Kannadasan: A Page to Discuss

We have a page on Kannadasan and IR in the IR: Anything and Everything thread. But I feel a page solely for Kannadasan is a must in a forum which has a thread for Tamil cinema.

While the topic of whether Kannadasan is a genius or not is a contentious one in this forum (while no one can/will deny his superlative talent) and while the criteria for a genius has been defined wonderfully by ravinat and others in another thread, I feel Kannadasan and IR have a lot of parallels, a truth acknowledged by Raaja himself. The most striking similarity is their ability to internalize an emotion and come with a line/tune instantaneously. However, this is not a comparison thread and my motive for starting this is not to prove or disprove whether he was a genius or not. I personally feel he is the closest to Raaja we have had in Tamil films in terms of talent/genius. But I shall share some of my most favorite Kannadasan songs and discuss them. We can also discuss his life (because often, his life and works are so interconnected). I have 2 of his autobiographies, his ArthamuLLa Indhu Madham and a bunch of anecdotes associated with him. Shall keep sharing from them pretty often to add interest. Feel free to share your favorite songs and tidbits about the man too

Shall begin with sharing Mayakkama Kalakkama. A song from Sumaithangi tuned by Viswanathan - Ramamoorthy and rendered by PBS. Vaali has spoken about this in detail on how this helped him overcome his depression and give another shot at Kodambakkam when he was about to pack his bags and head back to Srirangam due to grinding poverty and lack of opportunities in Chennai. That PBS, an upcoming, budding singer, was a neighbor to Vaali and played him this song by chance is kind destiny.

However, the song:



I have watched Vaali discuss each line in detail 4 years back in one series done on him in Podhigai where he paid ready obeisance to Kannadasan. Reproducing Vaali's crux from memory in my own words.

The song is world famous among Tamils for its thathuvam and message. But the song has something beyond all that. There is a progressive logic in this song and the way Kannadasan internalizes a depressed man's psyche and reproduces the solution through the man's conscience in each line is testimony to his supreme talent (while the director Sridhar may have conceived such a sequence, it still needs the stuff to be delivered from the poet). That he'd have taken a few minutes (going by almost every anecdote around the man), it makes this all the more remarkable.

The song is about a man who has lost it all (seemingly) and is at the cusp of life having failed at it. So the poet summarizes his psyche in the pallavi:

மயக்கமா? கலக்கமா?
மனதிலே குழப்பமா?
வாழ்க்கையில் நடுக்கமா?

The trick in studying this song's lyrics is to not get hindered by the pallavi-interlude-charanam construct and read the lines as one continuous flow of thought. Coming back to the song, the poet asks a depressed man if he feels all this. Sure, any depressed man would say aye. He then provides the solution in the charanam:

வாழ்க்கை என்றால் ஆயிரம் இருக்கும்
வாசல் தோரும் வேதனை இருக்கும்.

Taking right off from "Vaazhkaiyil Nadukkama?", he says this (the continuity is what I'm driving here). வாழ்க்கையில் நடுக்கம் என்று நீ சொல்கிறாய் என்றால், இருக்க்கடும் என்கிறேன். வாழ்க்கை என்றால் ஆயிரம் இருக்கத்தான் செய்யும், வாசல் தோரும் வேதனைகள் சூழத்தான் செய்யும். "இதற்க்கெல்லாம் நடுங்குவதா?" என்பது தான் கவிஞரின் வினா. இங்கு வாழ்க்கையில் தோற்று போய் நொறுங்கி கிடக்கும் மனிதன் என்ன நினைப்பான் இதை கேட்டால்? "நடுங்காம எப்பிடி இருக்க முடியும்?!" அதற்க்கு கவிஞர் சொல்கிறார்:

வந்த துன்பம் எதுவென்றாலும்
வாடி நின்றால் ஓடுவதில்லை.

நடுங்கறதும் நடுங்காததும் உன் இஷ்டம். ஆனா நீ நடுங்கி, வாடி போறத பாத்து துன்பம் ஓடி போகாது. இதுக்கு அவன் பதில் வினா என்னவா இருக்கும்? "அப்போ நான் எப்பிடி வாடாம இருக்கறது?!"

எதையும் தாங்கும் இதயம் இருந்தால்
இறுதி வரைக்கும் அமைதி இருக்கும்!

"ஓஹோ! எதையும் தாங்கும் இதயம் தான் வழியா? ஆனா எதையும் தாங்கும் இதயம் எனக்கு எப்பிடி கெடைக்கும்?"

