முருகன் காட்டிய வழி...
Down Memory Lane with G.K.Venkatesh- Part 3
-Saravanan Natarajan
Nothing succeeds like success, and with the emphatic success of பொண்ணுக்கு தங்க மனசு and தேன் சிந்துதே வானம் reverberating from every corner teashop, GKV found avenues hitherto closed for him in Tamil cinema opening up grudgingly at last. While it wasn’t as though producers were flocking at his gates, he did get secure some Tamil albums in quick succession.
P. Madhavan retained GKV for his next venture முருகன் காட்டிய வழி (Arun Prasad Movies/ 1974). Though the movie is a mere mention today as the first movie of Sripriya, GKV’s songs such as the strident ஏறுதம்மா ஏறுதம்மா (TMS) and the soulful முருகா வடிவேலா (S. Janaki & chorus) did receive a fair share of airtime. பிறவி ரசிகர்கள் கூடுங்கள் is a feet-tapping ditty where an ebullient Janaki makes merry. The revelation for me was the folksy சேதுபதி பூமியிலே where the majesty of TMS is matched by a rustic and jaunty Janaki. These nice songs are all but forgotten today. Thankfully, some good samaritans have unearthed them and uploaded them on YouTube. A lovely nostalgic peep into the glorious 70s:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S81b6yjMk2k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uL269low4xw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42ETlDWcJ6g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6YAUba46mE
Listening to these songs, I get a strong feeling that it must have been during these recording sessions where Janaki was the darling diva in GKV’s ensemble that watching her grasp the notes and embellish them with her delightful nuances, all with nonchalant speed and ease, that Ilaiyaraja must have been mightily impressed with her and anointed her naturally as his prima donna when his time arrived.
The next year fetched GKV three movies, and he worked on their music to come up with some exceptional songs.
Kovi Manisekharan turned director with his தென்னங்கீற்று (Godwin Enterprises/ 1975). A story dealing with an unusual theme with Sujatha stealing the show with her sterling performance, the movie has some noteworthy songs tuned by GKV- இது ஆயிரம் மலர்களின் (TMS), மாணிக்க மாமணி மாலையில் ( SPB & Vani Jairam), மஞ்சளும் வாழ்க (P. Susheela) and ஆண்டவன் போட்ட புள்ளியை (Yesudas).
Listen to மாணிக்க மாமணி மாலையில் where GKV tempers a mellifluous sky with some moving, melancholic clouds:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lY55MJxlxJI
For L.V. Prasad’s பிரியாவிடை, GKV was persuaded to adopt some popular Hindi tunes and the songs ராஜா பாருங்க (SPB & S. Janaki), என்னுயிரே என் பொன்னொளியே(S. Janaki), மாப்பிள்ளைக்கொரு மயக்கம் வந்ததது (SPB) and கருணைக்கடலே (GKV & P. Susheela) could fetch only fleeting airtime.
Cho, who had earlier worked with MSV for his Muhammed Bin Thughlak (1971) and Mr. Sampat (1972), commissioned GKV this year to compose the music for his யாருக்கும் வெட்கமில்லை (Narmada Arts/ Vivek Chitra). Cho’s old friend Jayalalitha played with her characteristic panache a daring role that elicited critical notice. The splendid score by GKV- என் கண்ணிரெண்டும் செய்த பாவம் (S.Janaki),மேலும் கீழும் கோடுகள் போடு (Yesudas), அணையாத தீபம் (P. Susheela), and சினிமாவில் வருவதுப்போல (TMS/S. Janaki/Manorama, a rollicking song that heralded Jayalalitha as a புரட்சி தலைவி as early as in 1975!) notwithstanding, the movie was not a commercial success.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLw5Y60xxzI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUdP0flqLsk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxDSGy294zg
And.... nothing fails like failure- none of these films were big successes and GKV’s period of limelight in Tamil cinema proved short-lived.
However, it was in these years that he was the monarch of all he surveyed in Kannada. His works in films like Mayura (dubbed in Hindi as well), Dari Tappida Maga, Trimoorti- all 1975, Raja Nanna Raja, Baalu Jenu -both1976, Olavu Geluvu, Galatte Samsara, Sose Thandha Sowbhagya – all 1977, Operation Diamond Rocket-1978 all went on to become super hits.
And it was in 1977 that GKV made history by bringing Ustad Bismillah Khan all the way from Varanasi to play the Shehnai for the film Sanadi Appanna. Based on a story by Krishnamoorthi Puranik, Anandalakshmi Enterprises’ Sanadi Appanna had Rajkumar and Jayaprada essaying the lead roles. As it was based on the story of a Shehnai player, GKV collaborated with the great Ustad to adorn the film with an alluring album that brought him widespread critical commendation. The exquisite lesson in Behag- ‘Karaderu Kelade’ has GKV skillfully employing Janaki's mesmerizing vocals and the Ustad’s Shehnai to create a classical masterpiece the likes of which film music has seldom witnessed. The revered Ustad came with his 10-member contingent to Madras and worked at the Prasad Studio with GKV and his troupe to collaborate on an album that is a precious cache of priceless gems.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1euHDlC5m20
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwmL9mfz3wY
- To be concluded.
