Manadhil oru paattu - Song of the moment - Vol 1

Whenever we think of Chakravaagam raagam, one anthem which immediately comes to our mind is ULLaththil Nalla ULLam (Karnan). No one can bypass or skip this anthem and it is a sin to do that. Raja has composed few of them, but he always does the opposite. I was stunned to hear that Aapakkada AnnakkiLi (Paayum Puli) was composed in this raagam. Malaysia Vasudevan sir's best. While the former follows true to the classical genre, Maestro too when following it strictly, changes the tone of the song to sound pure folk, yet not deviating from the classical tradition and not giving the listener any hint of the raagam at the first strike. For a listener, while he listens to the former, the first that might strike him is the raagam and emotions, but for the second one, the first one which would strike him is the innocence and folk. But the base is same. How beautiful our indian basics are and we can never get this satisfaction and variety elsewhere. That's the beauty of our Indian music.

While I was stunned by chakravaagam googly in Aappakkada AnnakkiLi, Maestro bowled me around the legs in Thanal Virikkan Kuda Nivarthum (Aalolam) in the same chakravaagam. Both these songs happen almost within a year, with Aalolam has happened first, but look at the turn around. Unless this is a gift, you can never compose like this. Janaki chEchi pouring out subtle emotions. The starting aalaapanai must be one of her best. Here the starting veena tells us the raagam immediately. Veena speaks to us all the time in this song to convey the feel. Lyrics (by Kavalam Narayana Panicker) should be excellent, would like to know the essence (meaning) of the song. A perfect demonstration how to do playback singing for professionals and dummies alike. I am getting drowned by this tonight.


When we covered chakravaagam in thamizh and malayalam, it would be unfair if we don't cover in Telugu and Kannada. So here it is.

Raja must have been in a delightful mood when he heard the situation. Like we see a question in exam paper which we wanted the most, as this is the one we have prepared hard last night. With Maestro, the reasons are different. He never prepares anything, yet his mood is jubilant on hearing the situation like this, as he immediately thinks of SPB and SJ who is going to accompany him. This song starts of with early morning rooster sounds. I don't understand anything what they sing in telugu, but one thing I can understand that how the lyrics fit the tune to 'T'. The way SJ ends the charanam, warewah, what a soul in that! That's where even Maestro gives us the first glimpse of the chakravaagam. Maestro has traversed from a fun song (in thamizh) to sad song (in malayalam) to a romantic duet here in the same chakravaagam. I want to learn this song, but the tricky lyrics beats me every time I try to sing. Here is Kotha Pittaro Kokko from Detective Narada. This grace is totally missing in today's songs. Please watch the video at your own risk, but that is the inimitable style of our dearest Vamsy gaaru.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgeiZBvqMtI

Now we have come to a very popular song in Kannada, Halli Lavaniyalli from Nammura Mandara Hoove. Less said about this song is better. As they shivanna (Shivraj Kumar) needed an urgent hair cut. Almost a SPB solo, with female choir providing backing vocals (not sure if Chitra is also part of the backing vocals) and harmony. It is very difficult to focus directly on raagam here, as the SPB and vocal harmony conveniently diverts us. Even when we don't much worry about this, Maestro makes sure his basics are intact and not to take any listener granted.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=509s6oHuLRw

Four different shades of chakravaagam for four different reasons, but this is not all, there are many like this. It takes a Maestro to compose like this. Will finish with the last and latest one. Shall we guess our Maestro's latest chakravaagam?

soka jaladhi thaanainadi vaidehi
aasokha jaladhilo munige daasaradhi
seetha seetha seetha seetha ni
seethaki vinipinchela rodhasi kampinchela
rodinche seethapathi..
raamuni momuna dheenatha chusi vekki yedchinavi vedhamule
seethakendukee vishaadam… raamunikela viyogam
kamala nayanamula munige ponge kannetilo
chudaleka aa suryude dookenu munnetilo
chudaleka aa suryude dookenu munnetilo

How it could be other than Sri Rama Rajyam? This is semi-classical, but only when the situation demanded. This song (Sitarama Charitam) was composed in raagamaalika, with the above lines composed in chakravaagam. Where is Aapakkada AnnakkiLi, where is Thanal Virikkan and where is Sita Rama Charitam. Maestro does not leave any listener alone. He caters to everyone. Can anyone do this? Even with the same raagam, does it cause tedium? It can never especially with Maestro as he does not hit you on face with the 'genre'. Genre comes the last. Does it not take a genius mind or million births to compose like this?