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Gangai Amaran, The Lyricist_Composer
Topic started by outsider (@ 203.91.150.145) on Thu Sep 12 07:13:56 EDT 2002.
Tamil film music industry is fortunate that in
it, dominance of one person did not mean the complet exclusion of others. The creativity and
quality of Illai Raaja made him the most important
and dominant MD from the late 70's to, at least
the mid 80's. Fortunately the stalwarts of the
earlier period M.S. Vishwanaathan and Shankar-Ganesh (sorry to the S-G detractors) continued churning out quality songs in
the period of Illai Raaja dominance. So in the
late 70's to early 80's TFM had the good fortune of having the services of three MD's of high
caliber -- IR, SG, and MSV. In the early 80's
another good MD, Gangai Amaran, emerged.
After this "prelude" I come to the topic at
hand, i.e., the musical talents of GA. I will not list the songs they composed, for there
are many who can do it better than me.
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outsider (@ 203.*) on: Thu Sep 12 07:19:42 EDT 2002
R. Sundar,
I am anxiously waiting for your interview of
Gangai Amaran.
When did you interview him?
Do you have the record of this interview or will you narrate it as a memoire?
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outsider (@ 203.*) on: Sat Sep 14 03:05:36 EDT 2002
Rgpm Sundar, when will you post the interview?
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Rgpm Sundar (@ 61.1*) on: Sat Sep 14 06:31:30 EDT 2002
Dear outsider,
Thanx for the response. You have opened GA thread. In fact my meeting with GA was not exactly for an interview but a casual talk with the MD for a TV prog. sometime in 1995 in which I supplied the material for the interview. I will post the matter in bits as it will be too tedious to put it in one strike. IMO, GA is a very prolific composer and had a stamp of his own and on hearing some of his tunes I had even wondered that this man by no means second to his illustrious brother but matches him. And on speaking to him one would definitely admire his down-to-earth approach and modest. Very pragmatic approach,plain-speaking, outspoken and a simple person. His very first film Karai kadantha oruthi has some lilting numbers..I was very much fascinated by Odathula thanneeru pennoruthi kanneeru odam poyi ooru seruma (SJ), Naangu mathangal ulaginil vasantha kalangal(VJ), Sonnathu palikkuthu paaru (MV-VJ) to mention a few. You see none of these songs resembled any of his brother's tune and they were unique. Still lingering in me. The rest....
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Cinema Virumbi (@ 210.*) on: Sat Sep 14 11:30:25 EDT 2002
Friends,
GA's first film was 'karai kadantha oruthi' (KuRaththi renamed as oruthi after strong protests from the narikuRavar community). My friends and I were very naive college students and used to think that IR must have helped his younger brother with some tunes to bring him up! It took us several years to mature and appreciate that GA is a good composer in his own right and being a man with fierce self respect, he would not have approached his brother for help!(Nor would IR have encouraged this!)
'karai kadantha..' had another song
'pacha mala pakkaththula kuRaththee! Oun pakkathula maappiLLaya niRuththi, karugamaNi thaali koduththom! oun kai pidicha maappiLLakku onniya koduthom!'
'Vidukathai onRu! Thodarkathai onRu!' from 'oru vidukathai oru thodarkathai'
Almost all songs from Vazhvey mayam, especially, 'Neela vaana Odaiyil neendhuginRa veNNilaa'
Let me recall some more and write!
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Naaz (@ 24.7*) on: Sat Sep 14 11:58:27 EDT 2002
CV -
Bhagyaraj picks up on the common assumption (in a lighter vein) of GA stealing IRs scores and passing it off as his own, in the opening credits of Mouna Geethangal." Two cartoonish figures with GA and IR heads are seen in the recording studio - with GA running off with some score-sheets - and I think everyone in the audience knew what was being spoofed.
Gangai Amaran's score for Sattam was well received:
Ammamma Saranam Saranam and Oru Nanbanin Kadhai Idhu were hits from that film (which, incidentally was a K. Balaje remake of the hindi Dostana - starring Amitabh and Shatrugan.)
