Home   Forum   Wiki   Notes   Register   FAQ   Sitemap   About Us   Contact Us  

KAVIYARASU KANNADASAN

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.
WILL WE EVER GET BACK A KAVINGYAR LIKE KANNADASAN ??

Read the complete opening post here.

---

Responses:

• Old responses
  
• From: R. Mahendra Raj (@ 203.106.49.174) on: Sat Apr 19 00:39:29 EDT 2003
  
  Thanks Saravan for the info on kaviarasar's premier song.
  
  The first ever dream picturisation duet song in the Tamil film industry was 'Naadagamlellam kandaen unthan aadum vizhiliyilae' ('Madurai Veeran' 1955). Although kaviarasar concentrated on the story and scripting alone, Lena Chettiar insisted on an unique love song by the former. That's the reason in the title credits you can see kaviarasar's name under this song title. The picturisation came out very well with excellent superimposing shots. It was an excellent effort with the barest minimum of technology those days. Lena Chettiar was so impressed that he garlanded kaviarasar when the latter walked into the studio!
  
  Btw, after this film's success there was an apparent friction between Lena Chettiar and kaviarasar over the latter's habitual latecoming to work. When Lena Chettiar decided to produce 'Raja Desingu' (1959) he excluded kaviarasar from his team.
  
  When NSKrishnan came to act out his role he asked that his script be read by his assistant. After listening to the script he commented that "nowadays Kannadhasan is slacking in his profession" because of the amateurish work. Lena Chettiar then told him that the script was written by a new comer who is disciplined and punctual unlike Kannadhasan who was a habitual late-comer.
  
  NSK was offended by this statement by Lena Chettiar. He sarcastically shot back that his chauffuer is a man of punctuality also and therefore he could also use him as one of the scriptwriters for this film!
  
  Realising that NSK was serious Lena Chetiar went with looking for kaviarasar and finally managed to locate him in his "Thendral' office. After exchanging a few pleasantries the animosity between Lena Chettiar and kaviarasar was forgotten with NSK being the intermediary. So it was back to work for kaviarasar in Lena Chettiar's film, 'Raja Desing'.
  
  Back again folks, bye!
  
  
• From: R. Mahendra Raj (@ 203.106.49.42) on: Sat Apr 19 10:30:13 EDT 2003
  
  Hi folks, just could'nt resist posting lest I forget! I am dependent upon my memory and as and when I recall interesting anectodotes of kaviarasar I post it immediately provided I am free, of course!
  
  For the song "Irandu manam vendum" ('Vasantha Maalighai' 1972) it was Pugazhenthi, the faithful assistant to KV Mahadevan, who included the lines "kadavulai thandikka enna vazhi" which kaviarasar approved. Kaviarasar has a lot of regards for Pughazanthi for his knowledge of literature Tamil although not being a Tamilian himself.
  
  When the Malayalam 'Thulaabaram' was remade in Tamil (1969) kaviarasar sat with music director Devarajan to compose the songs. When shown the original Malayalam lyrics he was very impressed and insisted that it be translated into Tamil (by himself of, course).As they say it takes a genius to recognise another. It is usually rare for a poet to translate instead of penning the lyrics himself but kaviarasar gave due credit to the original writer. Such was his magnamity. He penned the other two songs to give a Tamil effect, "Sangam valartha hamizh" and "Poonjittu kannangal".
  
  Bye folks!
  
  
• From: R. Mahendra Raj (@ 203.106.49.42) on: Sat Apr 19 11:30:27 EDT 2003
  
  Btw, I could'nt download the Mukta Sreenivasan's article on kaviarasar which appeared in the Cinemaexpress in time. I have just managed to re-download the Tamil Font but on scanning I found the article on kaviarasar missing. Could anyone help me with a reproduction of this article? I would be very, very, very grateful! Thanks.
  
  
• From: R. Mahendra Raj (@ 203.106.49.74) on: Sun Apr 20 06:55:44 EDT 2003
  
  Hi! there folks.
  
  Kaviarasar was still reeling with frustration whenever he had to work with JP Chandrababu for the bitter experiences he had had encountered during the shoot of 'Kavlai Illatha Manithan'.
  When he was asked to do a philosophical song for him in 'Annai' (1963) he wrote the song "Butthi ulla manithargal ellam vetri kaanbathillai Vetri pettra manithargellam butthisaali illai". He vent out his frustration at Chandrababu while giving him a point or two to ponder through this song.
  
