Sivaji Ganesan- His Other Voices- 23 singers other than TMS
It is inevitable that when we think of Sivaji’s songs, the first name that pops up is TMS. What a magnificent partnership between the singer and the actor…. A greatly enriching, remarkably unique association that transcended decades- from Koondukkili & Thookku Thooki(1954) to Gnanapparavai (1991)… How Tiruchi Loganathan's refusal paved way for TMS to sing for Sivaji in 'Thookku Thookki', how after considering so many other singers, MSV came back to TMS for 'Andha naal mudhal', how Sivaji requested a day's time to come back with a style and swagger that could match TMS in 'Yaar andha nilavu', how TMS jogged around the studio to get the 'panting' effect for 'Andha naal gnabagam', how they came back to TMS for 'Palootti valartha kili' after getting Kovai Soundararajan to render it, how Sivaji wanted TMS to recite the English lines after the recording of 'Devane ennai paarungal' was completed with Joseph Krishna reciting the lines....vignettes surrounding the actor and singer are many that old-timers repeat with relish. None understood the thespian and his needs better than TMS. Indeed, for many of us, TMS seemed merging into Sivaji when he sang for him….the dynamics were just perfect… As a child, I remember being disillusioned when I first saw the face of TMS in a poster outside the Apparswami temple in Mylapore...I had expected him to even resemble Sivaji :)
However, there were other singers, both before and during TMS’s time, who got to sing for Sivaji, and many of such instances were memorable, resulting in some lovely songs. Of course, acceptance would have been grudging, and perhaps not forthcoming, for the absence of TMS- his majesty and empathy would have would have doubtless found stiff resistance in general perception…
Yet, as I lay awake last night, I commenced listing the singers, other than TMS, who did get to sing for Sivaji Ganesan. And that becomes the subject of today’s post....Presenting the list below, with many of the songs close to my heart:
1. C.S. Jayaraman in Kuravanji:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPaZhIljwyE
2. Ghantasala in Tenali Raman:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6uyx-Nt3Zs
3. A.M. Raja in Ethirparathathu:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioWLx2jyCD4
4. Chandrababu in Kalyanam Panniyum Brahmachari:
https://youtu.be/9-7KheawC4k?si=_giBfL9BvT6SMj4O
5. Madhavapeddi Sathyam in Mangaiyar Thilakam:
https://youtu.be/MdaOL6jyhLo?si=PIzoqKzIJhxH6_AV
6. S.C. Krishnan in Raja Rani:
https://youtu.be/f57AvVWAlRw?si=8dRZ2prgjsuXl7PJ
7. V. N. Sundaram in Veerapandiya Kattabomman:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WBAyd6iRxo
8. Trichy Loganathan in Kalvanin Kadhali
https://youtu.be/xTzMJb1d-zE?si=a_NJfzPApnt1pYUS
9. G.K. Venkatesh in Sethamarai (could not find a video of the movie). ‘Ezhaiayi nin kovilai’ (Panam) is another fantastic number by GKV- again video of the movie does not have the song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAFQI5rd_Ck
10. Seergazhi Govindarajan in Kappalottiya Thamizhan:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fPff1_R7mA
11. P.B. Srinivas in Naan Sollum Ragasiyam:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiOrWn5ksxc
12. T.A. Mothi in Sabash Meena:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MewOsMqwg3Y
13. MSV in Paava Mannippu (only humming)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOm1VbH843A
14. Ajit Singh in Thavapudhalvan:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORqLDJZ6WJk
15. Saibaba in Ennaippol Oruvan:
https://youtu.be/fznah5TS8kE?si=blz7vs_6chKv3zZS
16. SPB in Sumathi En Sundari:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MT758TvZnM
17. Kovai Soundararajan in Dr. Siva:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8JDMne6e4w
18. Yesudas in Andaman Kadhali:
https://youtu.be/SBPrtLchBG8?si=e8KEcIsPcgoB7GmQ
19. Jayachandran in Rishimoolam:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKOWOGren-8
20. Malaysia Vasudevan in Imaigal:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqpTjeUxwRc
21. Ilaiyaraja in Muthal Mariyathai:
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5x0UZ6Lg9c](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5x0UZ6Lg9c)
22. Mano in Thampathiyam:
https://youtu.be/kaNLRVnnYfw?si=MD1G4SA-qbdxJM8_
23. Sivaji Ganesan singing for himself in Thevar Magan:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_6YmmXLOP8
Also in Raja Raja Chozhan:
https://youtu.be/q09dYjrH2LU?si=PPQDP3aXmN1BH3vC
Request friends to let me know if I have left out any other singer who sang for the Nadigar Thilakam.
- Saravanan Natarajan
https://www.facebook.com/share/14eUaL1V2pY/
