGAI JAATHI
  THERINTHIRUNTHUM KOLLA VANTHAAI ENNADI NEETHI
  (POO)
  
  (Why had Kannadasan got to go so early? Many cine poets have today developed too much cholesterol in his absence. Thats alright, but where's the quality?)
  
  TMS and P. Suseela sing this duet:
  
  PAATTU ORU PAATTU
  PAATTU ORE ORU PAATTU
  
  Then comes another good duet of TMS and P. Suseela where MGR is again boosted:
  
  TMS:PATTU CHELAI KAATHAADA
  PARUVA MENI KOOTHAADA
  KATTUK KOONTHAL MUDITHAVALE-ENNAI
  KAATHAL VALAYIL ADAITHAVALE
  
  
  PS:ARUMBU MEESAI THULLI VARA
  AZHAGU PUNNAGAI ALLI VARA
  KURUMBU PARVAI PAARTHAVARE- ENNAI
  KOONDUK KILIYAAI ADAITHAVARE
  
  TMS: KAIYIL EDUTHAAL THUVANDUVIDUM
  KANNAM IRANDUM SIVANTHUVIDUM
  CHINNA IDAYE CHITHIRAME
  SIRIKKUM KATHAL NITHILAME
  
  PS: NIMIRNTHU NADAKKUM NADAI AZHAGU
  NERUNGI PAZHAGUM KALAI AZHAGU
  AMAITHI NIRAIYUM MUGATHAZHAGU
  YAAVUM UNGAL THANI AZHAGU
  
  TMS: URANGINAALUM VIZHITHAALUM
  OORGAL THORUM ALAINTHAALUM
  MAYANGA VAITHATHU ORU MUGAMEY
  MANGAI UNTHAN THIRUMUGAME
  
  PS:KAASU PANAGNHAL KETKAVILLAI
  JAATHI MATHANGAL PAARKKAVILLAI
  THAAVI VANTHATHU EN MANAMEY-INI
  THAAZVUM VAAZHVUM UN VASAMEY
  
  
  
  This film THAI SOLLAI THATTATHEY became a 100 days hit movie. The film ran on the strength of songs more than anything else. MR Ratha was made quite a permanent father of heroines in Devar movies, and he demanded high rate, as he played the role of heroine’s father, comedian as well as villain-three in one.
  
  Following this film there were other movies all in a row- and all with great hits by the talented KVM maama.
  
  
• From: Manisegaran (@ 161.142.78.83) on: Sun Jul 28 10:17:52 EDT 2002
  
  
  kik
  
  Managed to recollect the song we spoke of. Believe the lines are ok this time:
  
  
  PB: AAHAA NAM AASAI NIRAIVERUMAA
  KADAL ALAIYAI POLA MARAINTHU POGA NERUMA
  
  TMS: ANBE SANTHEGAM KOLLA LAAGUMAA
  KODI ASAINTHAADA PANTHAL INRI POGUMAA?
  
  PB: EEDILLA IRU PARAVAI JODIYAAI VAAZHAVE
  ENNIDUM MOTHIL PAGAI VALLOORAAGA THONRUME
  EEDILLA IRU PARAVAI JODIYAAI VAAZHAVE
  ENNIDUM MOTHIL PAGAI VALLOORAAGA THONRUME
  
  TMS: VALLOORAANATHAI VANATHIL VAAZHUM VEDANAAGI NAAN
  VELLUVENE UN IRU KAN AMBINAAL
  NAAN VELLUVENE UN IRU KAN ANBINAAL
  
