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Songs written with personalities in mind

Topic started by RR (@ proxy.krdl.org.sg) on Mon Jul 3 23:09:07 EDT 2000.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

There are quite a few songs penned with some personalities in mind - sometimes explicit and more often hidden. This thread is to explore such songs and any interesting background stories.

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Responses:

• From: eden (@ 61.1.250.178) on: Mon Jul 3 23:44:31 EDT 2000
  
  `nalla pErai vAnga vEndum piLLaikaLE' from `nam nAdu' has lines that go like this:
  
  `jana nAyakaththil nAm ellOrum ondRu
  thennAttu Gandhi annALE sonnAr,
  thennAttu Gandhi annALE sonnAr'...
  
  One who knows the history of MGR will quickly decipher who's this `thennAttu Gandhi', it's very simple, CNA! Recently, I had a chance to view this song on SunTV where MGR points to a photo of Annadurai when these lines are sung...
  
  The most interesting part of this song is the two children...one of them is Sridevi! (yes, the same Sridevi of moondRam piRai)
  
  
• From: NOV (@ ptl-cache6.jaring.my) on: Tue Jul 4 01:15:31 EDT 2000
  
  RR - Nice to see you back in action. :-)
  
  Many of the songs you have mentioned above have been directed at political wannabes, both apparent and prospective. Even Ilaya Thalapathi Vijay has not been spared. :-))
  
  Either by choice or otherwise, Rajani Kanth movies and songs nowadays depict a political stance.
  
  Although widely speculated to enter into politics, Rajani Kanth has repeatedly said that he is more interested in aanmeegam. Is this what this bit of the song is implying?:
  
  Vidukadhaiyaa indha vaazhkkai
  Vidaitharuvaar yaaroa
  Unadhu raajangam idhudhaane
  Othunga koodaadhu nallavane
  Thondugal seiya nee irundhaal
  Thollai neraadhu thooyavane
  ...
  Kaaviyangal unai paada kaaththirukkumpozhudhu Kaaviyudai nee kondaal ennavaagum manadhu
  Vaazhvai nee thedi vadakke nee poanaal
  Naangal poavadhengey
  
  
• From: eden (@ 61.1.250.144) on: Tue Jul 4 01:56:24 EDT 2000
  
  I think it has been written earlier too about the `madai thiRanthu' song of nizhalkaL(in fact there was a separate thread on this) where there's definite reference to IR:
  
  `pudhu rAgam padaippadhAlE nAnum iRaivanE'
  `isaikkena isaikindRa rasikargaL rAjjiyam
  enakkE dhAn'
  
  IR'll be shown singing in a theatre in the visuals:-)
  
  
• From: SL (@ snfca030-1111.splitrock.net) on: Tue Jul 4 02:52:24 EDT 2000
  
  'Antha Sivagami maganidam seithi solladi' in 'pattiNaththil bootham' was written by KD with Kamarajar in mind (whose mother's name was Sivagami).
  'Nalam thaana' was directed towards ANNa.
  
  
• From: Jay Narayanasamy (@ 1cust127.tnt7.har1.da.uu.net) on: Tue Jul 4 13:12:14 EDT 2000
  
  Some more,with Kamarajar in mind:
  ULLathil nalla uLLAm kanangathenpathu
  MoothavaL Nee koduthay vAzhkaiyil munEtRam
  
  
• From: eden (@ 61.1.250.174) on: Tue Jul 4 23:51:22 EDT 2000
  
  More on `perunthalaivar':
  
  `nam thAtha Gandhi, mAmA Nehruvum thediya selvangaL
  paLLichalai thandhavan, Ezhai thalaivanai thinamum eNNungaL
  
  This song starts something like `thangangalE, nALai thalaivargalE'...looks like the `thalivar, thalaivA' stuff is in Thamizh blood:-)
  
  
• From: cram (@ 206.103.12.102) on: Wed Jul 5 04:33:33 EDT 2000
  
  eden thalaiva:-))),
  the trend continues till this day, and not just to sooperstaar. Duet has a song where prabhu sings "nadichcha engappan", u-know-who. why, even ilayathalapathy has had paeans sung in his praise "teenage governmentin chief minister nee", "paathha sinna rajini thaan". kodumai daa saami!!!
  
