82. India 24 Hours

Enjoy the videos. Happy New Year to all!!

India 24 Hours on Youtube (12 videos)

81. Punnagai Mannan

BGM 1: Betrothel

Short and sweet piece. I don't know if it has any Sri Lankan type music as required by the story.



BGM 2: Following Kamal

Nice BGM befitting the scenes with the sculptures VGP.



BGM 3: Expressing love

Nice piano version of the Love theme. It sets the mood for the piece which follows within the next few minutes in the movie.



BGM 4: Escape from hospital

I remember the glorious piece written by Vicky on this piece. Would like to revisit the same and know more from him.

80. Vishwa Thulasi

This movie, produced by an NRI, Sumathy, has music by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja & Mellisai Mannar MSV. BGM is by Maestro and songs are done by both for individual tracks. The movie is a love story and a full length musical, i.e. each and every frame is beautified by the BGM and songs. I have posted some mixed clippings here.

79. Rettai Vaal Kuruvi

Rettai Vaal Kuruvi, directed by Balu Mahendra, is the tale of a man with two wive, told in a humorous way. Mohan, happily married with Archana, falls in love with Radhika and both of them get conceived at the same time and go to delivery bed on the same day. The climax is rib-tickling comedy with good support from Balu's friend Raja in the music dept.

Clip 1: Archana working woman in another city, suddenly visits her husband. Mohan is so sure he's exposed of his affair with Radhika.




Clip 2: Both wives at the same clinic for consultation. Some funny moments.



Clip 3: Both the wives deliver babies on the same day. Radhika's father, a heavy weight wrestler is the villain.

78. Katrukkenna Veli

This movie centered on some wounded LTTE militants coming to Tamil Nadu for treatment. The doctor who attended to them meets with police harrassment and the movie is about the happenings in the hospital. After prolonged fight with censors and courts, the movie was finally released with some cuts.

The songs I posted today are from this movie. There is a small episode of friendship between heroine Suji (who later becomes a militant) and Kushbu (who is killed by Sri Lankan army). Except Sri Gana Natha, all other songs are by Mahakavi Bharathiyar.

77. Adhu Oru Kanakkalam

Adhu Oru Kanakkalam is one of the latest movies to have full length BGM score by Raja. He is the real backbone of the film, which is directed by Balu Mahendra. These are some of the wonderful BGM tracks.

1. Koondukkulle:

Dhanush, an innocent teenager, kills somebody by circumstances and sentenced for life. This track sung by Raja is the melody of Kattu Vazhi song, as Dhanush is brought into the jail.



2. Jail intro:

Dhanush is shown to his cell. This theme reflects on the pitiable state of Dhanush and repeated during the jail scenes.



3. Priyamani’s visit:

His lover visits him in the jail. A good WCM score followed by their love theme.


4. Beaten up:

Dhanush takes revenge on a cop, who misbehaves with Priyamani. He is then badly punished by the jail warden. A disturbing sequence, but Maestro’s stunning use of silence and brilliant score elevates it to a different level.



5. Climax:

Shanmugaraj, the sub inspector, takes pity on Dhanush and releases him. A beautiful finale piece for the climax – full usage of keyboard sounds.

76. Yajaman

Today's selection is from Yajaman. The first piece, the introduction theme for Meena, is repeated again in the next scene when she brings snacks. This piece is a good example for usage of tremolo strings.



The next one is for a comic cum sentiment scene. As is customary, Rajini wants to get a gift for Meena, as she is pregnant. But Meena asks for a trivial thing like butterfly. The music is very lively for the mood.



Oru naalum unai maravadha - this is a bit song by Maestro, when Meena dies. It unintrusively takes the story to the next level.

75. Music for Malayalam

Raja is a minimalist when it comes to BGM for Malayalam movies. Except for movies like Kalapani, Guru which warrants grand score, he underplays on the BGM area. Presented here is a the climax music from the movie Vinodayatra. This is the instrumental version of Kaiyetha dhoorathu.

74. Panneer Pushpangal

I was watching Gautam Menon's tribute to Ilaiyaraaja in Vaaranam Aayiram, where Surya plays the song Kodai Kaala kaatre on guitar. It also struck me that Raja has already used some guitar instrumentals of the song in the movie, while the college goes on a tour (near a bonfire).

73. Sri Raghavendrar

My favourite movie of Rajini, as I am also a devotee of Sri Raghavendrar. On Rajni's birthday, I want to wish him by posting a clipping from the movie. Ofcourse, one of the masterpieces from Raja for this movie.

72. Atharvam

Atharvam, directed by Dennis Joseph, stars Mammootty, Charuhaassan, Thilakan, etc. Its a story of fight between the evil forces and the divine grace. The first piece here is the love theme for Mammootty and his lover. Its scored for different versions Indian & Western classical.



The next piece is for a situation where Mamootty performs some tantric pooja. The mysticism of the situation is well brought out in the score.

71. Aanpaavam

I have received many requests for this BGM. This movie is one of my early favourites, for, each scene is a pleasure to watch along with the BGM. The 'girl seeing' episode is one of the lengthiest BGM piece and set to Madhyamavathi. This BGM has been ringing in my ears for many years since I saw the movie. Its instantly catchy and cannot be forgotten even after you come out of the movie hall. Actually, this BGM occupies the first half of the movie, like a hero. The director has done a nice job of editing the various scenes into one immensely enjoyable episode. The dialogues and the supporting actors are all brilliantly done.



This scene is similar to the piece from Mannvasanai where the heroine is impatient to wait for the next day, to meet her darling hero. It actually takes us through the character's mind.