70. Mudhal Vasantham

Mudhal Vasantham was a super hit movie with Sathyaraj’s Kongu Tamizh and good songs. ‘Aarum adhu azhamille’ was heard everywhere. I think its written by Kuruvikarambai Shanmugam.

I remember this movie fondly - as my father and I waited outside the theatre for the previous show to get over, we heard this climax piece and immediately attracted to it. Kalki magazine also had made a special mention of this BGM piece in their movie review and said that none other than Raja can score such a piece.

Here is a song which comes in the titles. I don’t think it was included in the audio cassettes.

69. Mannvasanai

Mannvasanai has beautiful theme pieces which I thought of sharing with you today. Bharathiraja’s picturization nicely complements the music in every scene, which makes the movie a pleasure to watch. Silence is also masterfully used in many places for BGM. As usual, the theme is heard with many variations in the scenes here.

The director has shown his skills in imaginatively picturising the shots with beautiful visuals like regular exchange of letters, letters flying out of the pot, Pandian entering back the house in Revathi's imagination, etc. Revathi has shown wonderful expressions when she learns that Pandian is alive and he is visiting the village again. Kanthimathi has given her life time performance in this movie.

Scene 1:

This is where Pandian attends the function to celebrate Revathi, when she attends the age. The village sentiments are nicely brought out. Pandian looks Revathi in a new light and starts loving her more. The theme music is introduced from here onwards. He loses his sleep in the nights.



Scene 2:

Revathi asks Pandian what he will do if doesnt get her hand. She keeps the grama devadhai as a witness and asks God to unite them.



Scene 3:

Pandian elopes the village after the villagers fight over an issue of marrying Revathi. They all think that Pandian had died in the fight. But the teacher Nizhalgal Ravi creates fictitious letters as if written by Pandian, to keep Revathi in good cheers. The village girl's innocence is beautifully shown here.



Scene 4:

One day Revathi received a letter really written by Pandian, saying that he is returning to the village. Her joy knows no bounds. She shares it with her mother and Kanthimathi also.



Scene 5:

Most beautiful scene of them all. Revathi is not able to contain herself the previous night, when Pandian is supposed to land in the morning. She is impatient and not able to sleep. Very interesting visuals and the dialogue is very natural.



Scene 6:

Theme music is played as a happy version in the climax, when the lovers unite once again, after some mishappenings.

68. Lyrics with Music

It’s my long time wish to hear Vairamuthu’s poems with Maestro’s music. If they ever join again, it would be our fortune if somebody brings out a collection of his poems read out by Vairamuthu himself with Raja’s music in the background. Till then, we have to be content with these BGMs from Mannvasanai. There are some short poems recited by Bharathiraja. Its pure bliss to hear these along with the beautiful picturization by Bharathi Raja.

Nizhalgal Ravi is the new teacher in the village, who enjoys Revathi’s beauty and writes lyrics in praise of her. The situation is beautifully and decently picturzed.

Non Tamil fans: I am sorry for not translating these as the translation won’t do any justice to these lines.

Scene 1: Revathi & Ravi meet each other



Scene 2: Ravi sees her with Pandian and feels happy for their love



Scene 3: Ravi pens these lines when Revathi attends age



Scene 4: Ravi is unable to bear the sadness in Revathi’s life

67. Ninaivellam Nithya

Ninaivellam Nithya, by late director Sridhar, is one of my most favourite films for its BGM. Its another lesson in how to gradually develop the theme motif throughout the movie, binding the audience to the story. Here are the eight variations of the love theme.

Scene 1:

This is the starting point of the story, where Karthik meets Jiji for the first time. The theme is just introduced with tribal music for the situation (heroine is from a tribal family).



Scene 2:

Karthik follows Jiji and gets a glimpse of her along with friends. The theme is more developed and complete.



Scene 3:

Karthik waylays her and asks her name. She is also interested in him. Love at first sight.



Scene 4:

Hero and heroine talk at the river side. Main theme is presented with another connected piece. The mood suddenly changes to imply the danger, as heroine’s relatives/friends see her with another boy. Luckily hero’s friend saves him.



Scene 5:

Both meet at the supermarket. Short but sweet piece.



Scene 6:

Jiji elopes with her lover to the city. But they don’t get any support from Karthik’s parents and struggling for a job. There is a small friction between them and they reunite again. The BGM is mainly scored for voices. Another beautiful variation in the piece with lots of counterpoints.



Scene 7:

Karthik meets with an accident. His parents blackmail her while hospitalizing him, taking a promise from Jiji that she would not meet him again in life. She sacrifices for their love. Another amazing choral piece with counterpoints.



