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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: Tue Jun 18 19:53:37 EDT 2002
  
  PART 8
  
  A PERIOD OF ABEYANCE
  
  Rome was not built in one day, they say. It is highly dangerous for anyone to shoot to the zenith of fame within a fleeting moment. Through Manonmani KVM became a brilliant star overnight. But for the next 10 years KVM faced untold trials and adversaries. Following Manonmani, KVM composed at random in a few Modern Theatres movies, such as “Maaya Jothi” and “Sivalinga Saatchi.” But nothing else is known of these movies. There is a generally held view that these films did not make it to the box office.
  
  Until 1942 KVM was composing with other famous MDs. But he got a chance to independently compose for a full film. That was “Aanandan” produced by Yogi Films in 1942. This film was also called “Aanandan Allathu Akkini Puraana Magimai” Krishna Kanthan and P. Saraswathy acted in this film. Therefore on record Aanandan is the first full film in which KVM composed as an individual MD. In 1945 KVM received one more chance to compose for the film “Burma Raani.” This was the time when writer B. S. Ramayah was popular in Tamilnadu. In 1947 KVM composed music for the film “Thana Amaraavathy” for which P. S. Ramayah penned the storyline and dialogue and even directed it. In this film there is a song by V. N. Sundram, which goes “Yendisaiyum Vanangi Potrum Parasakthiye” This song became very popular. In 1948 KVM composed music for a film called “Devadasi”
  
  Unfortunately luck and chances never breezed over KVM. KVM saw that the cinema chances were neither constant nor regular. He clearly saw some form of uncertainty and instability in composing music for films. Again, the payment was not that lucrative either. Therefore he had to look for greener pastures elsewhere. He left Salem where Modern Theatres Studio was situated and came to Madras in pursuit of livelihood. There he had the contact of Violin Mahadevan. With his contact and association KVM joined the His Master’s Voice (HMV) Gramophone Company. At this time KVM was away from cinema field and concentrated in cutting vinyl discs for HMV.
  
  While with the HMV Company, one more cine personality of great reputation and fame came to see KVM for a chance. That great person was T.M. Sounderajan. Around this time TMS from the Chourashtra community was also desperately looking for a chance to go into the cine field as a singer. In fact TMS had just sung a few songs for cinema, but those songs did not take off. With a depressed spirit TMS came to see KVM for a singing chance in HMV. KVM had the habit of not turning away anyone who came in search of aid and assistance. So KVM made TMS sing two songs and got them recorded. After the recording was over, KVM gave TMS 80 rupees for pocket expenses.(That is to say 40 rupees per song. In the 1950s when the market of TMS shot sky high, he determined and demanded the rate. In fact among his contemporary singers in the 1950s it was TMS who demanded and determined the highest rate.He did this even with MGR, and MGR had to give in. In the 1980s when TMS lost all chances, Singapore fans invited him to sing in a Singapore show at a discounted rate. TMS did not reduce his rate at all. When they told him “after you are sitting idle in your house” to which TMS retorted “Gold may be lying idle in a goldsmith’s shops, but that does not mean the price has gone down. Gold is always gold and TMS is always like gold. The rate of TMS never drops.” Here we are able to see beginning days of struggle and the end days of arrogance of TMS. Talented people seem to build up some ego and arrogance. This is a well-deserved arrogance for such a talented singer.)
  
  Before dismissing TMS, KVM gave the information that AVM was seriously hunting for new singers and new voices. Then TMS went over to AVM studio for singing chances. When KVM shot into prominence, it was the same KVM and TMS combination that gave some of the very best gems for us.
  
  
  
  Meendum Santhippom...
  
  
  
• From: vengayam (@ 203.200.84.66) on: Tue Jun 18 23:22:32 EDT 2002
  
  
  Manisegaran, Re yourstatement on TMS." Here we are able to see beginning days of struggle and the end days of arrogance of TMS. Talented people seem to build up some ego and arrogance. This is a well-deserved arrogance for such a talented singer"
  Don't you agree with the statement of TMS about gold. The fact is after years of singing TMS lost his voice. so there was a nadukkam & kizhaduthattal ( with age) so he was caught out. It was a bitter pill for TMS to swallow so for a period he went about foul mouthing other singers reg their diction ability to sing in diff situations( of course TMS was an emotional person so he might have been a bit incoherent during the interviews & the press may have distorted his comments for sensation) Fact remains TMS came across as a Kaazhpu unarchiyulla person which was so disappointing for TMS' achievements are many.
  Reg MSV , MSV had the gretest respect for MAMA which is evident in any interview he gives. So there is no question that he liked only 3 songs. may be they were his favourites . ( I too never tire of the Parthen song . The music is at the same time simple yet grand. A hallmark of a genius!)
  
  
• From: Saravanan (@ 195.229.240.242) on: Wed Jun 19 00:39:01 EDT 2002
  
  Mani Sir,
  
  Excellent! The detailed way in which you are tracing the life, times and work of KVM is mesmerising. However, I beg to point out that you are borrowing rather too freely from a book called "Thirai Isai alaigal"- Not that I mind- but kindly acknowledge the source.
  