  
• From: Manisegaran (@ brf-cache10.jaring.my) on: Wed Jul 5 04:54:12 EDT 2000
  
  The two songs mentioned certainly refer to Kamaraj.
  
  1) Kannadasan,like MGR was never a fully committed member in the DMK Movement. He had areas of accord, and areas of discord in the movement. At a time when he was not too happy with the DMK movement, he wrote many songs against the DMK policies. One of the songs was, as he later admitted, written with Karmaveerar Kamarajar in his mind. The song came out in Padikkatha Methai. The song is:
  
  "Padithathinaal Arivu Petror Aayiram Undu-
  Paadam Padikkatha Methaikalum Paarinil UNdu."
  Padikkatha Methai was the affectionate name of Kamaraj at that time. It was later that KarmaVeerar came to be used.
  In this song there is an anology that has been metaphorically composed, to justify Kamarajar's illiteracy, of course, suiting Sivaji Ganesan too in the film.
  
  "vaazhai Maram Padithathillai-Kani Kodukka Maranthathaa?
  Vaan Mugilum katrathillai-Mazhai kodukka maranthathaa?
  Solai Ellam katrathillai-Kani Kodukka Maranthathaa-Enrum Suthanthiramaai Padivarum
  Kuyilum Padam Padithathaa?
  
  
  2) When Kannadasan left DMK he was with Sambath in the Tamil Desiya Katchi. Later he aligned himself with Kamaraj. It was at this time that Bantulu produced Karnan. In the film he wrote the song "Ullathil Nalla Ullam Urangathenbathu Vallavan Vaguthathada"
  
  3) But poilitics could never agree with people who simply cannot conquer fear, emotion and anger. Kannadasan is a very emotional person, typical of most poets. So he used to be upset over trivial matters and make hasty decisions. There was a time when Kannadasan was not too happy with Kamaraj too. Later on he wanted to patch up with Kamaraj. So came the film Pattanathil Bootham with music by Govarthanam, the brother of Sudarsanam. There Kannadasan wrote the song
  
  "Antha Sivagami maganidam Seithi cholladi-ennai
  sErum Naal Paarka cholladi!
  vERu Yeverodum naan pEsa vaarthai YEthadi? Velan illaamal thogai Yethadi?"
  
  4) In a talk "ILakkiyathil Kathal" Kannadasan makes mention as to who was the motivating factor behind all his cine songs. It seems when he was 12 years old he fell in love with a 13 year old girl. He never openly confessed his love for her. Soon she got married, and he left his village to forgot her. But off an on he used to have thoughts of her. His friends used to ask him for the motivation he had for penning good lyrics. In Paalum Pazhamum he gave the long awaited answer this way:
  
  "Ennai Yaarendru Enni Enni Nee paarkiraai? Ithu Yaar Paadum Paadal Enru nee Ketkinraai-Naan Aval Perai thinam Paadum Kuyil Allava-En Paadal Aval Thantha Mozhi Allava?"
  So this song was written for the tuberclosis infected Sarojadevi for the film, keeping in mind his childhood girlfriend.
  
  5) In Buddha Pictures "Pava Mannippu" also there is the award winning song that Kannadasan wrote for P.B. Sreenivos. It was again written with thoughts of Kannadasan's childhood girlfriend. The song is
  
  "Kaalangalil aval Vasanthan
  Kalaigaliley Aval Oviyam
  Mathangalil Aval Maargazhi,
  Malargaliley Aval Malligai...
  ....AVAL KAVIGNAN AAKKINAAN ENNAI"
  
  6) Many DMK supporters and workers collected money for the elections. Kannadasan too collected. In Marina Beach Anna honoured all of them. Karunanithi received ring. Kannadasan expected some form of recognition. But he was side-stepped. Later he was given an explanation that deeply dissappointed Kannadasan. At the same time some accusations were levelled at him. In the deep dissappointment he wrote a song for Sivaji Ganesan in Padithaal Mattum pothuma as follows, keeping Annadurai in mind.
  
