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V.Kumar: Malarum NinaivugaL

Topic started by bb (@ 24.6.231.170) on Wed Jul 7 00:37:21 EDT 2004.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

Saravanan is starting a new series on V.Kumar, titled 'V.Kumar: Malarum NinaivugaL'. He has been in touch with V.Kumar's wife and son and is planning a comprehensive series of articles on V.Kumar. I am sure this will be a treat for VK fans. This will also feature unique introductions to the songs by V.Kumar himself, in his own voice. Thanks to Govind and VK's family for their help on this.

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Responses:

• Old responses
  
• From: G.Ragavan (@ 61.16.168.131) on: Thu Sep 2 05:11:35 EDT 2004
  
  Wonderful movie "Iru Kodugal" is. Worth mentioning about the "Punnagai Mannan" song. As vali said, that song is also a base reason for the success of the movie. VKumar had done a great job.
  
  If v can listen to the other songs, v can better understand how the other MD's are inspired by VK's music. Can someone help on this?
  
  
• From: e (@ 136.2.1.101) on: Thu Sep 2 10:36:28 EDT 2004
  
  ...thiNikkappadAmal, kadhaiyOdu sErndhu varum pAdalkaL neeNda AyuL peRukindRana...
  
  ...`punnagai mannan, poovizhikkaNNan' andha vidhaththil indRum vAzhgiRadhu...
  
  
• From: Saravanan (@ 213.42.2.23) on: Thu Sep 2 14:48:28 EDT 2004
  
  G.Ragavan, I could find the Kannada song, tuned by MSV, in musicindiaonline. Here is the link:
  
  http://www.musicindiaonline.com/music/l/YY00000406
  
  
• From: GK (@ 206.132.99.2) on: Thu Sep 2 15:50:02 EDT 2004
  
  Sarvanan,
  Great writeup. I am looking forward to this series
  that you are authoring, as I used to look forward the Hindu newspaper sports section everyday when I was growing up :).
  Some info on Sanjog (1971)(as if you didn't know :)):
  Nice songs there too. Music by R.D. Burman. What
  a great music director!
  The song Roop ye tera by Kishore is excellent. You can
  listen to it on musicindiaonline.
  http://www.musicindiaonline.com/music/l/XX01000I3Q
  Here is a poster (on a VCD cover) for Sanjog
  http://www.ultraindia.com/movies/filmography/filmography.php?choice=1&na=SANJOG%20(NEW-1)&set=set
  
  
  
• From: V.Mannavan (@ 141.117.3.201) on: Thu Sep 2 18:59:14 EDT 2004
  
  Why dont we have songs in "mp3" format. It will not only be memorable but also be enjoyable to the best. About 90% of V.Kumar songs are the best
  
  Vellimalai Mannavan
  
  
• From: Saravanan (@ 195.229.241.186) on: Fri Sep 3 11:28:05 EDT 2004
  
  GK, thanks for the links! Wish there was a link to the Lata/Asha equivalent of 'punnagai mannan poovizhi kannan' though.
  
  
• From: * (@ 209.142.209.161) on: Sat Sep 4 00:48:57 EDT 2004
  
  
  A fateful coincidence on VK's passing away on Jan 7 1996 - it was one gloomy sunday that saw Becker defeat Chang in the Aus Open final. After years and years of seeing the gentlemanly and unassuming Chang(so much like VK in qualities) not finding his deserving place in the limelight in an era that just wasnt fit for the likes of him...alas! a rare final appearance and success was just not destined that day
  
  
• From: Pal (@ 68.38.226.54) on: Sat Sep 4 08:58:13 EDT 2004
  
  *
  
  Are you sure about the dates? Finals won't be played in the first week of January.
  
  
• From: Saravanan (@ 213.42.2.25) on: Sat Sep 4 14:39:29 EDT 2004
  
  *, good to see you back with your statistics :)
  
  All, please remember to watch Saptha Swarangal on Sun TV tomorrow. Smt.K.Swarna will be appearing as the judge in tomorrow's episode, as well as in the next Sunday's episode.
  
  
• From: * (@ 209.142.209.161) on: Sat Sep 4 22:54:13 EDT 2004
  
  Dear Pal, thanks for the timely correction. Correct date is 28th Jan. Dont know what caused that convincing error. Senility confirmed :(
  
  
• From: @ (@ 63.243.159.10) on: Wed Sep 8 09:59:00 EDT 2004
  
  This thread going too slow.
  
