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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.

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Responses:

• Old responses
  
• From: Manisegaran (@ 161.142.2.11) on: Thu Jul 18 20:01:40 EDT 2002
  
  Dear Subbhu,
  
  I am a government officer in Malaysia, and a fan of old songs.
  
  Thanks
  
  
• From: Manisegaran (@ 161.142.2.11) on: Thu Jul 18 20:28:20 EDT 2002
  
  
  
  PART 29
  The year 1959 seem to be important for KVM had he was getting chances in a row.
  
  PANJALI (1959)
  
  R.S. Manohar acted in this movie. Panjali is a film that would always be remembered for good songs. AL Ragavan has this film to boat to his credit, as some of his best songs come from this film.
  
  P. Suseela sings a highly philosophical song seeking equal status for women:
  
  ANBU ULLAM VENUM
  ARIVAI VALARKKA VENUM
  INBAM SERKKUM KALVIYAAL
  PENGAL ETRAM KAANA VENDUM
  
  
  A.L. Ragavan has left a beautiful song that brought much fame to him. This was the song that made AL Ragavan popular overnight, and he did not fail to sing this song at all live shows. He became eternally thankful to KVM for giving him a chance to sing this most wonderful song. Let me see if I get the lyrics correct.
  
  ORU MURAI PAARTHALE POTHUM
  UN URUVAM MANATHAI VITTU NEENGATHU EPPOTHUM
  
  KARU VIZHI PAARVAYIL MINNAL VANTHAADUM
  KATPANAIKKETTATHA ATPUTHA KAVI PAADUM
  KANI ITHAZH VAAICHOLLIL INIMAI VAZHINTHODUM
  KALAI AZHAGEY UNNAI VAAZHNAALIL-
  (ORU MURAI)
  
  KANNANGALAI ROJA MALAR ENBATHA-ILLAI
  KANNADI ENDRE NAAN VARNIPPATHAA?
  KANNADI ENDRE NAN VARNIPPATHA?
  KANKALAI MEEN ENDRU SOLVATHAA?
  KANKALAI MEEN ENDRU SOLVATHAA?-ILLAI
  KADALUKKU UVAMNAIYAAI KOLVATHAA
  (ORU MURAI)
  
  MAANTHALIRAI KAANUMPOTHU
  MAANTHALIRAI KAANUM POTHU-UN
  VANNA MENI ATHIL KAANUTHEY
  VANN MENI ATHIL KAANUTHEY
  POONGKYUILE UNNAI ENNUM POTHU
  POONGKUYILE UNNAI ENNUM POTHU-ORU
  PUTHIYA ULAGAMUM THONUTHEY
  (ORU MURAI)
  
  
  
  
  There is a fast beat song of AL Ragavan and Jamunarani, which would always be admired by old timers:
  
  AHZAGU VILAYADA AMAIDHI URAVAADA
  ARUVI ISAI PAADI AZHAITHIDUTHEY
  
  
  MADHAVI (1959)
  
  This film is an average one starred by R.S. Manohar and Sowkar Janaki. There is nothing much to mention about this film other than that there is this very beautiful song by Seergazhi Govinderajan and M.S. Rajeswary
  
  THOTTAKKARA CHINNA MAAMA
  THOPPU KULLE PAREN MAAMA
  KAATTU MAADU MEYUTHU PAAR ANGEY
  EN AASAI MAAMA
  KAVAL AZHAGAI NADAKKUTHE ANGE
  EN AASAI MAAMA
  KAVAL AZHAGAI NADAKKUTHE ANGE
  
  
  THOPPIL MAADU MEINTHAAL ENNA
  THOTTAM VEENAA PONAA ENNA
  THOGAI MAYILE ENTHAN KITTE VAA
  EN AASAI MAANEY SUGAMUM PERUVOM
  SUMMA KITTE VAA
  
  
  SOLLU THAMBY SOLLU (1959)
  Prem Nasir is the main actor in this average movie with a few songs worth mentioning.
  
