The Golden Era of Dr.IR and Dr.SPB

[app_engine]

nanRi, balaji!

I do like the SPB songs of A-N-V but the others scored over them during college days due to many possible reasons. Looking back, it could be due to the huge transitions in (musical) taste due to the exposure in what could be called a "mini-america" that was only meters away from a TN village setting (i.e. the inside of REC campus where individuals with shorts / bathroom slippers / "love an enginIEEEr" roundneck shirts roamed around in brakeless bicycles).

Another development was due to a simple statement by a non-musical classmate who asked me 'did you hear "Thriller?". When I said 'No', he asked me another question, 'do you know MJ'. Again I said 'No'. His statement then was - you talk / discuss so much about music but don't know the #1 in the world!

I was in a state of shock!

Well, until that point, my exposure to music was primarily TFM and occasional Hindi songs / BoneyM / ABBA / western instrumentals that were used for march-past in school & circus (say, the piece called 'escape') and that's about it.

Now, his statement simply gave me a strong kick. What followed in another few days was a cover article in TIME that I chanced upon in the college library on MJ ("why, he is a thriller inside his world")! That same week, while loitering in burma bazaar, I spotted this cassette from Singapore (with a guitarist / STEREO logo) that had "The very best of Michael Jackson" and got it. It had beat it, girl is mine, thriller, off the wall, don't stop till you get enough, rock with you, I'll be there, billie jean among others. I had that cassette for another 20 years (and should still be in some corner in the house in India)

So, a big change in approach to music listening from the year 1983 and that thing, kind of reflected on the personal rating of songs that appeared during that transition period

[app_engine]

#107 தேவதை இளம் தேவி உன்னைச்சுற்றும் ஆவி
(ஆயிரம் நிலவே வா, 1983 )

The most popular song of IR's 200th movie and as observed by Jai / Plum / balaji, a rework of IR's melodious number from other language into Thamizh as a eerie one. I was watching the youtube yesterday - which looks good though not causing fear. Karthik is nice and so is Sulakshana on this video.

As mentioned in the prior post, my rating of this song was influenced by factors other than the song itself while the acceptance was quite high among public. Had a lot of radio / bus / teastall time. Another irritation causing thing to me was certain MSV-fans in the hostel comparing this to 'engE nimmadhi' which was unjustified.

In any case, a nice song to hear - if one discounts those nari / nAi ooLais and such sounds.

[balaji]

All engine

Nice summary of your musical experience as a young man

83 Had wonderful films
Excellent - Adutha Varsisu, Vellai Roja (2 wonderful duets each) , Mundhanai Mudichu, Raagangal Maruvadhillai, Thanga Magan, Thoongadhe Thambi, Salangai Oli (Kamal focused more on non Tamil films era)

Some Nice songs = Oru Odai Nadhiyagiradhu (Thalayai kuniyum Thamarai), Payum Puli (Aadi Masam - cracker of a song only because of SPB), Anney Anney (Urugine - nice melody thanks to spb./sj - where did such simple songs go...)

Can't wait for your posting

[V_S]

App,
What a memorable recollection of your college days. I can visualize your talks as well. Incidently I was almost in your situation during my 9th/10 std where I have been introduced to MJ. But as you mentioned, I witnessed all the fights between our elder friends between songs of MSV and Raja those days, but those were the times I immediately get to those songs and experience how one faired better than the other, but could not obviously conclude anything, it was way over top of my head. Beautiful times.

[app_engine]

nanRi, balaji & V_S!

Those were really wonderful times - youth & a measure of freedom In addition, those years in Emerald (4th -8th sem) gave immense opportunities to have "personal time" as well as fantastic companionship with wingmates / hostelmates / yearmates.

The MJ experience was complemented with Radio Australia listening, thanks to another Thanjavur guy (who intro'd 'Eye of the tiger' to me and was a western music freak, you can ask him the details for any popular western # and he knew them all - he was in the other hostel for our year - Sapphire - but we shared a strong rapport - now he lives in the DC area). The international weekly top 20 count down (or ten, I don't clearly remember) on Radio Australia became a must listen.

What more, Raja was at his peak, hitting out hundreds after hundreds!

Times - that will never repeat!

[app_engine]

#108 காவிரியே கவிக்குயிலே கண்மணியே வா வா
(அடுத்த வாரிசு, 1983 , ஜானகியுடன்)

A rocking hit number featuring one of the top on-screen pairs, Rajinikanth-Sridevi and sung by the top duet singer pair! A song whose traces can be seen in songs in other languages, including the 'kaisE kahEn' of new millennium. A song that thrilled all of us with its fantastic percussion arrangements when arrived - one in which Raja showcased some sounds made by his new toys!

One tends to think that SPB got so thrilled to sing this number, going by his enthu It appeared that the producer spent quite some money (by standards of those days) to get portions of this movie shot in a Rajastan palace / lake. This song, as indicated by the motor boat sound in the prelude, was on the lake and was a typical

While the album can easily get a top rating (MV's Asai nooRu vagai too occured in this), the movie was so-so and the most disappointing thing for me on screen will be in the next post...

[balaji]

App-Engine

Compare this with "malli Malli" song from Rakshashadu. Similar start, boat songs, same singers, what a difference in the song, presentation and singing

SPB-SJ-IR are the masters of their profession and they do so well..

Glad we enjoyed music in their best times

Bala

[app_engine]

Compare this with "malli Malli" song from Rakshashadu.

I'm not yet exposed to this number, will try to search for this and listen to it

My exposure to "IR-north-of-pooviruntha-valli" is very very limited

[sakaLAKALAKAlaa Vallavar]

"malli Malli" song from Rakshashadu.

What a beautiful song! Nanringo

[PARAMASHIVAN]

#108 காவிரியே கவிக்குயிலே கண்மணியே வா வா
(அடுத்த வாரிசு, 1983 , ஜானகியுடன்)

First time, I am hearing this, infact "pEsa koodathu" was the only song I remember from AV, as it was a mokka film, I have not remembered much of the song!

App anna

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