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MS (@ 129.*) on: Sat Sep 14 16:22:50 EDT 2002
2 good songs of GA:
(1) vaa vaa en veeNaiye
(2) mazaiyin thuLiyil (chinnathambi periyathambi)
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vijay (@ 68.5*) on: Sat Sep 14 17:10:16 EDT 2002
a few other good melodies from GA are "neela vaana odayil", "vandhanam en vandhanam" , "suttum vizhi chudar thaan kannamma" (sung by PS, a great song), "gnyabagam illayo" , "isaikavo nam kalyaana raagam"(very good tune).
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archivist (@ 152.*) on: Sat Sep 14 17:15:17 EDT 2002
Enna Sugamo Idhu Thodum Sugam (KJY = don't know film name - what a fantastic number, unheard of
Kasturi Maan Onru (Sankarlal)
But, Thedinen Ilamai Sugam Thedinen (Sankarlal - inspired from Neon Lights of Kraftwerk)
I think Gangai Amaran seemed more inspired by Sankar Ganesh type melody and rhythm's.
But, Kasturi Maan is an exotic number.
GA is an allrounder and definitely one of the best contributors to modern tamil cullture pop or classical.
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hi (@ 212.*) on: Sun Sep 15 01:57:56 EDT 2002
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Venkatesh (@ 212.*) on: Sun Sep 15 02:10:18 EDT 2002
Another good album from GA is Ini oru sudandhiram.
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Saravanan (@ 195.*) on: Sun Sep 15 09:06:01 EDT 2002
GA was a vastly under-rated, under-utilised MD. Perhaps he himself was to blame- his varied interests- lyrics writing, singing and film direction, didn't allow him to concentrate on his music. Malargaley Malarungal, for instance is a brilliant album. I was surprised when I read that he has composed music for more than a 100 films- En Thagachi padichava was his 100th film.
These are his songs which I like a lot, apart from some which have already been mentioned:
1.Naalu vagai poovil- Ramayi vayasukku vandhutta- JC-SJ
2.Nayagan avan oru puram- Oru Vidukathai oru thodarkathai-KJY-SJ
3.Mookuthi poo meley-Mouna Geethangal-KJY-SJ
4.Madura pakkam-Theruvilakku-Kamal-SPS
5.Pon maana thedi-Enga oor rasaathi-MVD-SPS
6.Vaanamey mazhaimegamey-Madhumalar-KJY-UR
7.Vellam poley thullum-Kanavugal karpanaigal-SPB-Poorani
8.Thendral oru paadal sonnathu-Kanavugal karpanaigal-JC
9.Pillai pirayathiley-Kanavugal karpanaigal-Deepan Chakravarthi
10.Maadapuraavo-Imaigal-MVD-PS
11.Pasamalarey-Neethipathi-TMS-PS-SPS
12.Oru devathai vandhaal-Neethipathi-SPB-VJ
13.Manithan kathai idhu-Vamsavilakku-SPB-MVD
14.Kaalam kaalamaai-Karpoora deepam-SJ-PS
15.Vaa maalai neram-Karpoora deepam-SPB-SJ
16.Malligai pooviley-Karpoora deepam-SNS-SJ
17.Neelagiri poovey-Kudumbam-SNS-SJ
18.Allippookaley-Mannukketha Ponnu-SPS
19.Poove poojai seyya vaa-Pattuselai-KJY
20.Thendrale thendrale-Savi-SPB-SJ
21.Poovo ponno poovizhi maano-Pudhu Yugam-KJY-SJ
22.Azhage nee azhalaama-Pudhuyugam-SNS-Shobha
23.En radhaye-Premapasam-KJY-VJ
24.Vannam-Premapasam-SPB-SJ
25.Nee thaana nesanthaana-Naalellam pournami-KJY-KSC
26.Saathimalligai samanji nikkidhu-Naalellam pournami-KSC
27.Pootha malligai-Namma ooru nalla ooru-SJ
28.Odam engey-Namma ooru nalla ooru-MSV
29.Oru kaadhal enbathu-Chinna thambi periya thambi-SPB-SJ
30.Solla vallayo kiliye-Ini oru Sudhandhiram-SPS-KSC
31.Mohathai kondru vidu-Ini oru sudhandhiram-KJY-KSC
32.Hero vandhachudi-Jeeva-SPB-KSC
33.Sangeetham kelu-Jeeva-MVD-SNS-Sunandha
34.Mamanu solla oru aalu-En thangachi padichava-JC-PS-SPS
35.Kaadhal polladhu-Thambi thanga kambi-SPB-PS-KSC
36.Alli alli veesudhayya-Atha maga Rathiname-SJ
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Rgpm Sundar (@ 61.1*) on: Mon Sep 16 01:52:38 EDT 2002
Instead of mere listing of songs a critical or general analysis is welcome moviewise/songwise as Saravanan does for VJ thread. Isn't it Saravanan?