  
  PB: ARUMAI MOZHI KAATHIL AMUTHAAGA PAAIVATHAAAL
  AGAME MAGIZHVEN ATHAANE
  
  TMS: UN AZHAGE NEERODAI ATHIL NEENTHUM MEENAI POL AANANTHAMANEN EN KANNE
  
  PB:UMATHU ANANTHAME AZHIYAA CHELVAME
  UMATHU ANANTHAME AZHIYAA CHELVAME
  
  TMS:AARUYIRE NAAN UNAKKE SONTHAME
  EN AARUYIRE NAAN UNAKKE SONTHAME
  
  BOTH: EERUDAL ORUYIRAAI VAAZHUVOM –SUGAM
  MAAARATHA INBA ULAKAI AALUVOM
  
  
• From: ravi (@ 210.187.1.182) on: Sun Jul 28 12:15:19 EDT 2002
  
  correction:
  the last movie with apn-kvm-sivaji combination was vilayattu pillai (others:padmini,kanjana, sivakumar)
  
  
• From: Manisegaran (@ 161.142.2.11) on: Sun Jul 28 21:09:44 EDT 2002
  
  Ravi,
  
  Vilayaattu Pilla is not by APN. It is a Gemini production. It was not usual for Gemini to use KVM, but this is a rare one.
  
  Manisegaran
  
  
• From: Manisegaran (@ 161.142.2.11) on: Sun Jul 28 21:23:52 EDT 2002
  
  PART 34
  
  THAYAI KAATHA THANAYAN (1962) 100 days
  
  This is yet another good movie in which KVM has revealed his great talent. This is a village-based story with almost the same characters of THAAI SOLLAI THATTATHEY. There is no strong storyline in this film. MGR comes as a hunter, Saroja Devi as village herbalist and MR Ratha as a tea stall owner. The whole film is taken within a studio and some jungle areas. It was another low budget movie of Devar, but turned our to be a great hit. The songs just turned out to be more than wonderful. Kannadasan was once again at his best.
  
  The trend of nature description in Devar films continues in this movie. P. Suseela sings a solo describing the nature:
  
  Kaattu Raani Kottayile
  Kathavukalillai-Ingu
  Kaaval Kaakka Kadavulai Indri
  Oruvaraumillai
  
  
  TMS comes with this most wonderful solo, with wonderful camerawork. Shades of darkness and light simply add life to the screen. Kannadasan is simply great in describing Saroja Devi, and KVM renders one of his best scores here:
  
  Katti Thangam Vetti Eduthu
  Kaathal Ennum Saaru Pizhinthu
  Thatti Thatti Chitpikal Seitha
  Uruvamada-Aval
  Thalathalavendru
  Thathumbi Nitkum Paruvamadaa
  
  Thottuththottu Ninrana Kaigal
  Chuttuchuttu Konrana Kangal-Naan
  Kitta Kitta Vanthathai Kandu
  Eetti Ettichendrathu Vandu
  Kitta Kitta Vanthathai Kandu
  Eetti Ettichendrathu Vandu
  
  
  Thangaratham Pol Varugiraal
  Allithandukal Pole Valaikiraal
  Kungumappoo Pol Chirikkiraal-Inba
  Kottaikku Ennai Azhaikkiraal
  Kungumappoo Pol Chirikkiraal-Inba
  Kottaikku Ennai Azhaikkiraal
  
  Kalayil Malarum Thamaraipoo
  Anthikkarukkalil Malarum Mallikaippoo
  Iravil Malarum Allippoo-aval
  Endrum Manakkum Mullaippoo
  Iravil Malarum Allippoo-aval
  Endrum Manakkum Mullaippoo
  (katti)
  
  There is a comedy solo by P. Suseela picturised on G Sakunthala and MRR Vasu:
  
  Chandik kuthirai nondi kuthirai-Nalla
  Savaari Kuthirai-Moonu Manushan
  Sangathiyellaam Ingey Irukku
  Sariyaa Therinjukka Venum Venum
  
  
  TMS gives a sad solo whih is an average song:
  
  Nadakkum Enbaar Nadakkathu
  Nadakkathenbaar Nadanthuvidum
  Kidaikum Enbaar Kidaikkathu
  Kidaikkathenbaar Kidaithuvidum
  
  
  TMS and P. Suseela give this enchanting duet:
  