  
• From: somasundaram (@ 61.2.232.83) on: Wed Sep 8 19:38:02 EDT 2004
  
  "Kangalaal naan varaindha anbenum oor kavithai,Thenmalar" from film Mangala naayagi is another good melody song from V.Kumar.The male singer is KJJ please tell me who is the female singer.
  
  
• From: @ (@ 63.243.159.10) on: Fri Sep 10 01:06:42 EDT 2004
  
  too slow. V Kumar deserves better than this.
  
  
• From: bb for Saravanan (@ 24.6.251.57) on: Fri Sep 10 02:26:15 EDT 2004
  
  

  Part IX - The Glorious Seventies

  We now enter the 70s, the decade wherein VK finally came to be recognized as a composer of merit, and sought as a viable alternative to MSV. Many producers, including some major banners, came to him to get the songs composed for their films, and VK invariably came out with memorable albums throughout the decade.
  
  In this context, it is worth spending some time thinking about the state of tfm in the 70s, and how it differed from the 60s. As we know, tfm in the 60s was chiefly dominated by two MDs- MSV (after his split with TKR), and KVM. The other MDs could, at best, be minor players in the arena. It was a generally accepted concept that only MSV or KVM could come up with winning scores and thus all front-ranking producers had a long unbroken association with either of the two MDs. So the other talented stalwarts, who had found enough opportunities to showcase their skills in the 50s, could now only sigh in frustration. And as for aspiring newcomers, tfm sternly warned ‘No Trespassers Allowed!’ The number of films to be released each year was also significantly less, and this was another factor that facilitated the continuance of this trend. It is therefore a matter of wonder that VK and Shankar-Ganesh managed to stay afloat during the difficult 60s. It was left to the 70s to throw wide open the stubborn doors of tfm wide, enabling various composers to present their wares in the Madras marquee. V.Dakshinamoorthi, G.K.Venkatesh, G.Devarajan, M.B.Srinivasan, Vijayabhaskar, Kunnakkudi Vaidhyanathan and Shyam found themselves bagging prized opportunities which they could only dream of in the past. The latter half of the 70s, of course, saw the advent and rapid rise of Ilayaraja, and also the entry of others like Chandrabose and Gangai Amaran.
  
  This trend towards variety percolated into playback singing as well. TMS and PS had to now share centre stage with many others like SPB, KJY, JC, SJ and VJ. MV, Jensy and SPS were among the others who came to the fore in the late 70s.
  
  And in this exciting decade of sweeping changes, our VK notched up some early successes. He gradually charted a distinct identity of his own, and managed to come up with at least one chart-topping number in each of his albums.
  
  * * * *
  
  In 1970, VK got to compose music for 3 Tamil films. The first was Devar’s peN deivam, which came from the Dhandayudhapani Films banner. Devar had started off with KVM as his regular MD. But even while retaining KVM for his films with MGR, Devar got P.S.Diwakar to compose songs for his smaller projects like deiva thirumagaL, kaattu rani, nEr vazhi etc. And at Kannadasan’s recommendation, he started employing the enthusiastic S-G too on a regular basis. In 1970 itself, the other film to come from the Dhandayudhapani Films banner, maanavan, had music by S-G.
  
  peN deivam starred Padmini, Jaishankar, Muthuraman, Major Sundararajan, Lakshmi and others. The story revolved around the travails of Ponnamma (Padmini), who struggles to reform her delinquent husband (Major Sundararajan). Finding him determined to follow his crooked path, she leaves him for good, taking their infant daughter with her. He keeps their son with him, and the son grows up (Muthuraman) as wayward as his father. Meanwhile Ponnamma, wanting her daughter to have a bright future, allows the child to adopted by a rich man (V.S.Raghavan). Ponnamma works as a servant in the same house to be near her daughter. The girl grows up (Lakshmi) and falls in love with a police inspector (Jaishankar), who is in pursuit of Major Sundararajan & Muthuraman. So the reels roll. The dialogues were written by Aroordas, and the film was directed by M.A.Thirumugam.
  
  As we have seen earlier, VK is said to have rushed to Chennai on his wedding day to stick to the recording schedule of peN deivam. The lyrics were by Kannadasan and Alangudi Somu. The film had 4 songs.
  