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Cinema Virumbi (@ 203.*) on: Mon Sep 16 01:55:45 EDT 2002
Friends,
Those days, 'Odaththula thaNNeeru...' from' karai kadantha oruththi' had the record of using the maximum no. of instruments in one song (I think 150!). I don't if it was beaten later on!
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Cinema Virumbi (@ 203.*) on: Mon Sep 16 01:56:29 EDT 2002
Typo: I don't know if it was beaten later on!
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Saravanan (@ 195.*) on: Mon Sep 16 02:20:09 EDT 2002
R Sundar-
It is only due to lack of sufficient time that I merely listed the songs of GA which are my favourites.
I agree all of them deserve detailed appreciation and analysis. Please excuse me for not being able to involve myself here, (at least immediately), to the extent of my participation in the VJ thread.
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Kupps (@ 156.*) on: Mon Sep 16 03:07:08 EDT 2002
an interesting info. i happened to watch an interview of GA by somebody. in that GA described a event.
i don't remember which of these three songs(vaa vaa en veeNaiye, mazaiyin thuLiyil and ammamma sharanam charanam un paadhangaL) he was mentioning. It seems one of these songs he was playing(in a tape recorder) when he was chatting with IR. IR listened to that song and "liked" it very much and asked GA "hey! nalla vandhurukkae. amar, indha paatta naa aendha padaththukku pottaen?" GA laughed and told him "appa idhu nee pottadhu illa naa pottadhu". then both laughed.
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Rgpm Sundar (@ 61.1*) on: Mon Sep 16 08:35:45 EDT 2002
Archivist,
Shankarlal, I believe, is not by GA but by IR.
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Saravanan (@ 194.*) on: Mon Sep 16 09:55:33 EDT 2002
R Sundar, I think Shankarlal was a very rare joint effort by IR and GA. I remember Vividh Bharathi announcing: Isai-IR-GA. I suppose some songs were by IR and the rest by GA. I don't know the circumstances which resulted in this arrangement,though.
Similarly, Auto Raja had one song by IR and the rest by SG.
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Rgpm Sundar (@ 61.1*) on: Tue Sep 17 02:46:47 EDT 2002
Saravanan,
Is that Sangathil paadaatha kavithai angathil yaar thandhathu you are referring to in Autoraja-IR,SJ? Good no. indeed.
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cosmician (@ 194.*) on: Tue Sep 17 04:03:43 EDT 2002
Was GA the MD for Manasukkul Mathappu ?
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Saravanan (@ 195.*) on: Tue Sep 17 04:51:33 EDT 2002
R Sundar,
Yes, 'Sangathil paadaatha kavithai' was a superb song by IR-SJ. The songs by SG were excellent too- While SPB's 'Malarey ennenna kolam' is a haunting pathos filled solo, the SPB-VJ duet 'Kanni vannam oodhappoo' is delightfully melodious.
Archivist, the song 'Enna sughamo'-KJY you have mentioned is from the film 'Valampuri Sanghu' which doesn't seem to have been released. Another good song from the film is 'Idhu kaalaakaalam alaigal karayil eri vara' by Jayachandran-SJ.
Another superb score by GA for an unreleased film was 'Malargaliley aval malligai'. It had lovely songs like 'Poovey malligai poovey'-Jayachandran-SJ and 'Sindhu nadhiyoram'-Jayachandran-PS.
Cosmician- 'Manasukkul Mathappoo' was by SA Rajkumar.
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outsider (@ 203.*) on: Tue Sep 17 06:53:31 EDT 2002
R. Sundar, I think the time is more than ripe that at least the first bit of your meeting with Gangai Amran should come out. After all it would take many episodes to complete.
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outsider (@ 203.*) on: Tue Sep 17 06:54:09 EDT 2002
R. Sundar, I think the time is more than ripe that at least the first bit of your meeting with Gangai Amran should come on the fore-front. After all it would take many episodes to complete.
