Vani Jayaram's songs

Too bad I'm late to this thread ! :cry:

Vaani is my all time favourite !! Great singer she is !! :D I would just like to mention some of my all time favourites of VJ.

1. naanE naanA yaarO thaanA - ahagE unnai aarathikkiREn
2. pongum kadalOsai - meenave naNban
3. kuRinji malaril vadintha rasathai - azhagE unnai aarathikkiREn
4. antha maanai paarungaL azhagu - anthamaan kaadhali
5. ninaivaalE silai saythu - anthamaan kaadhali
6. thirumaaLin thirumaarbil sridEvi mugamE - thirisoolam
7. orE naaL unnai naan - iLamai oonjal aadugiRathu
8. malligai en mannan mayangum - dheerkka sumangaLi
9 malai raaNi munthaanai - orE vaanam orE boomi
10 baarathi kaNNamma neeyadi chinnammA - ninaithaalE inikkum
11 nAnA paaduvathu nAnA - nool vEli

Hi..

Long long ago... there was a program in DD-1 (Tamil)...may be on Pongal or New year.....

Vairamuthu's songs by different artists..

Those songs came in the film "ROJA" with differnet tunes and changed lyrics (in between).

One song.. "chinna chinna AsaigaL.. nenjil sErthu vaitha AsaigaL..
solla solla nenjil mella sugam vaLarkum AsaigaL".. and..


I think Jayachandran and Vani Jayaram sing for "Kannukku mai azhagu.. kavidhaikku poi azhagu".. Of course.. not in ARR's tune..

Does anybody remember this nigazhchi ?

Madhu -

I recall the programme. The Kannukku Mai Azhagu song is a duet with VJ-PJC and begins as "Azhagu, Azhagu, Azhagu..."
I also recall MSV singing a song (with Vairamuthu beside him) which went (more or less) "Thai Nilam Thandha Varam, Thaavaram......" yeah?
Chinna Chinna Aasaigal was sung by PS.

I had forgotten these MSV originals! Thanks for jogging my ever-in-need-of-a-jog memory! :)

http://www.manoramaonline.com/servle...=1111820930706

All,
It is the 1st of the month. Vaamanan continues his series on VJ. It includes a list of Hindi songs she sang in 1974.

Neel D -

I just read the new instalment. Vamaanan's take on Ezhu Swarangalukkul is packed with grace and thought. Very rare in mainstream writing these days. I was also thrilled to discover that he likes Amudha Tamizhlil - one of MSVs finest moments with VJ-PJC.
There is a lot of detail in V's writing, and I am sure I will read the piece a few more times. Thanks for the prompt!

Naaz,
Vaamanan points out an important aspect in VJ's singing, the self-confidence that she has exhibited from her very first song. If you dig out the renditions of most other singers from their initial years of playback singing you can easily see the difference between theirs and VJ's. Just like how VJ can hit a high note at the very beginning of a line without having to climb up to the note, like in vasanthakAla nadhigaLilE, ennai maRandhAyA, and many many more.

Neel D -

A discerning listener downloaded the conversation/radio program from the website and wrote me this letter. I am giving you just a snippet from it:

"Meanwhile, I see that your radio show came and went, and the VJ show finally hit the airwaves. I've just downloaded the files from the VJ website, and savoured the pleasure of listening to yet another remarkable VJ radio show. I heard "Shree Gananaatham" (on repeat mode for about 10 times) after what seems like an eternity, and in the stillness of the night with just the a/c drone for company, words fail to explain its remarkable impact. Distlled perfection, dewdrop purity.. Classic, ethereal...

Let me also wager that she will never find a better informed and nuanced interviewer with an aesthetic sensibility that so closely matches hers than you. Very well done, my friend! You made us proud. "

The biggest thanks is to VJ and to the VJ website for making this conversation available to the world at large. Thank you, Neel D.

