The Golden Era of Dr.IR and Dr.SPB

[PARAMASHIVAN]

He was there just for song, as he was doing in many films, just song scene before he got himself lead role in Indhu (or was it Kadhalan first?)

I C, But I am pretty sure Indhu was his first film , and Kadhalan came after that! Though Indhu was by Xerox mannan Deva, it had some catchy songs!

[PARAMASHIVAN]

Agni * .

For the song Raja Rajathi rajan intha raja song ??

[PARAMASHIVAN]

[PARAMASHIVAN]

Any heera fans here ?

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And btw, will you feature, kOttaiyai vittu in the series? I think the movie version has the Uma R + kids version. But the SPB version (albeit a bit song) is a HUGE favorite of mine.

Yes, ofcourse - manadhai ennavO paNNum oru vidhamAna pAttu adhu!

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#347 சாந்துப்பொட்டு ஒரு சந்தனப்பொட்டு
(தேவர் மகன், 1992 )

'sAnthuppottu oru santhanappottu' from dEvar makan

Fast, beatsy song with a variety of country drums deployed - typical of IR's folk scores. SPB handles this with ease, though there's a personal disconnect to me with this number (as in the case of most numbers from this album with the only exception of 'inji iduppazhagi'). Regardless of my appreciation or lack of it for the DM numbers, I'm sure they were big hits all around TN - as was the movie. Per hub discussions, the movie also enjoys a lot of critical acclaim (again much contrary to my personal view but obviously mine is important only to me ).

Keeping aside my dislike for any 'kAladi maN' businesses and general distaste for blood on-screen, let me write a little on what thoughts get triggered whenever I read about 'dEvar' as related to movies or news reports - as they're a politically powerful community during the last few decades in TN, possibly starting with the success of K MayaththEvar as the first winner of an election ever (interestingly, an "idaiththErthal") for MGR's ADMK, during my school days, from the town near our village.

He did repeat that victory in the post-emergency MP elections from the constituency, when Indira G got defeated in Rae Bareli by Raj Narayanan (who promoted drinking of one's own urine, became a minister in Morarji Desai's cabinet). KMT, the local MP candidate visited our village and I remember shaking my hands with him As my only "political stunt" ever, I did organize a small progression in the village for him - mostly comprising of boys & useless fellows around (unknown to my strict father - what a bayangara act if I look back now) and much to the irritation of my closest childhood friend / classmate of years whose dad was the local communist leader (ofcourse we continued nakam-sathai after this too).

It was just around that time two of my classmates, aNNan-thambi both studying in my class and who were close relatives of the MP (staying in school hostel), became close friends to me as well. The aNNan - who had the typical bengali name associated with the community ("Bose") was an emotional guy (often aNNan-thambi saNdai pOttuttu pEsikka mAttAnga and we used to unite them )! He used to narrate to me a lot of tales of their relatives. Ofcourse there were some exaggerations but overall it was a chronicle of vettu-kutthu-adi-thadi mostly but presented as veeram-theeram-sAhasam. We were kabadi teammates initially and later his thambi became my badminton team mate for a few years when we had considerable inter-school-tournament successes.

So, whenever I read / hear the 'dEvar' term, these three people come up immediately to mind and though some of my activities / feelings those days look foolish to me now, they form an interesting part of 'not-so-horrible' memories

[PARAMASHIVAN]

yeah I did not like santhu pottu that much as well .


btw, wasn't meera released prior to DM ??

[V_S]

App,
Very nice and interesting write-up with your nostalgic touch. Thanks for posting this song.

I can't resist posting this song which I always love and admire.

I remember arguing about this song with my friends days together, after they trashed it. The songs beauty is the narration. The whole situation is very interesting. Maestro takes unstructured approach which is unique only to Kamal films. Take for Kanmani AnbOdu which starts as a dialogue and seamlessly gets to a song. When we were listening to Kanmani song, my friends were distracted, while I was trying hard to convince them. Same way Mahanadhi bengali song, it will start as some bengali prose and adds tune to that gradually. Many such cases. This one is again such strong case in that approach. Takes a unconventional start and when it gets to charanam, we start to hear the melody. Very juicy melody there.
If you dig the lyrics, it may sound silly, but that's again the beauty of the narration. You can't say it is a complete song, yet you can't say it is only dialogues, very innovative composition by Maestro, but it has the brain of both Maestro and Kamal.

suththa thamizh veeran raththaththula oorum
singa thamizhan thanga thamizhan
eththanayO naadu suththi vandha aalu
budhdhi irukku sakthi irukku

I love those four lines. Then the chorus joins beautifully

Chorus- ooraarum annanaa thambiyaa paarkkum
anbaana ullamdhaan ullavaru
yaaraachchum muttina mOdhinaa pochchu
anjaama kuttuvaar thattuvaaru

Then takes the colloquial version:

oru vaaikkozhuppeduththaa
aduththavan varattizhup pizhuththaa
avan thOl urippavandaa
thamizhachchi paal kudichchavandaa
ada vishayangal pala arinjavan naan
vevarangal pala purinjavan naan
sandaikku vandhaa savaal vitta
thadiyaththaan pudichchiththaan
kai viralila suththura suththula
annaachchi unna naan punnaakku thinnavappaen

Amazing, amazing! Kamal and IR only fossible! Visuals with that almost brown-orange tinge sands with gorgeous landscape behind, it is a treat to both eyes and ears. One of my favorite Kamal song.

[Bala (Karthik)]

V_S
Another important example in your list - "Unnai Naan Ariven" from Guna

[PARAMASHIVAN]

Yes, ofcourse - manadhai ennavO paNNum oru vidhamAna pAttu adhu!

Every time I hear this song, I feel like getting up dancing as if you are possesed by a spririt!