SIVAJI SEASON - SONG NO 2

SIVAJI SEASON - ELLORUM KONDAADUVOM

பாவ மன்னிப்பு - எல்லோரும் கொண்டாடுவோம்


Acknowledgement:

Various Magazines with special thanks to AVM 60 by M.Saravanan

Mani Sirs previous song threads

Fellow Hubber and actor Mohanram for his valuable info addition

PAAVA MANNIPPU


For the last 50 years, people who are aware of Tamil cinema (forget about their age - they can be between 15 and 75) will recognise one alphabet and immediately identify that with two people. The alphabet is pa and the people who readily come to mind are NT and BheemSingh. This duo of NT BheemSingh literally swept the Tamil audience off their feet by delivering quality movies one after another with an unfailing consistency that marked a watershed in the annals of Tamil Cinema. So much so that other directors who were directing NT during those times had to make conscious efforts to make their movies stand. Some succeeded like K.Shankar (Aalaya Mani) and LV Prasad (Iruvar Ullam) whereas some good films like Punar Jenmam and Ellam Unakkaaga did not get the success they deserved. Even now that combination is spoken with awe. The song we had selected for discussion is from one such immortal movie of this combo PAAVA MANNIPPU.

Paava Mannippu carries another distinction in the sense it came in 1961, a year that saw the release of three greatest Paa varisai movies and Paava Mannippu was the first one (16.03.1961) followed by Paasa Malar (27.05.1961) and then Paalum Pazhamum (09.09.1961) and it goes without saying that all three were Super duper hits. Now before proceeding to the song some background news on the movie. BheemSingh had started Buddha Pictures and produced Pathi Bakthi, the starting point of Pa. Then he did Baagha Pirivinai that was produced under the Saravana Pictures Banner. After this he planned a movie with Chandrababu in the lead. CB had given a knot for the story. A man born as a Hindu grows up as a Muslim and loves a Christian girl. Bheemsingh decided to developon this. He named the movie as Abdullah. Shooting started and around 2000 feet was shot.

On seeing the rushes, Bheemsingh had a feeling that something is amiss. He being very close to AVM Productions discussed the issue with AVM. Saravanan. Saravanan also saw the rushes and though he also felt the same about the portions shot, the knot attracted him. He spoke to his father AV.Meiyyappan about this and Bheemsingh went and met AVM Chettiar. It was decided that Buddha Pictures and AVM would co-produce the film. AVM would finance the project and profit would be equally shared. The Budget was fixed as 4.5 Lakhs. It was also decided to re work the script.

Bheemsingh had a unique style of script writing. He would always have some writers in his unit like Valampuri Somanathan, Arangannal and Irai Mudi. Everybody would write out a screenplay on their own and after discussion, Bheemshinghs assistant Thirumalai (who later with another colleague Mahalingam formed a director duo and did Sadhu Mirandaal and Aalayam) would collate all three and form the screenplay that is going to be filmed and Solai Malai would write the dialogue. The Pooja of Paava Mannippu was held on Jan 20th of 1960. The screenplay writing was going on. At this point of time NTs brother VC Shanmugams marriage took place in Abotsbury (He married the younger sister of Kamala Ammal, the wife of NT). During the marriage, Saravanan met Bheemsingh and enquired about the progress. Bheemsingh had replied that the script has shaped up very well. But he told Saravanan, that with the turn of events that took place in script writing, Chandrababu would not be able to do justice to the role and it required an actor of NTs caliber to cope with. Saravanan though happy was apprehensive about how Chandrababu would take it. Because Chandrababu was known as a person who could have extreme mood swings and Bheemsingh himself took the responsibility of taking up matter with CB and Babu, to everyones surprise agreed to move out. Though CB had given the knot, it was fully developed by Bheemsinghs unit and therefore in the titles the credit for story was given to Buddha Pictures Kadhai Ilakkaa, a common practice carried out during those days. Now the budget had to be reworked and it was revised to 10.5 Lakhs. What started as a simple story had by now grown into a story dealing with a much-discussed social topic religious amity So NT came in as the hero and Bheemsingh immediately booked Gemini, Savithiri, Devika, MR Radha, SV Subbiah, and Balaiah. Naagaiah, MV Rajamma and Rama Rao were also there.

Madurai formed the backdrop of the story, where MRR (Aalavandar) would be running a diamond business. MV Rajamma as his wife and Balaiah as his driver, Rama Rao as his assistant and Subbiah as his friend James completed the casting. MRR is shown as a greedy person and as usual his wife is a good woman. They have two sons. Balaiah has one daughter and his wife is in an advanced stage of pregnancy. A north Indian businessman who comes to sell diamonds is tricked and murdered by MRR and the blame is put on the head of Balaiah, who is arrested. His wife delivers a female child and dies.