  "Annan Kaattiya vazhiyamma-ithu
  anbaal vilaintha pazhiyamma-kannai
  imaiye keduthathamma en kaiye ennai adithathamma
  
  Adaikkalam Enrey Naanirunthen-Anaithavaney Ennai
  Adithuvittaan-Kodutharulvaai Enrey Vendi Ninren-Kumbitta Kaikalai Murithuvittaan.
  
  Avanai ninaithe naanirunthen-avan thannai ninaithey vaazhnthirunthaan-
  innum avanai marakkavillai - avan ithanai seithum naan verukkavillai.
  
  
  
  7) After leaving DMK Kannadasan and Sollin Chelvar EVK Sambath, together with a few others started the Tamil Desiya Katchi. Then came elections. EVK Sambath stood for elections and lost. As soon as Kannadasan heard this, he was so sad. He was sure that the electorate would make a very wise choice by electing Sambath. But the results showed otherwise. At that time he was busy writing song for BR Bantulu's "Baley Paandiya" There was a jail scene and Kannadasan immediately wrote a song against the electorate, keeping Sambath in mind. The song is
  
  "Yaarai Engey Vaippathu Enru Yaarukkum Theriyallai-ada
  Andang Kaakkaikkum Kuyilkalukkum Betham theriyalai-
  Pereduthu unmayai cholli pizhaikka mudiyalai-ippo
  beedigalukkum Oothuvathikkum Petham theriyalai....
  
  Naanirukkum idathinilye Avan Irukkinraan
  Avan Irukkum idathiniley Naan irukkinren
  Nalai Engu Yaar Iruppar Athuthuvum theriyalai-ada
  nallavanukkum kettavanukkum petham theriyalai-ada enathai cholvenda thambiyo ennathai cholvenda?
  
  Thambi oruvan veliyin ninru kaasu ennugiraan
  Nambi oruvan sirayil inru kambi ennugiraan....
  
  Moodarukkum Manithar pole Mugam irukkuthadaa
  Mosam naasam Veshamellam Nirainthirukkuthadaa
  Kalam maarum Vesham kalaiyum Unmai Vellumadaa
  
  
  8) Of course Kannadasan did not agree with Anna on a number of subjects, but always respected him in a personal capacity. Later whenKadavulai Kanden was produced, Kannadasan was called to write a song in which a sister sings in praise of her elder brother(dream scene) So Kannadasan grabbed the opportunity to ask for the wellbeing of Anna. He wrote for Sowkar Janaki, keeping in mind Annadurai. The song is:
  
  "Anna Anna Sugamthaanaa-un Aasa Nenjam Nalamthaanaa?"
  
  9) In 1967 DMK came to power and Anna was sworn in as the CM of Tamilnadu. HE went to Yale University, Kansas, New York etc and returned home. As he returned Anna fell ill. Many wnet to visit himn in th hospital, but Kannadasan could not visit him owing to some unavoidable situation. Around this time Thillaana Mohanambaal was in the making. Kannadasan wrote a song for Padmini, keeping Anna in mind. The song is:
  
  Nalamthaanaa? Nalam thanaa? Udalum ullamum nalam thaana?
  
  kan pattathaal un meniyiley pun pattatho athai naan ariven
  pun patta seithiyai kettavudan-intha pen patta paattai yaar arivaar?
  
  Ilaimarai kaai pol porul kondu evarum ariyaamal sol inru...
  nadanthathellaam maranthiduvom..
  nadappathaiye ninaithiruppom.....
  
