Pick of the week: 1 Mar to 5 Aug 2006

Ramki, never heard this song by IR. IR sang very well though he jumps off and on in few places. Thanks :-)

IR's composition in 70's -early 80's came out as if reserved in big akshya paatram :-) Splendid work he dis, to get back the music fans to listen TF songs from Hindi Moham. Mylapoor pakkam is a fabulous song by MVD. Janaki's solo starts with Ketti mELam, according to audio cover. Not heard often, I believe.

I think the hero, Mahesh acted in one of the FIVE boys in Alaigal Oaivadhillai. If am correct, he acted as muslim boy.

ILavarasi's original name is Manju, I think, which she retained in Telugu Movies. Her real acting talent was showcased in Sridhar's Aalaya Deepam (Sujatha pinni vittaar nadippil).

thanks for PJ songs. As usual he has done a fine job.

'kan paarum devi' kokkarakko padam thaan ena theriyamal pala naatkal rasiththu vanthullen. Ilavarasi kuthirai odum poluthu "Eei kuthirai nillu" endru kaththuvathu is still fresh in my poor memory. Ilavarasi was good in some visu movie too like samsaaram adhu minsaaram

Even though Iam late by a week, my thanks to Naaz and Ramki for selecting "Maharani unai thedi" . A great song!!! What can I say about SJ/PJ singing? "Heavenly" is the only trivial word I can think of. Listen to the beats in the pallavi. Distinctly IR stamp is evident. The mesmerising flute, violin phrases all carry me to a different world.

Sn23 thanks for the details

YVSM , iLavarasi was also good in 'kunguma simizh'

Pick #242

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


Song: urave thaLLaduthu nenjam
Film: aanandha aaradhanai
Singer: SJanaki
Lyrics: Vairamuthu
Music: Manoj Gyan


Interesting cast but an insipid storyline was the main reason for 'aanandha aradhanai' to go unnoticed. The film with Srividya,suhasini, Lizzy, Mohan etc was in making for a long time.
It was directed by director turned cameraman Dinesh(or diwakar?).

Srividya played the role of a man hating chief doctor of an hospital.
Her daughter Lizzy falls in love with Mohan. Ofcourse Mama vidya hates that. Suhasini, a subordinate of SV, is also in love with Mohan.
When srividya finally succumbs to the pleas of the love birds Mohan gets hurt in an accident . He is now paralyzed waist down.
Now he wants to kill himself. He asks srividya to do the deed and she is more than happy to do that for him(so are the audience).
When lizzy comes to know that she swallows buckets of sleeping pills and gets admitted to the very next room of Mohan.
When Mohan learns about Lizzy's condition, the power of love 'unparalyzes' him. He stumbles and fumbles, walks and then finally runs to the next room And true cinematic love triumphs. The brain dead paralyzed audience walk back home in daze.

Todays song is the only aspect worth remembering. A RDB style of music , SJ's voice and VM's lyrics makes the song worth your time.

Ramki,

The song is average. But the story narration is really good.
:lol:

Ramki

Thanks to SJ, song sounds good. It has very Hindi-sh tune.. (yes RDB style..)

I read your first line as "Srividya played the role of a man, hating chief doctor of an hospital." (being a tube light I am). It took me some time to read it back as man-hating chief doctor...

Thanks Ramki for the fine writing

Bala

Pick #243

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


Song: paaradi kaNNe konjam
Film: vallavanukku vallavan
Singers: Sirgazhi govindarajan, TMS, PSuseela
Lyrics: kaNNadasan
Music: Veda

We lost of the best character actors of Tamil Movies. RS Manohar. A Legend in tamil theatre.
There are not many songs picturised on him. Todays pick is one of my favorites.

PS: 3 deaths and eulogies in the past one month. Lets pray there will not be another one for a long long time

Ramki, aanandha aaradhanai was hyped like anything when Dhinesh (Kannada director & Very close to Mike Mohan) gave an interview in some cine mag. He even said that Mohan's image will be completely changed. hayyaho :lol: SJ's singing in this song is like a train suddenly stopped and creating that unusal screaching sound; also very nasal singing. In 80's itself she had moved into this kind of platform.