MV Rajamma, who wants to atone for her husbands sin, gives this child to James. The elder girl is taken care of by an elderly woman neighbour of Balaiah. Balaiah on hearing about the developments escapes from the prison and kidnaps the younger son of MRR and in a fit of anger throws the child on to the railway track but the child is saved by an Islamic Medical practitioner who with a help of a Hindu friend sets up a dispensary (BharathiVaidya Salai) in Ponnagaram a suburb of Madurai which is inhabited by the poor. He names the child as Rahim. So the stage is set with one son of MRR growing up in his own home as a Hindu (Gemini-who becomes a Police Inspector), while the other son grows up as a Muslim and engages himself in social service. In the same manner, whileBalaiahs elder daughter (Savithiri) is a Hindu, his second daughter (Devika) who is brought up by James grows up as a Christian, though all four are by birth Hindus. With such a plot, Bheemsingh simply delivered.

Now coming to the songs.

There is still a large section of Population (believe me it is really large) who are of the firm opinion that when it comes to songs, its contents, its tune, its BGM, its filming and enactment, the combination of NT Bheemsingh- Kannadasan- VR is unbeatable. On any given day this combo would rock.

Paava Mannippu was one among the golden musicals dished out by this combo. All the songs were Super Duper hits and the fact that even after 53 years have gone by, all the songs retain their charm and craze speaks for their longevity.

The Film in total had eight songs and all were hits. (In fact in later years, when the film was re- released), the advertisement was like this.

பாடல்கள் எட்டு! அத்தனையும் தேன் சொட்டு!

All the songs were recorded. Saravanan had an idea and he with the help of the radio advertiser L.R.Narayanan had sent the record containing all songs to Mayil Vahanan, the announcer in Radio Ceylon. All the songs were played in Radio Ceylon and they became a big hit. Bheemsingh had a fear that repeated playing might make the songs stale during release. But Saravanan was very confident and he even cited the example of Kohinoor tuned by Naushad, which had been aired for a longer period, and it helped the film. Saravanan was right and when the movie was released, the public received the song sequences with thunderous applause.

SONG SITUATION

Now coming to our song, this serves as the introduction of NT in the movie. Not only him, GG, Savithiri and Devika are introduced during the song. So a single song had served to introduce all main characters and it has been done clearly without creating any confusion in the minds of the audience. But it seems that the song was not in the scheme of things in the first place. Later when discussions were in the advanced stage, this song situation was thought of and it made Bheemsinghs task easier. Kannadasan was assigned the task.

The period was 1960 and Kannadasan was still with DMK. So he was supposed to be an atheist. But as for as Kannadasan was concerned, beliefs and business were different things and it should be said here that he had a vast knowledge about all religions. He who was known as a Kannan devotee had also written about other religions in the films. His combination with APN in films like Thiruvilayadal, Saraswathy Sabatham, Kandhan Karunai, and Thiruvartuselvar brought out the saivaite based songs and Thirumal Perumai saw him penning Vaishanvaite songs (Thirumal Perumaikku Nigarethu a
classic on the Dasavatharam). Devar used him to bring out the glories of Muruga in his Dhandayuthapani Films movies. If this is the case for his own religion, Kannadasan for Christianity came out with songs which are ever green and aired till today.

In Thaaye Unakkaaga, the song Yesunathar Pesinal avar enna pesuvaar? is one example. Kannadasan had read all Holy books and just as he put the Gita in simple Tamil in Karnan (Maranathai Enni Kalangum Vijaya), he used biblical language in Devane Ennai Paarungal (Gnana Oli) and Vaanamennum Veedhiyile (Annai Velankanni). In fact the songs of Annai Velankanni would highlight his knowledge on Christianity. No wonder he wrote Yesu Kaaviyam in the last leg of his life. Another song where he brought out the goodness of all religions is from Kuzhandhaikkaga. The song Devan Vandhan would have a pallavi

ராமன் என்பது கங்கை நதி

அல்லா என்பது சிந்து நதி

இயேசு என்பது பொன்னி நதி

(This was only the second time the combo of Sirkazhi, TMS and PBS had come together, the only other occasion being Aarodum Mannil engum Neerodum in Pazhani).

So Ellorum Kondaaduvom was a starter for all these songs, which came later.


