Home   Forum   Wiki   Notes   Register   FAQ   Sitemap   About Us   Contact Us  

What's keeping Unni Menon from deserved attention in TFM?

Topic started by Udhaya (@ 205.218.142.217) on Wed Aug 19 15:08:29 EDT 1998.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

Unni Menon is not new to TFM. I hear IR introduced him as Vijay, and we have heard ARR use him in some catchy tunes...Manamadhurai Maamarakilaiyilae, Pudhu Vellai Mazhai, and Naetru Illaatha Maattram. But hearing UM in "Poongaatrilae" from "Uyirae", I noticed a startling improvement in his pronunciation and the never before noticed (at least by me)fluency in hitting all the notes. This man has a great romantic voice, like an equal mix of Jayachandran and Yesudas. "Poongatrilae" could be compared with KJY's classic "Kattrinilae perum kaatrinilae". I wish UM will get all the songs in a movie to showcase his lovely voice. I would like to explore why he hasn't made it big.

---

Responses:

• From: Udhaya (@ 205.218.142.217) on: Wed Aug 19 21:04:08 EDT 1998
  
  The lack of response here gives me the answer as to why UM hasn't made it big. I guess not enough people know about him. Maybe he should change his first name so as to not be confused with the more popular Unni Krishnan.
  
  
• From: NOV (@ 202.184.134.10) on: Wed Aug 19 22:34:57 EDT 1998
  
  Exactly Udhaya - I started responding to this query about two hours ago and wrote about five lines, before realising that you were talking about Menon not Krishnan. :-))
  
  Anyway, what I wrote went into the recycle bin. Let me know when you have something to talk about Unnikrishnan. :-)))))
  
  
• From: G. Varghese (@ d19-fx01-lond-pdi.attcanada.net) on: Wed Aug 19 23:35:44 EDT 1998
  
  Isn't it ironic that Unni Menon, who was a singer long before Unnikrishnan came into the field, is asked to change his first name not to be confused with the more popular Unnikrishnan!
  
  
• From: NOV (@ 202.184.134.10) on: Thu Aug 20 01:15:48 EDT 1998
  
  GV - Because there is no reason for Unnikrishnan to change his!
  
  
• From: shankar (@ cache-engine-03.chi.ais.net) on: Thu Aug 20 02:31:56 EDT 1998
  
  naNbargaLe,
  kuzhappikiradhu ennoavo naama dhaan ,appuram edhukku unniM pera mathanum , unniK pera maathanumnu namma sollikittu ;-))
  
  jus kiddin ,no offense meant. :)
  
  
• From: Ramya (@ proxy-132.iap.bryant.webtv.net) on: Thu Aug 20 08:43:57 EDT 1998
  
  Udhaya, you're right! I think Unnimenon deserves more attention like Unnikrishnan. I love the way Unnimenon sings Melisaiyae and Maana Madurai. I think they both have a really soft, sweet, romantic voice.
  
  
• From: Nirupama (@ van-ce-01.direct.ca) on: Thu Aug 20 17:58:59 EDT 1998
  
  Some of my Unni Menon favourites, excluding the ones already mentioned here are: Kannukku Mai Azhagu(I prefer UM version to Susheela's), Poralae Ponnuthaye & Bombay maami(Villadhi Villan). I think he also sang a beautiful song by the name of Aasai nilavae for a Suresh Menon tele-serial.
  
  Udhaya, could it be the fact that his voice is not very distinct like Unni Krishnan's for example, served as a drawback for his career? It doesn't help any singer to have a voice similar to another popular singer in the market(eg. Mano) because comparisons might always crop up.
  
  Undoubtedly, he has a charming voice and I hope to hear more from him in the future.
  
  
• From: Ichiboy (@ 202.54.33.55) on: Thu Aug 20 22:18:15 EDT 1998
  
  Unni Menon does not have a melodius voice compared to UnniK.Another reason why UnniK is more popular is the media-hype he generates before every song.Being a Carnatic vocalist everybody is eager to hear how he sings.Regarding UnniM he has given masterful renderings with ARR bu I feel he is a clone of KJJesudas and Jayachandran.Why listen to the clone when u have the original?
  
