Home   Forum   Wiki   Notes   Register   FAQ   Sitemap   About Us   Contact Us  

A JOURNEY WITH K.V. MAHADEVAN

Topic started by Manisekaran (@ 161.142.2.11) on Fri Jun 14 01:54:38 EDT 2002.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

This is an effort, in a modest way, to trace the great contributions of KVM to the Tamil Film Music. As Tamil Film songs originate from the Tamil films, I am aslo taking the liberty of discussing the background of the films where KVM had comsposed- with the intention of adding spice. I believe this article would serve as a nostalgic tonic to the fans of old songs.

---

Responses:

• Old responses
  
• From: a.a. (@ 64.229.208.171) on: Sun Jun 23 02:11:43 EDT 2002
  
  TMS's another song under AMR is `Saththiyame Thunayana pothu' in `Anbukor Anni', an excellent song.
  
  Mr. Manisegaran,
  Almost the entire article so far is news to me. Please continue with this wonderful work.
  
  
• From: Manisegaran (@ 161.142.78.83) on: Sun Jun 23 10:46:02 EDT 2002
  
  a.a.
  
  Thanks for reminding me of that saong by TMS
  
  Manisegaran
  
  
• From: Manisegaran (@ 161.142.2.11) on: Sun Jun 23 21:07:53 EDT 2002
  
  PART 15
  
  KOONDUKKILI
  
  In 1954 Through Maruthakazi’s recommendation TMS was taken to sing in Aruna Pictures Thooku Thookki. He was taken to the Film Center Studio for recording. Sivaji Ganesan who used to be given playback by CSJayaraman doubted the suitability of the voice of TMS. TMS was willing to sing three songs free. TMS and Sivaji Ganesan were introduced to each other. In the short conversation TMS studied the voice of Sivaji Ganesan. (Right from the beginning TMS was excellent at imitating the voices of most of the heroes he sang for.) And he did sing Sundari Soundari and Eratha Malaithaniley, imitating the voice of Sivaji Ganesan to the closest possible. When G Ramanaathan heard his voice and gave TMS the chance to sing all the songs for Sivaji Ganesan. G.Ramanathan had already used TMS in Mandiri Kumari (Annamitta Veettile). That was how Sivaji got involved with TMS. All the songs were instant and great hits. The fame of TMS shot sky high overnight. There was already a talk that the voice of TMS suited Sivaji Ganesan very much.
  
  While this development was going on, in the same 1954 TR Ramanna and TR Rajakumari started the RR films that produced some of the best movies in Tamil. As the film was under production stage, TMS was given a chance. TMS was invited to sing only chorus. But Tanjai Ramayah Dass was very impressed with the golden voice of TMS, and he requested the story and dialogue writer Vindhan (at that time known as Makkal Writer, and a close friend of Jayakanthan) to give TMS a chance to sing a full solo. By this time Sivaji Ganesan had known TMS as they had worked together in Thookku Thooki songs. Koondukkili is the first film where TMS had sung under KVM’s composition, with the song Konjum Kiliyana Pennai. It was actually G. Ramanathan who built up TMS by that great movie.
  
  
  That was the first song by TMS for Sivaji Ganesan. Just to mention that in films following Thookku Thookki, Sivaji Ganesan was not adamant about using TMS as playback singer, until the early 1960s when he started to insist on TMS singing for him.
  
  But as the song was recorded MGR heard it and wanted TMS to be his permanent singer. He was used in MGR’s next movie Malaikallan where TMS sang Ethanai Kaalamthaan Ematruvaar Intha Naattiley” written by Tanjai Ramaiyah Dass and composed by S.M. Subbiah Naidu. History has it that Koondukkili was the only film where MGR and Sivaji, the two Thilagams acted together. P.A. Periayanayaki sings a song called “Enakku Theriyaley Nejamaa Enakku Theriyialey.” There was also a Deepavali song by TMS and K. Rani that goes “Vaangga Ellorum”.
  
  
  A song by Ratha Jayalechumy that became popular in this film is:
  
  Paar En Maghaley Paar paar,
  Paranthu Kidakkum Annai Boomi
  Arinthunnai Azhaikkuthu Paar Paar
  
  But in this film it was Konjum Kilyana Pennai that made TMS very famous. From then on the TMS-KVM combination started off. There is a situation in the film where Thangaraju (MGR) asks Jeeva (Sivaji Ganesan) to look after his wife when Thangaraju is forced to go to jail owing to circumstances. Jeeva goes for Thangaraju’s wife whom he had fallen in love earlier. Then Jeeva faces a severe conflict within himself as to whether his action was justified. The song is very well written to suit this conflict. Can anyone answer these questions that Jeeva asks?
  