SONG

Kannadasan aided by a powerful pen always highlighted the songs with a large dose of practical and philosophical thoughts thrown in. For practical life he advises against laziness. Like this

கல்லாக படுத்திருந்து

களித்தவர் யாருமில்லே

கை கால்கள் ஓய்ந்த பின்னே

துடிப்பதில் லாபம் இல்லே

His favourite philosophy comes behind. Simple but see how effective are the words

ஆடையின்றி பிறந்தோமே

ஆசையின்றி பிறந்தோமா

ஆடி முடிக்கையிலே

அள்ளி சென்றோர் யாருமுண்டோ

He also advocates the religious amity in his unique style

நூறு வகை பறவை வரும்

கோடி வகை பூ மலரும்

ஆட வரும் அத்தனையும்

ஆண்டவனின் பிள்ளையடா

கடலுக்குள் பிரிவுமில்லை

கடவுளில் பேதமில்லை

With Kannadasan completing his task and the Mellisai Mannargal churning out a simple but lovely melody the stage was set for TMS to breathe life into it. At this time the MDs and Bheemsingh had a thought and they decided to implement it. When we say Islamic songs, the name that first comes to mind is Nagoor Haneefa. (Everyone would have listened to Iravanidum Kaiyenthungal). Here the MDs decided to make use of him. Thus Nagoor Haneefa also sang the song along with TMS. That added lustre to the song.

With all things done, now it was the turn of our beloved Nadigar Thilagam to enact the song. For this movie, the first shot NT faced was for this song. NT came for the make up and the same was done. NT called up Bheemsingh and enquired Bheembhai, indha character-ai eppadi panniyirukke? Edhaavadhu negative shades varudhaa? For which Bheemsingh replied No Sivaji Bhai! Rahim character is a good-hearted Samaritan (NT and Bheemsingh always used to address each other as Bhai). On hearing this NT called up the make up man and asked him to sport a black mark in his forehead. He told Bheemsingh Oru unmaiyaana Muslim, dhinam 5 neram thozhanum. Thariyile nethiyai vachu namaz pannumpothu indha mark vizhum. Bheemsingh though well aware of NTs character study was still moved.

Of course there are hundreds of incidents where NT had taken extreme pain to do justice to the roles he played. The make up he sported for Leprosy patient in Navarathiri; he had come to the Saradha Studio at 6 am in the morning and stayed back till 10 pm the next day without even going home. He had only liquid food through straw. The Deiva Magan make up; again the pain he underwent during the make up and its removal was tremendous. Blood used to ooze out. The most challenging part is he had to enact the second sons character also whose face should be free from any scars. During the filming of mythological movies, he had avoided Non Veg, cigarette etc. Especially for Appar in Thiruvarutselvar. While he was shooting for Paritchaikku Neramacchu where he played the character of Nadathoor Narasimhachari, an octogenarian Vaishnavaite, he had gone to Kanchi Mutt along with Muktha Srinivasan and Sri Jayendra Saraswathi, the pontiff of Kanchi Mutt saw him wearing a Poonool (sacred thread) and enquired about it. NT replied that to get into the character, he has been wearing the same. That is NTs Thozhil Bakthi for you. But he never trumpeted about all these things. He never said indha padathukkaaga 10 kilo weight kootinen, illai kuraichen, vaazhai pazham mattume saapiten, mottai adichhikkiten etc. His philosophy was simple. Eppo kadhai kettu padam panneren-nu kai neeti kaasu vaangitomo, appo andha characterkku enna thevaiyo adhai seivadhu oru nadiganoda kadamai. Adhai veliye sollitirukkakoodathu.

The song was filmed and you can see how with the simple steps of graceful walk and hand synchronisation (using the tape which he holds) he makes acting look so easy. An actors calibre has to be measured by how he conducts himself in a song sequence. How he performs, whether it is action or reaction in that song shows his ability and in this regard NT is streets ahead of all actors. This song is one more evidence for the same.

The movie was progressing and AVM had planned for an Oct 26th.Unforeseen incident happened. At the start Kannamba had been booked for the mother role and she took part in shooting. But during the shooting she took ill and she was hospitalized due to which she excused herself from the film. So instead of her MV Rajamma was booked and the portions were re shot. So the film release got post phoned to March 1961.

During those days in Chennai (Madras then) NTs movies were released in Chitra, Sayani and Crown etc. For Paava Mannippu, AVM Chettiar had wanted the movie to be released in Shanthi. (Actually Shanthi was built and owned by G.Umapathy, who later sold it to NT and with that, built Anand and later Little Anand. During Paava Mannippus release, Umapathy owned the theatre). Shanthi had the biggest Balcony (421 seats) of all Chennai theatres and so AVM wanted to release the movie in that. But till that time Shanthi never had a great BO record and so Bheemsingh and VC Shanmugam were bit skeptical. But Chettiar stood by his stand and how well he was proved right. Paava Mannippu released in Shanthi was a blockbuster and celebrated Silver Jubilee there. So it became the first movie in Shanthi to complete 25 weeks.