R.S.Manohar: According to many film personalities, it is still strange that how villain actors like MN Nambiar, RSM etc were good in character (personal life). My parents know his wife Mrs.Seethalakshmi, a very good hearted lady. My dad had good access to RSM even to get VIP pass for his dramas. How many historical and idhikaasa stories he staged!! Out of all, I liked his Indrajit very much. His RavaNeswaran story was adopted by K.Shankar for his IlangEswaran (Rajesh with KRV and Revathi). It seems he used to read a lot of books and discuss with many learned scholars and teachers about many subjects. A perfect gentleman, he was. May his soul rest in peace.

You are correct Ramki. Manohar's songs are very few (< 10??). I remember 2 more immediately :

"Devan vandhan devan vandhan kuzhandhia vadivile" from Kuzhandaikkaaga. PBS's portion is for RSM starting with "Annai mari deiva balan". Other singers are SG for Major Sundarrajan and TMS for Ramdoss.

"Vendriduven unnai vendriduven". From Agathiyar. TMS sings for RSM and SG for himself.

I think there must be some more songs for RSM.

In KaN pOna pOkkilE song, he dances with Sowcar Janaki, though the song is for MGR.

RSM with Padmini was the real performing pair in Ricshakaaran. They become as step-parent-in-law (last scene) for MGR.

Nalla uLLam manidhar pOi vittarE. Manam varundhugiradhu.

R.S.Manohar was one of the very very few people who kept theater alive in Tamilnadu several decades after the film industry destroyed it. His service to Tamil theater shall be forever remebered and honored.

Pick #244

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


Song: maari mazhai
Film: uzhavan
Singers: Sujatha, Shahul Hameed
Lyrics: Vaali
Music: ARRahman

After the torrential rains TN received this season, I'm sure our uzhavars will be praying for less rain and more sunshine . A lengthy kodai will be in top of their wish list. But according to latest predictions TN should have a wet kodai.
Lets hope the new year and pongal will bring more joy and prosperity everywhere.

Wish you all a very Happy pongal.

Pick #245

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


Song: vaazhndhaal unnodu
Film: Savithri
Singer: Vani Jairam
Lyrics: kaNNadasan
Music: MSViswanathan

Thanks to NeelD for this wonderful song(I have been hunting for this a long time). He writes:

************************************************** ***

"Savithiri" was released in the year 1980. The heroine Savithiri
(played by Menaka) is married off to a man much older than her. This
man was already an adult and carried Savithiri in his arms when she was
a just a little child growing up. But due to poverty and family
circumstances Savithiri's parents have her marry this man who is now in
his fifties. She is trying very hard to accept her marriage to this
man. The keyword is "trying". Because she is still struggling with her
emotions and feelings due to this unmatched and unconsummated marriage.


VJ so skillfully expresses the disappointment of the heroine. She does
not overdo the melancholy because the heroine is making herself excuses
to accept her fate. In the song she mentions the example of Sita's
vanavaasam along with Rama. She talks about how every human being's
life is, predestined. Then she says how her marriage makes her parents
happy.

VJ throws in a frustrated and sarcastic laughter when she gets
philosophical to tell herself that contentment and acceptance will
bring one happiness and that happiness comes from within.

idhuvE sugam enRu eNNivittAl pOdhum
adhuvE sugamAi vidum
inbamO thunbamO veLiyinil illai
idhayathil uruvAi vidum

The laughter follows the above lines.

Do not miss the microvibrations at the end of the line

gangaiyil yamunaiyil pudhu veLLam varumpOdhu
kAdugaL sezikkinRana ........

and the short and swift aalaapanai at the end of the charanams.

Savithiri's situation is similar to that of the heroine who sings
"ennuLLil enggO" in "Rosaappu Ravikkaikaari". But the song situations
are different. "ennuLLil engO" is when the heroine is struggling with
her physical attraction for the other man in her life.

She shows restraint... "ponggi niRka thanggi niRka", but still enjoys
the feeling... "AnAl adhuvum Anandham".

"vAzndhAl unnOdu" is when the heroine is trying to accept her marriage
telling herself excuses.

VJ clearly brings out the difference in the song situations in her
performance. VJ expresses the yearning, lust and the secretive joy in
her voice in the song "ennuLLil". But she expresses the disappointment,
frustration and the burying of the normal biological urges in
"vAzhndhAl unnOdu".