அடுத்த சரணம்:

ஏழை மனதை மாளிகை ஆக்கி,
இரவும் பகலும் காவியம் பாடி!

"நல்லாருக்கு! இங்க அடுத்த நாள் சோத்துக்கு வழிய காணோம். நான் எங்க இதுல இரவும் பகலும் காவியம் பாடி, அமைதிய தேட?"

நாளை பொழுதை இறைவனுக்கு அளித்து,
நடக்கும் வாழ்வில் அமைதியை தேடு.

"நாளை பொழுத இறைவனுக்கு அளிச்சு நடந்தா காவியமா பாடி நிம்மதி வந்துருமா? நிம்மதி வந்து, எதையும் தாங்கர சக்தி வந்துருமா? தாங்கர சக்தி வந்து வாடாம வாழ்க்கைய நோக்கி போராடி ஜெயிச்சுற முடியுமா? நல்லா தான் இருக்கு. ஆனா இத எப்பிடி practical'aa வாழ்க்கைல செயல் படுத்தறது? பயமா தானே இருக்கு..."

உனக்கும் கீழே உள்ளவர் கோடி
நினைத்து பார்த்து நிம்மதி நாடு.

Sucker punch. So what if you eventually fail after so trying? You will still see millions below you. Take heart.

Vaali was inspired after this. But by now, you get the real deal don't you? The poet was second guessing the psyche of a depressed man so precisely and giving the answer in the subsequent line and took it as a logical pattern of growth till the end to put a full stop. That he would have done this in minutes after internalizing a depressed man's psyche is Kannadasan, the true 'Kaviyarasu'

Thank you DM for starting this thread with this great song and wonderful explanation!  Always enjoy reading your analysis.

உனக்கும் கீழே உள்ளவர் கோடி
நினைத்து பார்த்து நிம்மதி நாடு.

has a sort of cold, hard realism to it. The poet is essentially asking us to take solace from the fact that there are so many vast millions who are below us. We are advised to take heart from this, put our own misery in perspective, accept, even feel better about ourselves, our limitations and shortcomings by reflecting on the sorrows and mediocrities of others. A verse which gave comfort to Vaali and which had it been composed in 18th century Italy might have made Salieri feel a little less jealous of Mozart and accepting of himself. I am sure these lines must be among the daily mantras of most Tamil filmmakers, actors and producers too.

Thank you panniapurathar

fring151 wrote:I am sure these lines must be among the daily mantras of most Tamil filmmakers, actors and producers too.

  very true. I hope to share a song a day (or quite regularly) here with some possible anecdote around the song or an analysis of the lyrics the way I did for Mayakkama Kalakkama.

I have no specific time frame or limit or goal. This can be an open road. A page to share KD's awesomeness

Today, I'll share one song from the film 'Avandhaan Manidhan'. This will be anecdote based (saved from a whole lot of tfm page discussions from 2003 initiated by one R Mahendra Raj, a Malaysian based fan of Kavignar who has done radio shows. He also said then that he may know more about the working style, anecdotes and his outputs than KD's children which he realized upon meeting them in Chennai and Singapore and discussing his works. Kavignar also had a deep association with Malay makkaL which he recounts in his autobiography, Manavaasam. Shall share from there later on).

This film was directed by A.C. Thirulogachandar (the director of Bhadrakali, Bharatha Vilas, Anbe Vaa, Deiva Magan, Adhey Kangal, also an aasthaana AVM director). The producers were rushing Kannadasan to pen the songs for this film since they were shooting a few portions from the film and a song in Singapore by May 1973 and needed the songs by time. Kannadasan, the true bOgi who was a yOgi inside, was elusive for long, whiling his time away in worldly pursuits. Finally having had enough of his easy attitude and pressed for time and with the money at stake, they brought him to The Atlantic Hotel in Chennai along with MSV, the composer, the director and insisted that he pen all the songs here. He did so in a jiffy. But before taking leave, he asked the makers along with Visu (MSV) to pay extra attention to one particular song. After spending a long time trying to decipher which song it was, MSV had the Eureka moment.

The song was Anbu Nadamaadum Kalaikoodame. A little pissed off with the producers for their verbal reminders of wanting to finish the song by May, he wrote this song, ending every line with the syllable 'May'. Listen to the song   



Such was the sense of humor and hold over literacy for Kavignar that he could tease the makers for getting in between his indulgence for life

Almost all songs of his have such raison d'etre which actually blends beautifully with the required situation he is writing for. He would never compromise the vision of the director or producer but within the mainstream limitations, you find such an amazing creative vent that it is so very awesome!

