Home   Forum   Wiki   Notes   Register   FAQ   Sitemap   About Us   Contact Us  

Malaysian Deepavali Show - RAJANNA RAJA THAAN - From Annakkili to Azhagi

Topic started by Manisekaran (@ 202.156.2.8) on Sun Nov 7 05:23:27 EST 2004.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

Last year I did a show on Ilayaraja for Deepavali. IT was so great a hit that the ASTRO Private TV Station is repeating on 9 NOvember at 4.00 pm Malaysian time. This is called RAJANNA RAJATHAAN- covering 25 years of Raja's music contribution. From Annakkili to Azhagi. A great hit. If you can, pls do catch it. You can post your comments on the show here, and I'll respond to them.
Thanks.

---

Responses:

• Old responses
  
• From: raj (@ 61.246.255.3) on: Thu Nov 18 05:59:28 EST 2004
  
  Badrakali -
  
  It should be remembered for many things..
  
  This was the first movie where Vaali & IR came together.
  
  This was directed by A.C.Thirulokachander and a commandable performance by Rani chandra.
  
  Most of the early compositions of IR were great and the best example is Kannan oru kai kuzhandai.
  
  Coming to Kettele Ange though it is of dappanguthu style it was nicely tuned by IR and sung beautifully by PS and apt lyrics by Vaali. Even a slight addition of dirty words would have made the song vulgar.
  
  
  Gangai Amaran hails this song in all his interviews for PS’s rendition, Vaali’s lyrics and IR’s tune.
  
  A great Song
  
  
• From: vijay (@ 68.16.25.50) on: Thu Nov 18 12:36:35 EST 2004
  
  Manisekaran, wasnt "KaNNan oru kaikuzhandhai" inspired from a folk song as well? I remember GA or someone mentioning it long time back.
  
  In addition to your interesting anecdotes, I would request you to add more comments/assessments from celebrities like that of Seergazhi, PBS etc. on IR during the various stages.
  
  
• From: Manisekaran (@ 61.6.39.139) on: Thu Nov 18 19:52:55 EST 2004
  
  Dear Keerthanarambam, Raj and Vijay
  
  Thanks for your enthusiastic inputs. Raja and his brothers had performed, reportedly twenty thousand shows all over the southern provinces, befor Raja entered the cine field. many of his early songs were very much influenced by folk tunes and songs. I shall list them as the thread unfolds.
  
  About comments from other MDs and celebrities, yes, some were sincere in appreciating Raja, while others were shrouded in garment of jealousy. I may want to leave out some of those negative comments. However, let me see how I can subtly bring them into our future discussions.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• From: Cynical?? (@ 166.121.37.8) on: Thu Nov 18 21:19:49 EST 2004
  
  
  Manisekaran,
  
  
  For someone to put up 20 000 shows, they must be performing on a daily basis for about 54 years nonstop!!!!!
  
  Could the figure be more reasonably around 2000 instead. A typo maybe????
  
  
• From: Manisekaran (@ 61.6.39.139) on: Thu Nov 18 22:30:02 EST 2004
  
  Dear Cynical
  I concur with your guess. I took the information from two sources, mentioning the same figure.
  
  
• From: vig (@ 202.56.195.41) on: Thu Nov 18 23:59:47 EST 2004
  
  wud like to ask if there s any non-stop tamil music only channel(or FM), preferably IR, in Malysia, Singapore, Srilanka or ant part of the world. Here in thamizh naadu one such channel, scv, used to air non-stop music, very soothing IR songs in the morning and evening. But now that has been now delittled by introducin VJ talks..
  
  
• From: vig (@ 202.56.195.41) on: Fri Nov 19 00:01:36 EST 2004
  
  a typo ...please read belittled instead of delittled
  
  
• From: Manisekaran (@ 61.6.39.139) on: Fri Nov 19 03:44:05 EST 2004
  
  
  4. NALLAVARKKELLAA SAATCHIKAL RENDU
  This is a very sad part of my series. This talks of the parting of two greatest and most talented personages Tamilnadu has seen. It is the parting of TMS and Raja. My keyboard hesitates to belittle the one of the greatest singers who had entertained me from the time I was born. But a spade cannot be called by any other name. A spade is a spade!
  
  TMS had been reigning supreme for three decades, and had sung under various. In those days it was not easy for any MD to enter the industry. When Ilayaraja entered the industry, there was a popularly held view that Ilarayaja would not last long. This was because he was a trend setter and the trend could not be accepted nor digested by other singers, lyricists MDs and even the music fans, little realising that Raja’s music turned out to be an addiction from which there was to be no relief nor release! But that is later history that we all know of.
  
