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 ??
Responses:
- Old responses
- From: Manisekaran (@ 61.6.39.139)
on: Fri Mar 28 21:35:51 EST 2003
Mahendraraj, Regarding Chirukkoodalpatti,
Kannadasan was once asked as to why he emphasised so much on sex in his songs to which he quiipped "I am from "Chiru Koodal Patti"
It is true his talents were suppressed owing to his active involvement in politis. His best works emanated from his brilliant mind mainly at times when he was free of worldly stresses and strains. The epic Maangani came out when he is in jail. Likewise Yesu Kaviyam came out well when he was given solitude in Kutraalam. There were even talks from his ardent fans that Kannadasan should have been jailed several times to get more of his best products.
Leaving DMK he wrote the song Satti Suttathada alright. But he teamed up with EVK Sambath and involved in Tamil Desiya Katchi. EVK stood for elections and Kannadasan was convinced of somwewhat landslide victory. News reached him at Padminis Pictures office that EVK lost. He wrote this song:
Yaarai Enge Vaiipathu Enru yaarukkum Theriyale
Ada Andang Kakkaikkum Kuyilkalukkum Petham Puriyale
Pereduthu Unmayai Cholli Pilzhaikka Mudiyale
Ippo Oothuvathikkum Beedikalukkum Petham Theriyale
Naanirukkum Idathinile Avan Irukkinraan
Avan Irukkum Idathinile naanirukikinren
Naalai INgey Yar iruppar Athuvum Theriyale ada nallavanukkum Kettavanukkum Petham Thriyale
Ada Ennathai Solvenda Thambi Ennathai Solvenda?
Thambi Oruvan Veliyil Ninru Kaasu Ennugiraan
Nambi Oruvan Siarayil Vanthu Kambi Ennukiraan...
There are so many other politically motivated songs by Kannadasan. Though Kannadasan detested politics, he still continued to be associated with party politics till the end of his life.
It has to be mentioned that despite political pressure and involvement, Kannadasan still came out with great songs. He was asked as to how he could still write good songs in the midst of turmoil, to which he wrote again:
Ennai Yaarendru enni Enni Nee Paarkkirai-Ithu
Yaar Paadum Paadal Enru Nee Ketkiraai-naan
Aval Perai thinam Paadum Kuyilallava- En
Paadal Aval Thantha Porul Allava
Enthan manakkoyil Silaiyaaga Valarnthalamma
malarodu malaraaga Malarnthalamma
Kanavennum Kaatreri paranthaalamma
Kaatrodu Kaatraaga Kalanthalamma
(Kannadasan was inspired by his childhood kaathali by the name of Emily-said to have met in Culutta)
Kannadasan loved an elder girl when he was 13 years old. She got married and left him. Keeping her in the depth of his heart Kannadasan penned a song in Paar Makale Paar:
Aval Paranthu Ponale
Ennai Maranthu Poonaale
Naan paarkum Pothu Kangal Irandai Kavarnthu Poonale
En Ithaythil Pootti vaithen
Athil enaye Kaaval Vaithen
Aval siraiyai Udaithaale
Than siragai virithaale
than siragai virithaale
En Naavukku Mozhi Illai
???
En Nenjukku Ninaivillai
Oru Aaruthal Mozhi Illai
Oru Aaruthal Mozhi Illai
Likewise Kannadasan also says in Paava Manninppu that he was inspired by a girl to become a poet.
Kalangalil Aval Vasantham
Kalaikalile Aval Oviyam
Mathangalil Aval Maargali
Malarkalile Aval Mallikai
Paal Pol Sirippathil Pillai
Pani Pol Anaippathil Kanni
Kan Pol Valarppathil Annai
AVAL KAVINYAR AAKKINAAL ENNAI
- From: R. Mahendra Raj (@ 210.186.0.99)
on: Sat Mar 29 00:07:12 EST 2003
Ram,thanks for the suggestion. I will start thinking about it.
Mani, thanks for your inputs. As regards the poltically related songs please refer to my earlier inputs in this thread.