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cosmician (@ 194.*) on: Tue Sep 17 08:28:45 EDT 2002
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Cinema Virumbi (@ 203.*) on: Tue Sep 17 08:55:47 EDT 2002
Friends,
A good song (already mentioned) from 'oru vidukathai oru thodarkathai' is ' naayagan, avan oru puRam, avan vizhiyil manaivi azhagu! naayagi, avaL maRu puRam, avaL maarbil iraNdu nilavu!'
Subsequently, the lyrics turn into kuppai! You can enjoy the lines: 'maNakkum varai pookkadai! maNam maaRinaal adhu saakkadai!' How do you like this??!!!
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Saravanan (@ 195.*) on: Tue Sep 17 09:26:48 EDT 2002
Cinema Virumbi- it is 'Nayagi, aval marupuram, aval vaanil irandu nilavu'! And not 'Maarbil'!! You have become a 'Kurumbi'!!!
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Leo (@ 164.*) on: Tue Sep 17 10:44:13 EDT 2002
I remember once in an interview in DD before the cable TV came, Amar told in an interview that the song*mannil indha kaadhal* was written by him but had put his brothers name instead, as he is does not want to take credit for that songs, as there is an impression that Amar writes songs like *vaadi en kappa kezhangu* and others, he had mentioned some more goods songs written by him under his broter Paavalar Varadharajan.
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leo (@ 164.*) on: Tue Sep 17 10:46:21 EDT 2002
Typo:under the name of his brother Paavalar Varadharajan.
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Re (@ 164.*) on: Tue Sep 17 11:02:04 EDT 2002
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Thoduvaanam (@ 198.*) on: Tue Sep 17 12:01:07 EDT 2002
Sangathil paadaatha kavithai angathil yaar thandhathu - Auto Raja. Where can I listen to this song?
Thanks
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Cinema Virumbi (@ 203.*) on: Wed Sep 18 02:50:29 EDT 2002
Saravanan,
>>>>>Cinema Virumbi- it is 'Nayagi, aval marupuram, aval vaanil irandu nilavu'! And not 'Maarbil'!! You have become a 'Kurumbi'!!! <<<<<
No mischief intended! I sincerely thought this was the lyrics(though I had a nagging feeling that it was slightly vulgar/obscene)!!!!
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Vj (@ 61.1*) on: Wed Sep 18 03:31:36 EDT 2002
how come u guys missed 'Vaazhvey maayam' .. the masterpiece of GA... :-)
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Vj (@ 61.1*) on: Wed Sep 18 03:34:13 EDT 2002
there is one song in a Pandiyarajan movie 'Oorai therinjukitten' i believe... its sung by Jayachandran which goes 'Thaalattuven.. kanmani ponmani.."... a superb song by GA.
I thought "neelagiri poovey" and "Ponmaana thedi" are by IR...!!!
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Vj (@ 61.1*) on: Wed Sep 18 03:37:54 EDT 2002
..and can any1 confirm which of the songs in 'Auto Raja' were composed by IR and SG respectively? i dont think that SPB pathos number was by IR.. it sounds damningly similar to Hindi music arrangements which IR 99.99% never does.
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God (@ 61.6*) on: Wed Sep 18 03:59:07 EDT 2002
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Venkatesh (@ 212.*) on: Wed Sep 18 04:41:27 EDT 2002
I dont know if this song was mentioned:
Aanenna pennenna from Dharmadurai
Did he get a state award for that song?
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sabesan (@ 172.*) on: Wed Sep 18 07:32:07 EDT 2002
VJ - yes, Auto Raja was by IR, SG and may be someother MD too..... IR had his song "Changathill paadadhaaa kavidhaai"..... and SG ahd this one "Malaaraeee Ennanaa kollaaam".... a real good number....
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sabesan (@ 172.*) on: Wed Sep 18 07:32:58 EDT 2002
not sure if this song had been mentioned.... "Endraiku enindhaaa aanandhamaey" - i think was by GA.....
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prabhudas (@ 141.*) on: Wed Sep 18 08:45:45 EDT 2002
The SPB song in Auto raja , is neither by IR or SG, it was the same tune as the original kannada song by the same titled movie acted by late "Shankar Nag", and the original kannada song was composed by Rajan Nagendra or GK ve, it goes like" Naguvaa Gulaabi hoove", a great song by SPB
Prabhudas