Great start DM. Wonderful set of posts about Kaviarasar and his songs. Please continue.

Great job, DM - starting this thread and decorating with two lovely posts!

Please continue...

dig

T Rajendar's take on "உனக்கும் கீழே உள்ளவர் கோடி" went something like this:
"செருப்பில்லை என்று கவலைப்பட்டேன் - காலில்லாதவனைக் காணும் வரை..."

end-dig

Thanks Rajkumar saar and app saar

app_engine wrote:
T Rajendar's take on "உனக்கும் கீழே உள்ளவர் கோடி" went something like this:
"செருப்பில்லை என்று கவலைப்பட்டேன் - காலில்லாதவனைக் காணும் வரை..."

  

My song for today. A personal favorite and an indulgence. Aarodum Mannil Engum Neerodum from Pazhani.

Composed by Viswanathan - Ramamurthy and rendered by TMS, Seerkazhi and PBS for 3 of the 4 hero brothers, Sivaji (TMS), SSR (Seerkazhi) and Muthuraman (PBS). Lovely, maN maNam kamazhum song about farmer brothers enjoying their day out in the farm and excellent renditions, especially by TMS and Seerkazhi, Kavignar's lyrics abound with message and creativity. The song:



The lines:

ஆரோடும் மண்ணில் எங்கும் நீரோடும்
ஏற் ஓடும் என்றும் நம்ம தேரோடும்.
போராடும் வேலை இல்லை
யாரோடும் பேதம் இல்லை
ஊரோடும் சேர்ந்துண்ணலாம்.

Pride in being farmers, happiness in their peaceful life and the lines have a beautiful osai nayam and rhyme without being forced into the tune. Whether this was written for the tune or whether the tune was composed for the line can never be known with MSV-Kaviarasar. A hallmark imo.

First charanam by Seerkazhi (for SSR) and PBS (for Muthuraman):

மண்ணிலே தங்கம் உண்டு, மணியும் உண்டு, வைரம் உண்டு (Mani and Vairam. No, there's no joke on that in this forum )
கண்ணிலே காணச் செய்யும் கைகள் உண்டு, வேர்வை உண்டு.
நெஞ்சிலே ஈரம் கொண்டு, பாசம் கொண்டு பசுமை கொண்டு
பஞ்சமும் நோயும் இன்றி பாராளும் வலிமை உண்டு.
சேராத செல்வம் இங்கு சேராதோ?
தேனாறு நாட்டில் எங்கும் பாயாதோ?
ஆரோடும்...

Ideology hitting the roof, equality for all, equal wealth for all. Nice message, fit well in the tune again in a nice poetic flow.

Second charanam by PBS, Seerkazhi and TMS (for Sivaji):

பச்சை வண்ண சேலை கட்டி முத்தம் சிந்தும் நெல்லம்மா!
பருவம் கொண்ட பெண்ணை போலே நாணம் என்ன சொல்லம்மா...
நாணம் என்ன சொல்லம்மா...

Wow. Plum (also my dad occasionally) keep speaking of osai nayam for a film lyricist writing for film songs. But a lyricist becomes a poet when he brings in உவமை. The crops are compared to a lady and she wears a green sari (similarly like how Kavignar wrote on the sea in Thiruvilayadal: நீல சேலை கட்டி வந்த சமுத்திர பொண்ணு... ). She spills kisses it seems (நெல்லு and hence நெல்லம்மா!). பருவம் கொண்ட பெண்ணை போலே நாணம் என்ன சொல்லம்மா has to rank among the most beautiful uvamais I've heard in TFM. The crops as they are ready to harvest gain weight due to the rice that fills in the nellu and bend to that weight. The poet draws from that to say the green crop lady is shy! Green is the color of photosynthesis since the plant's chlorophyll absorbs photons of every wavelength except green which is reflected to our eyes and the science of crop bending is weight and gravity. Natural phenomena in nature find vent in a lovely uvamai. Beautiful

அண்ணன் தம்பி நால்வர் உண்டு, என்ன வேண்டும் கேளம்மா...
அறுவடை காலம் உந்தன் திருமண நாளம்மா...
திருமண நாளம்மா...

So the hero enters, tells the green crop lady that she has 4 brothers and she may ask them what she wants and the next brother, drawing from her apparent shyness, tells her that the harvest shall be her wedding. Kavignar adds on that uvamai. With osai nayam and poetic flourish.