Part1 here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1018417744856618/permalink/1332975003400889/
Part 2 here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1018417744856618/permalink/1333830509982005/
Part 4 here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1018417744856618/permalink/1335683069796749/
Discussion at:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1018417744856618/permalink/1334883879876668/
Down Memory Lane with G.K.Venkatesh- Part 3
-Saravanan Natarajan
Nothing succeeds like success, and with the emphatic success of பொண்ணுக்கு தங்க மனசு and தேன் சிந்துதே வானம் reverberating from every corner teashop, GKV found avenues hitherto closed for him in Tamil cinema opening up grudgingly at last. While it wasn’t as though producers were flocking at his gates, he did get secure some Tamil albums in quick succession.
P. Madhavan retained GKV for his next venture முருகன் காட்டிய வழி (Arun Prasad Movies/ 1974). Though the movie is a mere mention today as the first movie of Sripriya, GKV’s songs such as the strident ஏறுதம்மா ஏறுதம்மா (TMS) and the soulful முருகா வடிவேலா (S. Janaki & chorus) did receive a fair share of airtime. பிறவி ரசிகர்கள் கூடுங்கள் is a feet-tapping ditty where an ebullient Janaki makes merry. The revelation for me was the folksy சேதுபதி பூமியிலே where the majesty of TMS is matched by a rustic and jaunty Janaki. These nice songs are all but forgotten today. Thankfully, some good samaritans have unearthed them and uploaded them on YouTube. A lovely nostalgic peep into the glorious 70s:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S81b6yjMk2k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uL269low4xw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42ETlDWcJ6g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6YAUba46mE
Listening to these songs, I get a strong feeling that it must have been during these recording sessions where Janaki was the darling diva in GKV’s ensemble that watching her grasp the notes and embellish them with her delightful nuances, all with nonchalant speed and ease, that Ilaiyaraja must have been mightily impressed with her and anointed her naturally as his prima donna when his time arrived.
The next year fetched GKV three movies, and he worked on their music to come up with some exceptional songs.
Kovi Manisekharan turned director with his தென்னங்கீற்று (Godwin Enterprises/ 1975). A story dealing with an unusual theme with Sujatha stealing the show with her sterling performance, the movie has some noteworthy songs tuned by GKV- இது ஆயிரம் மலர்களின் (TMS), மாணிக்க மாமணி மாலையில் ( SPB & Vani Jairam), மஞ்சளும் வாழ்க (P. Susheela) and ஆண்டவன் போட்ட புள்ளியை (Yesudas).
Listen to மாணிக்க மாமணி மாலையில் where GKV tempers a mellifluous sky with some moving, melancholic clouds:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lY55MJxlxJI
For L.V. Prasad’s பிரியாவிடை, GKV was persuaded to adopt some popular Hindi tunes and the songs ராஜா பாருங்க (SPB & S. Janaki), என்னுயிரே என் பொன்னொளியே(S. Janaki), மாப்பிள்ளைக்கொரு மயக்கம் வந்ததது (SPB) and கருணைக்கடலே (GKV & P. Susheela) could fetch only fleeting airtime.
Cho, who had earlier worked with MSV for his Muhammed Bin Thughlak (1971) and Mr. Sampat (1972), commissioned GKV this year to compose the music for his யாருக்கும் வெட்கமில்லை (Narmada Arts/ Vivek Chitra). Cho’s old friend Jayalalitha played with her characteristic panache a daring role that elicited critical notice. The splendid score by GKV- என் கண்ணிரெண்டும் செய்த பாவம் (S.Janaki),மேலும் கீழும் கோடுகள் போடு (Yesudas), அணையாத தீபம் (P. Susheela), and சினிமாவில் வருவதுப்போல (TMS/S. Janaki/Manorama, a rollicking song that heralded Jayalalitha as a புரட்சி தலைவி as early as in 1975!) notwithstanding, the movie was not a commercial success.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLw5Y60xxzI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUdP0flqLsk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxDSGy294zg
And.... nothing fails like failure- none of these films were big successes and GKV’s period of limelight in Tamil cinema proved short-lived.
However, it was in these years that he was the monarch of all he surveyed in Kannada. His works in films like Mayura (dubbed in Hindi as well), Dari Tappida Maga, Trimoorti- all 1975, Raja Nanna Raja, Baalu Jenu -both1976, Olavu Geluvu, Galatte Samsara, Sose Thandha Sowbhagya – all 1977, Operation Diamond Rocket-1978 all went on to become super hits.
And it was in 1977 that GKV made history by bringing Ustad Bismillah Khan all the way from Varanasi to play the Shehnai for the film Sanadi Appanna. Based on a story by Krishnamoorthi Puranik, Anandalakshmi Enterprises’ Sanadi Appanna had Rajkumar and Jayaprada essaying the lead roles. As it was based on the story of a Shehnai player, GKV collaborated with the great Ustad to adorn the film with an alluring album that brought him widespread critical commendation. The exquisite lesson in Behag- ‘Karaderu Kelade’ has GKV skillfully employing Janaki's mesmerizing vocals and the Ustad’s Shehnai to create a classical masterpiece the likes of which film music has seldom witnessed. The revered Ustad came with his 10-member contingent to Madras and worked at the Prasad Studio with GKV and his troupe to collaborate on an album that is a precious cache of priceless gems.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1euHDlC5m20
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwmL9mfz3wY
- To be concluded.
Part1 here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1018417744856618/permalink/1332975003400889/
Part 2 here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1018417744856618/permalink/1333830509982005/
Part 4 here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1018417744856618/permalink/1335683069796749/
Discussion at:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1018417744856618/permalink/1334883879876668/
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