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KAVIYARASU KANNADASAN

Topic started by On behalf of Sankar (@ 210.186.51.129) on Mon Dec 30 07:11:34 EST 2002.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

Kaaviyathayin Illaya magan
Kadhal Pengalin Perun thalaivan
Paamara jaadiyil thani manidan – naan
Padaippadhanal yen per Iraivan

Naan Manida jaadiyai aati vaipen – avar
Maandu vital adhai paadi vaipen
NAAN NIRANDARAM AANAVAN AZHIVADILAI
ENDA NILAYILUM ENAKKU MARANAM ILLAI

These are the great lines of Kaviyarasu Kannadasan in the movie Ratha Thilakam where he acts in the movie singing these lines. ( Song.. Oru Koopayilae yen kudiyiruppu)

What a visionary he was ? Indeed, he is NIRANDARAMAANAVAN.

I share some of my observations about Kavingyar. I want all the fans of HIM to join this discussion and add more quality material in praise of his great works.
This is the only way we pay tributes to this GENIUS.
WILL WE EVER GET BACK A KAVINGYAR LIKE KANNADASAN ??

Read the complete opening post here.

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Responses:

• Old responses
  
• From: R.Mahendra Raj (@ 210.186.0.253) on: Mon Apr 21 22:59:38 EDT 2003
  
  Btw, in on of his political memoirs kaviarasar had predicted that one day I.K. Gujeral will rule India through the Prime Minister's position. That became true after nearly two decades!
  
  
• From: Nagesh (@ 210.210.93.19) on: Tue Apr 22 00:20:27 EDT 2003
  
  I think PBS and VJ sang duets in Kannanda ... One think I recollect is "Endendo xxxx" (The Telugu equivalant is "Ennenno Janmala Bandham Needi Naadi..." (Sung by SPB and VJ).
  
  
• From: R. Mahendra Raj (@ 210.186.0.253) on: Tue Apr 22 03:48:21 EDT 2003
  
  Kaviarasar used to relish his meals with great gutso. According to his close relatives ,his second wife used to shield him with the tail-end of her saree while he devours his meals. The reason? She did not want onlookers to cast an evil eye on tthis messy eater! (Could it be the reason why certain eating spots are called mess?!). It seems after each meal the whole dining table would look messy just like a replica of a small child's eating habits!
  
  Whenever he came to Malaysia he used to be adventerous in his cuisines. Chinese dishes like snake soup, steamed frogs, iguana, wild fowls etc. were his favourite. His associates told me that he had no qualms about eating and drinking in open-hooded restaurants or the humble stalls. For his status a minimum 4-star hotel should be the right place but to hell with protocol, that is what he used to say when asked to comment.
  
  In Malaysia he had been staying even in a workers' hostel and also deluxe VIP guest houses. He had travelled in the most luxurious cars and also in the humble and ordinary ones. He had been guests of VIPs as well as the ordinary middle-class folks.
  
  He had experienced all and sundry which is why he is able to identify with the mortals like us through his songs which are full of life even todate. In short he can relate to you or me in our daily experiences. This is the main reason he is standing out amongst his peers and has blended well within our hearts and souls - the ordinary folks.
  
  The more you do investigative peek into his social and professional life the more you can unearth unpublicised and interesting incidents. This is what I have concluded about this genius, minus his politically involved period. Perhaps others can give some insights on this area.
  
  Bye for now!
  
  
• From: R.Mahendra Raj (@ 210.186.0.253) on: Tue Apr 22 04:08:16 EDT 2003
  
  And now time for some tidbits on kaviarasar.
  
  One reader asked asked him as to what prompted him to christen himself 'Kannadasan'. In his reply, as usual laced with humour, he said that originally he meant it to be 'Kann Dasan' as he is an admirer of beautiful ladies' eyes. Unfortunately, the vowel 'a' (aaah!) got in between the two words making it even more exciteful and realistic!
  
  Yet another reader proposed that the nickname of 'Kaamadaasan' will be more appropriate and reflective of his nature.
  
  Whilst agreeing with this proposal he also requested that the word 'raj' be entrenched in between - perhaps to denote his devotion to Kamaraj! He also candidly pointed out that the word 'kaamam' also conveyed the meaning of 'love'!
  
