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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.

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Responses:

• Old responses
  
• From: RR (@ 203.199.213.4) on: Fri Apr 11 04:24:30 EDT 2003
  
  I heard MSV relate in an AIR program that KB was really pressing him to come up with an "atisaya"
  ragam and unable to satisfy him, in exasperation,
  MSV mentioned it to Balamuralikrishna when they met in AIR station for a tElugu NY program. And the rest is history! Mahati appears like Kalavati
  without 'dha' (sa ga pa ni saa)
  
  
• From: R. Mahendra Raj (@ 203.106.49.175) on: Sat Apr 12 05:38:24 EDT 2003
  
  Re - the song "Chinna chinna ooraniyaam" ('Thaailla Pillai- 1961).
  
  As a matter of fact kaviarsar was not aware of the issue of the 'maadapura' when he penned the song. He only knew about this when it was brought up in the media. One of his fans defended him by justifying as to why he (kaviarasar) used the word according to the film's story. Even kaviarasar was surprised with the knowledge of his fans!
  
  There was another incident when after penning the song "Odum nathiyinilae oruthi mattum karayinilae" ('Kaathiruntha Kangal - 1962') he realised that he had made a mistake. When he telephoned the studio it was too late as the song had been just recorded.
  
  This is also one of the rare incidents where kaviarasar reviewed his own works. Normally he forgets all about it then and there and moves on to the next.
  
  I cannot recollect the exact words now. Perhaps anyone out there could refresh my memory.
  
  RR, thanks for the additional info especially Dr.Balamurali Krishna's input on this rare raaga for 'Aboorva Raagangal'. The whole info was additional news to me!
  
  A minor deviation....
  
  Once kaviarasar said that he could have changed the whole context of the song 'Manaivi amaivathellam Iraivan kodutha varam' ('Manmatha Leelai - 1976') just be substituting the word 'kodutha' with 'kedutha'!
  
  Once a reader asked kaviarasar as to how he could use the words in one of his poems, to wit, "thaamarai kannal paarthaal", wherein fact 'thaamarai' (lotus)is a large flower which cannot be equated with the eyes of a girl.
  
  Kaviarasar replied him that with just a simple spacing of the structure the context could be read as "thaam arai kannal paarthal" ("she saw with half eyes"). Normally that is what ladies do discreetly!
  
  Yet another explanation of the famous maxim "seylai kattiya maadhaarai namabathae".
  
  He clarified that it will be preposterous to think of Indian ladies in other attire than sarees especially during the 'sangam' period. What the elders meant to say was "seyl agatriya maadhaarai nambaathae". ("do not trust ladies who see things directly with wide eyes" - as it is not ladylike. Of course the 'seyl' ('eye' in chaste Tamil) had become to be assumed as saree over the period. So much so there was even a song to this effect, if I am not mistaken in 'Mahadevi' (1957) sung by JB Chandrababu.
  
  See you all again folks!
  
  
• From: geeth (@ 195.39.134.84) on: Sat Apr 12 06:00:50 EDT 2003
  
  kavinjar's athisaya raagam song is a memorable song. the way he played with words is mesmerising, especially the rhyming ones - one rhyming word 'raagam' in the pallavi and followed by megam, mogam, baakam, vaakam in the first saranam.
  in the second saranam its with naagam, thegam, yaagam, yogam and then comes the turn (does it change to bairavi here ?). the tune takes a turn and so does kavinjar's words - mythili, maathavi, ethiroli, bairavi.
  
  kavinjar's word play is marvellous here.
  
  
• From: R. Mahendra Raj (@ 203.106.49.175) on: Sat Apr 12 09:45:47 EDT 2003
  
  Saravanan and Udhaya, thanks.
  
  Geeth, after reading your input I played the song "Athisiya Raagam" just to hear the lyrics and the shifting-of-gear of the raagas. What you stated was very true! Just imagine,nearly 27 years after the song was released, I just learned something new!
  
  Hope more inputs of this nature will be forthcoming so as to make interesting reading of this thread.
  
  Udhaya, the "maayavan" and "thooyan" narration was an interesting bit also!
  
  When you mentioned the relationship between kaviarasar vis-a-vis MGR and Shivaji it clicked my memory about some past incidents.
  
  MGR promised to act in kaviarasar's 'Oomayin Kottai' (1959) but went back on his words. Shivaji could'nt be utilised because of strained relationship. Gemini Ganesh was already acting in 'Veera Paandiya Kattabomman' so the only choice left was S.S. Rajendran. He booked him for two reasons - to show that even a second echolon actor can be as good as the fort holders; and the other was SSR belonged to the same clan of the true story's hero. The film was 'Sivagangayin Seemai' which produced out of spite. Kaviarasar wanted to prove that this film was a pure Tamil legend's story unlike 'Kattabomman' whose ancestory is still being debated. The film was also regarded as a competitor to 'Kattabomman'.
  
  In one scene in the film the kerosene-lit street light was shown to be broken which caused concern among kaviarasar's associates. They argued that it was a bad omen as the very street light was used as the signature banner of 'Kannadhasan Productions'. Kaviarasar went ahead, nevertheless. However this black-and-white film did not do well because of its timing of release along with 'Kattabomman'. The latter did well because of color, star cast, grandiose sets etc.
  
  Interestingly, SSR was originally booked to do the role of Vellaya Devan (Gemini Ganesh's role) in 'Kattabomman' but he declined for reasons best known to him. News reached Shivaji that the reason SSR declined was that he was scared was because of fighting scenes in this war movie.
  
