'Maargazhi paarvai paarkkava’ from Uyire Unakkaga (Unreleased)

Saravanan writes:

Presenting today the song 'Maargazhi paarvai paarkkava’ from Uyire Unakkaga. Sung by SPB and S.Janaki. Lyrics by Vairamuthu. Music by Ilaiyaraja.

And before anyone starts wondering if Ilaiyaraja composed one song in a film that had music by Laxmikant-Pyarelal, let me hasten to clarify that this film is not the Mohan-Nadiya starrer of the same name (1986/ Motherland Pictures).

Sri Manickam Films’ Uyire Unakkaga' is destined to lie hidden in the cans forever. It starred Prabhu & Sulakshana. It was produced by Kallakkudi Manickam and directed by S. Kumar.
* * * *

It was in Mid-1983 that we came back to India after 3 longs years of living abroad, and I was grateful to be back where I had easy access to Tamil film music! However, as I was yet to make friends in my new school in Chennai, I was generally feeling a bit depressed. Within one month all schools were shut down for an extended period to express solidarity with the Srilankan Tamils. Having nothing else to do, and no friends yet to pass the time of the day with, I fell back upon my old ally- Radio Ceylon. My day started with Pongum Poompunal and ended with Kanavulagam.

I can never forget the songs that were aired regularly during that unexpected vacation, and along with songs like ‘Thennankeetrum thendral kaatrum’, ‘Ninaivile manaivi endru’, ‘Yaaradhu sollamal nenjalli ponadhu’, ‘Pothi vecha malligai mottu’, ‘Siricha kolli malakkuyilu’, ‘O vennilave vaa odivaa’, ‘Thendral ennai muththamittadhu’; ‘Maargazhi paarvai’ found place unfailingly in Pongum Poombunal.

The other enchanting SPB-SJ duet from this film, ‘Poo enbadhaa pon enbadhaa poo maalai neeye Radha’ (lyrics again by Vairamuthu) was another favourite among Radio Ceylon listeners. Besides these, Uyire Unakkaga had two more songs: ‘Annakkili ammanukku aadiyile maavilakku’ (MV & SPS/ Vaali) and ‘Thannikkule thannikkule ena irukku’ (GA, Saibaba & Sundararajan/ GA).
* * * *

Vairamuthu, in his, ‘En jannalin vazhiye’, wistfully calls such stillborn songs of his as ‘ Urangi kidakkum mottukkal’. IR too often put his heart and soul into songs whose films were never released later--‘Maargazhi paarvai paarkkva’ is right up there with ‘Kodi inbam maeni engum paaiyndhadhammamma’ (Nenjilaadum Poo Ondru/ SPB & SJ), ‘Aananda thaen kaatru’ (Manippoor Maamiyaar/ MV & SPS), ‘Maalai sevvanam’ (Ilayarajavin Rasigai/ IR & Swarna), ‘Magizhampoove unnai paarthen’ (Pudhiya Adimaigal/ KJY & PS), ‘Alaigale Vaa’ (Kavithai Malar/ SPB & Uma Ramanan), ‘Maargazhi maadham mun pani velaiyile (Panchami/ SJ & TVG) and ‘Kanna vaa vaa’ (Malargal Nanaigindrana/ JC & SJ).

The dream ensemble of Ilaiyaraja, Vairamuthu, SPB & S. Janaki collaborate here to put together an exquisite duet. Janaki’s enticing humming is invitation enough, and SPB’s pallavi hints at lusty longings hiding behind the air of laid-back romance. Janaki joins him well into the charanam - hark at her irresistible exclamation of pleasure at his ‘ullankaiyil then irukka’ --And just when you expect SPB to bring back the pallavi after Janaki's surging end to the charanam, like an unexpected cascade of summer showers, Ilaiyaraja takes you on a mesmerizing musical odyssey...
* * * * *

It was the wedding reception of the second son of a universally liked writer/director, known for his brilliant sense of humour. VIP celebrities were arriving one by one. There was a sudden flutter of excitement and a hushed silence... around 15 young men, all friends of the third son of the writer, had prostrated at the feet of an amazed Ilaiyaraja who had just arrived! The third son and his friends were such ardent fans of the Maestro....and so they remain to this day...

Chitralaya Sriram sir, this one is for you! Wish you many, many happy returns of the day and a great year ahead, filled with an abundance of lovely music of your beloved Ilaiyaraja such as this.