---------

Vaamanan zeros in on VJ authortitative grasp and self-awareness when it comes to her music. As I said, he is a truly nuanced and perceptive writer. I look forward to many more of his insights.

Confidence, Clarity, Colour, Class: The 4 Cs that VJ offers in every song. I am sure Vaamanan will give us a worthy list and an equally engrossing exegesis about the songs/context.

Is Thaai Nilam Thandha Varam Thaavaram originally on TV sung by MSV?

AV (R?)

There had been a posting by you some time ago that you are mainly interested in the classical based songs rendered by the vocal artist of seemingly unlimited capabilities -- SPB.

If it is true, let me know your email address.

my fav singer is Janaki. However, there are 2 songs of Vani Jeyaram I love..they are 'Yaaradhu sollamal nenjalli ponadhu' and 'megame megame paal nila theyudhe'...real haunting songs!

Hi, did you watch the ragamaligai program in Jaya TV yesterday? It was semi-final, i guess, judged by VJ. I watched it from 2nd round only. VJ joined the singer participant and sang duet. With females, she sang Malligai mullai poopandhal & Malligai en mannan mayangum. With males, she sang Indarikku en inda anandhame & Anbu mehame. She really has the sweet voice and high potential even to continue singing in films. At the end, she concluded teh program with pongum kadalosai. It was superb.

AV,
No response??

Even I started watching the program from the second round. It is a nice treat.

VJ sang "Pongum Kadalosai" while concluding the program. that was class.

regards,
Ragavan

All,

Vani Jairam's music program on Chennai TV at 12:05pm on Tamil New Year's day (source:Dinakaran). Please do not miss.

It would be nice if somebody could write a review/coda to the programme for those of us who are this side of the Arabi Kadal :)

Has there been another instalment from Vaamanan, Neel D? I am having font problems (so what's new??) and can't read the gibberish that my screen throws up when I access the CE site. Could you please post a gist - or a detailed summary - of his recent write-up? TIA :)

Yes, there is. I announced it at the egroup. In this instalment Vaamanan talks about Kavingar Kannadasan's admiration for VJ and then about a whole bunch of songs. Here is a quick translation of the part involving Kannadasan.

--- Start transaltion

In the second half of the 1970s, Kannadasan wrote a weekly series titled "Intha Vaaram Santhithen" (I met this week). He wrote about Vani Jairam in that series. Here are some highlights from his writeup.

* Vani Jairam possesses a unique voice like the voices of P.Bhanumathi, S.Varalakshmi and Suryakumari.
* There is a familial comfort in VJ's voice. Even though she sings Cabaret songs so beautifully, it feels like that it is not a genre meant for her voice.
* Because of her formal training in music, when she sings a modest Carnatic tune it is a great pleasure to listen to. That is what makes me forget myself whenever I hear "Ezhu Swarangalukkul".
* VJ's interest in reading books and poetry is what makes her understand and feel whatever she is singing.
* If the Music Director sings the tune two times VJ is ready for the Take. Karpoora Buddhi.

Combined with all of the above qualities her affection, humility, modesty and simplicity made Kanndasan to take a liking for VJ immediately. VJ reminded him of a close relative to him. This is what is called "Purva Jenma Bandham".

--- End transaltion

Vaamanan then goes on to talk about the following songs:
Tamil Vendhan Pandiyanin Angam
Varuvaan Vadivelan
Sugamana Ragangale
Nadhamenun Kovilile
Sarigamapadani enum sabdaswara
Muthamizil Paada Vanthen
Kalaimagal Uravum
Gowrimanohariyai Kanden
Abhinaya sundari
Kannil Vanthaai
Neerada Neram
Megame Megame
Thumbaippu Mugathil
Amma Unthan Kaivalai
Ennullil Engo
Naane Naana
Nitham Nitham
Kuruvikkaara Machane
Podhuvaa Aha Podhuvaa
Kaveri Pattinathu Kaliyamma
Pongum Kadalosai
Agayathil Thottil Katti
Veru Idam Thedi Povalo
Aanaa Kaanaa

Neel D -

Wow! Thanks for the quick comeback! Why the hell do I have this font prob every time I want to read a tamizh article? I have Murasu, Amudham, Whatever - all in the font file. I follow the instructions to the T. I change the code to User Specified...Virakkththi Thaan Michcham!! I'll give it a shot again this weekend and see if somebody up there is ready to smile on me!

