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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.

a) Raga Gyanam of Kavingyar

In the file ‘ Thiruvarutchelvar’, no one can forget the great song ‘ Mannan Vandhanadi’. This song was penned by Kannadasan and music by legendary KVM and sung by P.Suseela. I do not think we can ever get a better song in the Raga Kalyani in our tamil movies when compared to this song . This song has all the nuances of Kalyani in a capsule form.

In the Charanam, look at these lines,

Viraivinil Nee… Ni
Mana malar Tha .. tha
Thiru Marbaa… Pa
Thamadhama… Ma
Mayil ennai Ka… Ga

Ni.. tha.. Pa.. Ma.. Ga….
The words end in the avorahanam of Kalyani ( descending order of the musical notes)

Similarly, there is one stanza which will have the first letters in the arohanam ( ascending order).. I do not recollect the exact lines..

Sa…
Ri.. ri ga ma pa da ni sa..
Ka.. karunaiyin Thalaiva
Ma.. Madhi migu Mudhalva..

Do we have any such poet today ?

b) Kannadasan’s command over Language

Also, can any one forget the ‘Then’ song in Veera Abhimanu.. This duet is again a KVM song in Raga Sahana by PBS and PS.

Paarthen Rasithen pakkam vara thudithen
Unai then ena naan ninethen – andha
Malai then idhu ena malaithen

What about the ‘voor’ song in the file Oorkkaval.. PBS is the singer

Endha voor endravanae
Irundha voorai chollava
Andha voor neeyum kooda
Arindha voor allava

The great ‘ Kai’ Song ‘ Athhikkai Kaai kaai’ in Balae Paandiya.—About this song, I will dwell in detail subsequently.

c) Kannadasan’s knowledge of Litreature:

(i) There is one tamil poem in ‘Pura Nanooru’, the old tamil literature.

To know the meaning of this poem, you also need to know about the philanthrophist tamil King Paari. He was so noble and kind hearted that on one occasion, when he found a jasmine creeper without a support, he let his chariot as the support for the creeper so that it could grow. His fame and wealth was an eyesore to cheera , choola and Paandya kings and they waged a war against him and killed him. They also want to marry his daughters who were too young and the marriage proposal was stopped by Tamil Sage Avvaiyar.

The poem is written to a situation where, the daughters of Paari, on a full moon day, recalls that their father was with them on the last full moon day and he is now more now and they were grieving for his death.

The poem in chaste tamil starts as

Attrai thingal Auv Vennilavil…

Kannadasan has taken this incidence to write his song

‘Androru Naal Idhe Nilavil
Avar irundar en arugil’ in the film ‘Nadodi ‘ ( wagabond)

(ii) In Kamba Ramayanam, the poem which describes Kaiykeye seeking two boons from Dasaratha starts as

‘Aazhi sooz ulagelam Bharathanae Aaala’ and ends as ‘ Theeyavai yaavinum Sirandha Teeyal’
whereby kambar describes Kaiykeye as the worst of the worst for her act .

I think Kannadesan must have been inspired by these lines and in the movie ‘ Karnan’, there is a song by SG, Tirchy Lokanathan, PBS, TMS which is penned to the situation of Karnan performing pooja to his father Suryan ( the Sun God). There the stanza

Mannavar porulgalai Kai kondu…. Ends with ‘ VARUMAIKKU VARUMAIYAI VAITHTHOR MAAMANNAN VAZHGAVE…VAZGHA VAZGHA.

Here, he used two negatives ‘ Varumaikku Varumai’ to elate Karnan’s noble charity that there was no poverty because of his abundant charity.

Also, I feel vairamuthu must have been inspired by Kannadasan’s lines that he had sai ‘ maanatthin Maanathai vaangi vittan’ in the song ‘Poo Malai Vaangi Vanthan’ in Sindhu Bhairavi.