  
  Konjum Kiliyaana Pennai
  Koondukkiliyaaki Vittu
  Ketti Melam Kottuvathu Sariya Thappa?
  Thinna Pazham Thanthuvittu
  Thinnathey Enru Kaiyai Thattivittu
  Thittuvathu Sariya Thappaa?
  
  Theenthamizh Paattai Paadi
  Ketkaathey Enru Kaathai
  Pothivittu Kathuvathu Sariya Thappa ?
  
  Kaathal Seitha Kutram Enathu
  Kankal Seitha Kutramaanaal
  Kannai Padaitha Kadavul Seikai Sariya Thappa?
  
  Kalyanam Seitha Kutram
  Enathu Nanbam Seitha Kutramaanaal
  Katpai Padaitha Manithan Seikai Sariya Thappa?
  Sariya Thappa? Sariya Thappa? Saria Thappa? Sariya Thappa?
  
  
  Kaathal Pichai Vendi Kaiyai Enthi
  Vasal Kathu Ninraal
  Saathirangal Pesuvathu Sariya Thappa?
  Anbu Konda Ullathodu
  Kallamilla Kathal Kondaal
  Aathirangondu Esuvathu Sariya Thappa?
  
  Mannum Ponnum Maayai Enru
  Makkalukku Solliviuttu
  Pennai Paarthu Kannadithal Sariya Thappa?
  
  Vinnulaga Asayinri
  Virumbum Pennai Nesathodu
  Kanniyamaai Kaathalithal Sariya Thappa?
  Matroruvan Vaazhvukkaka
  Manamarintha Pennai Vittu
  Manamudainthu Sutruvathu Sariya Thappa?
  
  Marumalarchi Vendum Vaazhvil
  Marakkamaaten Unnai Enru
  Malarkkarathai Patruvathu Sariya Thappa?
  Sariya Thappa? Sariya Thappa?
  
  
• From: sk (@ 202.156.2.6) on: Mon Jun 24 00:44:02 EDT 2002
  
  Here is a thread where we had some discussion
  on this song some 3 years ago:
  http://newtfmpage.com/forum/22255.9937.02:23:42.html
  
  
• From: sk (@ 202.156.2.6) on: Mon Jun 24 00:47:10 EDT 2002
  
  In that thread I had wrongly mentioned that the
  song was written by Thanjai Ramaiah Das. But it
  was actually by Vindhan as Manisegaran has rightly
  said.
  
  
• From: a.a. (@ 64.229.208.171) on: Mon Jun 24 01:00:06 EDT 2002
  
  Mr. Manisegaran,
  You did mention in part 11, about a duet by AMR & MSR `Kathal Enrale'. Is it from the movie `Ulagam'?
  With all the respect and appreciation to your writings, may I say
  * `Uruvam Kandu' by TMS & KRR is from the movie `Neethipathy', not Niraparathi.
  * `Kulir Thamarai' from `Valayapathi' is not solo but a duet by TMS & Jamuna Rani.
  Thanks again for the interesting tit bits. Please keep going.
  
  
• From: Manisegaran (@ 161.142.2.11) on: Mon Jun 24 02:15:57 EDT 2002
  
  a.a.
  
  The a duet by AM Raja and MS Rajeswary that I mentioned is in the film Ulagam,with MS Gnanamani as MD, a movie released in 1953. Starts as "Premaiyin Ranee Kaathalinaale"
  
  Right. Uruvam Kandu is from Neethipathy, and Kulir Thamarai is a duet. Slip on my part.
  
  Uruvam Kandu-a duet by TMS and KRR, picturised on TS Balaya and KRR (in disguise as a female) a movie of 1955 release
  
  Kulir Thamarai is the second duet for TMS. The first ever duet of TMS is Kulungidum Poovilellaam, MD is S. Dachinamurthy with Bharadidasan penning lyrics.
  
  Happy there are auditors. Readers stand to gain.
  
  Anbudan,
  Manisegaran
  
  
  
• From: Manisegaran (@ 161.142.2.11) on: Mon Jun 24 02:24:22 EDT 2002
  
  Saravanan,
  
  Are you here? The first Duet of TMS and P. Suseela in Kannada was "Radha Madhava" in the Kannada language- UDhaya Kumnar and Saro.
  
  But the first Tamil song of TMS and PS in Tamil is
  
  Sirippatha Azhuvatha in Pennin Perumai of Ragini Pictures. The MD is B. Narasimha Rao and BGM is Master Venu. A film of 1956.
  