  Shivaji and SSR were not on talking terms ever since this incident although they had acted together in films like 'Deiva Piravi (1961), 'Kai Kodutha Deivam (1964)' etc. Immediately after shooting schedules and in between takes both of them will go separate ways to different corners of the set. But when they were pals before the 'Kattabomman' incident they were constantly seen together sharing views and jokes.
  
  It was kaviarasar who patched them up during the shooting of 'Shanti' (1965) [produced by his brother AL Sreenivasan] where both of them acted as bossom friends. To celebrate their patching up kaviarasar wrote the song "Vaazhnthu paarka vendum Arivil manithaanaga veyndum" where both of them mouthed this philosophical song with jubilance.
  
  SSR narrated this incident a long time ago.
  
  Another bit on 'Shanti'.
  
  For the song "Yaar antha nilavu Yean antha kanavu" both kaviarasar and MSV were impressed with the good turnout of the song and lyrics. They wanted Shivaji to do something different for this song scene. When they met up with Shivaji the latter was holding a cigarette in between his lips. That gave them an idea. They requested that he sings (mouth) out the whole song with a cigarette in his mouth. Shivaji obliged and that song came out well in the picturisation and was widely acclaimed by the audience of the day.
  
  More next folks!
  
  
  
  
  
  
• From: ram (@ 172.145.14.249) on: Sat Apr 12 20:03:34 EDT 2003
  
  Mahendra Raj,
  Excellent postings. I have high respects for Kaviarasar's songs. I like his songs very much and he was a genius. Let me ask you one question (may be a distraction):There must be some one in Tamil Film industry who is better than Kannadasan in song writing. May be some one before him... Anyone?
  
  
• From: R. Mahendra Raj (@ 203.106.49.225) on: Sun Apr 13 11:45:13 EDT 2003
  
  Thanks Ram.
  
  As you will notice that there were a few poets in the pre-Kannadhasan era like Papanasan Sivam etc. But these lyricists were dictated by the music directors. Besides, the order of the day then was to infuse carnatic tunes with Sanskrit words thrown here and there. It catered for the elite group and the ordinary folks were least interested.
  
  When kaviarasar entered the industry he reversed the trend to 'music-for-song'. Shortly after joining the industry kaviarasar got himself involved in the DK. As it was well-known then this party was utilising the entertainment media to the maximum with the view to gain political mileage and recognition.
  
  It was during this time that MGR realised the importance of the film media which then made him team up with kaviarasar. They both realised that in order to reach the masses which was mainly made up of the wage earners and the lowest strata folks from the rural and sub-urban areas, the dialogues and songs must relate to them. The rest is history.
  
  Also it must be pointed out that the pre-Kannadhasan poets were mainly Brahmins which is why Kannadhasan was warmly welcomed for want of change and identifying with the masses. The songs were simple but effective for the laymen.
  
  Of course there were good lyricists during kaviarasar's period like Ka.Mu.Shariff, Marudhakasi, Ku. Maa.Balasubramaniam etc.who were also fairly good songs but they could not equal the standards set by kaviarasar.
  
  It was through kaviarasar that the poets were given due recognition for their works, thanks to MGR's interference. Being the pioneer with all the attendant perks nobody could equate kaviarasar.
  
  The one other poet whom I could think of is Pattukottai Kalyanasundram who was kaviarasar's contemporary, not adversary as some present patti mandrams make them out to be. But then again both of them were complementing each other in the song writing profession as well as in their personal lives. Pattukottai was well-known for his pro-sosialist themes in all his songs including love duets. Only kaviarasar was seen to be handling all subjects with ease. Thats the reason he was held in high esteem by even his own peers although some secretly wished for his downfall.
  
  Therefore, Ram, except for Pattukottai to a lesser degree, I can't think of anyone else. The present poets? No way! There is no literary content in them. Plagiarism also seems to be the order of the present day. I maybe wrong but then I am not prejudiced either. Perhaps, Manisekaran could care to comment on this.
  
  Before I sign off here is one bit.
  
  Actor-producer K. Balaji was a close friend of kaviarasar as mentioned earlier in this thread.
  He liked the song "Enthan paruvathin kelvikku bathil enna solladi Radha - Unthan paarvaikku paarvai bathilai vanthathu Raja" ('Sumaithaangi' 1963).
  
  When he started to produce his own films later he ensured that the main characters in all his movies bear the name of 'Raja' and 'Radha' until his last movie. He used the names for sentimental reasons!
  
  Bye for now folks and I take this opportunity to wish all Hindu friends "A VERY HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS SUBHANU NEW YEAR 2003/2004".
  
  See you all again!
  
  
• From: puvanes (@ 161.142.100.81) on: Sun Apr 13 12:13:43 EDT 2003
  
  Mahendra Raj,
  
  Regarding the songs that kaviyarasar reviewed his own works, there was another song from baagapirivinai
  
  thanggatthile oru kurai irunthaalum
  tharatthinil kuraivathundo
  
  when the gold is less in quality how come the jewelleries made from gold being not affected. For the sake of ethugai, monai and solladukku also because of rushing he wrote the line as written above
  In kannadasan's own production sivaganggai seemai there was a song
  
  megam kuvinthathamma minnal vara poguthamma
  mothum idimuzhakkam munnodi vanthathamma
  
  the order was incorrect.Firstly should be megam kuvinthathamma secondly minnal vara poiguthamma and the next would be mothum idimuzhakkam.THis is natures force, but kaviyarasu wrote minnal vara poguthamma before mothum idi muzhakkam
  
  just to remind you on the info for the kaviyarasu's first film kanniyin kaathali
  thanks
  
  

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