  
• From: east (@ j27.jrc22.jaring.my) on: Fri Aug 21 00:22:12 EDT 1998
  
  HH AND UK have a certain distinctive vocal that is easily recognisable unlike UM. Thats probably the main reason why MD's dont really go for him unlike the former two
  
  
• From: P. Lankathas (@ dialin1796.toronto.globalserve.net) on: Fri Aug 28 02:05:28 EDT 1998
  
  UM has a very nice voice .......i mean his song in Roja was a very romantic piece .....I think he still need some more tunes to get the MD attention. I mean IR didnt use HH for a long time, up until KM. RIGHT
  
  
  any comments
  
  
• From: Udhaya (@ 205.218.142.217) on: Fri Aug 28 13:50:48 EDT 1998
  
  Ichiboy,
  I don't think UM is a clone of Jayachandhran and KJY, he is rather an alloy of those two at their prime. I have listened to recent numbers by KJY (Pachchai Kiligal Tholoadu, Nenjae Nenjae) and Jayachandhran (Kadalamma Kadalamma from some new movie), and to be honest, their voices haven't aged gracefully. They both sound much baser than their younger years.
  
  
• From: P.Lankathas (@ dialin1920.toronto.globalserve.net) on: Fri Aug 28 18:01:55 EDT 1998
  
  good point uhaya .i agree
  
  
• From: Udhaya (@ ) on: Mon Mar 15 15:49:46 EST 1999
  
  -Paaduthae Oaduthae from Kaadhal Sangamam
  -Kaadhal Kaditham from Jodi
  
  Kaetka kaetka yaekkap perumoochchuthaan michcham. With the exception of SPB, I believe Unni Menon's to be the best male voice in current TFM. When is this great unsung artist going to get his own entire soundtrack?
  
  Ippadikku,
  Deposit Izhandha Suyaetchai Vaetpaalar Unni Menon Party Headquarters
  
  
• From: bb (@ schubert.crhc.uiuc.edu) on: Mon Mar 15 16:00:07 EST 1999
  
  udhaya, he has sung a high pitched number too, in ninaivirukkum varai. his voice in that too is impeccable and he doesn't struggle.
  
  
• From: Shankar (@ webgate0.mot.com) on: Tue Mar 16 01:22:31 EST 1999
  
  Udhaya,
  
  He lacks the most important quality to be a famous singer of recent times - "thamizh kolai" . His tamil , though he's a mallu, is better than HH or UK.
  
  
• From: eden (@ 202.54.71.132) on: Tue Mar 16 07:13:18 EST 1999
  
  I liked his `Pon maane, kobam eno' in oru kaidiyin diary. Good voice (at least much better than Krishnachandar & HH). IR should give him more chances.
  
  
• From: CRUX (@ sc-154-236.tm.net.my) on: Tue Mar 16 14:20:33 EST 1999
  
  Listen to Ninaivuirukum varai.
  
  ANBE NEE- UM and Sujatha
  
  
• From: Neels (@ 202.54.125.173) on: Wed Mar 17 12:32:51 EST 1999
  
  Ichiboy,
  I don't quite agree with your statement:
  "Unni Menon does not have a melodius voice compared to UnniK."
  
  They have their own styles. And it is blasphemous to say this guy doesn't have a melodious voice.
  I'm sure you have listened to 'Porale Ponnuthayee' and 'Pudhu Vellai Mazhai'. He does have a very soft, melodious voice. I don't think he apes Yesudas or Jeyachandran either. He is probably filling the void left by Jeyachandran (Wonder why JC hasn't sung in the recent past! 'His En mel Vizhunda Mazhaithuliye' was a gem)
  
  Unni Menon's pronunciation is also pretty good. There's hardly any hint of Mallu accent. I dont see any reason why he shouldn't be in the big league.
  