Both songs executed with perfect feeling and expression and at the same
time with technical mastery. What an amazing singer!

"ennuLLil engO" was written by Gangai Amaran and music composed by IR.
"vAzndhAl unnOdu" was by Kannadasan and music composed by MSV.

************************************************** **

Since so much is written about 'en uLLil' i thought i will also add that song as a bonus. This is one of the best song of IR and definitely VJ's best. I believe that neither of them could repeat this magic again.
You can listen to 'en uLLil' here:

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

Why does no one make such movies or songs anymore? Where are those risk taking directors ? Will Tamil films ever come out of the current teenage,cleavage fixation?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ramki

VJ so skillfully expresses the disappointment of the heroine. She does not overdo the melancholy because the heroine is making herself excuses to accept her fate.

{SN23: Exactly Neel. VJ did a fantastic job like Kaththi(knife) mEl nadappadhu pOla. Konjam perumoochu vitta kooda, SJ style vandhu vidum; in addition, the sanctity of her feel will get lost. Fabulous effort by VJ}

VJ throws in a frustrated and sarcastic laughter when she gets
philosophical to tell herself that contentment and acceptance will
bring one happiness and that happiness comes from within.

{SN23: I always wait for this laughter whenever I hear this song. Ennavo thalai vidhi, pOittu pOgattum-nu solra maadhiri... such a great expression}

idhuvE sugam enRu eNNivittAl pOdhum
adhuvE sugamAi vidum
inbamO thunbamO veLiyinil illai
idhayathil uruvAi vidum

{SN23: Neel, if I had been in Kannadasan's place, I would written the lyrics as
"idhuvE vazh(u) enRu eNNivittAl pOdhum
adhuvE nalamaai vidum"

I am not able to digest as why the yound lady character is being forced to accept this life as Sugam. Idhu thaan en vazhkkai endru she could have consoled her... No Kannadasan... sorry.}

Why does no one make such movies or songs anymore? Where are those risk taking directors ? Will Tamil films ever come out of the current teenage,cleavage fixation?
{SN23: same feeling here. Indha Tamizh thirai pada ulagai ini nimirtha mudiyaadhu :-(}

---

Thanks a ton Ramki/Neel for this wonderful pongal parisu :-)

another good pick, ramki ( of course thanks always to Neel D).
in vazhanthaal, VJin kuralil oru vitha gambeeram irukkum, she has decided to live that life pola.
In ennulil, VJin kuralil antha characterkku Erpa oru vitha thadumattram irukkum. (therinthum thavaru seigirom enbathu pola). This is my opinion.

Dear Neel and Ramki,
Thanks for these nice songs!!!

Neel - thanks for the story of Savithri!!

With Love,
Usha Sankar.

Thanks to Neel D and Ramki for featuring these fine examples of songs and singing from TFM. Both songs rely exclusively on voice, and VJ traverses the emotions of resignation and yearning with equal command and nuance. The compositions themselves are a touchstone for what TFM used to be in a time not so long ago. It has become banal to mourn the loss.

Contentment has to be sought within, so Kannadasan says, but what of the contentment that comes from listening to his words composed with piety and sung with grace and poignancy? Isn't that from without? The heart has to share credit with the eyes and ears, it is not all a joy from just beating and staying alive. It is that vital breath of beauty that these songs hold in them.
And so how ironic it is then when we say "That just takes my breath away!" That's contentment in a nutshell, and to borrow SN23s metaphor, a knife that cuts both ways.

These two did. Again.

I have been reading this column in tfmpage with interest for quite sometime.When I listen to some of these songs it brings back old memories when radio was the main source of entertainment and I used to be hooked on to ilangai oliparappu kootuthaapanam.Very nice songs ,hearing after a long time.keep it up.
I am hearing 'vaazhndhaal unnodu'after such a long time.Thanks very much.there is another nice song 'Savithri'Mazhai kaalamum pani kaalamum sung by Jayachandran & VJ,which is also quite good.

Ramki, thanks very much for presenting the song.

SN23/yvsmani/tvsankar/Naaz/jmahesh, you are welcome.

SN23,
You alternative lines are nice. May be Kannadasan used "sugam" because the common expression is "ungalai kattikittu enna sugaththai kanden?".