  It was also rumoured that at that time when Chandrababu realised that he sang this song unwittingly for himself he asked Maruthakasi to pen a reply song. Thus the song "Ennai theriyilaaya Innum puriyillaya Kuzhanthai pollae en manasu En vazhiyo endrum puthu thinasu" ('Yarukku Sontham' 1963)was penned!
  
  However, kaviarasar did work on Chandrababu's songs such as "Naan oru muttalanga" ('Sahothiri' 1960); "Poranthaalum aambalayai porakka koodathu" ('Policekaran Magal' 1961); 'Kaathal enbathu ethuvarai' & 'Thaniyaa thavikara manasu' ('Paatha Kaanikkai' 1962); 'Unggal kaigal uyarattum' & 'Konjam thallikkanum' ('Kadavulai Kandeyn' 1963).
  
  They both became good friends once again through the song "Sirippu varuthu sirrippu varuthu" ('Aandavan Kattalai' 1964) when they found a common enemy in the name of politicians!
  
  Speaking of 'Kavalai Illatha Manithan' I remember yet another background incident.
  
  After 6 years from the experiences of 'Kavalai Illaatha Manithan' kaviarasar was still facing litigation processes in the courts for trusting a 'close friend' to deal all matters pertaining to this film. Summonses after summonses were arriving at his doorstep. One day freshly returning from the courts he wrote the song 'Ithuvum venumadaa Enakku innumum venumadaa Ethayum nalla idai podaamal uthavi seythanae....' ('Kalyaniyin Kanavan' 1963) out of sheer frustration!
  
  While sitting to write for 'Avan Pitthanaa?'(1966)kaviarasar came out with the first line of the song "Iraivan irukindraana?" and showed this to music director R. Parthasarathy. The latter, with a touch of humour, replied him "manithan irukindraana?". The first stanza was thus completed! "Iraivan irukindraana manithan keytkiraan..........."Manithan irukindraana Iraivan keytkiraan". The Iraivan in this context was R. Parthasarathy,named after the legendary God!
  
  See you again bye folks!
  
  
• From: senthil (@ 67.82.206.93) on: Sun Apr 20 08:31:38 EDT 2003
  
  Mahendra Raj,
  
  Hats off. Please keep up the good work. Your documentation on Kannadasan is a great service and will enable thefuture generations to appreciate the phenomenon called Kannadasan.
  
  Regards
  
  Senthil
  
  
  
• From: R. Mahendra Raj (@ 210.186.0.141) on: Mon Apr 21 04:30:08 EDT 2003
  
  Thanks Senthil for the compliments!
  
  I just came across a bit on the MSV-TKR separation issue which should be read in continuity with the earlier postings.
  
  When the relationship between MSV and TKR began to surface they tried all possible means to keep it under wraps. But the last straw which broke the camel's back was when MSV alone briefly appeared as a music composer for the song "Avalukkenna azhagiya mugam" ('Server Sundram' late 1964). Ever since this cameo appearance by MSV, TKR felt that he was deliberately being side-lined which culminated in their eventual separation after working together for the last time in 'Ayirathil Oruvan' (1965).
  
  Besides what I had had posted earlier films like 'Thanga Churangam' (1969), 'Sangamam' 1971 also helped TKR to stay afloat in the industry.
  
  And back to a bit on kaviarasar.
  
  Kunnakudi Vythianathan, after rendering the tune for kaviarasar's song "Paal ponggum paruvam" ('Manithanum Deivamaagalam' 1975)played it back for the latter's listening. Kaviarasar at once detected the familiarity of the tune and asked Kunnakudi about this. The latter agreed that he had lifted this tune from elsewhere. Inspite of the thousands of songs around kaviarasar's memory is something to be reckoned with!
  
  Bye folks!
  
  
• From: Subbu (@ 216.52.49.9) on: Mon Apr 21 06:22:00 EDT 2003
  
  Mahendra raj,
  
  I would like to share some information about Kaviyarasar's experience during implementation of 20-point programme by the late PM Mrs.Indira Gandhi during mid 70's (1974-75???). Cinema/Songs are the best among the propaganda media. So, Kannadasan had volunteered to spread the message on the "Irubadhu amsa thittangaL" using his songs.
  
  Kaviyarasar wrote one song for each point (totally 20 songs obviously). The Music was scored by MSV. Songs were sung by TMS, PBS, PS, LRE, VJ. I think Seergazhiyaar and Jayachandran also sung.
  