போராடும் வேலை இல்லை...

If you notice, the first and the second charanams have different tunes! The third charanam follows the first charanam's tune. Talk about tune structuring!

கைகட்டி சேவை செய்து கண்கள் கெட்டு உள்ளம் கெட்டு,
பொய் சொல்லி பிச்சை பெற்றால் அன்னை பூமி கேலி செய்வாள்!
தேர் கொண்ட மன்னன் ஏது? பேர் சொல்லும் புலவன் ஏது?
தேர் கொண்ட மன்னன் ஏது? பேர் சொல்லும் புலவன் ஏது?
ஏர் கொண்ட உழவன் இன்றி, போர் செய்யும் வீரன் ஏது?
போர் செய்யும் வீரன் ஏது?

போராடும் வேலை இல்லை...

Lovely third charanam again. Lovely, lovely song. Also, note from 4:31 how Sivaji leaps and dances so precisely while you can see the difference with the rest. With his koNdai, vEtti and this, he embodies a farmer to the tee. What a man!

DM,
I know you taught yourself Thamizh. Hence, appreciating such lyrics is incredible!

A small nitpick...it should be ஏரோடும் (அல்லது, ஏர் ஓடும்)

No Thamizh word can end with ற், as a general rule (i.e. unless they are in a "combo" word such as நெற்பயிர் சொற்பொழிவு etc where the ல் becomes ற் when two words are joined).

In Malayalam, they dislike vallinam and even in such "joins", they keep the ல் (e.g. நாலு + பத்து = நால்ப்பது OTOH, in Thamizh it changes to நாற்பது)

app_engine wrote:DM,
I know you taught yourself Thamizh. Hence, appreciating such lyrics is incredible!

A small nitpick...it should be ஏரோடும் (அல்லது, ஏர் ஓடும்)

No Thamizh word can end with ற், as a general rule (i.e. unless they are in a "combo" word such as நெற்பயிர் சொற்பொழிவு etc where the ல் becomes ற் when two words are joined).

In Malayalam, they dislike vallinam and even in such "joins", they keep the ல் (e.g. நாலு + பத்து = நால்ப்பது OTOH, in Thamizh it changes to நாற்பது)

Oh thank you. I am learning this today (pardon my lack of knowledge in Tamil grammar. It being my mother tongue allows me to scrape through even in some intellectual discussions and I can speak the language without flaw but mostly while writing, the limitations come forth  )

Staying with Pazhani, it was produced by Kannadasan's brother (don't remember name). There is another lovely song. The eldest brother Sivaji stays in the village. The younger ones SSR and Muthuraman come to the town (Chennai in those days) to earn a livelihood unable to work under a landlord and start earning. SSR's savings are stolen by an unscrupulous friend and a fight with him sends SSR to jail on physical harm and the charges of thievery are on him. Muthuraman in the meanwhile gets married and forgets about his brothers. It is in this juncture that Sivaji comes to the town to realize the state of his siblings and shocked, breaks into this song, Annan ennada thambi ennada avasaramAna ulagathile:



Lovely meaningful song with pithy, life lessons. Anyone who has seen real life siblings fall out with each other (I have in my immediate family) can relate to the song all the more.

The real fun is here. Kannadasan we all know loved to live his life to the fullest. He was in the recording session of this movie. Suddenly feeling the urge to booze with his friends, MSV, TKR and co., he asks them to scrounge money. Together they muster 500 bucks. Feeling the need for more money to 'quench' everybody's thirst, he goes and asks his brother, the producer for money. Upon being asked the reason, the veLLandhi poet who never knew to lie, said "to booze". The brother, irritated with this churlish attitude chastised him and asked him to see the troubles of producing the film and contribute to the song instead of wasting more money and time.

Feeling betrayed by the brother, he wrote this song!    

DM,
Excellent initiative on opening the thread with some exclusive write-ups   I am lagging behind a little and yet to read your posts, but this is a very useful thread and should serve as a great tribute to the Legend. Thanks a lot.

Aarodum Mannil is a song very close to my heart, listened first from my Dad's cassette on a road trip long time ago. Great post DM on the lyrical flourish of this song. 

I love every aspect of this song - the wonderful tune, singing (amazing, contrasting renditions by the stalwarts TMS, Seerkaazhi & PBS), beautiful picturization and most of all Kaviarasar's lyrics. One of a kind song.

Thank you V_Sji and Rajkumar saar.

