Today's songs have a commonality. If anybody can guess it, please post here.
Malligai maalai katti:
This song is from Pudhiya Ragam (1991). Leading pair of the movie was Jayachitra and Raghuvaran. Raghu acted as a cruel husband who tortures his wife at every opportunity. This is a great song poignantly sung by Raja summarizes her plight and the story of the movie. Raja’s humming is also very nice. The violins (imitating the melody) in the middle of charanams is beautiful.
http://www.filefactory.com/get/f.php?f=18a22be146cfbeb438326cac
Oh vaanam ulla:
This is from Pudhiya Swarangal (1992). I don’t know the cast and story. This song sung by Yesudas and Uma Ramanan has a pathos version also. The song flows as usual with beautiful melody lines with the help of his tabla.
http://www.filefactory.com/get/f.php?f=5af8eb7144e6728cd25aca47
Sindhumani punnagayil:
This song is from Nee Sirithal Deepavali (1990) starring new faces (I think Harish and Soniya). I have seen it long back in some channel but don’t remember the other songs in this movie. The violins in the charanam creates musical tension and reflects the mental feelings of a separated lover. Good singing by Yesudas.
http://www.filefactory.com/get/f.php?f=5fc9aa574ee88b8bc8e8eb31
Vaada malliye:
This is from the movie Kannukku Mai Ezhudhu (1986), sung by Late P.Bhanumathi. I don’t know about the movie and story. If anybody knows, please mail me. Don’t know why, this song reminded me of Kai veenai endhum kalaivaniye from Vietnam Colony; maybe because both these songs sound Hindustani to me.
http://www.filefactory.com/get/f.php?f=e54f914db1dcf2e4225df650
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Sunday, March 19, 2006
9. Rare non-Film Songs
This week, we shall hear some of the rare songs (outside film scores), all sung by Maestro.
1. Thenpandichingamada - Thenpandi Singam (TV serial)
This TV serial was written by Kalaignar Karunanidhi and telecast in Sun TV during 1996. Starring Nasser and Geetha in the lead roles, it used to be telecast at 6pm daily. Due to office timing, I could watch only couple of episodes. I don’t remember much about the BGMs now. The title song by Maestro was awesome. Lyrics are by Karunanidhi. I think it was based on Mu.Ka’s Ponnar Sankar story, which used to come in Kungumam magazine. All other songs are in carnatic ragas like Ananda Bhairavi, Shanmugapriya, Kalyani, etc. This song praises the hero and his efforts to remove British from the Indian soil. Some discussions are found here:
1. Thenpandichingamada - Thenpandi Singam (TV serial)
This TV serial was written by Kalaignar Karunanidhi and telecast in Sun TV during 1996. Starring Nasser and Geetha in the lead roles, it used to be telecast at 6pm daily. Due to office timing, I could watch only couple of episodes. I don’t remember much about the BGMs now. The title song by Maestro was awesome. Lyrics are by Karunanidhi. I think it was based on Mu.Ka’s Ponnar Sankar story, which used to come in Kungumam magazine. All other songs are in carnatic ragas like Ananda Bhairavi, Shanmugapriya, Kalyani, etc. This song praises the hero and his efforts to remove British from the Indian soil. Some discussions are found here:
http://www.tfmpage.com/forum/7746.27001.21:24:10.html
http://www.filefactory.com/get/f.php?f=56bfd85ae53c28b3931b449c
2. En paava kanakkukku – Geetha Vazhipadu (devotional)
Though this is found in Echo’s Ilayarajavin Geetha Vazhipadu album, it used to be broadcast in All India Radio sometimes. You might remember Kamal referring to this in Guna composing talk which was in the Guna audio cassette (while composing Appanendrum ammayendrum song). Here, Raja laments about sins committed by humans. http://www.filefactory.com/get/f.php?f=59eb4ae0f79e1054fc0cb34c
3. Naadi vandha selvam – Krishna Gaanam (devotional) – music MSV
Krishna Gaanam? Yeah, you are right. It’s the same devotional album by MS Viswanathan, which has great songs like Aayarpadi maligayil, Pullanguzhal kodutha moongilgale, etc. That album was re-released few years later, with some additional songs. In this, Maestro has sung a song in MSV’s music. This song has great interludes. Especially the guitar bit reminds me of the prelude of Kamban yemandhan song. Superb singing by Raja. http://www.filefactory.com/get/f.php?f=aa7f11e5d6dabb083894d4ee
Bonus song:
En maname, en maname – Vishwa Thulasi
This great song featured in the music cassette of Vishwa Thulasi, but was not used in the movie. Its my favorite song in the movie and deserves a special mention here. Lyrics and music by our Maestro, sung by Tippu & Poornima. The rhythm captivated my attention on the first hearing itself.
http://www.filefactory.com/get/f.php?f=093b4f74a6034b837c4dc05a
Sunday, March 12, 2006
8. The Master's Voice
I always liked the alternate version of the songs in Maestro’s voice, which comes in the audio of the film. Most of the times, its not picturized, but Raja’s voice adds a new dimension to the song compared to the original singer. Some such songs are presented today.
