Kunnakudi Vaidhyanathan

Topic started by Isai Priyan (@ proxyf9.cyberway.com.sg) on Wed Jul 23 00:13:39 EDT 1997.

When we talk about MDs, we often discuss about IR, Rahman or MSV. I think Kunnakudi Vaithi deserves the mention in this forum as he has contributed good tunes to tamil film music. He has also sung in his own voice (kottampatti roattulae hae). Besides being the musician, he has also directed a movie that has never been completed as he got into controversy when he tried to take some shots of actress Suganya for the movie at Thiruvayaru Thyagaraja Utsavam. He has also "invented" a new raga called JAYALALITHA in praise of the actress-turned-chief minister of Tamil Nadu Jayalalitha. Now, you can start throwing your words about him.

Kunnakkudi scored the music for the movie
"Melnaattu Marumagal" directed by APN. The
music had some good tunes. I think he composed
music for a few more movies, but I don't
remember the names.

KK has to be mentioned as next best to KVM in making TFM SAMYp
padangal. His songs in Agaththiyar, RRCholan, Theivam, vA rAjA vA,
thirumalaith thenkumari, thuNaivan - all are great.

My favorite movie is Theivam - for every kovil thiruvizA -
the day starts with "Maruthamali mAmaniyE murugaiyA".
During THOSE days for kovil thiruvizA, when they erecting the
Pandhal itself, radio-set makkal (oli oLi amaippu - SSK)
would put a kuzAi oli perukkii and start the Theivam songs.
The moment "Maruthamalai mAmaniyE" is heard, podiyans used
to get sudden thrill in their system,
"Doy! pOttaingadA pAttai"nu kundu/kitti/cricketlAm thooki
pOtutu Oduvainga.

Isaip PriyA !, s(j)ollu s(j)ollu about "SOO" "GUN" "ya"
controversy - more details please.

KK should have been in the Indian cricket team, when we
played againt PAK last week in Columbo for Asia Cup.
Imagine, KK running around the field, freaking out
with his violin, and the mazai megams just move away
from the stadium and it is keep pouring just around
the stadium and NOT inside the field!!!

KK Rasiga

Please refer to pazhaya kumudam magazines, for the Suganya matter. Adu ennayyah SOO GUN YA.?

A trivia on K Vaidhiyanathan. The story goes that when the French actress in Melnaatu Marumagal was first introduced to K. Vai, she didn't believe that he could score well for the movie and made some sarcastic remarks. After recording a particular song, she took back her words and fell on his feet to get his blessings!

KK also produced (and composed for) the movie Thodi Ragam with TN Seshagopalan as the hero.

I think Thodi Raagam is unique in some ways !
It was a family production with KK's relatives involved in the making. The other unique feature is that it was the only family that watched the movie in the theatre !!

What are the songs in Thodi Ragam?

VadiVelu,

Kottaampatti rottile (by KK himself) has
already been mentioned.
The other famous song is "thodiyil paada
vanthen Odi nee varuvaai murugaa", sung
TN Sheshagopalan in his favourite ragam
Thodi.

A slightly off-beat mention: There was a chat with KKV on Sun TV last month. The effortlessness with which he handles the violin was remarkable. He told that wherever he goes for concerts, junta ask him to play ' malarnthum malaraatha ' from paasamalar. The sobs of PS after ' maaman thangai makaLaana ' were played on the violin.

Though unconventional KKV is a genius and a delight to hear (watch?!!)

BTW, there a PS solo in thOdi raagam. A very decent number. Can anybody recollect?

Kunnakudi is a very talented artist. I am ardent fan of carnatic music and could my capacity evaluate any artist. Kunnakudi could play violin much better than any other artist (L.Jayaram, TNK these are the ones who are close to him). Somehow he has the funny habit of merging film tunes when he is seriously play any carnatic note. Maybe he should stick to either one of them and he will be the best. May be he will realise this and change for the better.

Some discussion to be found here.
http://tfmpage.com/forum/13891.16.57.14.html

Kunnakudi had his life begun as a violinist for Soolamangalam sisters. After a distrust episode he as a party 'set' violinist for Sirkazhi Govindarajan in his troupe for more than ten long years. It was then that Kunnakudi realised the nuances of Classical music and the real taking it to the masses in the format they loved to listen. And there started his success after being introduced to AP Nagarajan through SirkazhiGovindarajan who was magnanimous. From them he tuned for VA Raja Va, Thirumalai Thenkumari, Agathiyar etc.,. which ofcourse had the strength of Sirkazhi with songs like Iraivan Padaitha, Siru Kuzhanthai, Tirupath malai vazhum, Madurai arasalaum meenakshi, Guruvayoorapa, Kalayatha Kalviyum etc., which got him popular even in his violin solo concerts and raised him to the status of getting the dias of Isai PerArignar and Violin Isai Kalanidhi from JJ and Chairman of Iyal Isai Nataka Mandram as guru of JJ.

The rasika and the common man will never forget the rich harvest which he had when the hay was shining during his days with Sirkazhi. He was lucky until Manithanum Deivamagalam. The day he forgot the past and got to Seshagopal TN for vested bias, there started his bad luck. He might show umpty number of gimmiks with his vested TV violin shows with Cinema numbeers. But,all in vain! I pity him.

good & thanks

t.vaithilingam,
new delih-24.

email: vaithilingam_tv@yahoo.com

is he the music director of PAZHANIMALAI MAMUNIAI....
kindly advise me

Mr.kunnakudi's violin will speak when needed.

kunnakudi Vaidhyanathan, mmmm.. very good composer and violinist, i have heard many north indian classical music, even south indian(i was born and brought up in Maharastra), but i felt it very boring,iam frank, but when i heard this Artiste i had to change my mind, his one of the album "THE BEST OF KUNNAKUDI", wow, what a beautiful piece,i think while playing the whole state sets in fire, with his that intensity of speed and melody of violen, i think he sould do live abroad with symphony orchestra(western style), it will get him more exposure, because he deserves the best, because he is the best, i will be most happiest person in this world if i get to meet him in person with his autograph.

does anyone know the ArOhaNam and avarOhaNam of Kunnakkudi's "Jayalalitha Ragam?"

i heard that it has aarOhanam of Jaya raagam and avarOhanam of lalithaa raagam.

i know that there is a raaga by name lalitha (the famous cinema song "idhazhil kadhayaezhdhum naeramidhu" of "unnaal mudiyum thambi" is tuned in this raaga). but im not sure whether there is any raagam by name jaya. pundits can u clarify this.

When Kunnakudi was introduced to Usha Uthoop for Melnattu Marumagal, She was not comfortable to sing in his direction. She was suspicious by his look, later after she heard the tune of 'Come along sing with me' she changed her opinion and developed a high regard for him.

His two of his great hits are RajaRajaCholan, KanKaatchi

Well,Your responses are very interesting with mixed critics.I enjoyed it.
I am his son from Melbourne writting this response to you guys.

I also really enjoyed reading this. I am his other son from United States !

I have listened to Kunnakudi in many music festivals (Thiruvaiyar, Thirvisainalloor, Kumbakonam and in few marriages as well) and I am totally inspired by the way he handles the instrument.

I recently bought his latest Film tunes (including Girlfried from boys, Aal Thotta Boopathi from youth, Gemini song from Gemini etc) just for the heck of it and man it is great.

Someone told me he has an album with Zakhir. Does anyone have it / know where i can buy this from.
<a name="last"></a>