(iii) In one of the Sirappu Then Kinnam ( remember the yester years in Radio… Chennai Vaanoli Nilayam !!), Kannadasan himself had said that he wrote the song

Thookkamum Kankalai Thazuvattume
Amaithiyum Nenjinil Nilavattume

Since he was inspired by the lines of shakesphere in ‘Macbeth’

(iii) The famous song in ‘Vaazhkai Padagu’

‘ Neetru varai nee yaroo naan yaroo
Indru mudhal nee vaero naan vaero’

Is based on the ‘Pura Naanooru’ padal

‘ Yanum neeyum yaaraa giyaro
yendaiym numadiyum evan kollo
Sembulap peyar neer pola
Anbudai Nenjangal Tham Kalandaduvae’

(iv).. One Sanga kaala illakkiya padal was the inspiration for Kavingyar to write the famous song in “Balae Paandiya’ – ‘ Atthikkai Kai Kai’

One newly wed bride is separated from her husband since he need to be in the battle field shortly after the wedding. On the full moon day, the lady, is thinking about her husband and feeling lonely without him on a romantic night. She requests moon ‘ I am always remembering him but not sure about how he feels.. Already I am sore without him… you also do not add to my suffering with your full radiance.. instead of glowing here, you shower your moon light on the direction where my husband is so that he also gets romantic mood and gets back to me’

This is what the song

‘Athikkaai kaai kaai
Aalangai Vennilavae’

Athikkai is fig. Also it means glow in that direction ( thikku in tamil means direction / side).

What a great song.. full of name of various vegetables. At the same time, has got a different meaning in chaste tamil.



d) Ability to convey his message through his songs.

(i) Kavingyar came out of Congress but had great admiration for Kamaraj. He wanted to convey his respect and desire for an ever lasting association with Kamaraj. Hence

‘Andha sivagami maganidam sedhi solladi – yennai
serum naal parka solladi’

came in the movie ‘Pattanathil Bhoodam’. In the movie , the song was set as it to praise Lord Muruga..

Kamaraj’s Mother’s name is Sivagami !!

(ii) Similarly

Nalandana … Nalandana…
Udalum Ullamum Nalandana..

Nalam Pera vendum nee Yendru
Naalum Yen Nenjil Ninaivundu
Ilai marai kaai pol porul kondu
Yevarum ariyaamal sol indru….

Was written in ‘Thillana Moganaambal’ for as the meeting song between Sivaji and Padmini after sivaji’s injury.

But, this song is actually written with C.N. Annadurai in mind when he was ailing in the hospital and kavingyar was away from him .

One more great song by KVM in the raag Sivaranjani.


WILL WE EVER GET BACK A KAVINGYAR LIKE KANNADASAN ??

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Responses:

• Old responses
  
• From: R. Mahendra Raj (@ 203.106.49.59) on: Mon Feb 24 10:23:47 EST 2003
  
  Sankar, I just happened to go to the other thread and saw your response re-"Marutha Malai Maamaniye Murugayah". Thanks for the confirmation on Kunnakudi's statement.
  
  As regards to the song "Chippi Irukuthu Muthum Irukuthu" kindly refer my immediate recent posting on the birth of this song. I devoted nearly a full page on this song. As feared earlier, the thread is going haywire. If only someone could help organise all the postings on Kannadhasan into one single thread there will be fluidity for the benefit of all.
  
  
• From: Sankar (@ 203.124.138.34) on: Tue Feb 25 00:26:29 EST 2003
  
  Dear All, I am from Chennai and passing this links to all my friends I know to draw good response.
  
  For a moment, I wish to share with you about a particular song Kavingyar wrote about ' PILLAYAR' in PILLAYAR PATTI - a small town very close to Kavingyar's birth place SIRUKOODAL PATTI in Tamil Nadu.This temple is very popular and devotees from all over the world throng this temple since every visitor experiences the grace of the LORD once they visit this temple. KAVINGYAR was no exception.. His wordings of the song what I am narrating will testify my statement.
  
  PILLAYAR PATTI is very close to KARAIKUDI and the TEMPLE was being managed by CHETTIAR Families. The name of the presiding deity is KARPAGA VINAYAGAR. Kavingyar's sister was married and settled in Pillayar patti and he had been frequently offering prayers at this temple at every possible opportunity.
  
  When kavingyar was at his peak of fame, one evening , around twilight time, he and his family members were travelling to Sirukoodal Patti for a marriage and on the way, the car was stopped at this temple. Only Kavingyar got down and before the preist PITCHAI GURUKKAL could identify him and reach him, kavingyar went into the temple and offered prayers and returned back to the car. PITCHAI GURUKKAL had to run to catch up with him and called kavingyar. Kavingyar, with one foot in car and about to get in, acknowledged gurukkal and exchanged respects. PITHCAI GURUKKAL expressed his wish to kavingyar that his songs are now popular worldwide and why he had not written anything about his favourite deity ?.. Kavingyar, in the same posture with one leg inside the car and hand on the opened door, had a look at the GOPURAM the temple and rattled out these lines;
  
  ARPUDHA KEERTHI VENDIN
  AANANDHA VAAZHU VENDIN
  NARPPORUL KUVIDAL VENDIN
  NALAM PALA PERUGA VENDIN
  
  KARPAGA MOORHTHY THEIVA
  KALANJIYATTHU IRUKKAI CHENDRU
  PORP PADHAM PANINDHU PAAREER
  POYILLAI ! KANDA UNNMAI !!
  
