Pick of the week: 1 Mar to 5 Aug 2006

A cultural icon and a true institution in every sense, the passing of P.Banumathi is a dark hour for Tamizh/Telugu cinema. She wrote, sang, performed, directed...and wore each hat with absolute elan.
Sakalakalaa Vallavi - P. Banumathi is an irreplaceable loss.
Like the rays of the sun - her name's essence - her music, voice and histrionics will always be golden.

Farewell, Madam.

Naaz

Thanks thenraja

Prabhu, not yet.

Picks #234 and 235

http://raretfm.mayyam.com/stream/pow06/madhulai_tp.rm
http://raretfm.mayyam.com/stream/pow06/muruga_tp.rm



Songs: madhuLai muthukkaL/muruga enakkoru
Film: thai pirandhaal
Singer: PBanumathy
Lyrics: alangudi somu
Music: MSViswanathan

Thanks to Neel for sending these rare songs. He writes:

I am not sure if Thaai Piranthaal was ever released. The film has at
least four nice songs, composed by the master MSViswanathan. Two
beautiful solos by P.Bhanumathi which are being featured today, one
lovely solo by S.Janaki, and a duet by PSusheela-LREswari.

The film starred Muthuraman, Saradha and Bhanumathi, going by the
pictures on the record sleeve and the film was made sometime around
1973/1974.

P.Bhanumathi had a sweet, unique voice and style of singing. She will
forever remain as one of the legendary artistes of Tamil/Telugu film
industry.

NeelD i think thai pirandhaaL was released. I remember watching 'muruga enakkoru' song in oLiyum oliyum.

A brief biography on PB from Yesterday's Hindu

http://www.hindu.com/mp/2005/12/27/s...2700900400.htm

Ramki: Beautiful songs. I have posted the lyrics for 'muruga' in Bhanumathi thread.

I always admire two ladies whom I came across in my outward life. One is Indira Gandhi and the other is P.Bhanumathi. What I get a hold from PB's life is "self confidence" and audacity (I mean here “being brave”). Though many people will possess different skills, but lack from being confident. But PB had almost everything.

PB had the courage to face many situations which brought her life stand-still (I heard a major dreadful & unpleasant incident in her life post Ambikapathi). But she lived without loosing the energy to protract.

As an actress, she laid hands in different areas in cine-field. She could succeed in most of the areas with her dedication and perseverance. Personally I am not a great fan of her songs, but I admired her a TOTAL PERSONALITY.

I am stating this with a pinch of salt. Earlier TN-CM JJ had ordered “state honors” during the funerals of a few cine personalities. I expected she will do so for PB also on Saturday, but hmmmm. I still say PB deserved that respect from TN Govt. JJ missed it. InimEl andha mariyadhai-yai seiyya mudiyumA?

Ramki, I get to know a few lines about the story of ThAi PirandhAL. PB is mother of Muthuraman, who is married to Saradha. MR-Saradha do not have a child. Instead of going for adoption, PB decides to engage a vAdagai amma to carry MR’s child. A.Sakunthala acted in that role, it seems. But after giving birth to a child, AS becomes possessive of the child and goes against PB’s family. How PB solves this major issue is the rest of the story. PS-LRE duet is for Saradha and AS. But I do not hear a solo of SJ in this film. SJ’s solo is present in another Thaai film called ThAi pAsam (Sivakumar & Pramila). Not very sure.

Thanks to Neel and you for “Muraga enakkoru varam vEndum.

Ramki,
Thanks for featuring the two P.Bhanumathi songs.

SN23,
You are welcome.

Pick #236

http://raretfm.mayyam.com/stream/pow06/raghu_nm.rm




Song: raghupathi raaghava
Film: nathaiyil muthu
Singer: Radha Jayalakshmi
Lyrics: Mahatma Gandhi
Music: Shankar Ganesh


Let us end 2005 with this soulful sarvadharma prayer sung by the underutilised TFM singer Radha Jayalakshmi. I think 'NM' was herlast film(or is it 'amman aruL'?) . NM was KRVijaya's 100th film and it was directed by her favorite director KSGopalakrishnan.
The film also had Muthuraman, SVaralakshmi, chandrakantha etc.
The story is about a iyengar boy(muthu) marrying a kuppathu girl(KRV) against his orthodox mom(SV)'s wishes. How she comes to accept the girl forms the crux of the story. Todays song comes in the end.
Radha jayalakshmi also sang the duet 'aadu raate' with SG in NM.