Ramki,
Tamil films are too caught up in noisy music, skin exposure, etc. That is what kids like these days. The industry has successfully dummified a generation.
While someone like Cheran can take risks repeatedly and still be successful, why not others?

thanks to Neel and Ramki for this wonderful VJ song.I haven't watched this movie but can get an idea of the story from Neel's writing. VJ brings out the emotions very well as if she herself is the character in that movie.. Nowadays, we don't find too many singers and songs like this that stay in our memory for ever.

Thank you everyone. I wish my every selection could initiate such discussions :)

Pick #246

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


Song: kadhal deivam kaNden
Film: Gaslight Mangamma
Singers: KJYesudoss, Vani Jairam
Lyrics: kaNNadasan
Music: MSViswanathan

A forgotten song from the 70's. KRV was one of the few Tamil heroines who played the 'hero' is many movies. mayor meenakshi, sabadham, annapoorani,nathaiyil muthu, thirudi etc were totally heroine centered and the heros like Muthuraman, jaishankar etc played the second fiddle.
Gaslight had KRV and muthuraman but i think todays song is picturised on srikantha and??

Ramki, I never heard this song for long time. I think this is for Srikanth and Shubha ("Pattikaada pattaNamaa" fame). Gaslight mangamman PEra kEttaalE sirippu thaan varudhu. I remember a picture of KRV and Shubha with "bottle" in their hands. I guess it was for a female duet PS+LRE", starting with "PoNNu kudichaa thappu ennadi" (ayyo kadavuLE).

Was it not Ravichandran, the dummy hero in GM?

The KRV era started with Namma Vettu Deivam (directed by GN VElumaNi). Then puttreesal pola KRV films. In addition to your list, I could add some more... Kurathi Magan, Vaayaadi, Roshakaari, Gowri, Aayirathil Oruthi, Maharasi Vaazhga, Mittaai Mammi ( :lol: ), VeLLi Radham, NadagamE ulgam etc. Even in Asthivaaram, MaNicka thottil, Soodhattam, Engal Kula Deivam, Idho endhan deivam, Aanandha Bhairavi etc, she dominated the film and screen :lol:

Ramki, you missed one important dummy hero.. Jai ganesh :-), who was discovered by none other than Mr.KRV (VElaayudham avargaL) :-)

engeyo, eppavoa kettathu pol oru gyabagam. Thanks to ramki & others behind it and tfm, I am able to listen to these songs. Last 3 songsilum, VJ enna versatality kaanbiththullaar.

Kadhal Deivam Kanden is a nice and pleasant composition with a typical 70s feel. If offered, MSV will make such nice music even today. Thanks for the rare song Ramki.

Ramki -

A real rare one! Where do you find these duets?? Mark VJs delivery in the Charanams...amazing precision. I have not seen Gaslight Mangamma, but the title is novel. Does anybody know why she has the "Gaslight" moniker??
Say what you will about KRV, but in a ruthless, male dominated industry, she is one of the few female leads who could hold her own and guarantee a good opening at the box-office. Even Savitri and Saroja Devi didn't have such clout. That, in my view, makes her a trail-blazer.

Ramki: i very much moved after listening to Vazhndhal song from Savithri. Starting pallavi has katam background and not tabla, so I thought it could be a traditional devotional song like lava kucha. But continued with the song. After completion repeated again. once again. There was no tears, but I had somewhat heavyness in my heart. wonderful written song. very devoted music. powerful singing by vanijayaram. though I am not great fan of her earlier, now i hv devloped a respect for her singing.

sorry to dig here. sorry in advance. why her voice was not cashed by IR in his days. No doubt he introduced many voices, even looked for alternative for TMS, PS and other verterans. But he gave too many for that "keech keech thambaalam kiya kiya thambaalam" S.Janaki and pained our ears. seezh pudikka vachuttaar. too many songs. why not he used this lady singer who gave her heart and soul to savitri kind of songs? many people would have discussed this aspect, but i wanted to say it out now. really frustrating.

One more song of PS i.e kaala magal kan thirppal (MGR movie), has the same type of heavy feeling. nenjai adaikkum.