Sorry for the inactivity for a few days. Konjam mild aa caught up at work and lost the mood after that almighty fight on twitter.

Song for the day. Another personal all time favorite: Nyaayiru Enbadhu Kannaaga, Kaakum Karangal and rendered by the go to duo, TMS and P Susheela. Directed by AC Thirulogachander and AVM film, composed by KV Mahadevan. Has the real life pair SSR and PeN vEngai aka Ponga Paanai Vijayakumari on screen

Song:



Now this song I know from a young age because this was a part of a cassette which dad bought that had Kannadasan's handpicked duets which he considered his favorites. Lovely beautiful song which my generation today remembers because SPB sang this as a soup song to thennagathu Mike Jackson in Kadhalan (we need a headbang emoticon. Any admin, please )

Lyrics:

ஞாயிறு என்பது கண்ணாக
திங்கள் என்பது பெண்ணாக
செவ்வாய் கோவை பழமாக
சேர்ந்தே நடந்தது அழகாக

Nyaayiru (Sun), ThingaL (Moon) are compared to her eyes and structure. Being Sunday and Monday, it's nice. But poet takes it a notch higher with Sevvai (Tuesday aka Mars in that vein of thought from Sun and Moon) is a kOvai pazham but Sevvai here is actually Sevandha Vaai. Also, Mars is red. Super awesome poetic pun!

நேற்றைய பொழுது கண்ணோடு
இன்றைய பொழுது கையோடு
நாளைய பொழுதும் உன்னோடு
நிழலாய் நடப்பேன் பின்னோடு

Yesterday we met through the eyes, today our hands meet. Tomorrow we shall be together (cannot describe a kAdhal jOdi in more pithy but accurate yet poetic lines).

ஊருக்கு துணையாய் நான் இருக்க (he's a policeman. Poet is also true to the storyline)
எனக்கொரு துணையை எதிர்பார்த்தேன்
உள்ளத்தின் கோவிலில் விளக்கேற்ற
மைவிழி கிண்ணத்தில் நெய் வார்த்தேன் (beautiful!)

(ஞாயிறு என்பது கண்ணாக...)

முன்னொரு பிறவி எடுத்திருந்தேன்
உன்னிடம் மனதை கொடுத்திருந்தேன்
பின்னொரு பிறவி எடுத்து வந்தேன்
பேசிய படியே கொடுக்க வந்தேன் (!!!)

(ஞாயிறு என்பது கண்ணாக...)

 

Also, dad's observation which he makes every time he listens to this song. Every line except the last line in the charanam will have 3 words but every last word is a portmanteau!! KVM always made the poets write the song and tuned them. Kannadasan's greatest hallmark as a film lyricist is the lines will have an inherent osai nayam and rhythm that is easy to tune them

An all time favorite song of mine again. Dad's favorite and hence chinna kozhandhai lerndhE kEttu this is ingrained in as an all timer for me. ThEn SindhudhE VAnam, Ponnukku Thanga Manasu. Came in Kannada as Haayaagidhe Ee Dhina, sung by PBS and S Janaki there. In Telugu, it was a solo by SPB and P Suseela.

Tamil song:



Poet begins with Then Sindhudhe Vaanam. Mazhai veettukuLLa ozhugum (especially in poor kutcha houses). AnA kavignar says vAnam thEnai sindhugiradhu. Honey has a greater density and hence thEnAla ozhuga mudiyAdhu. adhu sindhum Starting right there with such a lovely uvamai, this song only gets better. Superlative lines. I remember Raaja recounting this in one Raj TV program in 2006 May where he said (he was the guitarist for this song as you all might know under its composer, GK Venkatesh) The Kannada lyricist took a week to write the song in Kannada, with all due respect to him. Kavignar finished this off in a matter of 5 minutes after internalizing the situation of a poor couple singing their love in rain inside their hut. I remember Raaja giving a similar reaction that he gave for Aayiram Malargale in the Jaya TV show while describing this song too

PS: I had uploaded the Kannada version since no had uploaded the original version on YT then (I think Saregama South has since uploaded; they have the copyright anyway and it was high time they did ):



Telugu versions:

(PS version)

(SPB version)

Ok. Anecdote based song today.

Film Deivam (for some reason, enjoy the film every time I watch it). Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan music. Madurai Somu rendering. Thevar Films movie.

Song:



2 anecdotes here.