  Anna went to see this movie and understood them message from the song. Anna alos appreciated Sivaji Ganesan's acting. Anna too had tremendous love for Kannadasan. Anna was very sad when Kannadasan left DMK. But the feeling was mutual. Anna could not do much to stop Kannadasan from leaving the party, as there were several other whales whom Anna could not pacify.
  
  That's all for the moment. To be continued.
  
  
• From: NOV (@ ptl-cache6.jaring.my) on: Wed Jul 5 21:16:20 EDT 2000
  
  Great work Manisegaran. :-)
  Nice to have you after such a long time, and with a bang.
  Looking forward to the next part.
  
  
• From: Manisegaran (@ brf-cache10.jaring.my) on: Thu Jul 6 01:06:08 EDT 2000
  
  
  10) There is a song in Pava Mannippu. Sivaji Ganesan who was orphanaged at young age grows up to later identify his original parents. Unfortunately his father becomes his arch enemy while the mother is a most loving person. Sivaji encounters situations where he finds it impossible to express his deep feelings. While Kannadasan was in the studio to write a song for this situation, there came the tragic news that his house was about to be auctioned. He was, like the characterization of Sivaji Ganesan in the film lost in words. So he wrote a song for Sivgaji Ganesan, keeping in mind the auctioner. The famous song is:
  
  Silar Sirippaar-Silar Azhuvaar-naan
  Sirithukkondey Azhugindren
  Silar azhuvaar-silar sirippaar-naan
  azhuthukkondey sirikkindren...
  
  
  11)M.M. Sinnappa Devar produced Thaikku Pin Thaaram which portrayed some form of feudal system in the villages. This film became an instant hit. One of the scenes was MGR sbduing a bull. This poster was used by the DMK for elections and the party won in the constituency. The bull was the Congress Party symbol at that time. The DMK influence was already infiltrating into the cine industry by this time. Maruthakazi wrote a song as follows:
  
  Manusanai Manusan Saappidaraandaa Thambi Payaley-ithu
  Maaruvatheppo vaazhuvatheppo Namma Kavalai
  
  This was already recorded and picturised on MGR riding the bullock cart. Devar came back and
  requested Maruthakazi to rewrite the same song in Anna's style. During those days Anna used to give public speeches in which he used words like "Arumai thambi, arumai thozhan" etc. So Devar wanted Maaruthakazi to write in Anna's style. Therefore the song was rewritten and recorded in disc. The new pallavi goes like this, keeping Anna in mind:
  
  Manusanai manusan saappidaraandaa Arumai thambi-ithu
  maaruvatheppo vaazhuvatheppo ezhai thambi.
  
  The pallavi in the film is different from that in the record.
  
  12) MM Sinnappa Devar produced the famous Thaaikku Pin Thaaram. Immediately after that he produced Neelamalai Thirudan in which Ranjan acted. The Tamil Cine world knew that there was a clod war going on between MGR and Ranjan in rising up as the Superman in Tamil movies. MGR did not want Sinnappa Devar to promote Ranjan. So MGR gave lots of trouble to Devar.(Later Devar and MGR became close friends) Devar was not too happy. He got hold of MAruthakazi and asked him to write a song attacking MGR. A song was written for Ranjan, keeping MGR in mind. The song is
  
  Sathiyamey Latchiyamaai kolladaa
  Thalai nimirnthu unai unarnthu sellada..
  
  Ethanaiyo medu pallam vazhiyiley-unnai
  idara vaithu thalla paakum kuzhiyiley-nee
  athanayum thaandi kaalai mun vaiyadaa-nee
  anjaamal kadamayiley kan vaiyadaa..
  
  Kulla nari koottam vanthu kurukkidum
  nallavarkku thollai thanthu madakkidum-nee
  ellalavum bayam kondu kalangatheydaa-avatrai
  emanulagu anuppi vaikka thayangatheydaa...
  
  
  To be continued soon.
  
  

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