Forgotten Singers of Ilaiyaraaja's Era

Maestro has introduced/recognized many play back singers. We know most of them; Ilaiyaraaja, TMS, P Susheela, SPB, K J Yesudas, S Janaki, Malaysia Vasudevan, Kamalhaasan, Vani Jayaram, Jency, Chitra, Jayachandran, Uma Ramanan, Mano, Swarnalatha, Hariharan including Shreya Ghoshal and Karthik. Apart from the above, there are some very good singers sang for Maestro in late 70s and 80s. They were even better compared to very popular singers of today. They are mostly forgotten today. I would like to highlight a few which I had in my list along with some of their best renditions.

1. Deepan Chakravarthy
2. B S Sasirekha
3. Sunandha
4. Krishnachandar
5. T L Maharajan
6. S N Surendar
7. Kalyani Menon
8. TKS Kalaivaanan
9. Ramesh
10. Radika Tilak

The list goes on….

Please add any singers which I have missed with your favorite songs of them and also explain what/why you like.

The main problem I see here is, the songs are themselves very popular and we might even know the male singer, but when it comes to female singer, we tend to assume that it could be P Susheela or S Janaki or Chitra and move on. Let me start with one of my favorite singer of that time, B S Sasirekha. As soon as hear her name I hear Vizhiyil Vizhunthu from Alaigal Oiyvathillai. Her voice is very unique sounding one. A sort of intermediate voice between a lady and a girl. Maestro would have aptly used her voice to songs played by the heroine of that age. I will start with a solo, Manathinil pudhiya aruvi perugi vizhuntha kOlam from Oomai ULLangaL (1981). Even when I heard the song many times, I had never given a thought who the singer is. I am taken by the innocence in her singing. If you hear, it will not be professional. I can even hear her breath in between some words. As if a girl next door sings, we can feel that closeness in her singing. Fast and vibrant melody by Maestro with some unique violin tremolos, nadaswaram, flute and santhoor.

I could not get better version online, but will upload good version soon.
raaga.com/player4/?id=39403&mode=100&rand=0.1753894528374076

Here is the link which has good quality.
mediafire.com/?4ddvhekvm5gfqjk

Please share your views.

manadhinil pudhiya aruvi - first time listen

I'm almost certain this never got aired in radio - even the movie name is so obscure. This was the time period I was addicted to radio (especially SLBC where even unreleased movie songs got played). So, there's no question that this song was not a "hit". neenga idhai eppadikkaNdu pidichcheenga

Nice song, though :-)

BSS had a couple of big hits with TR (indhira lOgaththu sundhari / pagalenRum iravenRum) during the mid-80's too.

Perhaps her first song with IR was for the Rajini-Sridevi movie gAyathri, story by Sujatha (1977, rAsA's second year)

Song : vAzhvE mAyamA (a radio hit)
thiraipaadal.com/tpplayer.asp?sngs='SNGIRR0930'&lang=en

There was another BSS song from the same year, movie : thuNai iruppAL meenAtchi (education by thiraippadal, I'm hearing this song for the first time) :
ammammA pasikkudhammA
thiraipaadal.com/tpplayer.asp?sngs='SNGIRR3700'&lang=en

Thanks App. That was one of my most favorite BSS song right from 80s. Yes she started in 1977 with Gayathri. Couple of songs in that film. One you mentioned, another one is Kaadhalenum Oviyum. In the same year she sang DEvan Thiruchabai MalargaLe from Avar EnakkE Sontham. Will listen to Thunai iruppaal Meenatchi song. I don't remember that one.

V_S wrote:In the same year she sang DEvan Thiruchabai MalargaLe from Avar EnakkE Sontham.

illeenga :-)

dEvan thiruchchabai malarkaLE : Indira / PooraNi

Really? I have listed Sasirekha's name along with Indra and Poorani. I could be wrong.
Yes app you are right. Every site only mentions those two names. Don't know from where I got her name. Removed it now from my list.

V_Sji, manadhinil pudhiya arivu paatukku mikka nandri! I've never heard this one before and boy, what a beauty! The mannvaasanai and thullal in the song is unbelievable! Whattay flow! :bow:

Sujatha Mohan would have been one such. But she luckily got reintroduced by Rahman and got agaligai motcham. (Although If I am not wrong, Raja used her just prior to Roja but Roja aLavukku andha pAttukkaL prabalam adaiayalai. I cant remember which one. (Or I may just be making up a fact - and that too unconsciously. Happens with me.) )

Have a funny story on this: For some reason - I cant remember if I read something to the effect or heard someone saying it - at some point, I thought Anuradha Sriram was the daughter of former Hindu cricket writer R Mohan. In one blog post related to Mohan, i commented that as a trivia about him very confidently.

A few years later, a discussion came up on Anuradha in another forum(namma previous kuttichuvaru) and I again mentioned this "fact". There was a debate on that and eventually it was proven that this was not a fact. Funnily enough, while analysing this, someone came up with my previous blog comment as a "proof" for the fact.

