Appreciation of AM

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Appreciation of AM Appreciation of AM

Topic started by Ravi (@ greed.cs.umass.edu) on Mon Dec 1 10:23:11 EST 1997.
All times in EDT/EST +9:30/10:30 for IST.

Responses:

From: Ravi (@ greed.cs.umass.edu) on: Mon Dec 1 10:32:01 EST 1997

This topic was inspired by NOV's comment that AM is present day LRE. ithai verum listing excerciseaaga mattum pannaama, lets try to comment on his performance in various songs so that we can see how many people share NOV's opinion.
AM-na theriyaathavargaLukku it is Arun Mozhi. He was introduced by IR in Soorasamhaaram. I agree that he sounded horrible in that movie. But he has improved a lot IMHO. Esp. his songs in Thaalaattu paadavaa. He is the only male signer IR used for that movie apart from himself singing the title song. He has a sort of serene quality to his voice, that goes well with slow/melodious songs. Sort of like KJJ. (ithukku nerayA thittu varumnu ethirparkkirEn. Just rem. I am not saying he is as talented as KJJ. :).
The reason we should discuss him: Many of IRs recent hits have been with AM as the male singer: 'mastaana - raasayya','irattai rOja','natuppura paattu' etc. (enakku ithellaam recent since that was when I left India. :) He has done a good job in some older songs also, like 'muththamma' in thanthu vittEn ennai. Also he is beg. to be used by otehr MDs except IR. (This was what upset NOV in the first place.:)
So lets try to list his songs along with comments and then draw a conclusion on what his place is in TFM. Somewhere at the bottm of the ladder or somewhere in the league of MV or Jayachandran. ippavE naan solliduvEn it is not in the league of either SPB or KJJ.
From: Ravi (@ hope.cs.umass.edu) on: Mon Dec 1 11:45:13 EST 1997

Before anyone bashes me, let me clarify.. I was in no way trying to disparage LRE. I was just quoting NOV. pORRuvar pORRalum thooRRuvaar thooRRalum pOgattum vElnaukkE.
From: Ramki (@ cs509.cs.wmich.edu) on: Mon Dec 1 15:02:54 EST 1997

Mogamull had a great song 'manamae gurunatharin'and AM efficiently wbrought out the feelings of the character through his voice.

I dont think its fair to compare him with LRE.Except for Masthana masthana and couple of similar pieces most of his songs were melodious

Other songs that i can recall are

raaja raaja dhan - engae ooru rajakumari-He sings a small portion -a duet with SJ
velli golusumani-with chitra-pOngi varum kaveri
Malarae thendral paadum gaanam idhu-veetle viseshangae-a duet with SJ(another good piece)
Kanyakumariye-Another good solo used to come in Malaysian radio often-movie unknown
enadhu raagam mouna raagam - pondatti thevai-a duet with SJ(another great song but unfortunately it didnt popular)
aariraararo pattu paada naanum thai illai-pondatti thevai-with chitra
podhum edutha janmamae-pillaikuttikaran-with Uma ramanan
thendralukku theriyuma themmangu pattu-Bharathi Kannamma-with Chitra
ival yaaro vaan vittu vandhingu neendhum nilavo-rajavin parvaiyile-with SJ
arumbu thalire-Chandralekha-with Bhava?
Masthana masthana(probably the worst case:))-rasaiyyah
From: RAJAN (@ proxy-119.iap.bryant.webtv.net) on: Mon Dec 1 20:04:15 EST 1997

After IR's voice I love AM's voice.

My favorites of IR-AM are:

Classical songs:
---------------
1. "Oru kanamaayinum.." - YENNARUKIL NEE IRUNDHAL
2. "Thirumagal unn mugam.." - VEERA, VANAJA GIRIJA
3. "Nenje gurunaatharin.." - MOGA MULL