  Seergazhi Govindarajan and P. Suseela sing a song that has very good tune:
  
  PANBODU ENNALUMEY VAZHVINIL
  PADAGINIL ONRAGA CHELVOM- NAAMEY
  
  
  Jikki and Seergazhi Govinderajan give a wonderful song with fast beat:
  
  
  AASAI MOZHI PESUTHU
  PAASA VALAI VEESUTHU
  VAASAMULLA POOVAI KANDU
  ISAI PADUTHU VANDU
  
  
  P.Suseela sings a good solo song:
  
  SOLAVTHU ONNU
  SEIVATHU ONNU
  ULLATHIL IRUPPATHU VERONNU
  EIKKA PAARKATHEY EN KANNU
  ITHAI NEE ENDRUM ENNU
  
  
  R. Balasaraswathy Devi sings a song that goes
  SOODATHA MALARAI
  
  
  THAYAI POLA PILLAI NOOLAI POLA SELAI (1959)
  This is another average movie with fairly good songs.
  
  Soolamangalam Raajalechumy sings this song:
  
  SANTHEGAM THEERATHA VIYATHI - ATHU
  VANTHAALEY THADUMAARUM ARIVENNUM VIYATHY
  
  K. Jamunarani sings this good song:
  
  CHINNA MEENAI POTTAATHAAN
  PERIYA MEENAI PIDIKKALAAM
  SILLARAIAY VITTAATHAAN
  PERUNTHOGAIYAI EDUKKALAAM
  
  
  ALLI PETRA PILLAI (1959)
  
  Alli Petra Pillai was the combined production of KVM, Maruthakazi and Violin Mahalingam. The production house was called MMM pictures named after the three partners.
  
  
  There is a song sung by G. Ramanathan, and this is a rare treat indeed. THis is the only song G Ramanathan sang under KVM.
  
  EJAMAAN PETRA SELVAMEY EN
  CHINNA EJAMAANEY
  PASUM PONNEY EN KANNEY
  AZHAATHEY AZHAATHEY
  
  
  The other song that was a hit was sung by TMS and P. Suseela:
  
  NALLA NAALU ROMBA NALLA NAALU
  NALLA PALAN NAMAKKELLAM THARUM NAALU
  INBATH THIRUNAALU
  
  
  Seergazhi Govinderajan and Jikki sing a song of average taste :
  
  ONNUM ONNUM SERNTHAA
  
  SC Krishnan gives a solo, which was very popular among the children in those days:
  
  PAISAVAI POTTU NAISAGA VAANGI
  PAIYANGAL OOTHUM POTHU BALOON PADAR!
  
  Trichy Loganathgan and LR Eswary sing this comedy song:
  
  KATHIRUKEEN VELIYORAM UNAKKAKA
  ENNAI YEMATHA PAAKKURIYE ETHUKKAAGA
  INTHA VATHIYATHAI VASIKKIREN UNAKKAKA
  VANTHU EN MUNNEY NEE AADU KANAKKAAKA
  
  
  Seergazhi Govinderajan and Jikki sing this duet:
  
  ITHUKKU ATHU THEVALAI
  
  TMS sings this solo:
  
  ITHU THERIYUM ATHU THERIYATHU
  
  
  VANNAKILI (1959)
  Vannakkili of Modern Theatres was a big hit. Modern Theatres always made it a point to go for modern social themes. But they had also ventured into village-based film, with Vannakkili making a tremendous mark. R.S. Manohar, Prem Nasir, B.S. Saroja, Mynavathi, T.R. Ramachandran are the main actors. In the 1950s KVM was given a lot of chances in composing folk songs, as most of the films were village based. Vannakkili topped them all with very good songs. All songs were written by Maruthakazi.
  
  
  Seergazhi Govindarajan sings:
  
  AATHULA THANNI VARA
  ATHIL ORUVAN MEEN PIDIKKA
  KAATHIRUNTHA KOKKU ATHAI
  KAVVIKONDU POVATHEU YEN
  KANNAMMA-ATHAI PAATHU AVAN ENGUVATHEN SOLLAMMA
  
  There is one more solo by Seergazhi Govinderajan:
  
  KAATTU MALLI POOTHIRUKKA
  KAVALKARAN PATHIRUKKA
  AATTAM POTTU MAYILLEK KAALAI
  THOTTAM MEYAP PAKKUTHADA…
  
  MAATTUKKARA VELA-ON
  MATTA KONJAM PATHUKKADA
  
  There is a duet by Seergazhi Govinderajan and P. Suseela:
  