  The shortest ever time to compose a song was 5 minutes - "Muthaana muthallavo" ('Nenjil Oor Aalayam' 1962). And the longest? Six months for the title song "Nenjam Marapathillai" (1963). Both are Sridhar's directions.
  
  See you all again folks!
  
  
  
• From: R. Mahendra Raj (@ 210.186.0.253) on: Tue Apr 22 05:11:21 EDT 2003
  
  Talking of Kamaraj.
  
  Kaviarasar was down here in Malaysia in 1975 when he heard the news that Kamraj had died. He broke down immediately and wept like a child. Unfortunately, he could not attend the funeral due to ticketting problems. The first thing he did when he landed in Madras was to drive straight to the spot where Kamraj was laid to rest and to pay homage to his cult-hero.
  
  
• From: R. Mahendra Raj (@ 210.186.1.149) on: Wed Apr 23 05:22:59 EDT 2003
  
  Hi folks, yet another piece on 'Aboorva Raagangal'.
  
  I just casually watched an old ethnic (Malay) black and white movie entitled 'Keluarga 69' (The 69 Family) produced wayback in 1967. Wonder of wonders, the theme is almost a carbon copy of 'Aboorva Raagangal' which was made in 1975. The theme was basically comedy-based as the title implies. I now wonder how this local controversial comedy story could have made it to KB's mind who made it into a serious one. Notwithstanding this KB made his maiden trip to Malaysia only around 1977/78, if I am not mistaken.
  
  I am truly bewildered by all those 'aboorvams' pertaining to this controversial film! Like I said earlier all the info on 'Aboorva Raagangal' itself could be made into a book! Any more info on this topic?
  
  Now a bit on kaviarasar..
  
  Kaviarasar was facing some problems in regards to inheritance of ancestral property. According to his community's rule of law all the family tree members must come to a common agreement and understanding before properties could be disposed off or something to this effect.
  
  Kaviarasar felt sidelined and his views were not accepted by the other members including AL Sreenivasan. It was at this time he wrote the song "Yaarai nambi naan poranthaen Pongadaa ponga" ('Enga Oor Raja' 1968) out of sheer frustration.
  
  When I inquired from Kaviarasar's son as to why the home of birth in Sirukudalpatti is in a neglected state the latter replied that due to a stalemate by the family members concerning the family's inheritance nothing could be done.
  
  It was only a few years ago that I read in Kumudham that the birth house of kaviarasar in Sirukudalpetti has now been gazetted as an heritage and is being maintained by the state government itself.
  
  Bye folks, see you all again!
  
  
• From: nagarajan (@ 81.23.194.251) on: Wed Apr 23 12:36:29 EDT 2003
  
  the shortest time taken (muththaana muththallavo) and the longest time taken (nenjam marappadhillai) - these are the time taken for composing the song by MSV/TKR and not for writing the lyrics by Kannadhasan - this was told by MSV himself in his malarum ninaivugal in chennai doordharshan way back in 1978
  
  
• From: nagarajan (@ 81.23.194.251) on: Wed Apr 23 12:40:17 EDT 2003
  
  dear mr mahendra raj,
  sorry - i did not read carefully your posting.
  you have correctly mentioned - time taken to compose and not the time taken for writing the lyrics -
  my apologies
  nagarajan
  
  
• From: puvanes (@ 161.142.100.81) on: Thu Apr 24 02:17:21 EDT 2003
  
  Mahendra Raj sir,
  the first kannadasan song for MGR if i am not mistaken is from marmayogi 'kannin karumaniye kalavathiye' sung by tiruchi loganathan.What is the last kannadasan song penned for MGR?
  
  
• From: geeth (@ 195.39.134.84) on: Thu Apr 24 02:53:41 EDT 2003
  
  could it be 'Vizhiye kathaiyezhuthu' from Urimaikural ?
  
  
• From: geeth (@ 195.39.134.84) on: Thu Apr 24 02:57:58 EDT 2003
  
  dear mahendra raj, can you throw some more light on the 'nenjam marapadhillai' song. was it only director Sridhar rejecting the tunes or was there some other difficulties ? was the song written first and then the tune composed ?
  