Others:
------
1. "Amman kovil yellame..." - RAJAVIN PAARVAIYILE
2. "Ival yaaro vaan vittu." - RAJAVIN PAARVAIYILE
3. "Punnai vana poonguyile."- SEVVANTHI
4. "Thenral varum munne munne..." - DHARMASEELAN
5. "Arumbum thalire thalirth...." - CHANDRALEKA
6. "Veandinaa veandum varam.." - KATTA PANCHAYATHU
7. "Kanyaakumari Neeye Yennai..." - THAMBI THURAI
8. "Muththamma muththu" - THANDHUVITTEAN YENNAI
9. "Naan oneru keattal tharuvaaya." - ILAYA RAAGAM
10."Neela kuyile solai kuyile.." - SOORASAMHARAM
11."Naan yenbathu neeyallavo.." - SOORASAMHARAM
12."Odai kuyil oru paattu" - THAALAATTU PAADAVA
13."Nee thaana nee thaana" - THAALAATTU PAADAVA
14."Varaathu vantha......" - THAALAATTU PAADAVA
15."Kelakkaala sovaththu .." - NAATTUPURA PAATTU
16."Aaththula annakili..." - VEERA
17."Vaalayadi vaalaya.." - CHINNA RAMASAMY PERIA
18."Anantha kuyilin paattu" -KATHALUKKU MARIATHAI 19."Aararo pattu paada" - PONDATTI DHEVAI
From: Rajaraman (@ 192.122.135.224) on: Mon Dec 1 20:43:42 EST 1997

Arun mozhi, IM Humble O, sounds monotonous.(oru
enthu-ve illaama, sometimes, kadamai-kku
paadara maathiri thonum.. sorry if i went too far)
He seems to be sounding better now, e.g. chalakku
chalakku sarigai chelai(soorya vamsam).
I think it'll sometime for him to reach JC & MV
kind of league even.

But his tone suits songs like "thirumagal un
mugam kaana vendum"(veera) and the mogamul
song.

malare thendral paadum: is it not KJJ? Maybe
there is one AM version.

arumbum thalire was with Preeti
From: NOV (@ 202.184.134.10) on: Mon Dec 1 20:25:34 EST 1997

Ravi - What a smart way to begin this discussion. Arun Mozhi yendru solli irunthaal, probably many people won't be interested. AM yendru oru mystery-ai undaaki, yelloaraiyum inthe pakkam thisai thiruppa paarkereergal. Good. Yennai vambil maatti vaikka padai yeduththu kilambi viteergal. Naan yenna seiya? Neengal veesum valaiyil, ithoa naan sikka thayaaraagivittein! :-))

Since you started this thread with inspiration from me (!) give me the opportunty to explain my feelings. When AM first started to sing, I loved his songs. Unlike you, I really enjoyed his Soora Samharam songs. Thalattu Paadava, needless to say, was excellent. But slowly, his songs became monotonous and his voice just droned on and on... and that's when the rut set in. Because of his drone, one song of his didn't sound very different from another, in spite of the excellent accompanying music by IR.

I did not liken him to LRE, as in singing for vamps, but instead as "yet another singer" in TFM. He has some nice songs to his credit and I am not denying that. But these far outnumber the good ones. IMO, like LRE, he has started to irritate.

Another sore point is why IR is consistently using him (as a show of defiance?) when he has abandoned other better singers. SP Sailaja immediately comes to mind. You can describe me as a sentiment fool but I firmly believe IR's downfall is caused by the curse known as AM!

Ravi - Comparing AM with Malaysia Vasudevan is sacriligeous! Come on man, you can't be serious - MV yengey, unga AM yengey!?! Somewhere at the bottom of the ladder is more acceptable :-))
From: Ravi (@ hope.cs.umass.edu) on: Tue Dec 2 15:35:45 EST 1997

enna NOV enga AM-A? unga oorlErnthu thaan MV-ya thuraththi vitteengaLE? avarum enga aaLu thaan. :)
From: RAJAN (@ proxy-101.iap.bryant.webtv.net) on: Tue Dec 2 19:27:32 EST 1997

KARTHIK RAJA introduced AM as a LYRICIST in "YENAKKORU MAGAN PIRAPPAN". He wrote all the songs for that film except "Poocharamaai oru poonkuruvi". He also wrote "Jolly Jolly life" song in "ULLASAM".

"Poocharamaai oru poonkuruvi" was written by "ILANTHEVAN" also introduced on that movie. After that song "ILANTHEVAN" wrote all songs in K.Balachander's KALKI.
From: RAJAN (@ proxy-101.iap.bryant.webtv.net) on: Tue Dec 2 19:33:46 EST 1997

KJY and AM are singing together for the song "VAALAYADI VAALAYA..." in the movie "CHINNA RAMASAMY PERIYA RAMASAMY".
From: RAJAN (@ proxy-101.iap.bryant.webtv.net) on: Tue Dec 2 20:05:27 EST 1997

Nowadays IR is giving more preference to AM. Its may be to replace KJY. (we won't forget KJY's initial stage performance...:))) Next generation or may be after some years we(I) may tell AM's voice resembles KJY.
(Paada paadaththan kuralukku merukerum yenru solvaargal!:-))