1. Kavignar had scheduled his daughter's wedding the next day. He was in debt and the money he was seeking to settle various parties and make the marriage a success was elusive. However at work, he tended to forget all personal worries. Kunnakudi in this instance challenged Kannadasan to write for his tune and he should write it however complex the tune got and started composing a tune that got progressively tougher but Kavignar found the right sandham for the tune every single time and as it ended in a high, Kunnakudi accepted defeat and wholeheartedly congratulated Kavignar.

2. Sandow Thevar, the producer, was in another room and hearing the ruckus in Kavignar's veRRi kaLippu, he rushed to see what the noise was about. Getting what happened from the 2, he checked the lines and was delighted to find the song written to bless him. The line went "Thevarin kulam kAkkum vElaiyyA ayyA." Kavignar of course meant the actual Devas. But who is to stop Thevar from feeling happy? Thevar wrote a cheque for a couple of lacs and gave it to Kavignar.

PS: Kavignar was to later remark that though Murugan was his family deity, he worshipped Krishnan and named himself Kannadasan. However, it was his family deity who eventually came to his rescue. The Deivam this film was about surely did come to Kavignar's help, it does seem!

Konjam gap Agi pOchu. Will try to keep this as regular as possible.

Two songs. One anecdote. Anecdote first.

Kavignar held Malaya and their people very close to his heart. He's written extensively about Malaysia and his surmise of people, their culture, forms of Hindu worship there in his Manavaasam. Highly insightful. Shall try reproducing that portion from his autobio during the weekend. He has also enjoyed the pleasures in Thailand and devoted a chapter to "Thailaandhu KiLigaL"  

So coming to the point, he was Malaysia based during 1971 end when the war broke out between India and Pakistan over what was then East Pakistan (Bangladesh). For a brief while, war time emergency was declared and Kavignar was enjoying life in Malaysia. He was called over before the restrictions would begin but he chose to stay in Malay and enjoy life for a couple of months. In TN, films were being held up over Kavignar's unavailability. It was at this time that his protege (namakku romba vENdiyavar dhAn, Panchu, and a few people in the forum may know this anecdote) and nephew went to the producers of this film and asked them chance to write songs instead of his mentor who may not come anytime soon. Producers were not keen on this and preferred to wait for Kavignar. Once Kannadasan was back, he came for writing the songs and was told of this development and how his protege tried to siphon off a few songs from under his nose. Extremely upset, Kavignar fired his nephew (only for sometime. Kannadasan being Kannadasan, was quick to forgive and take him back under his wings after this subsided) and worked with 2 other assistants:

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In the film, the lead character is highly disappointed that his nephew has walked out on him and there are 2 songs to pour out his pain, disappointment, anger and pride (character being head strong). Tailor made for Kavignar. He poured his heart out in these songs. The songs fit the situation, do justice to the film's vision, have excellent lines and also reflect Kavignar's mind.

Film: Gauravam.

Song 1: Paalootti Valartha Kili:



Song 2: Neeyum Naanuma?



If you listen to the songs keeping in mind what Kavignar went through, the songs hit you even harder! That's Kavignar for you

Film. Bhagyalakshmi.

Song. Maalai Pozhudhin Mayakkathile Naan.

All that I may describe and more, IR does it superbly. Explains the situation and how Kannadasan does justice to it and also reflects on the lines and its content. He really gets the song:

http://www.tubechop.com/watch/3406948

Song:

Song. This can also enter the IR-KD section. But anyway, there is a video of IR talking highly of the Osai nayam and content in this song. So it can quite easily deserve to be in this section too

Song is Koondhalile Kudi Pugundhu, film is Bala Nagamma.

IR speech:



Song:



I don't have to say anything more

Copy pasting from what I wrote on the msvquiz.wordpress.com on Chithirai Maadham. They have a song now from the audience (one of them) for the rest to listen and find and answer. I chose Chithirai Maadham for last week's quiz from Raman Eththanai Raamanadi and added a write up on Kannadasan in this song. I responded to one KRS. Will copy paste what KRS wrote and what I wrote.