  The first song is the melancholic thaayoru pakkam thandhaiyoru pakkam, sung expressively by PS. The family is torn asunder; Ponnamma takes her daughter and goes one way, while her unrepentant husband walks another way, taking his son. Ponnamma suffers the anguish of acting as a governess to her own daughter; the child even lisps ‘aayaa’ in the course of this song.
  
  Listen here:
  
  http://www.newtfmpage.com/cgi-bin/stream.pl?url=http://www.dhool.com/sotd/vkumar/thayoru.rm
  
  The next song is the catchy duet oru veedu vENdumaa engE by TMS & PS. I believe this song was quite popular in its time. Listen here:
  
  http://www.newtfmpage.com/cgi-bin/stream.pl?url=http://www.dhool.com/sotd/vkumar/oruveedu.rm
  
  Thanks to sk for making these songs available. The other two songs in the film were ‘udhattilE enakkoru machcham’ (LRE) and ‘vetkkam koLLalaama, innum vilagi pogalaama’ (TMS/PS).
  
  * * * *
  
  In 1970 alone, KB had 4 films released. In a singular departure from his usual collaborations, he made KVM compose songs for his only film with Sivaji Ganesan- ethiroli. Kaaviya thalaivi had music by MSV. And his other two films - paththaam pasali and navagraham had music by VK.
  
  Lyricist Alangudi Somu burnt his fingers very badly by turning producer and engaging KB to direct the film, for pathaam pasali (Alangudi Films) was a lack lustre affair, and came a cropper at the box office. The film starred Nagesh in the pivotal role of a good-hearted man who carries food for office-goers to earn his living. A small girl from a rich family takes a liking for him, and the film revolved around the bond of affection that develops between the two. Gemini Ganesh, Rajasri and Vijayalalitha were the others in the cast.
  
  The film had 6 songs, all penned by Alangudi Somu.
  
  The first song is a paean to C.N.Annadurai, who had passed away just then. Alangudi Somu incorporates some of Anna’s famous phrases into the lyrics, and PS and the chorus singers pay an emotion-choked tribute to the departed leader.
  
  aNNaa endroru nallavaraam,
  avar arunthamizh mozhiyil vallavaraam..
  
  http://www.newtfmpage.com/cgi-bin/stream.pl?url=http://www.dhool.com/sotd/vkumar/anna.rm
  
  The next song is the ever popular ‘veLLai manam koNda piLLai oNNu. The song is filmed on Nagesh and the rich child. The girl is neglected by people in her house, and gets the elusive affection and care from this simple man in his humble abode.
  
  Kumar created a gentle, caressing lullaby, and got TMS to sing it. Swarna joins him towards the end, singing for the child.
  
  Here is a brief preamble by Swarna,
  
  http://www.newtfmpage.com/cgi-bin/stream.pl?url=http://www.dhool.com/sotd/vkumar/swarnavm.rm
  
  and here is the song:
  
  http://www.newtfmpage.com/cgi-bin/stream.pl?url=http://www.dhool.com/sotd/vkumar/vellaimanam.rm
  
  The other songs in the film were ‘kalloorip peNNE nilladi, gavanam edhilE solladi’ (PS), ‘ammaadi embuttu dhooram nadakkirathu’ (TMS), ‘paththaam pasali mama, andha paadam padikkalaama’ (LRE) and ‘pOdaa…pazhagattum jOdi, varuvaanga Odi..poongaavai thEdi’ (TMS).
  
  * * * *
  
  navagraham (Arul Films) was another KB film that starred Nagesh as the chief protagonist. He enters a household filled with quirky people, and sets right the various ills that besiege the members. Muthuraman, Sivakumar, Major Sundararajan, V.Gopalakrishnan, Lakshmi and Ragini were the others in the cast. KB introduced Y.G.Mahendran to Tamil cinema in navagraham.
  
  Lyrics were by Vaali.
  
  The pick of the album is the unforgettable unnai thotta kaatRu vandhu, This song was the first song that SPB sang for VK, and from this beginning, the singer and the MD developed a rapport that saw a series of landmark collaborations in the subsequent years. SPB had high regard for the unassuming VK, and had paid wholesome tributes to him in many interviews.
  
  This lilting duet, filmed on Sivakumar and Lakshmi, has SPB humming and PS singing the lines. VK ushers in the romantic mood of the rain-drenched lovers, and the singers do justice to his composition.
  