I tried to call VJ for TNY, but the phone just kept ringing. She must be away on tour. Does Vaamanan mention a meeting with her?
The list of songs covered is excellent ( he mentions Kannil Vandhaai...that's a touchstone for his refined taste - a song I cherish, too!!) I have not heard Kaveri Pattinaththu Kaaliyamma. Endha Padam? MD Yaaru? I don't believe the website has this one...?

Regarding the KD piece on VJ - I have a copy of the article somewhere in my files. I'll rummage and send you a scanned version one of these days - you can upload it at the website. I also have a few other articles by Sivasankari, Vairamuthu and Vaasavan(??) on VJ in the same file (I think, but am not certain) - let me check and get back to you.

The VJ/Cabaret songs issue is an interesting one. While it may seem "cheap" when a singer like VJ renders a "record-dance" song, I believe it is more about the listener's image of the singer, and less about the song itself. Raaththiri Nilaavil, Thottavudan Dhegam (Nenjam?) Silirkkudhu, Oothikka Raja Raja, Idhu Rosaappoovu, Tharavaa Naan Tharavaa...among others are delivered with absolute finesse. These songs ought to be judged on their own merit, as comparisons with Ezhu Swarangallukkul, Sugamaana Raagangale, Naadhamenum, etc., are not only inappropriate, they are beside the point.

More after I have had a chance to read Vaamanan's views. Hope the Font Deivam obliges soon. :)

Naaz,

I don't like the word "comeback". It is a "return". :-)

Vaamanan says that "Podhuva Aha Podhuva" and "Kaveri Pattinathu Kaliyamma" are both folk numbers from "Andha Raathirikku Saatchi Illai" composed by K.V.Mahadevan. The movie got good reviews but there was some conspiracy theory about why the movie did not do well commercially.
"Kannil Vanthaai" is from the movie "Lottery Ticket" writes Vaamanan. Do you know who the composer is?

Neel D -

Return it is :)

Kannil Vandhaai Nenjil Nindraai Nee is from Lottery Ticket, indeed. The composer is L Vaithyanathan. Another fine solo by VJ from the same film is Aavaniyai Kondaada Vandhaan. This song is a long time quest - have not heard it since the film came out!

This Podhuva thing has sent me on a tizz. The way I recollect the song - or the refrain - is "Thodhuvaa Aahaa Thodhuvaa." Even the film I think it is from differs from Vaamanan's ARSI. In my memory, the film is Naan Naane Thaan (starring Vadivukkarasi, Vanitha Sri and Rajkumar (or) Rajeev) a remake of the Malayalam feature, Nyaan Nyaan Maathram. Some other lines from the first stanza (the opening escapes me) are "Muthu Malai Maele Mullap Poo Maalai, Mullap Poo Maalaiyile Moikkum Vandu Pola...Thodhuvaa Aahaa Thodhuvaa Aahaa Thodhuvaa Thodhuvaa Thodhuvaa." The MD is indeed KVM. I don't believe VJ had any song in ARSI (although the film had the lovely Valaiosaiyum Kaivalaiosaiyum, picturised on Sulakshana and Kapil Dev!)

I am surprised that Sonnadhu Pallikudhu Paaru and Aalaana Aalilaiyo are missing from the "folk" list. But that must be because they are duets?