1. Engirundho azhaikkum – En jeevan padudhu. Happy version was sung by Lata Mangeshkar. This is the pathos version. As usual, Raja weaves his magic with flutes and violins.
2. Thalattu mariponadhe – Unnai naan sandhithen. The interludes are different from the original female version. Raja voice is emotional. Flutes and strings are really a thalattu.
3. Oor urangum nerathil – Kanna unai thedugiren. Another flopped movie with all excellent songs . This song has a jazzy orchestration. Maestro’s voice is very youthful and romantic. There is another version by Hariharan.
4. Padichu ennatha – Ore oru gramathile. Song requested by Mrs Usha Sankar. The film is about a forward caste lady (Lakshmi) who becomes a Collector, with a fake caste certificate. Film was released after it won a National award. This song emphasizes literacy for downtrodden – as if a cobbler and his son sing. Reflective lyrics (I think by Vaali). Raja’s style of singing like a typical father brings a smile in our face.
1. Engirundho azhaikkum – En jeevan padudhu. Happy version was sung by Lata Mangeshkar. This is the pathos version. As usual, Raja weaves his magic with flutes and violins.
2. Thalattu mariponadhe – Unnai naan sandhithen. The interludes are different from the original female version. Raja voice is emotional. Flutes and strings are really a thalattu.
3. Oor urangum nerathil – Kanna unai thedugiren. Another flopped movie with all excellent songs . This song has a jazzy orchestration. Maestro’s voice is very youthful and romantic. There is another version by Hariharan.
4. Padichu ennatha – Ore oru gramathile. Song requested by Mrs Usha Sankar. The film is about a forward caste lady (Lakshmi) who becomes a Collector, with a fake caste certificate. Film was released after it won a National award. This song emphasizes literacy for downtrodden – as if a cobbler and his son sing. Reflective lyrics (I think by Vaali). Raja’s style of singing like a typical father brings a smile in our face.
Sunday, March 05, 2006
7. Raja raagam
I was refreshing myself with the ragas list of Ilaiyaraaja’s songs here. Going into the nitty-gritty’s of ragas is always bewildering for me. But, Raja has used many ‘light’ ragas which are very easy to identify. For anybody to start with raga identification, this study would be interesting and easy to follow.
Ragas like Arabhi, Amruthavarshini, Ananda Bhairavi, Chandrakouns, Desh, Darbari Kaanada, Hamsanadham, Hamsadhwani, Hindolam, Madhyamavathi, Mayamalava Gowlai, Reethi Gowlai, etc are very easy identify. We have few songs of Maestro in each of these ragas. Let us get to know some Hamsanadham songs.
Though this raga sounds serious in other Raja songs like Isayil thodanguthamma (Hey Ram), Minnaram manathu (Guru – Malayalam) and Guna theme BGM tracks, he has used it for duets and lighter situations like Sorgame endralum.
First clipping Zindabad prema is from a Telugu movie – Stuartpuram Police Station (I think 1988). Though it’s a duet, the orchestration is full of fun and frolic (reminded me of Mamavukku kuduma – Punnagai Mannan).
Second song Kanni ponnu is from Ninaivellam Nithya. The situation is a wedding function which is prevalent in tribal groups which has some peculiar moments. Its amazing to see how Maestro has blended the tribal kind of beats and chorus in this hardcore song in Hamsanadham. He has also used some unique wind instruments.
Ragas like Arabhi, Amruthavarshini, Ananda Bhairavi, Chandrakouns, Desh, Darbari Kaanada, Hamsanadham, Hamsadhwani, Hindolam, Madhyamavathi, Mayamalava Gowlai, Reethi Gowlai, etc are very easy identify. We have few songs of Maestro in each of these ragas. Let us get to know some Hamsanadham songs.
Though this raga sounds serious in other Raja songs like Isayil thodanguthamma (Hey Ram), Minnaram manathu (Guru – Malayalam) and Guna theme BGM tracks, he has used it for duets and lighter situations like Sorgame endralum.
First clipping Zindabad prema is from a Telugu movie – Stuartpuram Police Station (I think 1988). Though it’s a duet, the orchestration is full of fun and frolic (reminded me of Mamavukku kuduma – Punnagai Mannan).
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Second song Kanni ponnu is from Ninaivellam Nithya. The situation is a wedding function which is prevalent in tribal groups which has some peculiar moments. Its amazing to see how Maestro has blended the tribal kind of beats and chorus in this hardcore song in Hamsanadham. He has also used some unique wind instruments.
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