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Best five TFM artists of the century

Topic started by rameshb (@ spider-th042.proxy.aol.com) on Fri Dec 31 00:32:03 EST 1999.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

TFM has seen many artists in singing, composing , playing instrument(s), conducting etc. When we look at their overall contributions and achievements in TFM , i would like you to list and rank the top five (only 5) artists whom you think were the best between the years 1900 - 1999.

Here is a list the top 5 TFM artists , IMO .

1. S P Balasubramanium
This highly prolific singer has exceeded all the expectations and continues to hold strong in TFM .

2. Ilaya Raja

He is the only complete musician TFM has seen who could bring about a seamless coalescence of western and indian.

3. M S Viswanathan

His melodies are so valuble to be preserved for future civilisation as they could symbolize our quality of life in future.

4. P Susheela

This melody queen who has won millions of hearts is an institution in TFM having contributed many chapters.

5. A R Rahman

He has set the stage for the next millenium and is certain to lead his counterparts in the years to come.

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Responses:

• From: paamaran (@ c37584-a.frmt1.sfba.home.com) on: Fri Dec 31 01:20:39 EST 1999
  
  why not kanadhasan?
  
  
• From: paamaran (@ c37584-a.frmt1.sfba.home.com) on: Fri Dec 31 01:20:51 EST 1999
  
  why not kanadhasan?
  
  
• From: s.senthilkumar (@ 202.144.10.93) on: Fri Dec 31 04:15:55 EST 1999
  
  i think it willbe as below ranking:
  
  1.illayaraja
  2.m.s.vishwanathan
  3.kannadasan
  4.t.m. sounderajan
  5.a.r rehman
  
  
• From: cram (@ 206.103.12.102) on: Fri Dec 31 06:00:57 EST 1999
  
  in my top 5, s.janaki would certainly find a place, but then so would ilayaraja, arr, p suseela, msv, spb, kannadhasan, vairamuthu. really, we should think about top 10, would make things easier
  
  
• From: GV (@ d118-fx101h2-lond-pdi.attcanada.net) on: Fri Dec 31 09:00:14 EST 1999
  
  My first 5 are:
  
  Ilaiyaraja, MSV, ARR, Kannadasan, SPB, & P. Susheela.
  
  The second 5 are:
  
  TMS, S. Janaki, KJY, Vairamuthu & KVM.
  
  I do not know enough about the earlier artists to include them.
  
  
• From: rameshb (@ spider-th062.proxy.aol.com) on: Fri Dec 31 09:08:00 EST 1999
  
  paamaran:
  You can certainly put kannadasan in your list. I didn't mention lyricists in the category, but they can be considered.
  cram:
  making top 10 would be much easier than top 5.
  as paamaran pointed out, i also consider kannadasan as the big contributor , but i couldn't place him on top 5.
  
  I don't want this to be just an easy listing exercise, but i request everyone to write atleast one line on each rank as to what they think the achievement of the artist was. Everyone is entitled to list any artist/lyricist whoever has contributed directly or indirectly in TFM.
  
  
• From: Bhoori (@ c660409-a.frmt1.sfba.home.com) on: Sat Jan 1 15:38:41 EST 2000
  
  I will take the number 5 as my constraint. This is of course, a personal list and lists the 5 most important people for me. Not the 5 most influential ones, 5 best ever, 5 most popular etc.
  
  1. Ilaiyaraja: The best single MD ever. I personally rate MSV-TKR combination as even better than IR, but in terms of influence, quantity and by virtue of not being a combination, IR wins the number 1 spot.
  
  IR was a major influence in my teenage years. I could be biased here but I think IRs best was between 77-87. Part of it could be because I hvnt stayed in TN after 86 and hence hvnt been able to filter out bad IR songs for myself. But I still remember the thrill I got when I saw some weird movie in a tent near Indira Nagar in Bangalore and heard songs like "Kottaiyai Vittu Veettukku Pogum Sudalai Mada Sami" and "Naan Erikkarai Oratthile..." for the first time. I hvnt heard these songs after that day and that was 8 years back. I still remember them! BTW, could anyone tell me the movie of these songs?
  
  
  
  2. P.B. Srinivas: Most of my personal enjoyment derives from old songs - the 50s to 60s songs. I made a transition from IR to old songs in the middle years of my teenage. While many people, including MSV-TKR, GRamanathan, AM Raja, Kannadasan, P Suseela made the transition possible, the overwhelming reason was the voice of PBS.
  
  I still get a thrill when I hear a PBS song for the first time. While these occasions are getting rarer and rarer, each such occasion is getting even more special.
  
  
  3. G. Ramanathan: He represents the best achievement in the pre-MSV-TKR era for me. Except for KV Mahadevan, nobody else came close to him in using Carnatic music as the basis for the music direction. At the same time, he was open to western influences seen best in "Yaradi Nee Mohini" and "Ulavum Thendral Kaatrinile".
  
  4. SPB
  Most versatile singer ever. He and IR and S.Janaki and Malasia had a great symbiotic relationship in the late seventies and early eighties.
  
  5. AM Raja
  Brilliant, thats the word for this guy. His voice, his music direction were really out of the world. Wonder why he didnt do the music for more movies!
  
  
  As I said in the beginning, this is a personal list. I think that a duo dont hv a place in the 5 person list. Otherwise MSV-TKR would hv been in the top three, probably the top. I really hvnt thought about their place but their music is the most important one for me personally. AMR would drop out. I realize that TMS and Kannadasan are great but there is a sense of complanceny about TMS for me. I take his voice for granted! While Kannadasan remains the whetstone for the lyricists, I beleive that his place is not as important as many others for me. Lots and lots of people wrote good lyrics especially in the golden period of 50s and 60s. There are times when I thought Kannadasan must hv written this and later realized that Vali/Suradha/Pattukkottai etc. hv written them!
  