  TMS: Moodi Thirantha Imayirendum vaa vaa Enrana
  Munthaanai Kaartril Aadi Vaa Vaa Endrathu
  PS: Aadikidantha Kaalirendum Nil Nil Enrana
  Aasai Mattum Vaai Thiranthu Sol Sol Enrathu
  
  TMS: Annakodi Nadai Munnum Pinnum Aiyo! Aiyo! Enrathu
  Vannakodi Idai Kannil Vizhunthu
  Meiyo Poiyo Endrathu
  
  PS: Kannipparuvam Unnaikkandu Kaathal Kaathal Endrathu
  Kaathal Endrathum Veror Ithayam Naanam Naanam Enrathu
  (Moodi)
  
  TMS:Kaattu Kuyilai Kootil Adaithu Paattu Paada Chonnathu
  
  PS:Athu Koottu Kuyilai Naattu Kuyilaai
  Kootti Poga Chonnathu
  
  TMS:Vettai Ullam Valai Virithu Vengai Varum Ena NInrathu
  
  PS:Vengaikkaka Viritha Valaiyil
  Velli Kalaimaan Vizhunthathu
  (Moodi)
  
  There is another nice duet presented by TMS and P Suseela:
  
  PS: Kaveri Karayirukku
  Karai Mele Poovirukku
  Poo Pole Pennirukku
  Purinthukondaal Uraviruku
  
  TMS:Panjavarnakkili Irukku
  Pazhuthu Vantha Pazhamirukku
  Nenjinile Ninaivirukku
  Nerungi Vanthaal Sugamirukku
  
  PS: Ennamo POlirukku
  Eppadiyo Manamirukku
  
  TMS: Aaha
  
  PS: Vellam Pol Ninaivirukku
  Vetkam Mattum Thaduthirukku
  
  TMS: Aasaikku Vetkamillai
  Arinthavarmun Achamillai
  Kaathaklukku Thookkamillai
  Kan Kalanthaal Vaarthayillai…
  Kaathaklukku Thookkamillai
  Kan Kalanthaal Vaarthayillai
  (Kaveri)
  
  PS: Melangal Muzhangivarum
  Medai Ennai Azhaikka Varum
  Maalai Manam Soodavarum
  Mangala Naalum Thedivarum
  
  TMS:Kathalan Enra Vaarthai
  Kanavan Enru Maarivarum
  Mangai Endru Sonnavarum
  Manaivie Enru Solla Varum
  Mangai Endru Sonnavarum
  Manaivie Enru Solla Varum
  
  (Kaveri)
  
  A solo by P. Suseela
  
  Perai chollalaama
  Kanavan perai chollalaama
  Oorai chonnalum uravai chonnalum
  Utravar idathil ethanai chonnaalum
  
  When one thinks of THAAYAAI KAATHA THANAYAN the songs retain supremacy in our minds more than anything else. They are all simple and yet soul lifting songs. The old timers would remember how these songs had topped in the request programs-Neyar Viruppam. Such had been the effect that KVM had created among the moviegoers.
  
  
• From: kik (@ 207.0.105.138) on: Mon Jul 29 01:02:46 EDT 2002
  
  Manisegaran:
  
  aahaa nam aasai -
  ENNIDUM MOTHIL PAGAI VALLOORAAGA THONRUME
  ----
  ENNIDUM pOthil PAGAI VALLOORAAGA THONRUME
  
  I have pallaaNdu vaazhga playing on tape and realize that KVM has switched to Vani Jairam almost completely (maasi maasa kadaisiyilE, sorgaththin thirappu vizha, chinna paappaa, puthiyathOr ulagam seivOm) - I wonder if this was driven by MGR vs. KVM's own preference since she was also singing nearly all the female songs in his films by 75/6 (meenava nanban, maduraiyai meetta sundarapaandian). When you eventually get to KVM-MGR films (the non-devar ones), it will be interesting to see changes in the choice of singers.
  
  

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