In the RAJ TV interview, AM told that:
After returning from one month music tour, I saw IR in the Prasath recording theatre, he(IR) told that "I HAVE NOT USED ANY FLUTE INTERLUTES FOR THE PAST ONE MONTH" yeanna onna thavira vera yarayum use panna yeanakku manasuvaralappa....
From: RAJAN (@ proxy-101.iap.bryant.webtv.net) on: Tue Dec 2 20:08:09 EST 1997

NOV:
IR's downfall...? Could you just explain please..?
From: RAJAN (@ proxy-101.iap.bryant.webtv.net) on: Tue Dec 2 20:23:24 EST 1997

SENTIMENT-nnu sonna udaneye yenakku MV yabagamthaan varukirathu. MV yellapaattum oru padaththula paadina antha padam 100% flopukku guaranteennu film industryla oru sentiment undu.
Some examples:
1. Maaveeran
2. Athisayapiravi
3. Yenkitta moathathe
4. Nee sirithal theepaavali

What you guys thinking about this sentiment?
From: ramki (@ cs509.cs.wmich.edu) on: Tue Dec 2 20:28:41 EST 1997

Rajan i too like AMs voice but i dont think he can ever replace KJY(or anyone can). KJYs main talents are-his carnatic background and the depth of his voice. KJY voicele irukkira depth amaiyardhu romba kashtam sir. Imagine AM singing 'poomalai vangi vandhan'-even after 20 yrs he will not be able to give such a rendition.Paada paadadhan kuralukku merugerum correct but AM industrykku vandhu 11 varusham aachu innum kuralil avvalavu changes ille.
Rajaram sonnamadhiri kadamaikku paadira madhiri oru feeling thondradhu. :)

AM voicele innoru song

Maan kutti nee vadi meen kutti pole - pudhupatti ponnuthayi -with Devi
From: Aravind (@ 202.42.152.9) on: Tue Dec 2 21:05:36 EST 1997

Rajan

What about '16 vayathinilE'

I too agree that AM is a boring singer. He has a better voice than MV or Mano, but no enthu. His value addition to songs are very minimal. IR En AMku ivvaLavu pAttu kudukkaraar? Do you people know that his real name is Napolean?

He is worth a separate TFM thread.
From: Aravind (@ 202.42.152.9) on: Tue Dec 2 21:05:51 EST 1997

Rajan

What about '16 vayathinilE'

I too agree that AM is a boring singer. He has a better voice than MV or Mano, but no enthu. His value addition to songs are very minimal. IR En AMku ivvaLavu pAttu kudukkaraar? Do you people know that his real name is Napolean?

He is not worth a separate TFM thread.
From: RAJAN (@ proxy-101.iap.bryant.webtv.net) on: Tue Dec 2 21:05:58 EST 1997

Ramki:
Maan kutti nee vadi meen kutti - AM and Lekha
From: Aravind (@ 202.42.152.9) on: Tue Dec 2 21:06:39 EST 1997

Sorry for the double posting. Please ignore the first.
From: Ramki (@ cs509.cs.wmich.edu) on: Tue Dec 2 21:32:23 EST 1997

Rajan thx for the correction(but why this Msian radio says its Devi?)

Aravind MV is a better singer compared to AM.
How can we forget all those 70s and early 80 Ilaiyaraja hits?Most of them were by MV
From: NOV (@ 202.184.134.10) on: Tue Dec 2 22:44:20 EST 1997

Rajarama - How come your posting appeared before mine, although I had posted first? Anyway, I am glad that to know that I am not alone is feeling that AM's voice is monotonous.

Ravi - Koavichukaatheenge! "Unga" AM, as in "your favourite". Nothing to do with namma ooru :-)) Yein ungalukku intha namma aalu unga aalu yellam? BTW, MV's brother, MS Gopalan is quite a legendary singer in Malaysia.

Rajan - IMO, AM should stick to his flute if that is where his talents lies. He could off course extend it to writing songs (which nowadays need no qualifications :-)) but that should be the limit! BTW It's a jolly jolly life-laa oru paataa? Nalla utharnam - avarin thiramaikku! :-))
Also "IR's downfall" paththi naan peisa virumbavillai. Some things are better left unsaid, if you know what I mean. (But before you jump at me, let me tell you I think that IR is a genius and he has accomplished much more than most MDs can even begin to think about and to me he is the greateat MD in the whole world and is the only MD of whom I am a fan. Poathuma - unga manasu kulurnthuchaa?)
About your sentiment on M'sia Vasu, I have to think real hard before I can counter that. Aravind has given a very good eg.

