Saravanan Natarajan writes:
மார்கழி மாதம் முன் பனி வேளையிலே....
A Tamil youth comes to Kerala in search of employment. There he finds livelihood, and then finds love in the form of a lively local lass. Communication between them is limited to looks, smiles and gestures, until she learns Tamil. (A forerunner to Cheran's Autograph?) In his 'என் ஜன்னலின் வழியே' Vairamuthu reveals this much of the story of பஞ்சமி. In a chapter titled 'உறங்கி கிடக்கும் மொட்டுக்கள்', Vairamuthu lists down few songs that he wrote for movies that were never released. And it is in this context that he mentions the movie பஞ்சமி and the song உதய காலமே which the girl sings soon after mastering the language of her lover, exulting in the lines 'மொழியின் கதவு திறந்தது...' Laments Vairamuthu, 'பஞ்சமி படத்திலும் கூட நான் சேமித்து வைத்த கற்பனை செலவழிக்கபடாமலே இருக்கிறது'.
If Vairamuthu can be filled with regret that a single song written by him was frittered away for this பஞ்சமி that was never released, then one can imagine the dismay of Ilaiyaraja, for he had lovingly crafted 4 exquisite songs for பஞ்சமி only to see them squandered, his painstaking work falling prey to the financial tangles of a wretched producer who could not find funds to complete what he had commenced.
Wait, Ilaiyaraja's labour was not wholly lost... for fortunately for us, we had with us in those times 'தமிழ் சேவை இரண்டு', and by fetching for the songs of பஞ்சமி repeated airtime, the good old radio station was the soothing salve to Ilaiyaraja's disenchantment. And from the tea gardens of Nuwaraeliya to the concrete mazes of Madras, the songs were requested for and listened to with great pleasure, till time took them away in its merciless stride.
Incidentally, way back in 1976, there came a Malayalam movie titled 'Panchami' starring Prem Nazeer & Jayabharathi, and it had some wonderful songs composed by our Mellisai Mannar MSV.
From the EP record of the Tamil பஞ்சமி (Omega Movies), we come to know that that the songs were recorded in 1981. The songs were:
1. உதய காலமே written by Vairamuthu and sung by P. Susheela
2. மாலை வெய்யில் written by M.G. Vallaban and sung by Malaysia Vasudevan
3. பனிக்காற்றின் குளுமை written by Gangaiamaran and sung by S. Janaki
4. மார்கழி மாதம் written by Gangaiamaran and sung by S. Janaki & T.V. Gopalakrishnan
'உதய காலமே' is a song with a delightful prelude and heavenly interludes sculpted around the ever dulcet tones of the one and only Susheela. 'பனிக்காற்றின் குளுமை' has Janaki weaving a wondrous warp on Ilaiyaraja's psychedelic tapestry. Malaysia Vasudevan brings to life in his idiosyncratic levity the lines of M.G. Vallaban in that jaunty 'மாலை வெய்யில் பாடும் சிந்து சிந்து'.
That leaves us with this sumptuous spread in Kamas 'மார்கழி மாதம் முன் பனி வேளையிலே'. Kamas, they say, is the raga that is best suited to portray Sringaara Rasa, the aesthetic emotion that conveys love tinged with sensual longings, the enthralling amalgam of the ecstasy and agony. Is it then any surprise that Raja laid Kamas as the silken carpet to tread this sensuous journey on? The song appears to be a composition for a dance recital, with Sringara Rasa as the motif of the piece. The danseuse recalls with a wistful pang a winter tryst with her lover, and sighs over the current spasm of separation even as she yearns for those joyous intimate moments to cross her threshold once again..
The sprightly anklets, the Mridangam, Veenai, Violin, Flute. Ilaiyaraja ushers in the ethos and ambience of a dance stage. Surprises never cease when Sishtla Janaki is around. For a singer with negligible training in classical music, she serenades the intricate nuances of Kamas here like a seasoned stalwart. And understanding the mood of the composition, she cajoles into her rendition the entire realm of Sringara- wicked coquetry, secretive exchanges, sighs of delirious joy, whimpers of pangs of separation- they all find surreptitious space in her song. Ilaiyaraja invites his Guru to sing along with his prima donna, and the revered Tirupunithura Viswanatha Gopalakrishnan fits in with finesse, his trained tones resonating with casual confidence.
The sensual thus soars to become the sublime in the chambers of the Maestro.
* * * *
'மாதங்களில் நான் மார்கழி' Lord Krishna is said to have declared. It may well suit our Singaara Chennai, for the staid city rouses itself to pulsating life this month. I have many lovely memories of Chennai in this time of the year…..A pleasant, mildly cold climate fills the denizens with joy. One gets up to 'புல்லாங்குழல் கொடுத்த மூங்கில்களே' and 'கீதை சொன்ன கண்ணன்' drifting from some neighbourhood temple, and comes out to see attractive Kolams bedecking the gateways of most houses, even apartments. The appetizing whiff of delicious Pongal wafts from the kitchen. The pages of the December 1st edition of 'The Hindu' are filled with the mind-boggling itineraries of the myriad Sabhas. The city is treated to a month long sumptuous feast of music and dance. Magazines vie with each other in reviewing the concerts, the crowd, and more importantly, the fare offered in the canteens….Shankara Hall and Chettiar Hall across the road used to put up their famed annual sale of CDs. Christmas, New Year….The associated holidays and revelries, followed soon by Pongal. Movie releases of our favourite stars, family get-togethers, the test matches at Chepauk, the All India Tourist Trade Fair in the Island Grounds.
"Oh, to be in England now that April's there!' exclaimed a wistful Robert Browning in his 'Home Thoughts from Abroad'. Chennai and Margazhi would hold just as good…….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15VGgjhW-zY&feature=youtu.be
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