  
• From: Manisegaran (@ 161.142.78.83) on: Wed Jun 19 10:21:16 EDT 2002
  
  Dear Vengayam
  
  You are right in your own way. I wrote a one year weekly series in Tamil in Malaysia on the "Rise of AR Rahman and the Fall of Ilayaraja. There was a section where the matter you touched was explained. You do have a point.
  
  Good you like the Parthen Song. I will give the background later
  
  Dear Saravanan,
  
  I am happy you raised an important point.
  
  I did glance through "Thirai Isai Alaikal" by Vaamanan. But as I discovered several mistakes in that book, I dont accept everything therein as the Gospel truth. I interviewed KVM in December 1984, where I extracted as much as I wanted. Going through Vamanan's book I noticed that the facts by and large do tally with what I managed to get from KVM. Perhaps I have to give more details to differentiate, but then this article would run for months, and I may not have the time for that. Rajaram of TFM page has been discussing with me months ago on this article, and I had been postponing as I was not free. It is only this week that I am free, and hope to be free for more time to come.
  
  I am collecting cuttings and notes on cine songs from the year 1962 starting with "Indian Movie News" a cinema magazine produced here. I also have hundreds of cinema film song books, collected from 1963.I have had some interviews with various cine artistes in my 10 trips to Tamilnadu, each lasting one month. Each time I return with tens of books, mainly on cinema, from Higgin Bothoms on Mount Road. The Sunday editions of our Tamil newspapers do carry two full pages on cinema which I keenly observe, and cut out too where necessary. There are so many magazines here which carry cine news.I am also a reader of Tamilnadu weeklies like Kumudam and Aananda Vikatan from those days.
  
  From 1976 I had been continuously writing scripts to Radio Malaysia and the Tamil papers, and in 1984 the Malaysian Tamil Writers Assocaiation conferred upon me the best essay writer award, as I had concluded one year series on Kannadasan's contibution to Tamil Film music. Every time some important cine event takes place, the local press people would also contact me for some information. So the source is not just one book.
  
  
  Thank you so much for your sincere concern, I hope I have enlightened.
  
  Anbudan,
  
  Manisegaran
  
  
• From: s0 (@ 128.119.85.50) on: Wed Jun 19 10:31:01 EDT 2002
  
  Manisegaran, you are one of the best things to happen to newtfmpage. Carry on the great work.
  
  
• From: s0 (@ 128.119.85.50) on: Wed Jun 19 10:31:35 EDT 2002
  
  I am looking forward to reading your article on ARR & IR.
  
  
• From: ROTFL (@ 203.106.139.224) on: Wed Jun 19 11:13:18 EDT 2002
  
  Mr. Manisegaran
  
  I can feel your hurt.
  Please forgive Saravanan; he is quite new to this forum and is probably not aware of your historinics and your contributions to TFM pages.
  
  Please do not be disheartened and continue with your excellent narration. It is thorugh people like you that youngsters like us can understand the route taken by TFM throughout the years.
  
  Your narration is like a thriller and we can't have enough of it. :)
  
  
• From: OISG (@ 213.150.188.200) on: Wed Jun 19 12:32:37 EDT 2002
  
  On TMS there cannot be two opinions about his voice,Contribution to TFM,his modulations and finally his VAI.His Mouth been a playfield for both Saraswathi(when he sings) and Sani(when he talks).
  
  You cannot tolerate a singer saying "Ethu Eppadi irukku" in Thyagaraja Aradhani.(Vikatan Jan 1979 )
  
  But i was moved in an interview :
  
  Inter:Eppallam neenga cinemala athigam paduvathillaye?Bakthi padal Katcherigal neriya seigireergale..
  
  TMS : Manushangalukka nerya padiyachu ..eppo Deivathukkaga padaren.(This statment came Without his usual aganthai)
  
  Man! He had few more years of singing left when the then popoular MD shunned him.
  
  Sorry ManiS for the digression.When it comes to TMS i have a love-hate relationship.
  
  
• From: cp (@ 24.93.35.201) on: Wed Jun 19 14:55:00 EDT 2002
  
  Mr. Manisegaran - ROTFL said what I wished to say. Thanks you Mr. Manisegaranc
  
  
• From: O(pi)nion (@ 209.130.217.102) on: Wed Jun 19 15:02:46 EDT 2002
  
  admin , there are some wonderful text here on tfm, can you please consolidate them and preserve them in a common place, like create a tfm page library! for reference. There are many threads similar to this, they also be grouped in the library.
  
  
  
  
• From: kiru (@ 192.138.150.249) on: Wed Jun 19 19:27:09 EDT 2002
  
  Thanks MS for your reply.
  Mani Saar, your writing style is very interesting. Maybe, you could give us an intro about yourself.
  
  
• From: sk (@ 202.156.2.6) on: Wed Jun 19 19:43:00 EDT 2002
  
  Manisegaran:
  
  Please do not let Saravanan's statement (an unwanted one)
  dampen your spirits. There are many of us who are
  following your writings on KVM even without actually
  participating in the discussions. I hope you will
  continue to thrill us with details on KVM and his
  contributions for as many weeks as you can. Thanks
  for all the effort. It is very worthwhile.
  
  

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