  Also, the MDs are responsible for typecasting guys. I'm sure Unni Menon can fare pretty well in fast-paced numbers too. If Unni.K and Hariharan can do it, why not? I guess Unni.M isn't market savvy at all. I have seen him only on Mallu Semi-classical album covers. Even in Mallu, MG Sreekumar is dominating the scene. With ARR doing all sorts of experiments with singers, he should be the one getting Unni.M to sing some chart-topping numbers. In fact, I would have loved to hear Unni.M singing the songs that MGS ended up singing for 'En Swaasa Kaatre'.
  
  All it takes is a couple of consecutive hit songs for a singer to become popular with the masses! Any one listening out there in Kodambaakkam?
  
  
  Neels
  
  p.s:
  By the way, are you guys referring to 'Maana Madurai' of 'Minsara kanavu'? I thought it was Srinivas who sang the number with Chitra! (the same guy who has sung 'Ennuyire' from Dil se (tamil version).
  
  
• From: yvs mani (@ hub.nic.in) on: Wed Mar 17 23:33:19 EST 1999
  
  UM's voice somewhat resembles that of JC's.
  I thought before going through this forum that "Poongatrile" from Uyire is by JC. ( resemblance).
  His other songs "Poorale" & "Pudhu vellai mazhai" are good. I find him to be good compared to HH and UK.
  
  
• From: rajaG (@ kcecfp02.sprint.com) on: Thu Mar 18 10:24:54 EST 1999
  
  Neels,
  
  Maana madhura has two male voices- UM in the beginning and Srinivas in the end.
  
  I really like UM's singing. However, UM, JC, MGS and probably a few more in/from Kerala all sound like Yesudas wannabes. This could be due to the tremendous popularity and influence which KJY has in Kerala. But I think for any singer from Kerala to become popular (despite wonderful voice, etc. etc.), he has to consciously get out of the KJY mould.
  
  
• From: SUBRAMANIAM (@ brf-cache10.jaring.my) on: Mon Feb 7 04:40:11 EST 2000
  
  HE HAVE A VERY GOOD FUTURE. HIS HITS LIKE VEERAPAANDI KOOTAIYILE,POONGATRILE,THANDIYA AATTAM,ENNA VIZHAI AZHAGE,MAINAVE MAINAVE AND MANY OTHER ARE SIMPLY MELODIOS AND ATTRACTIVE.
  
  
• From: VIDIYALS, Malaysia (@ klj-228-20.tm.net.my) on: Sat Feb 12 23:10:53 EST 2000
  
  we think every singers have their own style of singing .. so we shouldnt critisize anyone,
  
  i hope UM will get his due in coming times..
  
  long live SPB
  long live UK
  long live HH
  long live UM
  long live SM
  long live KJY
  long live MGS
  
  
• From: Unni menon (@ hail.pipex.net) on: Sat May 20 05:23:03 EDT 2000
  
  I received a mail meant for the singer unnimenon recently. and i offered the person to look out for the email addy or contact address. I searched all over and i reached here. I hope any of UM's fans can provide me this.
  
  Thanking you
  
  unni
  
  
• From: Sathish Menon (@ mcleod34-110.mcleodusa.net.16.43.216.in-addr.arpa) on: Mon Jun 5 18:17:53 EDT 2000
  
  Guys,
  I agree with those who say Unni Menon has not been getting due attention. He has a very melodious voice. Let me also bring to your attention that, when it comes to stage performances, he is among the top 2 or 3.
  
  He has been and also is currently releasing a lot of devotional cassettes in Malayalam. He may have a few in Tamil as well. His devotional songs are selling well in Kerala.
  His album "Panchajanyam" is simply superb.
  
  
  
• From: lani (@ 199.212.26.244) on: Mon Nov 19 15:58:04 EST 2001
  
  hi lankathas
  
  

---

List all pages of this thread

Post comments