Ramki,
Good choice. They were primarily carnatic vocalists who sang in movies like MLV.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ramki

the underutilised TFM singer Radha Jayalakshmi.

---

Ramki, a very good song by Jayalakshmi. They always show the name as Radha-Jayalakshmi in title cards, though many songs have been sung by JL alone.

JL' songs in AdhiParasakthi(1969) for Kumara guruparar role are real gems.

The song in Deivam (1972) "Thiruchendhooril pOr purindhu", sung by R & J together, is a feast to ears.

Songs in Nathayil muthu and Amman AruL (both 1973) are enjoybale.

The fabulous "Maalai mayangugindra nEram" is also by JL, if I am correct. Any details about the film, MD etc?

Thanks for the song, Ramki.

Friends, Wish you all a very happy new year 2006 :-)

Thanks Raj/SN23

Pick #237

http://raretfm.mayyam.com/stream/pow06/nallorgal_cj.rm




Song: HNY-nallorgaL
Film: sangili
Singer: TMS
Lyrics: kaNNadasan?
Music: MSViswanathan


Wish you all a very Happy New Year.

Ramki , TFM page team & friends,

Wishing you a New Year full of health,happiness and smiles!!
Love, Vinatha.

SN23: It is from the movie Maragatham. MD: S.M.Subbiah Naidu. I am not sure it is Jayalakshmi.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SN23

The fabulous "Maalai mayangugindra nEram" is also by JL, if I am correct. Any details about the film, MD etc?

---

Happy New Year ! :)

Dear Rami and Team,
WISH YOU A HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!

Indha paatai eppodhu kettalum, Sivajiyin face dhan manadhil varum!!!

With Love,
Usha Sankar.

Ramki: I think "Nallorgal' is from Sangili. Chiranjeevi has a couple of good songs too. Nevertheless, HNY !!

happy New Year to all

yes, its from sangili. (I think it had Prabhu too)

Ramki: The song from Chiranjeevi by TMS (Sivaji with kaNrAvi grey hair wig) is "Anb(u)enum oliyAga Alaya maNiyAga oor vAzha uzhaippavan siraranjeevi"; here TMS does not pronounce as Chiranjeevi ;)

NallOrgaL song is from Sangili (Or Changili, as we write in Thamizh) ;)

rajraj, thanks for the film name Maragadham. I also has doubt whether it was MLV or JL, since both have some similarity when they sing the word "ngum" (as part of mayangum). But my mom confirmed after listening, it is (Radha)Jayalakshmi. Very nice song, illaya??

Thank you all for the correction.

I think 'sangili' is Prabhus first film?

Pick #238

http://raretfm.mayyam.com/stream/pow06/mangala_mv.rm




Song: mangala medai
Film: marumagaLe vazhga
Singers: PSuseela, Jayachandran
Lyrics: Muthulingam
Music: shankar Ganesh

'Thou shall marry the man who molested you' is one of the unwritten but overused prophecy of Indian films.
Same principle was used in the Dasari Narayanarao's 'Grihapravesam'. I watched this movie in the now demolished Rajakumari theatre. I might have been in my 5th or 6th. The film had the then queen of Telugu cinema Jayasudha in the lead.
Jayasudha played a college student who is raped by Mohanbabu. Jayasudha breaks her engagement and marries MB.
She enters his house much against the wishes of her mother and sisterinlaws(sukumari and YVijaya in tamil). They are the typical filmy irritating inlaws. How JS wins all their love forms the rest of the story.The film was a blockbuster in Andhra.

The movie was remade in tamil and hindi. suhasini played JS role and chandrasekhar/nizhalgaL ravi played the husband/fiance roles.

'deepangaL aayiram' is THE famous song from MV. There is also another duet by Rajkumarbharathi and SPShailaja(For SVSekar and ???)

chandrasekhar/raghuvaran played the respective roles

Ramki -

A good one, and one I am humming again after many, many moons!
I've always enjoyed PS-PJC duets, the immortal one among them being "Manjal Nilaavukku Indru Orae Sugam" from Muthal Iravu. Isn't that a stand-out duet for all time?