Naaz, KR.Vijaya acted as the poor lady worker carrying the gaslight during mappla azhaippu and other functions. That's why the title on her character. Great discovery of me :-) hey I am serious.

Hi Ramki !

a rare gem..!

Naaz,

I agree with you. K.R.Vijaya has a great crowd-pulling power, especially women crowd. I have not come across any women or little girls who do not like KRV. They all take an immediate liking to her. That is KRV's magnetism. In the last 30 years she has aged about 5 years. She is currently playing Amman in a TV series.

Pick #247

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


Song: thodalaam thottaalum yogamthan
Film: kalicharan
Singers: Vani Jairam ,SPrabhakar
Lyrics: ?
Music: Chandrabose

Someone requested this song long time ago(Naaz?), I just got hold of it.
One song wonder Prabhakar has a decent voice(Kind of Jayachandran's). Not sure if he also sang in 'oru malarin payanam'? .

I have no detainls on 'kalicharan', was it by any chance a charanraj *er?

Ramki,

Yes.. Karthik, Charanraj , Sripriya were in the cast.

Ramki -

Yes, it was my request , part of that long list I sent your way some months ago. Thanks for finding it! It is a nice duet, one of the better ones from CB.

No idea about the film. I think it came around/after the hit Kalicharan (hindi), in an effort to cash in on the popularity of the name. It stank..er...sank. Sri Priya likes to swim, so I'm told. :P

ramki : thanks, another good find.
naaz : ungalukkuthaan intha mathiri maranthaa songs niraiya gyabagam irukku .... good memory power

been trying to locate a song. its sorta old. believe was sung by PS/Chorus. does anyone have a clue?

"Unnai Kannalae Kandadhum..Jamtharijum.."

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by vicky

been trying to locate a song. its sorta old. believe was sung by PS/Chorus. does anyone have a clue?

"Unnai Kannalae Kandadhum..Jamtharijum.."

---

Hi vicky..

that song is from the film "vanji kottai vaaliban" for Padmini
sung by PS and chorus..
the song goes like this..
"inba kanavonru nane kaNdEnadi..
oru kattazhagan vandhen mun ninRanadi
avanai kaNNAlE kaNdadhum jum thari jam
adi ennennamO seivadhEnO nenjam"

Hi Ramki !

May I request for a song ..
it goes like this ..
"idhayam idhayam muzhudhum mogangaL
vidiyum varaiyil eriyum deepangaL
poomEni anjumO ! mayil iRagil manjamO !
suduginRa poonkAtRu thEn sindhumO"

sung by SPB and SJ..

I think the film name is "idhayam pesugiradhu" and the heroine is Ambika.. I know only that much..

yvsmani -

If my memory is in somewhat working order, that's mainly due to my visits to TFMpage. I think of it as my house of memory! Otherwise, by now it would be orae drop-outso drop-outsu! :)

Madhu -

That is an excellent duet by SJ/SPB, and a long time quest for me. I've been looking for it high and low, but I had no clue about the film or MD. What's worse, I remembered only the second line of the pallavi "vidiyum varaiyil eriyum deepangal..." correctly, and that didn't take me anywhere close to finding it!! Now you'd made me crave it again!
Let's hope Ramki's tentacles reach far and wide....and nab this one!

Madhu: Thanks for the quick response.

Thanks RC

Madhu i dont think i have that song. I will ask around

Pick #248

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


Song: mogathai kondruvidu
Film: ini oru sudhanthiram
Singers: KJYesudoss, Chitra
Lyrics: Bharathiar
Music: Gangai amaran


I was now aware of this rare(atleast to me) bharathiar song until 'ini oru sudhanthiram' was released. After listening to the beautiful piece, i always wonder under what circumstances the mahakavi wrote this song.

'Ini oru sudhanthiram' was a decent attempt by Manivannan. Sivakumar gave an excellent performance. But the film did not do well at B.O. Raja, Rekha, chandrasekhar, NaLini, Jeevitha etc are other actors.

Todays pick has 2 voices but chitra sings most of the song. Her voice sounds very fresh but her pronunciation cries for improvement(What does she say after 'koondu kiLiyinai pol thanimai ?????).

My favourite was 'endru thaNiyum indha' by KJY :)

Was it by MV? I thought it was by GA. I saw this movie long time ago :)

Good choice though.