  Thanks,
  Anbudan,
  
  Manisegaran
  
  
  
  
• From: Saravanan (@ 213.42.1.247) on: Mon Jun 24 04:50:56 EDT 2002
  
  Mani Sir, great that you manged to identify the first TM-PS duet! Thank you!
  
  
• From: sk (@ 137.132.3.9) on: Mon Jun 24 06:19:37 EDT 2002
  
  Manisegaran:
  
  Is Pennin Perumai the movie in which Sivaji G and
  Gemini G are brothers and Sivaji G is the bad one?
  
  
• From: Sriram Lakshman (@ 195.188.191.69) on: Mon Jun 24 09:17:26 EDT 2002
  
  SK, I think that is banda pAsam, an unbearable movie and surprisingly mediocre music by MSV-TKR.
  
  
• From: OISG (@ 213.150.188.254) on: Mon Jun 24 11:28:20 EDT 2002
  
  ManiS
  
  I read about Sivaji insisting on CSJ singing for him around mid & late-50s.I think TMS mentioned about this in his memoirs "Saundara Barnam".
  
  Almost all the MDs attempted with CSJ even after TMS convincingly proved it.For eg
  KVM in Deivapiravi
  MSV-TKR in thangap padumai and Puthayal.
  I cant recall a GR song by CSJ for Sivaji after thooku Thooki.
  
  
  
• From: archivist (@ 172.170.167.217) on: Mon Jun 24 11:38:56 EDT 2002
  
  Scribe chronicles golden age of Tamil film music
  
  http://www.newindpress.com/startrek/newsInside.asp?id=IEE20020621004226
  
  
  
  CHENNAI: ''If only the threat to the very survival of native music from various directions is properly appreciated, perhaps we'll begin to work together to instill an awareness in the masses about the glorious Indian traditions, by reintroducing a classical flavour back into film music,'' observed rather prophetically Sangeetha Kalanidhi T Viswanathan while delivering the presidential address at the annual music festival of the Music Academy in 1988.
  
  Fourteen years have passed since and no one appears to have acknowledged the gravity of the situation where film music has become nothing more than cacophony. If utter disregard for traditional music is a possible reason for the trend, gross ignorance of the traditions themselves could be the more important factor.
  
  It is here that Vamanan, a journalist-turned-Tamil film music historian, has chipped in with his formidable two-volume work Thirai Isai Alaigal.
  
  It is a treasure for any aspiring Tamil film music student. ''In our past lies our future. Knowing the past will help the younger generation build the future constructively,'' says Vamanan. He is not one to turn up his nose and frown upon the filmi kitsch as he believes no other music encompasses all aspects of human life. ''In fact, it is Tamil film music that kindled my interest in Carnatic music. You see I was able to appreciate the (film) music better since the lyrics were couched in words I could understand unlike in the case of Carnatic music,'' says Vamanan whose biography on singer T M Soundar Rajan is to be released soon.
  
  Known as K N Krishnasamy to his friends, Vamanan had taken to a thorough study of Tamil film music even when working as a full-time journalist. ''While listening to Tamil film music, he is able to hark back to a similar keerthana of Thayayya or some other composer. His commendable knowledge of both the worlds comes in handy in this regard. I'm also impressed with his sobriety. While paying tributes to music directors or singers, he does not break into hallelujahs. His praise is always measured,'' says writer Chinnakuthoosi.
  
  Though he has essentially sought to delineate pen-portraits of singers and music directors, both known and obscure, the book has actually turned out to be a veritable history of Tamil cinema itself.
  
  The research that has gone into his work is amazing. The journalist in him has enabled him to correlate incidents in such a way that detail after detail unfolds before our eyes in one seamless whole. How many of us know that Patathpara Parameswara, the famous vachaspathi raaga keerthana popularised by M S Subbulakshmi, was actually a film song written by Papanasam Sivan?
  
  Or that Papanasam Sivan neither hails from Papanasam nor is Sivan his name? Or that an atheist DMK president M Karunanidhi has written a devotional song? Or that P Susheela was first rejected by T R Papa on the grounds that her Tamil pronunciation was not good?
  
  
• From: Vicky (@ 12.89.141.118) on: Mon Jun 24 17:41:28 EDT 2002
  
  OISG: CSJ (playback for Sivaji Ganesan)and Banumathi teamed up for an exquisite song composed by GRamanathan for the movie "Sarangathara" titled "Sarasarani Kalyani" set in a raaga which the song title carries(only GR could do that). The film was released in 1958. May be someone can confirm this.
  
  

---

List all pages of this thread

Post comments