The Golden Era of Dr.IR and Dr.SPB

[genesis]

#64 தீராத விளையாட்டுப் பிள்ளை
(நெற்றிக்கண், 1981 , குழுவினருடன்)

It was time for excitement for IR admirers when KB signed him up for his first kavidhAlayA production. Ofcourse, the director was SPM and not KB himself but then SPM was not averse to working with MSV (he did rANuva veeran in the same year with Rajini / MSV). Also pOkkiri rAjA for AVM in just about the same time period. So, it wasn't like SPM or Rajini insisted on IR but KB used the opportunity to sign up the current sensation So, it was cheers to IR-admirers, conquest of new territory

We don't know whether there was any direct involvement of KB in the music making. However, one thing is sure that IR wanted to use the opportunity to show case his specialities. What a fantastic fusion album resulted!

Unlike the organic fusion in songs like 'poongathavE', this was - for lack of terms - inorganic. One can see both the seamlessness and distinctness in mAppiLLaikku mAman manasu & theerAtha viLaiyAttuppiLLai. (rAjA rANi jAckie was in a jazzy mode and rAmaNin mOhanam of "typical IR" genre)

I was following the news snippets in dailies / weeklies about this movie and when read about a song 'theerAtha viLaiyAttuppiLLai', thought it would be the traditional song with the same melody as 'thalai vAri poochchoodi unnai' (Shreya sings and dances in front of Sivaji and Vivek says how long Kannan alone keeps doing viLaiyAttu). I was expecting to see some IR style orchestration for that melody.

When the song came out, it was such a pleasant surprise to have a majestic new melody, terrific orchestration (the second interlude's violin is delectable). On top of these was SPB in cracking form!

A not-to-be-missed song! My college 1st year room mate, MSV fanatic, used to love this song and sing aloud - each time he'll start with the saraNam only. His voice still rings in my ears -'அவன் அசை உள்ள வரையில் விளையாடி'

Thanks for the Friday special App. Don't worry if you have to shuffle the order a little bit, maintain the "specials" for every Friday.

IMO Ramanin Mohanam was the only good song from the movie. The only thing I remember about this movie is Rajini gets "special" sun glass and at the age I believed one like that existed. (They got something like that in some airports now)