First song:

KRS wrote:

பாடல்: சித்திரை மாதம் பெளர்ணமி நேரம்
படம்: இராமன் எத்தனை இராமனடி
குரல்: பி.சுசீலா
வரி: கண்ணதாசன்
—
வணக்கம் DrunkenMunk:)
இது கல்யாணி ராகம் தானே? அதானே கொடுத்தீக?
புல்லாங்குழலும் + இரயில் இரைச்சலும் சேருமோ? = சேர்ப்பவர் சேர்த்தால் சேரும்!
எப்படிச் சேர்த்தார் MSV?
Train இல், ஒட்டுநர் இருக்கை பக்கம் உட்கார்ந்துக்கிட்டு வந்தாரா? இல்லை, கடைசி Guard வண்டியில் ஏறிப் பதிவு செஞ்சிக்கிட்டு வந்தாரா?
No; Just by Sand Paper!
மரக் கட்டுமானத்தில் வச்சித் தேய்ப்பாங்க.. அதை வச்சியா இரயிலோசை? எப்பிடியெல்லாம் யோசிக்கறாங்கப்பா!
அதாஞ் சொல்லுறது.. இசையமைப்பாளரும்= ஒரு வகையில் இயக்குநரே!
—
முன்பே சொன்னது போல்,
சுசீலாம்மாவின் Humming மட்டுமே= பல பாடல்களிலிருந்து, யாராச்சும் கத்திரிச்சிக் கொடுத்தா = கோடி புண்ணியம், esp maam poove chiRu mainaave:)
இந்தப் பாட்டிலும்.. ம்ம்ம் ம்ம்ம் ம்ம்ம் –ன்னு மும்முறைச் சரமா இழுப்பாங்க சுசீலாம்மா!
சித்திரை மாதம் பவுர்ணமி நேரம்
முத்து ரதங்கள் ஊர்வலம் போகும்
ம்ம்ம் ம்ம்ம் ம்ம்ம்
ம்ம்ம் ம்ம்ம் ம்ம்ம்
வண்டி, வேகம் கூட்டும் போதும், அதுக்கேத்தாப் போல இசை போடுவாரு MSV!
எப்படி?
*Sand Paper + Flute கூட, Drums சேர்த்து விடுவாரு.. நிப்பாட்டிக் கேளுங்க)
*கூடவே பாங்கோ (Banjo) இசையும், நிப்பாட்டிக் கேளுங்க!
இரயிலிசையும் மெல்லிசை ஆக்க வல்ல MSV!
இதே போல், மந்தார மலரே மந்தார மலரே பாட்டில், பம்பை-உடுக்கையெல்லாம் மெல்லிசையா மாத்தீக் காட்டுவாரு!
—
கனவு, ஒடனே கனிஞ்சீருமா?
காயாகித் தானே, கனியாகும்?
கண்ணதாசன், சும்மா, முயற்சியே இல்லாம, காதல் உணர்வைத் தொட்டுச் செல்றாரு பாருங்க!
அந்நாளிலே – நீ தந்த கனவு
காயாகி இப்போது கனியானதோ?
அதே போல் தான், அவன் தந்த உறவும்!
என் நெஞ்சிலே – நீ தந்த உறவு
கனவாகி இப்போது நனவானதோ?
கனவு என்பது= காதலர்கள் பிரிந்து போனாலும், காதல் பிரிஞ்சி போகாமலிருக்க.. இறைவன் கொடுத்த கொடை..
உருவாய், அருவாய்!

I wrote:

வாங்க கண்ணபிரான் அவர்களே கல்யாணி தான். ஆனா அதுனால குடுத்துருக்கலாமேனு இப்போ தான் தோணுது You see, I did not know about the sandpaper detail. Thanks!

The tune has a very dreamy feel to it. Of course, it speaks about the woman’s aspirations and hopes in the man she is close to wedding (turns out, she will not. But we or she don’t know it at this stage). So the song is about her dreams and hopes. That hmmm hmmm hmmm hum everyone enjoys. Even I do. Suseela is lovely there. The charanam’s tune and Kannadasan’s skill with the pen sets this song apart for me and was the reason for picking this. The pallavi tbh starts more like a simple rhyme. But the beauty keeps increasing as the song grows.

முதல் சரணத்த பத்தி கண்ணபிரான் அவர்கள் ரொம்ப அற்புதமா விளக்கினார். வாழ்க! அங்கயும் பாருங்க, “மின்னல் இளமேனி (விஜயா மேடம் சைசுக்கு கொஞ்சம் ஓவர் தான் இது) ஆசை தீர மெல்ல மெல்ல சேராதோ?” பார்ரா! என்ன ஒரு நாணமின்மை! பட் அவங்க தான் உறவு நனவாகிடுச்சுனு சொல்றாங்களே. அப்பறம் என்ன தடா?