As a novel way of advertising, AVM imported a gigantic balloon from Japan and tied it atop Shanthi theatre. The balloon had Hydrogen inside it and to sustain the gas inside Hydrogen cylinder was also placed atop. The balloon had an inscription of AVM in English and Paava Mannippu in Tamil. As Mount Road was devoid of skyscrapers during those days, the balloon was visible even from far off places and every one who was passing through the road had a look at the balloon with awe. This helped the film. But one unforeseen problem cropped up. During those days for placing any material which would extending into the high skies, it was mandatory for the people concerned to get a permission from the Chennai Airport authority. Similarly placing a gas cylinder atop

a building has to be approved by Directorate of Explosive factories. AVM unaware of both these things had failed to take the requisite permission and only when they received notices from both the authorities realised their error. But AVM Chettiar tactfully handled the situation and problem was solved.

As the songs had become so popular, AVM decided to conduct a contest. The public were asked to assign the songs in the order of their liking and it was announced that one could send any number of entries. The persons whose choice gets the maximum number of votes would be given a cash prize of Rs 10,000/-, it was announced. There was tremendous response and entries started pouring on. An entire room was allotted for keeping the covers and it started to overflow. So for counting, the entire lot was removed to an open area and the entire staff of AVM Studios was assigned to do the job. A Black
board was placed with all the songs written on that and votes (!) were added.

The winning order was like this.

1.சிலர் சிரிப்பார்! சிலர் அழுவார்!

2. அத்தான்! என்னத்தான்

3. வந்த நாள் முதல் இந்த நாள் வரை

4. காலங்களில் அவள் வசந்தம்

5. எல்லோரும் கொண்டாடுவோம்

6. பாலிருக்கும்! பழமிருக்கும்! பசியிருக்காது

7. ஓவியம் கலைந்ததென்று

8. சாய வேட்டி தலையிலே கட்டி

So many people had won and when the prize money was shared, it was doubtful whether it covered even their postal expenses. But this was the first time a contest was held for public and by this count also Paava Mannippu becomes unique.

I always used to say and I have posted in this thread also that NT and his songs carry a special place in Tamil Homes. If it is marriage it is வாராய் என் தோழி, if it is farewell it is பசுமை நிறைந்த நினைவுகளே, in the same manner for any Islamic festival there will be this song. Foe ever.

The lyric is given below.

எல்லோரும் கொண்டாடுவோம்

எல்லோரும் கொண்டாடுவோம்

அல்லாஹ்வின் பெயரை சொல்லி

நல்லோர்கள் வாழ்வை எண்ணி

(எல்லோ---)

கல்லாக படுத்திருந்து

களித்தவர் யாருமில்லே

கை கால்கள் ஓய்ந்த பின்னே

துடிப்பதில் லாபம் இல்லே

வந்ததை வரவில் வைப்போம்

செய்வதை செலவில் வைப்போம்

இன்று போல் என்றும் இங்கே ஒன்றாய் கூடுவோம்

(எல்லோ---)

நூறு வகை பறவை வரும்

கோடி வகை பூ மலரும்

ஆட வரும் அத்தனையும்

ஆண்டவனின் பிள்ளையடா

கருப்பிலே வெளுப்புமிலே

கனவுக்கு உருவமில்லே

கடலுக்குள் பிரிவுமில்லை

கடவுளில் பேதமில்லை

முதலுக்கு அன்னை என்போம்

முடிவுக்கு தந்தை என்போம்

மண்ணிலே விண்ணை கண்டு ஒன்றாய் கூடுவோம்

(எல்லோ------)

ஆடையின்றி பிறந்தோமே

ஆசையின்றி பிறந்தோமா

ஆடி முடிக்கையிலே

அள்ளி சென்றோர்யாருமுண்டோ

படைத்தவன் சேர்த்து தந்தான்

வளர்த்தவன் பிரித்து வைத்தான்

எடுத்தவன் மறைத்து கொண்டான்

கொடுத்தவன் தெருவில் நின்றான்

எடுத்தவன் கொடுக்க வைப்போம்

கொடுத்தவன் எடுக்க வைப்போம்

இன்று போல் என்றும் இங்கே ஒன்றாய் கூடுவோம்.



எல்லோரும் கொண்டாடுவோம்

எல்லோரும் கொண்டாடுவோம்

அல்லாஹ்வின் பெயரை சொல்லி

நல்லோர்கள் வாழ்வை எண்ணி

எல்லோரும் கொண்டாடுவோம்

Regards