  
• From: R. Mahendra Raj (@ 210.186.2.119) on: Thu Apr 24 05:57:41 EDT 2003
  
  Puvanes & geeth, yes the last song by kaviarasar for MGR was "Vizhiye kathai ezhathu" ('Urimaikkural' 1975) although Vaali is mentioned in the record credits. Puvanes, please refer my earlier posting on the story surrounding this song.
  
  I wish to deviate a bit since we are talking of 'Urimai Kural'.
  
  Once kaviarasar's associate from Malaysia (I have mentioned him several times earlier) was in kaviarasar's house during the release of 'Urimai Kural' (1975). Suddenly a gentleman carrying a cloth bundle walked into the house and handed it over to kaviarasar. When he opened the budle he was happy because it was full of currency notes sent by MGR upon the latter's request. His face changed the next second when he saw a promissory note (I.O.U.) to be signed as acknowledgement. Taking offence to this note he shouted at the courier to take it back to the sender - MGR but not without a curse! He told the courier to tell MGR that he is not "Urimai Kural" but "Erumai Kural" (for his trademark voice after the shooting incident). Childish behaviour?!
  
  But this personal incident should be seen in isolation as an article in 'Bhagya' about MGR said otherwise. It seems kaviarasar once telephoned MGR asking him for a cash loan and while still engaged on the line the former's assistant brought to him a cloth bundle. On the other end of the line MGR inquired as to whether the money had arrived or otherwise. Such was the speed of magnamity of MGR towards kaviarasar.
  
  From the late sixties Vaali was groomed by MGR to boost his image knowing kaviarasar's un predictable attitude towards the latter especially in politics. However, MGR's films did have kaviarasar's songs especially romantic ones here and there until 'Urimai Kural'. Due to seniority kaviarasar's name appears first in the songs credits even though he may have written a single song only for a particular MGR's film.
  
  Like KBalachandar, MGR requested kaviarasar to come up with an effective conclusion song for 'Ulagam Suttrum Vaaliban' (1970)to be exclusively shot in EXPO 70, Japan. Kaviarasar did'nt disappoint him for the song "Ulagam Azhagu Silaigalin Surangam" bears testimony to this beautiful song encompassing the whole world in a nutshell and also mentioning part of the film's title.
  
  A little digression...
  
  Vaali playfully told MGR that he will be mentioned in this film even if the latter refuses him a chance to write songs for it. He clarified later that the film title itself bears his name ('vaali')!
  
  Btw, MGR's favourite song amongst the many in this film was "Aval oru navarasa naadagam" sung by SPB and written by kaviarasar, of course!
  
  MGR, however, did miss kaviarasar's poetic lines during his 'cold war' with him and he had had told this in private. He had also, time and again, said that poltics and professions should not mix.
  
  Re - 'Nenjam Marapathillai'.
  
  Sridhar wanted a lilting tune and appropriate lyrics for this film. He wanted it to be modelled after the song in the film 'Bees Saal Baad'(1963)which was very popular at that time. It was a mystery movie having appratitions in its storyline, something similar to 'Nenjam Marapathillai'.
  
  This explains why Sridhar rejected the other tunes composed by MSV/TKR but accepted the title-based lyrics by kaviarasar from amongst various ones submitted by the latter. As far as I can recollect both (kaviarasar and MSV) had said that it took them 6 months to compose this song due to Sridhar's insistence for reasons mentioned above.
  
  Bye for now folks!
  
  
• From: R. Mahendra Raj (@ 210.186.2.59) on: Thu Apr 24 23:09:08 EDT 2003
  
  During his initial association with Kamraj kaviarasar gradually became his admirer and ultimately the bond developed to the extent where both used to discuss personal matters.
  
  It was during one such private meeting that Kamraj indirectly told kaviarasar to give up his 'bad' habit and quickly switched topic. It did'nt take long for kaviarasar to decipher as to what Kamraj was driving at. He bowed his head and did'nt say a word out of respect. He admired Kamraj for being very diplomatic on this private issue.
  
  Later, with Kamraj's advice still reeling in his head kaviarasar took the opportunity to reply via a song as usual. The song? "Mayakkam enathu thaayagam Mounam enathu thaaimozhi" ('Kunkumam' 1963). The 'mayakkam' was in reference to the intoxication subject brought up by Kamraj.
  
  See you again folks!
  
  

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