  
• From: Bhoori (@ c660409-a.frmt1.sfba.home.com) on: Sat Jan 1 15:44:23 EST 2000
  
  I also think that PS could hv sung several SJ songs and vice versa. While the male voices are very distinct for me whether it is TMS, PBS, AMR, SPB, Seergazhi, Trichy Loganathan, Chandrababu, Hariharan, Unni Krishnan, Kamal, CSJ or Malasia, the female voice arent that distinct. The only popular voice that isnt very distinct for me is Mano. Maybe something is wrong with my ears!
  
  
• From: Bhoori (@ c660409-a.frmt1.sfba.home.com) on: Sat Jan 1 15:47:34 EST 2000
  
  While the male voices are very distinct for me whether it is TMS, PBS, AMR, SPB, Jesudas, Seergazhi, Trichy Loganathan, Chandrababu, Hariharan, Unni Krishnan, Kamal, CSJ or Malasia, the female voice arent that distinct. The only popular voice that isnt very distinct for me is Mano.
  
  I think that PS could hv sung several SJ songs and vice versa. In my mind, PS, SJ, VJ and Chitra could hv sung each others songs. Thats why no female singer makes my list. Maybe something is wrong with my ears!
  
  
  
  
• From: aruvi (@ spock02.slip.yorku.ca) on: Sat Jan 1 16:08:51 EST 2000
  
  To Bhoori
  I agree with you about Mano's voice. It's very similar to SPB's but then after a lot of hearing, it's easy to differentiate. The female voices are easy to distinguish. I can differentiate all the popular ones. And no, they could not have sung each others songs. There's something different in each voice. You may be experiencing this because you don't listen to a lot of female songs. Most people are more fond of 'Hits of KJY, SPB, UK, HH, TMS, than they are of 'Hits of PS, SJ, KSC, SL etc.
  
  
  
  
• From: SM (@ pmnat01-p04.sgum.mci.com) on: Sat Jan 1 16:33:55 EST 2000
  
  My list :
  
  Kannadhasan
  PS
  ARR
  SPB
  IR.
  
  
• From: SM (@ pmnat01-p04.sgum.mci.com) on: Sat Jan 1 16:35:27 EST 2000
  
  Bhoori,
  
  "naan yerikkarai melirundhu" and "kottaiyai vittu vettaikku pogum" are from the movie "Chinna Thaayee"
  
  
• From: Rajagopal Adhepalli (@ 203.197.137.52) on: Sat Jan 1 20:13:42 EST 2000
  
  My choice - Top 5 of the Century in TFM:
  Smt P Susheela - Holds an important place in the hearts of music lovers. Subtle different voice and bhavas for different artistes in addition to her melody,diction,etc.etc....
  Sri TMS - brings the artistes to our minds
  BOTH ARE DEIVEEGA KALAIGNARGAL
  Sri Kannadaasan - His contributions are great assets to the community
  Sri MSV - Mellisai thanthai
  Sri KVM - Carnatice music to Paamaran
  
  
• From: Jay Narayanasamy (@ 1cust121.tnt5.har1.da.uu.net) on: Sun Jan 2 13:50:54 EST 2000
  
  Kannadasan: He is the one who initiated real Tamil songs in tfm. “nadha,madhana pimbam,chandra vathanam,saki” all those dictionary words had been driven away out of tamil nadu. He is the one who set the simplicity and high standards in songs. His songs are the great influence for actors, MDs, singers and other poets as well.
  
  Ilayaraja: No need to write much. Isai thavam, asura thavam!
  
  M.S.Vishwanathan: Predecessor of Ilayaraja but in my list successor of Ilayaraja.
  
  P.Susheela: Abdul rahuman praises Latha in his words: “Ganankalil kasinthu urugum kural” It applies to Susheela as well.
  
  K.J.Jesudas: Incredible voice. Even pamaran like me started listening CM to some extend.
  
  Hope ramesh will replace his header with mine :-)
  
  
• From: rameshb (@ spider-wd071.proxy.aol.com) on: Sun Jan 2 15:58:45 EST 2000
  
  Mr Narayanaswamy...
  Unfortunately, the die is cast:-) In my poinion KJY would not find any place ahead of SPB and TMS. (not even the top 10!) He could have done well to Malayalam Film Music , but only SPB and TMS have a lion's share of contributions in TFM.
  
  
• From: Thenisai thenral Deva (@ spider-wb064.proxy.aol.com) on: Sun Jan 2 19:45:59 EST 2000
  
  Ennaiyum SAethukka maateengala?
  
  
• From: eden (@ 202.54.71.143) on: Mon Jan 3 00:26:38 EST 2000
  
  My list:
  
  No.1 : IR -One who influenced not just TFM, but the lifestyle of TN with his musical capabilities...`engE en jeevanE, unnil kandEnE' endRu TNSTC buses (& tea shops every where) indRu thAlAtta ivar dhAn, ivar mattum dhAn, kArAnam...
  
  No.2 : SPB -Another name for versatility (like IR), high pitch or low pitch, sugam or sOgam, thuLLal or menmai -none to beat him in TFM...
  
  No.3 : SJ -`pAdavA un pAdalai' endRu ivar pAduvadhaikkEttukkondirukka, I'm prepared to suffer anything...
  
  No.4 : MSV -Like IR, a `rags to riches' wonder who produced innumerable melodies...
  
  No.5 : KVM -`mannavan vandhAnadi'..a maestro in handling the classicals...
  
  
• From: Jay Narayansamy (@ 1cust69.tnt9.bos2.da.uu.net) on: Mon Jan 3 08:49:13 EST 2000
  
  ramesh: but I dont see any difference between tamil and malayalam :-)
  
  

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