  The initial days were days of much tests and trials for Raja. TMS was one of those who believed that Raja would not make it. Somehow TMS and Raja could never get along. When Raja was assisting other MDs he had seen and admired the great talents of TMS. When working under GK Vengatesh, Raja had composed a few songs for TMS but they fell under the banner of GK Vengatesh. As early as 1971 Raja was commissioned to compose for a movie based on story by BS Ramaiyah. That movie was called DEEPAM (not that of Balaji), supposedly directed by Dada Mirasi, and starred by Gemini Ganesan, Pathmini, Jayshankar and Cho. In that movie TMS sang the song “Sivanai Naadu” However, that song did not come out, neither the movie. So history has it that the first to sing under Ilayaraja was none other than TMS himself.
  
  In about August 1974 there was another combination of the great Titans. In an unnamed Prasad Productions movie Raja made way for TMS to sing a song entitled “Jinjaru Jinjaru.” That was the turning point, with both disagreeing on the tune.
  
  The third was in Annakkili in 1975. TMS was riding very high then and Ilayaraja could not dictate terms in his first movie. All Raja wanted was to enter into the cine field. So Panju Arunaslam and producer K.N. Subbu. When Raja played the sad version of Annakkili Unnai Theduthe for TMS, TMS expressed reservations, saying that the tune was very much village based. Of course it was a folk tune based song! TMS just wanted to have his way, and impose his seniority arrogance. Ilayaraja was patient and allowed TMS to sing his way. The song came out well. But raja felt it could have been better, had TMS sung the way the MD had composed. The old wounds were still there.
  
  TMS was a permanent singer for MGR and TMS. By this time MGR had retired from cinema and gone into active politics, while Sivaji Ganesan continued acting. As far as possible Ilayaraja decided not to use TMS until and unless situations were beyond his control. He found it difficult to avoid TMS in movies starred by Sivaji Ganesan. In Balaji’s DEEPAM, Raja had to use TMS, and the song was
  
  Anthappurathil Oeru maharani
  
  Though he had a sore relationship with TMS, Raja made sure that his part was well performed. This songsung along with S. janaki came out extremely well. (As the song was released it was widely spoken that Ilayaraja showed his masterly knowledge of music by mixing Mayamalagovla raga with western classical orchestration (This kazhudai does not know the smell of katpoooram. Could someone help out in the ragas please??
  
  In 1978 Sivaji acted in Thyagam. The film was silver jubilee hit with gem like songs. Raja tuned the following songs for TMS:
  
  1. Nallavarkellam Saatchikal Rendu
  2. Then Malli Poove
  3. Ulakam Oru Iruttu
  
  Who could dispute the composition of excellent music for these songs?
  
  In 1979 Raja made TMS sing for Sivaji in Nallathoru Kudumbam and that great song that TMS sang along with Suseela is:
  
  Chinthu Nathikkarai Oram
  
  In the same year came Naan Vaazha Vaippen, another Sivaji Movie in which raja composed one of his best songs for TMS:
  
  Enthan pon Vanname Anbu Poo Vanname
  Nejnil Poraattame
  Kannnil neerottama
  Athai naan paarkkava
  Manamthaan Thannguma
  
  Finally in 1980 Raja made TMS sing for another Sivaji movie- Rishi Moolam. The song is:
  
  Neramithu Nenjil Oru Paattu paadida
  
  (In Kavarimaan Raja made Jesudass and SP Bala sing for Sivaji)
  
  
  The fact remains that all the songs that Raja composed for TMS were simply great. But why did raja reduce the chances for TMS? It was the making of TMS himself. Films with raja’s music were becoming hits after hits. Yet TMS did not accept or respect Raja. Twow incidents could be quoted here....
  
  Continues....please read the continuation.
  
  
• From: Manisekaran (@ 61.6.39.139) on: Fri Nov 19 03:46:22 EST 2004
  
  One took place in Malaysia. In about 1977 Ilayaraja came to Malaysia on a musical tour. TMS too followed him. When at Radio Malaysia, Poobalan the head of Tamil section was eagerly conversing with Ilayaraja who was an upcoming MD. TMS had come to Malaysia a number of times and had known Pooblan personally TMS saw Pooblan and Ilayaraja conversing and shouted to Poobalan “Yow Poobalan, Antha Sinna payalkitte Ennaiya Pechu? Vaaya namma Pesikkittiruppom”. Both Pooblan and raja were shocked by this comment by TMS. Next came the TV interview in a program called “Tumpuan Minggu” (“Weekly Focus” in the Malay language) Poobalan asked TMS, “You have been singing for many years. What is the difference in songs composed by old timers against those composed these days?” TMS immediately answered “ if one could sing for a simple tune by people like G Ramanathan, then you could sing for any tune by any PAYAL in any part of the world.” Again Poobalan and raja were stunned by this direct hit on Ilayaraja.
  