  Pichai gurukkal was motionless for few seconds, trying to grasp what has happened !. he told kavingyar that he does not have any writing material to copy the song and kavingyar said, he will send the song the next day and left in a hurry.
  
  Next day, on a one sided paper, the song was sent through a cyclist to PITCHAI GURUKKAL.. Even today, whenever you see the PHOTOS or LAMINATIONS of PILLAYAR PATTI KARPAGA VINAYAGAR, you will find this song at the reverse.
  
  This incident was narratted by PITHCAI GURUKKAL himself to Visali ( Kavingyar's daughter) in a TV Interview about Kavingyar.
  
  
  
• From: R. Mahendra Raj (@ 203.106.49.27) on: Tue Feb 25 09:43:06 EST 2003
  
  Yes, Shankar I agree with you regarding the bit on Pillayar Patti. I have been there also. That particular posters both large and pocket-size ones are popular here in Malaysia. I am also carrying one in my wallet with Kaviarasar's lines above.
  
  According to Kaviarasar's immediate family members Pillayar Patti temple was founded by their (kaviarasar's) ancestors. This is subject to verification though. Kaviarasar had made only passing references about Pillar Patti in his books. However, he had written quite a lot on Malaiarasi Amman, the village deity in Sirukudal Patti. I had been to this temple one late night and the caretaker was generous enough to show me around including kaviarasar's home of birth at that time of visit it was in a dilipated condition) and the much talked about pond where he used to write his poems during his teens. I felt a chill in me when walking around the whole area on a quiet night. It was as though Kaviarasar's spirit was accompanying me! As as a souvenir I took one broken slab of stone from Kaviarasar's birth home and am still revering it in my prayer room.
  
  Whilst writing the above the song "Naalu Peyrukku Nandri" was aired over the radio which prompted me to add a bit. To my knowledge no other poet, be it western or eastern, has written a song purportedly sung by a dead person. I stand corrected. The last lines "vaazhumpothu varuvorkellam vaarthaiyale nandri solvom vaarthai indri pogum pothu mounathale nandri solvom, antha naalu perukku nandri" especially touches the hearts of mortal souls. A dead body saying thanks to the four who shouldered it to the grave!
  
  The above song was from the film "Sangey Muzhangu" (MGR-Letchumi starrer - 1970) which brings to my mind another background story. It will be very interesting as it is going to touch on one of Kaviarasar's favourite past-time. I will do it tomorrow as time does'nt permit me now. Bye for now.
  
  
• From: sankar (@ 203.124.138.34) on: Tue Feb 25 23:03:14 EST 2003
  
  Thank you Mr. Mahendraraj - Indeed your writing about Naalu Perukku nandri had invoked lot of thoughts in me.
  
  One more song
  EDHARKKUM ORU KAALAM UNNDU PORUTTHIRU MAGALAE
  INPATTHILUM THUNBATTHILUM SIRITTHIRU MAGALAE
  MANIDHA KULAM VAAZHVADINTHA THATTUVATTHILAE
  ANUBHAVATTHIL SOLLI VAITTHAR PUTTHAGATHILAE
  PILLAIK KENA VAAZHUGINDRA PENNINATHILAE
  PIRANDHAVALIL NEE ORUTTHI AAYIRATHILAE
  
  in the film Sivagaamiyin Selvan is a great song. This song, with meaniful lines and pathos in the music and voice of MSV had saved many frustrated ladies from suicide just because of the morale boosting lines. MSV had mentioned this in one his interviews that even today - nearly after 25 to 30 years after this song was written, he gets letters/mentioning from fans on this song.
  
  Adaiyaadha kadavirukkum aalayathilae
  annaiyai pol anbirukkum avanidathilae
  magalae un kuraigalai ne avanidam kooru
  karunaikkuthaan kadavul endru matroru paeru..
  
  What a motivating lines ?? incidentally, in the same song , I am note sure whether the following lines reflectes one more song of respect for Kamaraj ?
  
  Sivagaami petreduttha selvanallavo
  naalai indha mannai aalum mannan allavo...
  
  

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