Btw, Marumagalae Vaazhga (Sau Din Saas Ke) had another scintillating composition by SG - "Abishekam Alankaram Archchanai Aarambam" (VJ/MVD), yes?

Best wishes for 2006 to all DFers!

thanks rajeshkrv

Naaz thanks for reminding 'alangaaram abishegam archanai aarambam'. It is from MV

Pick #239

http://raretfm.mayyam.com/stream/pow06/maharani_avi.rm


Song: maharani unaithedi
Film: aayiram vaasal idhayam
Singers: SJanaki, Jayachandran
Lyrics: ?
Music: iLaiyaraja

Thanks to Naaz for requesting this song. He writes

They say you can't step into the same river twice. That lightning doesn't strike the same place twice. And that if you are bitten once, then you are shy - twice.
What do they know? Have they listened to the early IR?
Step, Strike, Bite - Ah, do it again!
Here's a duet that SSBs me every time, and leaves me craving for more...of the same! SJ defines the imaginative scope of the song with a feathery whisper, and we're transported to a world of endless beauty. A lovely paralysis; a joyous inertia. PJC pins ribbons of shimmering love all over the creation, and the duet lingers... like perfume, like memory, a touch of tenderness - always fresh, and infinitely original.
Aayiram Vaasal Idhayam was the film. The song was picturised on Sudhakar and Roja Ramani.
But the SSB belongs to IR. A Master - not just a Classic - is forever.
Welcome...to an unchanging feeling.


My(Ramki) 2 cents: Sudhakar is more of a comedian(Which he is in Telugu world) than a hero. Like chakkaLathi, nadhi ondru karai moondru, maandhoppu kiLiye,inikkum iLamai, peNNin vaazhkai, magarandham etc AVi is another one of his horrible movies.
The film had 2 heroines Radhika and Rojaramini pining for him.
Other songs i remember are
Kichu Kichu - SJ
en aasai vazhai kuruthe - MV, SPS, BSS
There is also another duet by VJ and BSS i think(For radhika and RR)

Ramki: paata kaaNomE? I get a Requested file not found http://raretfm.mayyam.com/pow06/maharanai_avi.rm message :(

Wishing you all a (Belated) Happy and prosperous 2006!

RC ippo checkunga

Ramki: Thanks.. am hearing this one after a very long time! Naaz's way of putting "..and leaves me craving for more...of the same!" is exactly how I feel. SJ's another gem! So much have been said...need I say anything more about PJ? Thanks for the song Naaz!

Naaz
I’m elated! Enchanting interludes, Janaki’s humming prelude, JC-Janaki what a chemistry with a touch of rag gowri manohari!!

Ramki, Thanks a lot for your enthusiasm and dedication!
Thirumbi thirumbi vandhu keppen naan raaja pattu!!

love, vinatha

Great Song Ramki

Happy new year to all!

King of Interludes wins..

Thanks Naaz/Ramki

Bala

Dear Ramki and Nazz,
Thanks for the rare GEM !!!!
With Love,
Usha Sankar.

Ramki, Maharani song resemles sindhu nadhi kari oram song in most of the places. SJ's shivering singing is very obvious, whereas PJC maintains very well.

next is PJ + VJ song?

This is the first time i heard Mangala media song. though the music is not matured, tune is interesting for college students dance. I thought it is shailaja when listening to the starting of song, then realised it is PS in the charanams. worth listening. thanks

Malligai poo vaangi vandhen is by AL Ragavan, not SPB. who sang engirundhallum vazhga. Am I wrong?

Ramki, did you notice the aariro aariro in between charanams of MadhuLai muthukkaL song is sung by B vasantha? Very sweet voice.

But (with due respects), PB's singing is very bad. she sings like reading. I did not like at all. Ore sirippa vandhadhu listening to her tamil ucharippu :)

Friends -

Let me direct you to the preamble of this thread, to an especially intuitive statement by Ramki:
"The joy of sharing such discoveries with others could be boundless."
From all your responses to Maharani Unaiththedi, you have provided proof that it IS boundless! I am touched that this duet touched you also.