  A grand introduction program was organized in KalaivaNar arangam. Sivaji Ganesan and Kannadasan took care of compering of 10 songs each (first 10 were by Kannadasan). All the singers were present and they sung their respective songs. Both the comperers started introducing the "point" first with "adiyen padikkindren amsam pathu, padhinondru... etc". Then singer name... Then the song. It was for almost 4 hours. Some thing special in that prog was that all the singers were at peak esp, TMS and PS. VJ and JC were upcoming. Everyone cooperated very well (due to fear of emergency???).
  
  Few songs I remember:
  
  Naduththara makkaLin varumaanan... adhu nalam pera mattroru vegumaanam by PS
  
  Kalloori maNavarukku nalla kaalam by PS
  
  Ethanai ethanai puthagangaLadaa engaL kuzhandhaigaL padikka by TMS + PS
  
  One lovely duet by PBS and VJ (this was the only duet by this pair???)
  
  Finally all the singers appeared on the stage to sing "jana gana mana". A classic programme. Everyone praised Sivaji and Kannadasan for their contribution, incl the message from Mrs. Gandhi.
  
  You have any more info on this Mr.Raj?
  
  
• From: Subbu (@ 216.52.49.9) on: Mon Apr 21 06:22:56 EDT 2003
  
  Mahendra raj,
  
  I would like to share some information about Kaviyarasar's experience during implementation of 20-point programme by the late PM Mrs.Indira Gandhi during mid 70's (1974-75???). Cinema/Songs are the best among the propaganda media. So, Kannadasan had volunteered to spread the message on the "Irubadhu amsa thittangaL" using his songs.
  
  Kaviyarasar wrote one song for each point (totally 20 songs obviously). The Music was scored by MSV. Songs were sung by TMS, PBS, PS, LRE, VJ. I think Seergazhiyaar and Jayachandran also sung.
  
  A grand introduction program was organized in KalaivaNar arangam. Sivaji Ganesan and Kannadasan took care of compering of 10 songs each (first 10 were by Kannadasan). All the singers were present and they sung their respective songs. Both the comperers started introducing the "point" first with "adiyen padikkindren amsam pathu, padhinondru... etc". Then singer name... Then the song. It was for almost 4 hours. Some thing special in that prog was that all the singers were at peak esp, TMS and PS. VJ and JC were upcoming. Everyone cooperated very well (due to fear of emergency???).
  
  Few songs I remember:
  
  Naduththara makkaLin varumaanan... adhu nalam pera mattroru vegumaanam by PS
  
  Kalloori maNavarukku nalla kaalam by PS
  
  Ethanai ethanai puthagangaLadaa engaL kuzhandhaigaL padikka by TMS + PS
  
  One lovely duet by PBS and VJ (this was the only duet by this pair???)
  
  Finally all the singers appeared on the stage to sing "jana gana mana". A classic programme. Everyone praised Sivaji and Kannadasan for their contribution, incl the message from Mrs. Gandhi.
  
  You have any more info on this Mr.Raj?
  
  
• From: R. Mahendra Raj (@ 210.186.0.253) on: Mon Apr 21 22:55:30 EDT 2003
  
  Thanks for the info Subbu.
  
  Kaviarasar once lamented that the Congress Party was self-conscious to the extent that they looked low upon cinematic propoganda to boost their image. He said that the Congress could have easily used Shivaji Ganesan and himself to promote its ideals through the Tamil film media. The Congress was reluctant to follow the DMK or AIDMK's style of using the celluloid as its propaganda vehicle. It still has this pride I suppose.
  
  On their own, both Shivaji and kaviarasar volunteered to indirectly spread the Congress message through songs, dialogues and subtle visuals of the Congress' symbol.
  
  To tell you the truth Subbu, I was never interested in matters on kaviarasar's indulgence in politics. I was more for his cinema songs, personal experiences situations and his character as a whole. Sometimes I used to wonder whether his experiences in poltics are worth mentioning at all since the scenario is on-going unchanged!
  
  I also use to wonder the way kaviarasar heaped praises upon praises on all the state and national level politicians. But in the next breath he has also brought them down to the lowest ebb and criticism of the highest level! Such contradictions had made me steer clear from commenting on his political involvement situations.
  
  I remember reading sometimes ago that he sacrificied his offer of a prospective state ministerial post in favour of a party stalwart who was his buddy. This type of gesture makes interesting reading as we get the insight and opportunity to learn more about this legend's character.
  
  I will add on more later, bye for now!
  
  

---

List all pages of this thread

Post comments