  VANDI URUNDODA ACHANI THEVAI
  ENRUM ATHU POLE VAZKHAI ODAVE
  RENDU ANBULLAM THEVAI
  SONTAHM KONDADA VENDRU AASAI KONDU
  SHOCKU MAPPILLAI VVARAREY INDRU
  
  
  P. Suseela sings a solo:
  
  AASAI IRUKKUTHU MANASINILE-ATHU
  AZHAGAI THERIUTHU KANKALILE
  
  There is a comedy song by SC Krishnan and P. Suseela:
  
  CHITTAHADAI KATTIKKITTU
  SINGARAM PANNIKKITTU
  MATHAPPU SUNDARI ORUTHI
  MAYILAGA VANTHALAM
  ATHANAI PAARTHU ASANTHU POYI NINNAALAAM
  
  SC Krishnan and Ratnamala sing another comedy song:
  
  SATHUKKUDI SAARUTHAANA
  PAAATHUKUDI-UN
  THAAGAM THEERA
  ISHTAM POLE OOTHI KUDI
  Trichy Loganathan and P Suseela sing a song. This is the only song by this combination.
  
  ADIKKIRA KAITHAAN ANAIKKUM
  ANAIKKIRA KITHAAN ADIKKUM
  INIKKIRA VAAZHVEY KASAKKUM
  KASAKKIRA VAAZHVEY INIKKUM
  
  
  P. Suseela sing a song for children:
  
  CHINNA PAAPPA ENGAL
  CHELLA PAAPPA
  SONNA PECHAI KETTAATHAAN
  NALLA PAAPPPA
  
  
  P. Suseela also sings another song:
  
  Kuzhandayum Deivamum
  Kondadum Idathile
  Aikkiyam Aagividum
  Ithu Unmai Jegathiley
  
  
  UZHAVUKKUM THOZHILUKKUM VANTHANAI SEIVOM (1959)
  
  Uzhavukkum Thozhilukkum Vanthanai Seivom is another village based movie where KVM composed some good songs. When MKT went to prison, there was a tremendous vaccum. So they brought Honnappa Bhagavathger from Karnataka to fill the vaccum. Unfortunately he did not do well in the Tamil film industry. Uzhavukkum Thozhilukkum Vanthanai Seivom is a production of this Bahagavathar.
  
  SC Krishnan and Ratnamala sing this comedy duet:
  
  KOVIKKIRAPPULE KOVICHIKKATHE KANNU-IPPO
  KUTTI KARANAM PODANUMA OOM INNU
  
  
  Seergazhi Govinderajan and K. Jamunarani give this all time famous song:
  
  O….O….O…..SINGARA POONJOLAI
  SENBAGA MALARADUM PONNANA VELAI
  
  
  A.L. Ragavan and SC Krishnan sing a song written by Kannadasan, where Kannadasan plays with words.
  
  KAI KAI AVARAIKKAI
  KAVALAIGKAL ELLAAM ETTIKKAI
  KASHTAP PAADUPPATTU KADUMAIYAAI UZHAIKKUM
  KALAIYE UNNAI VAATTI VATHAIPPAVARAI
  KAI KAAI
  ATHIKKAAI NAM PORULKALAI ELLAAM
  ALLI KUVIKKUTHU ORU KOOTTAM
  ITHIKKAAI ATHIL KALVAASI
  ILLAAMAL SEIYUTHU MARUKOOTTAM
  
  (Kannadasan expands the play of words in Athikkai Kaai Kaai in Bale Pandiya)
  
  
  SC. Krishnan and MS Rajeswary sing a duet:
  
  UZHAVUKKUM THOZHILUKKUM VANTHANAI SEIVOM
  VEENIL UNDU KALITHIRUPPORAI NINTHANAI SEIVOM
  
  
  There are a few other songs in this film that are not that popular.
  
  
  These are about the films of KVM in the 1950s. Not included are films acted by MGR and Devar film productions, as they would be dealt with later.
  
  
• From: Manisegaran (@ 161.142.2.11) on: Thu Jul 18 23:03:14 EDT 2002
  
  Dear Readers,
  We have seen KVM working for APN movies. I will now move to Devar films that boast of some of the best songs.
  
