27. Unique beats

Today’s picks are taken randomly. Here we go.

1. Aavaram poovai thottu (Manamagale vaa)

This song captivated me those days for some unique rhythm structure. A nice melody.

http://www.filefactory.com/file/404ef6/


2. Valattum oorkuruvi (Ennai vittu pogadhe)

Again some nice beats. The prelude of the song is superb.

http://www.filefactory.com/file/519c25/


3. Pakku konda (Sakkarai thevan)

Its sung by Raghavendar in full vigour. Interludes remind of Aattama therottama song. It has a unique beat. A nice climax type song.

http://www.filefactory.com/file/08c49a/


4. Therke veesum (Kolangal)

I heard this song recently and instantly hooked to it. Great tune, great singing (many twists and turns) and above all, fantastic western classical interludes. Any guesses on the raga?

http://www.filefactory.com/file/c1a3d5/

26. Three Decades of Music

Today’s selection is Raja’s sentimental songs from 1976, 1986, 1996 and 2006.

1. Oadugiraal (Bhadrakali)

This is supposed to be the only song Seergazhi Govindarajan has sung for Maestro. I have not seen the movie, looks like climax song.

http://www.filefactory.com/file/1d68d1/


2. Poove nee (Kannukku Mai Ezhudhu)

Soothing tune, sung softly by Raja.

http://www.filefactory.com/file/9ff482/


3. Vande matharam (Kaalapani)

When I saw the movie for the 1st time, could not control my tears at the backdrop of the song with heaps of dead bodies killed by the British. A moving tribute to millions of martyrs who sacrificed for our independence.

http://www.filefactory.com/file/049aba/


4. Background score of Pachakuthira (Malayalam)

Actor Dileep has acted as an autistic adult in the movie. The scene is where he meets his playmate (nicknamed Butterfly) after a long time.

http://www.filefactory.com/file/04f591/

25. Missed out songs

Strangely, Kamal’s films have songs missed out in the film. Some of them can be heard today:

1. Ammava naan (Aboorva Sagotharargal, 1989)

I understand that the story of this film was changed drastically half way through the shooting. Hence, we don’t know where this song will find a place in the movie. This is a very folksy song. ‘kattazhaga pottazhaga onna pola..’ phrase is very catchy. Kamal’s socialistic message comes in the 2nd charanam (Guruvayoor…).

http://www.filefactory.com/?494e35


2. Engeyum engeyum (Sathya, 1988)

I think this might have been cut from the film for editorial purposes (length, proximity to another song, pace of the movie, etc) but 2nd interlude suggests that some adventurous situation happens towards end of the song. A beautiful song by Lata Mangeshkar. The piano counterpoints in the prelude and 2nd interlude are great. Another highlight is that the pallavi and charanams are of the same tune.

http://www.filefactory.com/?b4d7df


3. Aadi pattam thedi (Michael Madhana Kamarajan, 1987)

Maybe there was a Kamal with village background, for whom this song was recorded. This is too melodious and doesn’t gel with the revised story of the movie.

http://www.filefactory.com/?a73e6d


4. Sippikkul oru muthu (Vikram, 1986)

This situation can be guessed very easily that Vanithamani replaced this song, as the situation also warrants a suspenseful score. Writer Sujatha had mentioned in Kumudam long back that Raja didn’t like this song and hence dropped it.

http://www.filefactory.com/?ec76d3

I wish he used these songs in other movies, so that it became famous.

24. His first tune for Cinema!

Maestro speaks here about his first tune for cinema. This happened before Raja entered cinema. There was a song already recorded by MSV. The producer wanted to test Raja and asked him to provide an alternate tune for the same lyrics and Raja did it perfectly. Both lyrics (describing a child) and tune are amazing. Listen to it here.

http://www.filefactory.com/?9cf82e

Surprisingly, he used it years later, in 1992, for the movie Endrum Anbudan. Here, the hero sings about the orphaned child brought up by another woman. Song is here:

http://www.filefactory.com/?393409

23. Thendral varum!

All melodies featured today starts with ‘Thendral varum’. They will indeed bring breeze to your soul.

1. Thendral varum – Dharmaseelan (1993)

Flowing melody, Maestro’s quintessential tabla style.

http://www.filefactory.com/?8fe976


2. Thendral varum – Friends (2000)

Nice beats, captivated me on the 1st hearing itself.

http://www.filefactory.com/?89075b


3. Thendral varum – Paaru Paaru Pattanam Paaru (1986)

Great piano prelude and interludes.

http://www.filefactory.com/?2c88d5


4. Thendral varum – Thanga Manasukkaran (1992)

A great melody.

http://www.filefactory.com/?e09fc2


5. Thendral varum – Thendral Varum Theru (1994)

Kavignar Mu. Mehta’s home production. A different melody, orchestration sounds majestic.

http://www.filefactory.com/?60b5bc

Song of the day - 9 July

Song: Idho oru premai
Film name: Sambhavam

This film is dubbed from Nirnayam (Telugu). The song is set in Madhyamavati. SPB's singing is very interesting.

http://www.filefactory.com/?8f0ba7

22. Raga: Dharmavathi

Readers, Dharmavathi is a great raga, which has been used by Raja to depict moods ranging from seduction, romance to a confused state of mind. Today’s selection contains eight songs tuned by him in this raga. Hope you all would enjoy this.


1. Dhoorathil naan kanda (Nizhalgal, 1980)

http://www.filefactory.com/?6436f9

2. Em debba theesavura (Aswamedham, 1992)

http://www.filefactory.com/?5967a3

3. Vanaville vanaville (Ramana, 2002)

http://www.filefactory.com/?7d03e5

4. Poove pani poove (Nilavu Suduvadhillai, 1984)

http://www.filefactory.com/?8109ba

5. Ilancholai poothadha (Unakkagave Vazhgiren, 1986)

http://www.filefactory.com/?498ef9

6. Meendum meendum vaa (Vikram, 1986)

http://www.filefactory.com/?5da943

7. Vazhve mayama (Gayathri, 1977)

http://www.filefactory.com/?6dda39

8. Ennullil engo (Rosappoo Ravikkaikkari, 1979)

http://www.filefactory.com/?eec249

There is a notable non-IR song in this raga – Thathithom from Azhagan (music: Maragathamani).