Naaz,
Now I remember your mentioning that "Avaniyai" was from "Lottery Ticket" before. I like the slow-paced "Kannil Vanthai" more than the fast-paced "Avaniyai". But both are beautiful songs by LV.
Thoduvaa Vs Podhuvaa, Vaamanan could have made a typo. And may be it is not from ARSI, it just happend to be on the same line as "Kaveri Pattinathu" and ARSI, and I lumped them all together. There are many other stunning folk songs like "Ala marathukkili", "Agayam Mazai Pozinja", "Vachaalaam", etc. But Vaamanan mainly covered semi-classical songs and a few from other genre.

what happened? no posts?

Neel,
The selection of songs in your website is very good.

Congratulations.

Thank you Santosha. I am glad you enjoyed the songs.

Hello, please mention the web site for me to listen too!! :)

muthu muthu punnagaiyO
mottu vitta malligaiyO

SPB and VJ in Santhoshak kanavugal.
For MP3 version
http://www.dhool.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=24&start=60

Quote:

---

Some other lines from the first stanza (the opening escapes me) are "Muthu Malai Maele Mullap Poo Maalai, Mullap Poo Maalaiyile Moikkum Vandu Pola...Thodhuvaa Aahaa Thodhuvaa Aahaa Thodhuvaa Thodhuvaa Thodhuvaa."

---

Yes ! the film is "Nan nanethan" and the song goes like

"Kaya kurinji malai kaadellam maNakkum malai
Oyadha pani adikkum othai kallu muthu malai
muthu malai melE mullai poo mAlai
mullai poo maalaiyilE mudichittiyE vElai
thoduvA AhA thoduvA..AhA thoduvA thoduvA thoduvA"

this song is for Vanithasri....

sathyakabali,
Thanks for the rare song. It has been a very long time since I heard it last.

Neel,

Can you tell why Saravanan is no longer participating?

thooNilum iruppAr thurumbilum iruppAr. eththanai eththani AvathArangaL?

veNmai oLirum chandranAi, pongum santhoshamAi, Kiranga vaikkum madhuvAi, panmuga anniyanAi, kumaranAi, gnanam vaLarkkum saradhaiyAi, karthikeyanAi, thiru(malai)deivamAi… eththanai eththani vadivangaL avatharangaL

Santosha -

Saravanan is not coming back to this forum, I don't think. Deal with it :-)

Neel D -

Here's something that will thrill you to bits -
Now that IR's Oratorio is creating all the buzz, did you know that he has composed an authentic, home-grown, symphonic Oratorio - and the only one in his TFM ouvre - sung by VJ? :-)
I will write a longer piece on it sometime soon. May I borrow the song (with your permission) to share with the others here? Please let me know.

Naaz

Naaz,
That is interesting. Go ahead.

Santhosha,
I don't know.

Neel D -

Thanks for the green-light. I'll get working on it soon. Watch this space! :-)

Naaz

Write it soon man. Its killing me.

njv -

Hang in there!:)
I'll do my best to get the write-up done tonight/early tomorrow. I'll need Neel's help with the MP3 file, though.

Neel D -

While I was browsing the website today, I chanced on this song after many, many moons:
Vizhiye, Nalamaa? Unai Naan Kaetkiraen...
It is listed as a duet from Dhooraththu Pachchai. Yaar Nadichcha Padam? Eppa Vandhadhu? Any other details besides the singers/MD?
I assume it is one of VJ's later songs for IR?

Naaz,

According to http://www.rakkamma.com/filmsongs.phtml?Bfilmid=674, the details are

Thooraththu pachchai - 1987

Music: IR

Songs are

1. Annantha maalai verenna velai (Krishna chander)
2. Ithu varaiyil muthal iravu (Krishna chander, Shailaja)
3. Theepangale (S.P.Balasubramaniyam)
4. Vizhiye nalamaa (Gangai amaran, Vani Jayaram)

I think the film was directed by Manobala, starring Karthik and Suhasini

SN23 -

Thank you for the additional details. Suhasini and Karthik? Aagaya Gangai Maadhiri Aiyyo Thaangale! Chiththiramaa?:-) Adhuvum Manobala Dhaane?
Did this film come after Punnagai Mannan? (I was under the impression that Kavithai Kelungal was VJs last song for IR? Am I wrong?)

