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I came across your exchange of views on our great Ilaiyaraja. I am a die hard fan of him and used to be in constant contact with him 25 years back. Those days ALL India Radio and Doordarshan were usin song censorships and many of his classical songs were not broadcast/telecast due to this policy. e.g Sorgam Madhuvile, Oram Po, Vaadi En Kappakilange, Nettu Rathri Yamm etc were never broadcast in AIR those days. We had to tune into Radio Ceylon to get these songs.
Similarly, I find that even prior to Ponnuku Thanga manasau, in the film Sabatham by GK Venkatesh, a beatiful melody was sung by SPB - Thoduvathenna Thendralo Malargalo which had many intricate touches of Ilaiyaraja style. I was fascinated by this song even then when I was bearly 12 years old. Then in Yaarukum Vetkamillai also the song Melum Keezhum Kodugal Podu had touches of our great genius. Even though GKV was the MD in all the films referred above, I feel that he might have allowed IR some freedom in these songs. Any interesting views on this?
In Uravadum Nenjam, the same song Oru Naal Unnodu Oru Naal was used in 2 different situations. Usually there would be 2 versions. In Kaatrinile varum geetham, the title song had 2 versions with different BGMs for the same tune. I have also heard another version of the song Devan Thiruchabai Malargale sung by Yesudas in Vividh Bharati's Then Kinnam when the program was presented by IR himself. I have also heard IR sing this song on stage with aplomb even though it was sung by 2 female singers. I also remember having seen the Yesudas version on Oliyum Oliyum only once. Some how the second version never became popular.
He has scored outstanding music for the song Putham Pudu Kalai in Alaigal Oyvathillai; Rasave Unnai Nambi in Muthal Mariyadai; Nadiyil Aadum Poovanam in Kathal Oviyam and none of these songs appeared in full in all these films. He made SPB sing like Vennira Aadai Murthi in the song Engengum Kandenamma in Ullasa Paravaigal which was mercilessly blocked by both AIR and DD those days. The other male singer Malaysia Vasu sang like Surulirajan in this song.
I also have 2 rare songs Rasikane En Arugil Va and Aananda Then Katru (chidambaram Jayaraman style) in cassette for the never released film Manipur Mamiyar. Another song Samaiyal Paadame from the same film was reused in the film Unnal Mudiyum Thambi by KB with slight variations.
IR had another feather in his cap when he made Kamalhasan sing for Mohan in a film. I don't remember the name.
V.Padmanabhan, Pondicherry