Aravind - Like Ramki, I beg to differ on your statement that AM has a better voice than MV and Mano. Like Ravi has said, AM is ........ somewhere down the ladder......! However I agree with you that he is not worth a separate TFM thread. :-))
From: NOV (@ 202.184.134.10) on: Tue Dec 2 22:47:23 EST 1997

Sorry if my first para gave you the shivers! It should read:

Rajarama - How come your posting appeared before mine, although I had posted first? Anyway, I am glad to know that I am not alone in feeling that AM's voice is monotonous.
From: shankar (@ webgate4.mot.com) on: Wed Dec 3 01:44:44 EST 1997

NOV annaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.......yen ippadi AM thalayai pottu uruttugireergal ?? ( TN la ungal pakkathu veettukararAga irundharo?!) (just kidding ;-) ) .

AM is /will no way( be) near KJY .But before commenting on his voice not having depth like that of KJY ,one should listen to KJY's earlier songs . NinaivAle silai seidhu (andaman kAdali )
is one such example (KJY was notriously known for singing it "therukkoyile odi vaa" though the reason behind it was that he writes the song in mallu and sings it) Did his voice have the depth it has now . Give some time for AM to sing atleast 100 songs and check if he's good/poor in rendering songs .As rajan put it "paada paada than kuralukku merugerum "
From: Ravi (@ greed.cs.umass.edu) on: Wed Dec 3 01:45:20 EST 1997

Ah.. So AM's voice is monotonous.. agreed.. Is it always so? avarai oorugaai maathiri appa appa kEtkkanum. Liek IR was using him initially. He prob. sang about 5-6 songs a year, till a couple of years ago.
Have people listened to JC's later songs for IR. Esp. raajavin paarvayilE, pon vilangu etc... I found them monotonous. Prob. it is the way IR prefers to use them nowadays?
Rajan: When you said AM is your favourite singer after IR, were you being sarcastic.. or paying him a genuine compliment? :-). Don't reply here, lets start a separate thread and fight it out there. For the record I like IR's voice too.
Arvind: That perunthalaigaL like you, Rajaraman, Ramki and NOV bothered to post here vindicates my starting a separate thread. :)
From: NOV (@ 202.184.134.10) on: Wed Dec 3 04:35:08 EST 1997

Ravi - deserving and getting are two different things. In many people's opinion, Indian didn't deserve to get the award, but it did get it! So while Arun Mozhi doesn't deserve a separate thread he got it! :-))

Shankar - To know about KJJ's earlier voice, you would have to rewind even further. His problem was pronunciation, and was not a source of irritation:-)

Ravi - yenakku oorukka avvalavu ishtam illei. Yenna seiya solreengeh!

Anyway, if AM eventually sings better, I don't have any qualms about enjoying his songs. I immensely disliked Bavatharani's voice, but now in Alps malai kaatru song, she has indeed improved. (Why can't these people get their training elsewhere?!?!)
From: RAJAN (@ proxy-102.iap.bryant.webtv.net) on: Wed Dec 3 12:41:53 EST 1997

Aravind:
In "16 vayathinile" IR is also there.
From: Aravind (@ 202.42.152.9) on: Wed Dec 3 21:21:43 EST 1997

Ravi

kOvichchukkAthIngka. nAn en karuththai sonnEn. I have also agreed that he has a good voice better than many more successful singers. I am NOT an authority to decide that AM is worthless. Tastes are subjective. nIngka thArALamA thread aarambikkalAm :-)

Ramki

I did not say that AM is better than MV. I said that AM's voice has more depth. But MV is anyday a better singer because of his enthu.

NOV

I would still maintain that AM has got a better voice. MV has a nasal touch but his high pitch singing (oru thenRal puyalAgi - puthumaip peN) and his enthu in fast songs (E mainA - mAvIran) make him a much better singer than AM.
From: Rajaraman (@ 192.122.135.224) on: Wed Dec 3 23:47:56 EST 1997

"AM's voice has more depth". Can you explain
that Aravind.? I think it'll take decades for
AM to bring out the kind of depth in songs
like "kodai kaala kaatre", "poonkaatru thirumbumaa"...
From: Subramniam (@ brf-cache10.jaring.my) on: Mon Feb 7 04:56:13 EST 2000

Recent hits like :

a) Poonguyil Paattu ( Nee Varuvai Ena )
b) Engal Veettil Ennalum ( Vaanathai Pole )

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