For starters, a disclaimer.

I am not qualified in any significant way to talk about Indian and Western Classical Music systems with scholarly authority. What you read in the following paragraphs is an amalgam of my gleanings and readings over a period of time, plus my recent conversations with my WCM concert pianist neighbour. If there are any errors in my exegesis, they are my own. I’d greatly appreciate (and urge) the input of those better informed in this forum to correct/corroborate my thesis.


Oratorio is Opera without Roti, Kapada OR Makaan.

Let me explain:

When you think Opera (in classical terms specifically, although I regard our very own Therukooththu to be a folksy avatar of its fairer western cousin, but that’s a discussion for another day) you think Marriage of Figaro or Madama Butterfly or Carmen. Verdi, Puccini, Mozart, Bellini, Bizet…these are the stalwart practitioners of the form. Opera also brings to mind something grand, mounted on a (predictably) grandiose scale. The mind’s inner house fills with vaulting voices, a flurry of colours, a spate of searing and scorching emotions, and a chorus that is always, and always ready …
Love, Passion, Betrayal, Loss…These are the eternal operatic themes. All of it unapologetically human, and relentlessly romantic.
Opera, in essence, is an out and out populist (albeit classical) music form.

Oratorio, on the other hand, has no “physical” energy/movement (roti); it is devoid of colour that comes from costumes (kapada); and it inhabits a plain, boring space – a stage without sets (makaan). Sounds a bit drab, yeah? Well, that’s intentional.
The Oratorio belongs in a monastery. It is the spiritual twin of the “worldly/materialistic” Opera. The very term, Oratorio, suggests “a place for prayer”
This is not to say that there are no secular Oratorios. But in its conception, an Oratorio is decidedly religious.

Operas indulge human emotions. Oratorios aspire for spiritual revelations. While technically (in terms of scale, arrangement, composition, tone/movement) there is nary a difference between the two, thematically, they are absolute opposites. The Opera is Earth,the Oratorio is Sky. That the most celebrated Oratorio in WCM is Handel’s Messiah should give you a good sense of an Oratorio’s thematic preoccupations.

Here is a quick list of salient features:
a. Oratorios are chorus dependent. (Think monastery, hear Gregorian Chants.)
b. Oratorios are always composed with a soloist in mind (Duets are not allowed.)
c. Oratorios praise/depict scenes /events / actions from the lives of Prophets, Saints and (Pious) Mythic Heroes/Personages (The Messiah is all about the birth of Jesus Christ. Adi Shankarar would fit right in.)
d. The Oratorio places a lesser emphasis on emotion and a greater emphasis on cadence (the choric element, a plurality of voices joined in a singularity of tone. The solo lead voice provides the narrative, and the chorus the links therein.)
e. Repetition of notes, passages and sound patterns are integral to the Oratorio.


I have not heard Ilaiyaraaja’s (is this how he prefers his name spelled these days?) Symphonic Oratorio of Thiruvasagam in it’s entirety, and as such, I am not able to confirm how many of the above features are part of this exercise. I am sure that those who have heard the full work will elaborate. Please?

--------------------------------------------------------------
How could it be possible that a man, a musician, a genius who has explored and expanded the horizon and scope of tamizh film music beyond “ethnic” boundaries, left the Oratorio untouched and unused in his popular experiments for these many years?
I couldn’t accept that this could be.
Sounds tautological for sure, but that’s also symbolic of the loop I found myself in with this question.
There are many “symphonic” moments in IR's film compositions (Poonkadhave/ Nizhalgal and Sangeetha Megam/ Udhaya Geetham come to mind instantly)
The chorus has been his mainstay from Annakili (Adi Raakaayee Mookaayee) to Raja Paarvai (the opening bars of Andhi Mazhai) to Thalaianai Manthiram (Thondharavu Seiyadhe Thozhi) and beyond.
And Spirituality has become his “aura” from the moment “Janani, Janani” first hit the airwaves.
There had to be an Oratorio somewhere, a song with all the elements/features I’ve listed above, and it was only a matter of time -and finding it.