  The second incident took place in Sri Lanka. The journalists approached TMS and some questions were raised on the upcoming MD Ilayaraja. PONNU OOORUKKU PUTHUSU was just released then. TMS agreed to give his comments on condition the papers do not carry his coments, to which the journalists agreed. Then TMS said “Ippo Orambo paaduravan ellaam konjam Naalile Oram Poyiduvaan” Unfortunately the mischievous press betrayed TMS and published this statement. Raja read it from Chennai and took exception. That was the last chapter for TMS. Yet when TMS had lost his voice completely, raja made him sing a song in THAAIKKU ORU THAALAATTU (1986) for the tune of the old song in PUTHIYA PARAVAI- Unnai Ondru Ketpen. The song is:
  
  “Pazhaya paadal Pole Puthiya paadal Illai”
  
  That was simply unbearable from TMS.
  
  
  For many years TMS fans had been chasing Raja as to why he had not been using TMS in his music. Finally at a Singapore show, Raja very cleverly and subtly made his point. Raja answered, “ In the entire Tamil Film Music world there is no one to equal the incomparable TMS. He is the only singer to bring out all the emotions in full, in its entirety. No one else could do it. However, that I could not use that great singer in my music is my misfortune and that he could not sing in my music is hi misfortune.”
  
  Nothing can be clearer than that! Ilayaraja recognises the great singer, but bridges had been burnt and there was to be no going back. Yet, Ilayaraja never failed to place on record his personal appreciation for the talents of TMS. If only these two giants had combined their effort the fans of tamil filom music would have been well blessed with more gems. Most unfortunate!
  
  On a number of occasions Raja had mentioned how much he was mesmerised by the TMS- Leela song from Bagapirivinai:
  
  Thalzhayaam poo Mudichu
  Thadam Paarthu Nadai Nadanthu
  Vaazhai Ilai Pola Vantha Ponnamma
  En Vasalukku Vanguivanthathu Yennamma?
  
  I had used Enthan Pon Vanname in the Deepavali show. But for the dear readers of TFM Page I am quoting another song from THIAGAM, written by Kannadasan. There is a reason for that. Look at the wordings. Ilayaraja has mentioned that the lyrics seemed to console him at a time when he himself was labouring to come up in the cine field. Again, as Raja puts it, TMS was able to bring out all the emotions that Raja imagined while composing the tune.
  
  
  
  Here goes that immortal song written by the one and the only Kannadasan, sung by what has been described by Raja as the greatest Singer, and composed by one of the greatest genius Ilayaraja, and of course picturised on the greatest actor of all time.
  
  
  Nallavarkkellaam saatchigal rendu onru manasaatchi
  onru dheyvaththin saatchiyammaa
  nambikkai vaiththu kallaiyum paarththaal
  dheyvaththin kaatchiyammaa
  adhudhaan ullaththin saatchiyammaa
  adhudhaan unmaikku saatchiyammaa
  
  aandavan ariya nenjil oru thuli vanjam illai
  avananri enakku vaeru aarudhal illai
  paravaigalae badhil sollungal
  manidhargal mayangum poadhu neengal paesungal
  manadhirku manadhu konjam thoodhu sellungal
  
  (nallavarkkellaam)
  
  nadhi vellam kaayndhu vittaal nadhi seytha kutram illai
  vidhi seytha kutram anri vaeru aethammaa
  manidhanammaa mayangugiraen
  thavarukkuth thunindha manidhan azhuvadhillaiyae
  thavariyum vaanam mannil vizhuvadhillaiyae
  
  (nallavarkkellaam)
  
  Over to the IR fans for discussion
  See all of you in a few days! Happy Weekend!
  
  
• From: ashok (@ 61.11.121.14) on: Fri Nov 19 04:21:18 EST 2004
  
  Hi Manisekaran,
  All those information were really mind blowing ..in some way , the information is as green and as mind blowing as Raajas music and that beautiful lyrics that you have mentioned. Thanks a lot . please pour in more. Let me and thousands of Muisc lovers get some knowlege about the great past of Raaja.
  
  
  

---

List all pages of this thread

Post comments