ரெண்டாவது சரணம். “பூமாலைகள் உன் மீது விழுந்து ஊரெங்கும் பேர் பாடும் பொன்னாளிலே. பாமாலைகள் பல்லாக்கு வரிசை ஒன்றல்ல பல கோடி உன் வாழ்விலே.” கண்ணதாசன் கிட்ட இதான். கதை அம்சத்தோட கற்பனை இருக்கும். கதாநாயகன் கிராமத்து இலுச்சவாயன்லேர்ந்து இப்போ பெரிய நடிகன் ஆகிட்டான். பிரபலம் ஆகிட்டார். அடுத்து என்ன? இலுச்சவாயனா இருந்தப்ப நம்மள காதலிச்சான். இன்னும் அந்த காதல் இருக்குமா? “பங்குக்கொள்ள வந்தாள் கண்ணா உந்தன் சங்கம் வரக்கூடாதா?” ஆஹா. தடை இல்ல, என்ன எடுத்துக்கோனு சொன்னவ வாழ்க்கைலயும் எடம் குடுன்னு கேக்கறா. என்ன தான் இருந்தாலும் கண்ணகி வழித்தோன்றல் இல்லையா தமிழச்சி, நாணமின்மை ஒன்னும் மானமின்மை இல்லைன்னு காட்டறா சந்தம் எப்பிடி சங்கீதத்தோட பின்னி பிணைந்து இருக்கு பாருங்க. அதான் கண்ணதாசன். இளையாராஜா அதப்பத்தி இங்க பேசறார்: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2t6ZiX3DtE&list=UU1ssDQB7RBh11vYX0GDOdew

தவிர்க்க முடியாத என் இளையராஜா சரிதத்தை முடித்து (மன்னிக்க, பிறவி குணம் ), “மங்கை இவள் பேரும் உன்னுடன் சேர்ந்தால் வாழ்வே மலராதோ?” இதுல பாருங்க, என்ன எடுத்துக்கடானு எடுத்த எடுப்புல சொன்னவ, நான் உன் கூடவே இருக்கவானு அடுத்து கேக்க, கடைசியா என்ன கட்டிக்கறையானு கேக்கறா. அதையும் என்ன நயமா மங்கை இவள் பேரும் உன்னுடன் சேர்ந்தால்னு கவியரசர் சொல்றார். அதுல தான் என்ன அழகு, என்ன சந்தம்! எடுத்த எடுப்புல கட்டிக்கறையானு கேட்டு அவன கெரங்கடிக்கல, அதே சமயம் மெதுவா, ஒரு பரிணாம தர்க்க வளர்ச்சியோட கொண்டு போறா அவ காதல காதலன் கிட்ட. அதான் எப்பவுமே கண்ணதாசன் பாட்டையெல்லாம் வேற வேற சரணமா நான் பாக்க மாட்டேன். ஒரு லாஜிக், பாட்டு முழுக்க இருக்கும். அது சிச்சுவேஷன் சொன்ன ஒடனே வரும். அது சங்கீதத்தோட பின்னி பிணைந்து இருக்கும். கவியரசர் கவியரசர் தான்.

இங்க “பங்கு கொள்ள வந்தாள் கண்ணா உந்தன் சங்கம் வர கூடாதா?”ல கூடாதா ல வர்ற அந்த சங்கதிகள் அந்த கூடாதாங்கர வினாவ அழகூட்டுது. “பொன்னழகு கன்னம் காதல் தேவன் பூஜையில் மலராதோ?” ல காதல்லயும் பூஜையில்லயும் வர்ற சங்கதிகள். தளர தளர அத்தன அழகு. MSV compose செஞ்ச ட்யூன் தான் என்ன அழகு, அத சுசீலா அவர்கள் பாடியது தான் என்ன அழகு. அட அட.

Good series  and writeups. Many favourites already listed here. Gnaayiru enbadhu kaNNaaga is SPB's all-time favourite TMS-PS duet. In Kaadhalan(?) movie you can hear him casually humming this song in a  scene when he is adjusting his dress in front of the mirror.
Chiththirai maadham is a terrific example of how the inherent meter in the lines by themselves convey the rhythmic train-travel feeling even before it gets a tune.

I thought KVM was always slightly under-rated in his light music composing capabilities, as he was branded sometimes as a classical or folk composer. But he has given many delectable melodies like these. I am not sure if "kannedhire thondrinaaL" from Iruvar ULLam is there in your list. If not, it would be  a worthwhile addition. Another classic KD-KVM combination, with some naughty wordplay in the pallavi. And Sivaji to go along with it again. Sad that we will most likely never see a trio like that again