Yeithoa Ninaivugal - Memories of Another Day

[Oldposts]

Music4ever, I am "cut-pasting" from what I wrote in the VJ chronolgy, while dwelling on the lovely VJ solo' Thamizh vendhan Pandiyanin angam' from Ananda Bhairavi-1978.

Rangasami Ramanujam is the younger brother of Rangasami Parthasarathy (of Oriental Records fame). Before settling in the U.S. and embarking on a flourishing business in marketing music, Parthasarathy had composed memorable music for films like Magadhalanaattu Mary, Kalyana Mandapam, Avan Piththana, Paalmanam and Kalyana Oorvalam.

Ramanujam was born the last of five children and grew in a household where music was loved and nurtured. Unfortunately, he could not be as successful as his illustrious brother. Ananda Bhairavi was his first film, and he gave a brilliant account of himself. His next film was Annapparavai-1980. Annapparavai had that
spellbinding SPB solo-‘Ponnenbatho poovenbatho’. MV’s ‘Gopala-yen sir’ became an instant hit. SJ’s ‘Aadi padhinettu’ was another catchy number.
Ramanujam’s next film was the MGC Sukumar- Vanithasri starrer Aval Oru Kavariman, which doesn’t seem to have been released. The film had some good songs like ‘Pallavai naan paada’(VJ) and ‘Poonthendral kaatraaga poonjolai vandaaga’(PS, Jolly Abraham?). Another stillborn film for which Ramanujam wasted his efforts
was Puththampudhunayagan. I have heard that in the aftermath of MGR’s demise, Ramanujam brought out a cassette on the Puratchi Thalaivar, which did brisk business. Ramanujam has several devotional albums to his credit.

All the songs in Ananda Bhairavi are truly memorable- ‘Umayavaley Mariyamma, varam tharuvaai Mariyamma’ in the great S Varalakshmi’s brigha-laden tenor is an aural treat. And while ‘Sirithaai- andha sirippil oru mogam’ is an all-time favourite SPB-PS delight, ‘Kodi kodi ennam adhu kondu vandha sondham’ is a breezy TMS-PS duet.