Goes to show what makes up the internet - and how difficult it is to see where facts and myhts merge.

There is this TKS Kalaivanan right? TK Shanmugam's son. He sang in Garjanai no?

Ramesh - Radhe En Radhe (Jappanil...) and a few other songs. I thought he was better than my favourite whipping boy Manadhodu feller.

THere is a guy who sang vaarayo vanmadhi in Pagal Nilavu and the female singer in the same song.

You beat me to that, Plum! I was about to post about Ramesh! He had this godawesome song in Ambigai nEril vandhAl called 'idhu ilamai ilamai' where Raaja's orchestration and Jaanu kinda relegate him to near insignificance. But yeah, I'd rate the feller higher than mr. manolith.

Thanks kv.
Yes Plum. TKS Kalaivaanan sang in Garjanai, varuvaai anbE. Thanks for reminding him and the beautiful song. Ramesh is another forgotten singer. May be it is better I will add these singers in the first post so that it is available at the start. Ramesh has sung some nice songs. Here are few including the ones you mentioned:
1. VaarayO - Pagal Nilavu
2. RaadhE en RaadhE - Japanil Kalyanaraman
3. Kanni thEnE - Ambigai NEril Vandhaal
4. Idhu ILamai ILamai - Ambigai NEril Vandhaal
5. Oru NaaLil - Unnai ThEdi VaruvEn
6. Veettai Thaandi - MagaLir Mattum.

TKS Kalaivaanan only sang three songs for IR.
1. Varuvaai AnbE - Garjanai
2. Vengaaya Saamabarum - Panneer PushpangaL
3. SOrunna Satti - Kanni Raasi

Correct me if I am wrong.

In recent times, I liked Manjari(to some extent) especially Kekkalayo from Kasthoori Maan and solvadharku oru sol from Siva 2006. Ofcourse, the famous ambum kombum from Pazhassi where she acquitted herself very well. But she kind of is no longer favoured it seems.
She also sang Naan Thedu in the 2005 concert with average results

A one song wonder was Vidhu Prathapan of Kaattula Thalai Attura non-fame from Solla Marandha Kadhai.

I havent heard anyone other than me appreciating that song and I have a hunch that except jaiganes, not many will even now.

But I fell absolutely in love with that song and I thought the feller acquitted himself well. I think he ended up winning the ill-conceived and ill-fated series Sangeetha Maha Yuddham in its Malayalam version and made music for a few Malayalam films but havent heard much of him since. Tippu, ThappukellAm evLavO thEvalAMb

Another Sasirekha's song which I love the most, but this is a triplet :wink: PEsu en anbE in Vidiyum Varai Kaathiru. This song is sung by SPB, S P Shailaja and B S Sasirekha. It starts off unconventionally in a conversation mode and gradually gets to the song. BSS only has few lines to sing, but again one of her best song. Thiraipaadal didn't credit BSS.

thiraipaadal.com/tpplayer.asp?sngs='SNGIRR4059'&lang=en

Might not be the right section to post under, but anyways, enakku konja naala indha sandhEham irukku:
In 'aadhiushas sandhya' from pazhassi, who's the singer at 2:30? I don't think he sings any other lines of the song solo but for these 5 secs (he might be a part of the chorus; I find it hard to say). Most sites credit only KJY and MGS for this song. Any idea?

kv, Good catch, but no idea. I too was blindly believing "KJY, MGS and Chorus". Will let you know if I find the singer.

Another BSS song which I listen often is Thendral Kaatrum Anbu Paatum Mangai Vaazhvil Ethu from Bagavathipuram Railway Gate (1983). Just the title of the movie interested me when I was a kid. Still waiting to watch the movie. Many times, we used to wait at the railway gate in my town for the train to cross. No flyovers or underground roads to save the time, yet the waiting time was precious too. Even there, I have seen railways gates are much more precious than the one I described. Yes, those five minutes carry stories of eyes and heart exchanges. They never fail! We can see various people wanting to go on different directions, but all waiting for a common cause. When the train arrives, every one's concentration is only on the train nothing else forgetting their next tasks. Great place to see everyone together. Same way once the song starts, we automatically tend to focus on BSS singing and lyrics alone, nothing else. She starts with a beautiful humming, with prelude giving the song tune as the clue on how the song will start. Some great earthy flute, veena and violins arrangements. She emotes correctly, not slipping nor over-doing it. You will fall for her singing. Are there any such railway gates exist today?

While we are waiting on the Bagavathipuram Railway gate, we will also listen to another forgotten singer Deepan Chakravarthy. Kaalai NEra Kaatre Vaazhthi Chellu, Maalai Soodum NaaLai Paarthu Chollu, with S P Shailaja. Why can't the train doesn't come at all? He has a silky voice which can bend to any difficult sangathis easily. He does not show his mastery unnecessarily, but he is a very confident singer. It is sad he too didn't sing much and still can sing effortlessly. I definitely miss his singing. I will list his songs for Maestro in my next.

thiraipaadal.com/album.php?ALBID=ALBIRR00075&lang=en

PS: If you remember we already discussed films's best song SevvaraLi Thottathile in another forum.