  Listen here:
  
  http://www.newtfmpage.com/cgi-bin/stream.pl?url=http://www.dhool.com/sotd/vkumar/unnai.rm
  
  Among the other songs in the film ‘navagraham neenga navagraham’ has Nagesh urging the family members to show some concern for the unmarried Vatsala (Lakshmi) and initiate steps to arrange for her wedding. Along with A.L.Raghavan who sang the song, the actors spoke dialogues in between the verses. Swarna recalls watching the recording of the song when Muthuraman, Ragini, Major Sundararajan and others came to the studio to speak their lines.
  
  ‘ellaamE vayithukku thaaNda, illadha kodumaikku thaaNda’ is another great number, sung with panache by A.L.Raghavan.
  
  * * * *
  
  1970 also VK making his debut in Telugu Cinema with Sambaraala Rambabu (Sri Ramana Chitra). The film was G.V.R.Seshagiri Rao’s adaptation of KB’s edhir neechal. Chalam, Saradha, Padmanabham and Geetanjali were in the cast.
  
  Lyrics were by Rajashree. VK lifted two of his original creations from edhir neechal. ‘aduthaathu ambujatha paarthELaa’ became ‘poruginti meenakshiammano choosara’ (PS/Pitapuram Nageswara Rao) and ‘vetRi vENduma pOttu paarada’ became ‘jeevithamante antulEni okka pOraattam’ (SPB).
  
  sEdhi kEtto took on a different tune- ‘vinnaara vinnaara ee vinthanu vinnaara’ was sung by Madhavpethi Satyam, P.Leela, Swarna and others.
  
  The pick of the album is the melodious maama chandhamaama vinaraava naa kadha (SPB & PS versions). I guess this song might have taken the place of thaamarai kannangaL. I have seen an interview of VK wherein he recalled that this tune was rejected by KB, but became immensely popular in Telugu. This song remains a personal favorite of SPB’s and he sings it unfailingly even today in most of his Telugu music shows.
  
  Listen here:
  
  http://www.newtfmpage.com/cgi-bin/stream.pl?url=http://www.dhool.com/sotd/vkumar/mama.rm
  
  VK thus stepped into the 70s, and some of the finest moments in his career were to come as the decade progressed.
  
  - kumaravijayam thodarum -
  
  
• From: vengayam (@ 203.197.203.98) on: Fri Sep 10 04:41:23 EDT 2004
  
  Saravanan,
  while I don't share your unbirdled passion for VK , I do like some of his songs very much. Navagraham neenga navagraham will occupy a very high position in the list- only topped by perhaps "vaazhvil sowbaghyam" which will no doubt come later. I feel you have not done justice to this "voice ballet" . the boistrousness and the incoherent energy of a "divided" joint family has been etched out perfectly.
  be it YGM's plea" vatchalvukku mattuma vayasachu intha anumanthu kalyaanam enna aachu" or Muthuraman's dilemma of " Rendu saniyan" leading to the cacophony of "yaar saniyan"... avalaa naana naana " nagesh's(ALR) plea cum advice to the figurehead Major"ellorukkum moothavar neenga brahmachari ippadi pattum padaamal irundhukitiruntha I'm sorry"
  the song proceeds to a crescendo "aambalaikku arivillai pomballaikku porupillai" before falling down to a pathetic admission of failure " naai vaalai nimirthu vaikka aa(aa) namatum paa aaadu patten "(nagesh resuming the stutter at the hopelessness of the situation).
  I have not heard the song in ages and am quoting from memory which is not what it once was ( ie sa mu - saravananai arivatharkku munbu)
  I felt that I cannot allow this song to just pass off with other songs in the film included...
  It is like discussing the cricket team of 90s we talk about Sachin and say other members of the team included Dravid.
  saravanan may be you are doing what PGW once wrote - about a tribesman throwing away a pearl because he did not know the value!
  Re "vellaimanam konda" I thought that this was a sort of barter programme between Nagesh and Mehmood. muthu kullika and anubavi raja anubavi exported and kunwaara baap and ... aaja udan khatola me ( Rajesh Roshan's debut by the way)
  Note the similarities between the songs ... much later VK would again find RR's influence in "unnodu ennennavo athisayam"
  but reading a few lines further I feel the telugu number "maama chandamama " can be sung to the kunwara baaptune in which case did RR pick on VK. Only kaumudi can help here!
  Thuglak used to do a doctor's ( J Mahendran?)postmortem of films those days -and the director in question used to reply to the charges. I distinctly remember KB wrote in three words "I plead guilty" That and nagesh in aweepie meant I have not seen the movie till date!
  
  

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