And I did.

Somewhere in the mid-80s there was a tamizh film that came and went, and I can say (happily) that nobody missed its greatness (it wasn’t!)
But, lo and behold, it had an impeccable Oratorio! Now bear in mind that this was a “cinematic” Oratorio with “commercial” flourishes. Nevertheless, it fulfilled all the requirements of an Oratorio in the Western Classical sense (all Kodambakkam, no Budapest!) And as is the case with most of IR’s compositions from the late-70s to mid-80s, this composition too had his experimental brilliance writ large all over the piece.

Rajarishi featured Sivaji Ganesan, Lakshmi, Prabhu and Nalini. The best thing in its favour (I am hard-pressed for positives about the film) was its distinction of being one of the few “mythologicals” with IR’s score (the only other one I can think of righaway is Bala Nagamma.) SG was the Rajarishi – Viswamitra, Lakshmi was Menaka (really!) Prabhu was Dushyant (lordy!) and Nalini, Shakuntala (ahem is all I can muster.)

Blessed are those who didn’t have to sit through this grotesquery (yours faithfully was cursed, noon-show, Sangam.)

And the Oratorio:

Azhagiya Kalai Nilave Endrum Vazhga Vazhgave.

Here’s the breakdown in Oratorio features:

The very first move is a cresendo, a symphonic element for sure.
Right after, the chorus takes on:

Karunai Kadale, Vazhga, Vazhga…
And ends with Vazhga Vazhga .
(Oratorios believe in Praise.)

The soloist follows:

Azhagiya Kalai Nilave Endrum Vazhga Vazhgave
Arul Mazhai Tharum Mugile Endrum Vazhga Vazhgave
Imaiya Malaippol Pugazhil Uyarnthaai
Unadhu Kodaiyaal, Manathil Nirainthaai
Nalam Peravae….

The chorus adds:
Kotram Vazhga, Kodiyum Vazhga, Kunangal Vazhga,
Vazhga Vazhga.

The pattern is established, and the repetitions follow.

The Oratorio praises a Saint/Holy Man - Viswamitra.

The chorus is the narrative link (the song begins and ends with choric voices.)

The soloist elucidates the good deeds and greatness of the Holy Man.

A sequence of notes/ repetition of sound patterns is accomplished by the swarasancharam that precedes the denouement.

If you see the sequence in the film, it is Opera.
If you only hear the song, it is Oratorio!

And, yes, it is “fusion.”
Traditional Karanatak music instruments are married in an inspired and evocative manner with their Western Classical counterparts.

The composition blows your mind - heavenward.
VJ’s rendition packs enough power to be considered an alternative energy source!

Feel the electricity here:

www.vanijairam.com

Solos / Page 8 / Second song from the Top.

(Yahoo does not allow free "public sharing" these days, so I am not able to offer a quick link here :(

Naaz,

Thanks for the writeup and for locating the song among the thousands that IR has composed. It does meet all the requirements of a western Oratorio. Not that I am an expert, I am just going by your step-by-step analysis. Of course, those days so many great compositions came and went as they did not have/know all the means we have now to promote a song or an album. They depended mostly on AIR. At least "Maan Kanden Maan Kanden" from the same movie played on the radio for few months is a consolation. In any case, it is a great find by you. And of course, IR's choice of voice for this Oratorio is perfect.

I believe that the song sequence in the movie was a dance performance by Swarnamukhi. Incidentally she also danced for another VJ song in "Aayiram Kannudaiyaal". Few good things about Rajarishi are IR's music, VJ's songs and the young Nalini with her beautiful caribbean features.