  Regards,
  
  Manisegaran
  
  
• From: kik (@ 207.0.105.167) on: Fri Jul 19 01:00:35 EDT 2002
  
  Manisegaran:
  
  On the nambinaar keduvathillai song - one more clarification. I know you have all the old song books and I'm wondering if this is how they list the song. The reason is I recall it beginning 'thEdi unnai saraN adainthEn dEsa muththumaari, kEdathanai neekkiduvaai kEtta varam tharuvaai' and ending with the nambinaar keduvathillai couplet as the climax/last verse.
  
  vaNNakkiLi - the chiththadai kattikittu song is the wedding celebration for Manohar and BS Saroja (I've never seen her before/after this movie). chinna paappaa is a sad lullaby sung by Manohar's wife to their daughter while he sits outside, apparently fully drunk - kanavugaLin sitharalgaLai PS appadiyE kaNmunnaal koNdu niRuththugiraar. I recommend everyone see this picture for how well KVM marries the melody and singing to the situations.
  
  
• From: Manisegaran (@ 161.142.2.11) on: Fri Jul 19 03:10:50 EDT 2002
  
  kik,
  
  I have no information on your observation of Nambinaar Keduvathillai song. I have some song books, not all. I rely moe on what I hear and momorise from radio boradcast and my own recordings. So what comes out in movies may not be what we hear from vinyl records. Those who base on vinyl records, like me, are bound to make mistakes.
  
  For example:
  
  Kannanaal Naan Imayaven from Saratha has some charanam that is not in the record.
  
  Before Tharai Mel Pirakka vaithai in Padagotty, there is a thogayara which is not in reecords available here.
  
  Puthiya Vanam in Aneby Vaa starts off with echo effect, but missing in records available here.
  
  In Sri Valli there is a song by Seergazhi Govindarajan that starts off "Thagam Thaninthathu Annamey" followed by JB Chandrababu "Aiyo Machan Mannaru". For a long time Radio Malaysia had been announcing this song as sung by Seergazhi Govindarajan and Chandrababu. But these are two different songs of short duration, married together in one side of the 78 rpm record. Those who do not see the movie are taken for a ride by the announcers.
  
  Do you remember Ambigapathy?
  
  Masila Nilave Nam song. It is not one song, but three.
  
  1. Masila Nilave Nam
  
  2. Anbey Indam
  
  3. Vanamingey Boomi Inge Vaazhvu Thaazhvenge
  
  By and large what we see in movies may not be the same in records.
  
  So in the case of Naalu Veli Nilam, I remember seeing the movie when I was a child and I may be wrong, as I have posted from what I have in my cassette. If you have seen it in recent days, you may be right. I am sorry I cannot give any more details on that.
  
  
  Vannakkili is part of my own history as that was the first Tamil movie that I saw in Tamilnadu in January 1977. I saw an advertisement in a paper in Madras and went all the way to Chengalpattu to see the movie- all for the sake of the songs.
  
  The Chithadai kattikikittu is one of those dances by the friends of Poochi (RS Manohar) picturised on M. Saroja and Kallapart Nadarajan. What was most mesmerising was KVM using Nadaswaram for comedy song. I do not know any other song where Nadaswaram has been used this much for a comedy song. And again the wonderful picturising. It was so nice to see the thavil players and nadaswaram players dancing around, while playing these instruments.
  
  The Chinna Paappa song is the happy version that I saw. The same song comes later in a shorter form. Both are happy versions. I am not aware of the sad version.
  
  Again you may be right. Some scenes and even songs are sometimes removed when released in my country. Some are banned.
  
  Among the many banned film is Muhamad Bin Tugluk andrecently BOMBAY
  
  Among the many banned songs are-
  
  Allah-Allah
  Nee Illatha Idamey Illai
  
  Pavalan Padiya Pennai
  
  Ellorum Kondaduvom in Pava Mannippu.
  
  Ulakam Ithiley Adanguthu in Kulamagal Rathai.
  
  Many parts of the film Pava Mannnippu have been heavily censored.
  
  Raja Desing was delayed.
  
  
  This trend may be the reason my information may be twisted.
  
  kik,
  See how much interest you have created in me by your curious posting. You deserve all the credit for making the discussion very lively and meaningful. Sorry if I have digressed.
  
  Let us now come back to KVM.
  
  Going by your advice, I am going to see Vannakkili once again over this weekend.
  
  Thanks for the input.
  
  Manisegaran
  
  

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