Re - the song "Yaarai engey vaippathu endru yaarukum theriyilie" ('Bale Paandiya'1962) you were right about the situation. During the election period, from the positive feedback kaviarasar received was that EVK Sambath will definitely triumph. Alas, the results showed otherwise. As usual and typical of his easy going nature he converted this defeat with the above song. His immediate media response to EVK Sambath's defeat was "maaparum tholviyil vetri petraar"! A wordsmith indeed!
As regards Emily, his old and first flame whom he met for the first time when travelling in a tram car in Culcutta - yes, the song "Ennai yaar endru enni enni nee paarkiraai" ('Paalum Pazhamum'1961) was indeed written for her.
He had a soft spot for her despite having lost all communication with her. When he produced 'Sumai Thaangi'(1963)he wrote the pathos song "En annai seytha paavam naan mannil vanthathu" for the heroine, Devika but having Emily still in mind. Emily had a pathetic background. To a certain extent Devika resembled Emily which answers the question as to why kaviarasar was very close with her (Devika).
Two years later, when his brother ALS produced the film 'Pazhani' he insisted on the name Emily for Pushpalatha's character who is a Christian in this film. Incidentally, it was kaviarasar who introduced Pushpalatha into the Tamil film cinema.
About his love affair with the older girl. When kaviarasar was down here in Kuala Lumpur in 1970 he was scheduled to speak at a function in MARA auditorium. It so happened that he spotted this old flame, who had by now was married to a Malaysian, seated in the front second row of the auditorium. During his speech he casually remininsced the relationship without mentioning her name. Fearing the worst the old flame bolted from the auditorium lest kaviarasar points at her!
"Kaalangilil aval vasantham" was written for his wife which kaviarasar himself declared. He wrote this as a bonus after relishing his favourite dishes cooked by her!
Re - Yesu Kaaviyam. When the missionary fraternity of Madras proposed the project to kaviarasar he was a bit apprehensive at first. The reason being that he was used to write all things Hinduism especially Lord Krishna. But in a flash he reminded himself that God is one but it was only human beings who created religions. He had attested this universal fact in his many songs. He pacified himself that both Lord Krishna and Jesus were born in the barn so there is something similar to the divine plan.( the exact words said by kaviarasar : "Krishnarum mmattu kottayil piranthaar Yesu Kristhavarum maatu kottayil thaan piranthaar" - note the rhyming of both the Lords). He then accepted the project and completed it well before the deadline. During this period (early 1981 - the year he died) he was sober and was also not in good health. The rest is history.
The Chrisitian missionary received the news from its headquarters in Chicago, US that kaviarasar's 'Yesu Kaaviyam' had been accorded a place with honour in the World Christian Library, Chicago. They sought his permission to have his works deposited in the world library.
Unfortunately kaviarasar was lying in a semi-coma state in the Chicago hospital at that time. The missionary team then flew to Chicago and broke the news and at the same time sought his permission. Kaviarasar was brimming with tears of joy to know that his works on the noble bible had been given world recognition and he gave the go-ahead through a smile and hand gesture.
Whats so great about the 'Yesu Kaaviyam' one may ask. Till todate no one had written the bible in a poetry form in any language of the world which fact caught the attention of the higher-ups in the Christian World headquarters. Kaviarasar had created a world record of sorts.
After completing the 'Yesu Kaaviyam' he toyed with the idea of working on the Al Quran. He wanted to be seen as a fair-minded poet encompasssing all religions, in short, to practise what he had preached through his songs. But his Muslim friends advised him against it. The reason being that any translation, interpretation or poetic expressions of the Al Quran by a non-Muslim will not go down well with the Muslims. Kaviarasar agreed to the sensitiveness expressed his Muslim friends.
More later folks and have a nice week-end!
- From: R. Mahendra Raj (@ 210.186.0.99)
on: Sat Mar 29 00:16:23 EST 2003
Mani, what is the speciality about 'Chiru Koodal Patti' vi-a-vis kaviarasar's songs with sexual overtones? I hope you can shed some light on this.
Thanks.
- From: geeth (@ 213.121.248.170)
on: Sat Mar 29 01:57:06 EST 2003
Mahendra Raj and Mani - very interesting postings. may you be praised for helping us understand kaviarasar better and also appreciate what a great man he is.
old flames definitely ignites a person and especially poets. recently when i was watching the movie 'Azhagi' i was thinking that we are missing kavinjar very much. what magic he would have woven for such a storyline !
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