Scene 8:

Climax scene, where the lovers are shot by heroine's brother and his gang. A sad end to the story. The score ends with haunting chorus voices.

66. Ponmudipuzhayorathu

Ponmudipuzhayorathu (2004) was one of the flop movies of Maestro in Malayalam (along with Pachakuthira & Sooryan). But it had beautiful songs and BGMs. Two of the BGMs are here. The music may sound familiar to some of you. Yes, it was used in the title score for Hrudaya Ragangalude Raja series.

Scene 1:

Sheela, a widow is heading the family with a son and daughter. She dances in temple during the mudiyattam festivals and does small jobs like treating children, etc. This is one such scenes. She advises about precautions to be taken while breast feeding a baby.


Scene 2:

This is one of the poignant scenes in the movie. Sheela runs a poor family. Adding to her woes, their only property, a small house, is in the danger of being snatched away by the municipality for the road extension work. Her son (hero of the film) goes to neighbouring town with his friends in search of a work for his livelihood. However, he learns later that they are gangmen who are hired for doing murders. By circumstances, he is forced to be a part of this and caught by police. Due to all these, Sheela gets mentally afftected and comes back home after prolonged treatment. She finds that his son lost his legs due to his wrong friendship. The director has given a nice touch here when Sheela thinks about his son as a child.

65. Bala Nagamma BGM

This is a clipping from Bala Nagamma. A perfect fusion between Baroque (western) and Carnatic. A long clip to relish.

64. Kovil Pura BGMs - Part 2

Kovil Pura has a small episode on how an artist is destroyed due to fatal attraction to fame coupled with ‘madhu and maadhu’ (wine and woman). Vinu Chakravarty who is a genuine artiste, a nagaswaram player, is lured by an unscrupulous person to Chennai who promises him concert chances with wealth and comforts. Soon Vinu falls prey to a damsel Silk Smitha and also becomes a drunkard. He loses his youth in these indulgences and left a pauper when he loses his prime. He is unceremoniously dumped and that’s when he realizes. But its too late now. He leaves back to his native along with his son. Some time later, his soon broods over the past.

A very sad, but unconnected to the main story. But see Maestro here, he enriches it with his impeccable background score – starting with solo violins, his favourite guitar notes, the beautiful ‘desh' flourishes and ofcourse, peppered with nagaswaram pieces. The whole episode has been enriched with his score. What a range of emotions he has shown - greed, lust, passion, helplessness, dejected, etc etc! A lesson to be learnt by modern MDs.





This is a light piece for a comedy scene, but Raja is Raja. He has given a trumpet version of Idhu oru ponmalai pozhudhu and Vatapi Ganapatim bhaje. Nice to hear.

63. Kovil Pura BGMs - Part 1

These are some amazing BGM from the movie Kovil Pura. The first file is the theme music which comes at many places. The same has been sung by our Maestro as a bit song in another place.

I will post more BGMs later.

62. Hrudaya Ragangalude Raja - 6

This is the last episode of the series (4 parts). Unfortunately, Amrita TV stopped telecasting this. I have one more episode recorded in speed recording mode in the VCR, which I am unable to convert. It has interviews with directors like Balu Mahendra, etc with beautiful shots of Maestro on the temple backdrops. I missed recording 2 episodes (1 on Thiruvasagam and 1 about evolution of instruments). If somebody has these, kindly share it with me.

Hope you all enjoyed it. Please post your comments and suggestions.

61. Maestro felicitates Kavignar Vaali

This is a function organized by Raj TV few years back. Maestro has given a beautiful and befitting speech on this occasion. Enjoy!

Vaali, endrendrum vaazhi!

60. Nostalgia: Karthik Raja's Reception

This is Karthik Raja's wedding reception video. Who's Who of the Tamil film field are here. Nice to see a happy and smiling Maestro.

59. Title scores of My Dear Kuttichathan

The (end) title scores of My Dear Kuttichathan in the old and new avtars. Gives two different flavours to enjoy.

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58. Hrudaya Ragangalude Raja - 5

Episode 7 in three parts have been uploaded here.

57. Hey Ram Score Recording

When I heard the title score of Hey Ram, I was literally blown away by the choral piece which was of international standards. This has become one of my favourite pieces along with Lajja title score, which is another amazing piece.

Unfortunately, this is a very short piece. Also, this theme being Mahatma's theme, appears only in one place in the movie, after Mahatma is shot in the climax. I wish Maestro composes full length choral pieces based on such themes.

This video also has a brief clipping of Pt. Ajoy Chakraborty recording with Maestro, for Har koi samjhe song.