Sweet song, V_Sji, this 'thenRal kARRum' from my college days :-)

Well, there are railway gates worldwide (even here in this Detroit area, there are many railway crossings with gates (lot of "goods" trains here around because of the auto industry / factories). Well, there are always many alternative routes where you can avoid gates (bridged roads).

One road where I frequent here has a gate and the alternate route is extra 5 min.

Fortunately, they have a "warning lamp" in the surrounding roads if the gate is closed (to make it possible to take the roundabout route)...

BTW, an earlier BSS delight is my school days' hit 'kOzhi muttakkOzhi adhappudichchAndhu kozhambu vaippOm vAdi' from sakkaLaththi :

thiraipaadal.com/tpplayer.asp?sngs='SNGIRR0432'&lang=en

(Surprised to see that this 1979 song has STEREO recording! The movie also had that terrific 'vAda vAttudhu' by rAsA and the funny 'enna pAttuppAda, enna thALam pOda;)

Sorry App. I meant only in India. It's been six years since I went back, so didn't know much. Also, times might have changed, so not sure if we have such interesting stories waiting in railway gates.. Thanks a lot for kOzhi mutta kOzhi, big change in singing from BSS. Didn't remember hearing this song.

From triplet, there is also a quartet song which features BSS. Sevvaaname from Nallathoru Kudumbam. Sung by Jayachandran, T L Maharajan (another forgotten singer in our list), Kalyani Menon (another one in our list) and BSS. I am all for that starting flute and tremendous start by Jayachandran and TLM followed by KM and BSS. When Jayachandran sings thoovungaL malargaL kOdi and TLM follows him with SollungaL kavithai kOdi, the tune is brimming with soul. The brisky flute and guitar in the interludes and the way flute ends the interludes is top class. The biggest highlight of this composition is most of the time all these four singers sing separately which we don't normally hear when more people crowd on a single song. Another highlight is this song has three interludes so we get to experience extended delight. Four great singers evenly and equally share the song to give us one of the best experiences in music listening.

thiraipaadal.com/album.php?ALBID=ALBIRR00407&lang=en

V_S wrote: Kalyani Menon (another one in our list)

'sevvAnamE' was perhaps her first film song. It was for a Balaji production (Sujatha banner).

She again sang for the Sujatha banner for the movie Sujatha

It was perhaps her biggest hit in the career, music by MSV - 'nee varuvAi ena nAn irundhEn, En maRandhAy ena nAn aRiyEn' - sweet song!

She hadn't sung much in movies IIRC - for IR or any other MD.

Isn't Rajiv Menon her son?
(Director of the famous movies minsArakkanavu & kaNdu koNdEn kaNdu koNdEn, MD-ed by ARR...KKKK is my most fav ARR album)

Another question - has Rajiv Menon done any project with IR?

allegedly the movie 'Naan Paadum Padal' was based on Kalyani Menon missing a recording after her husband met with an tragic accident and she pretty much gave up her singing career after that.

plum wrote:A one song wonder was Vidhu Prathapan of Kaattula Thalai Attura non-fame from Solla Marandha Kadhai.

I havent heard anyone other than me appreciating that song and I have a hunch that except jaiganes, not many will even now.

But I fell absolutely in love with that song and I thought the feller acquitted himself well. I think he ended up winning the ill-conceived and ill-fated series Sangeetha Maha Yuddham in its Malayalam version and made music for a few Malayalam films but havent heard much of him since. Tippu, ThappukellAm evLavO thEvalAMb

Count me in! Beautiful song, this! :musicsmile:

Thanks App and wizzy for all the details. I think she sang only these two songs, one for MSV and another for IR? She has a good voice. Looks like she also sang Omana penNE in VTV or is that a different Kalyani Menon?

Thiraipaadal lists all her songs, but I am doubtful if she is the same singer who sang for MSV and IR.
thiraipaadal.com/singer.php?SGRID=Kalyani%20Menon&lang=en

nanRi wizzy for reminding the nAn pAdum pAdal connection!

On Rajiv Menon - his debut as oLippathivALar is in the Telugu movie "Chaitanya" it seems (wiki) - directed by Pratap Pothen & IR music 1991. So, there is some minimum connection

Looks like same Kalyani Menon for the ARR songs in alai pAyuthE & VTV. Perhaps her son rekindled her to do playback again, albeit limited...

Doubt - is she on screen for 'maNi Osai kEttu ezhundhu' of PM (co-singer to mike M)?
engEyO kEtta / padichcha gnAbakam...

app - the singer in maniyosai kettu ezhundhu on screen is K. Swarna, wife of famous MD V.Kumar. Kumar and she fell in love when he stayed as tenant in her house, in a typical scenario out of the movies of KB, who was Kumar's most famous and effective colloborator in movies.