In the second charanam, SJ expresses a beautiful sentiment with an evocative wispyness: "Silirkkum, Idhazh Virikkum, Thannai Marandha Nilaiyile..." (listen to her thadumaatram when she voices "Nilaiyile" - a shaken stasis, imaginatively realised) - this summation of love-making is exactly what a song like this does to me: It makes love to my whole being, a moment to relive again and again with a song. IRs early compositions capture that "boundless joy" with such mastery....Thannai Marandha Nilaiyile...and a smile lights my face, while a torpor of memory washes over...

A heartfelt thanks to Ramki for featuring my selections with enthusiasm.

And thanks to you all for your generous applause.

vel I do think its BVasantha and you are wrong about 'malligai poo'. It is by SPB.

Pick #240

http://raretfm.mayyam.com/stream/pow06/andha_sa.rm


Song: andharanga neerkuLathil/kaanalile meen vettai/nee varuvaiyene
Film: Sujatha
Singer: Jayachandran
Lyrics: kaNNadasan
Music: MSViswanathan

A Jobless postgraduate who is also a poet, a romantic, a victim of stepmom abuse. When the one and only person who believes in him, loves him for what he is , leaves him for marital bliss the poet in him screams for the forgotten love. Kannadasan , as ever, raises to the occasion(or situation) and brings out the screams as pudhukavidhais.
Jayachandrans haunting voice brings out the nuances of the kavidhais with perfect expressions.
Balajis 'Sujatha' ,a malayalam remake, had Saritha, Vijayan, Shankar, Rajalakshmi etc. Shankar played the PG poet role and Saritha his sister's. Rajalakshmi played shankar's love interest.
The film was not recieved well. The story was too dark for our masala tamil viewers(Shankar's poet commits suicide, Sarithas character dies of Cancer etc etc - she even shaved her head for the role).
Kalyanai menons version of 'nee varuvaiene' was the highlight of the movie.
The film also had the PS song 'engirundho vandha paravaigaLe'

Ramki, MuthukkaL moondru endru sonnAl migai Ahadhu :-) PJ's singing is very nice especially his pronounciation. TheLivu + Gambeeram are his assets. MSV had selected the perfect singer.

Rajeev menon's mother did a so-so job but the song became the most popular song.

I do not remember PS's song in the film. Is it for Rajalakshmi?

Overall Sujatha was a good film (like Sridhar's AlaigaL with Vishnuvardhan and Chandrakala), but too much of sOham spoiled the interest of movie viewers.

Vel1970, Malligai poo was the very first movie song (from released movie) of SPB. Agree with you that his voice had some shade of ALR, but SPB thaan adhu :-)

Ramki, I thought Govardhan was MD for Malligai poo vaandgi vandhEn, but stand corrected with your infomation :-)

Radha Jayalakshmi sung the song "Vennilaavum Vaanum" from Kalyanam Panniyum Brahmachari.
For all the list of songs sung by RJ

http://www.tfmpage.com/forum/23763.1133.01.54.38.html

SN23 'engirundho' ,i think, is for Saritha

Pick #241

http://raretfm.mayyam.com/stream/pow06/kan_kk.rm


Song: kaN paarum devi
Film: kokkarakko
Singer: iLaiyaraja
Lyrics: Vairamuthu
Music: iLaiyaraja

Soon after 'oru thalai raagam' became a smashing hit, YGM produced anddirected a stage drama titled 'oru kolai raagam'.
A 13 year old girl was the main lead and she did a splendid job.
Within a year or so the girl made her debut in 'kokkarakko'. I think her original name was kavitha but it was changed to iLavarasi by 'KK's director GA. Her jodi was a thin and very fragile looking kid(Mahesh kumar?) who also made his debut in KK. The film was really stupid but found moderate success because of the songs.
'geetham sangeetham and 'mayilapore pakkam mayilai kaNdene' were super hits
Todays pick is based on Mayamalawagowlai raagam(thanks to ROS). Though IR goes off shruthi at few instances , the song is still a treat.
The film also had a SJ solo ..cannot recall the lines :(