Sivaji Ganesan- His Other Voices

Saravanan Natarajan writes:

Sivaji Ganesan- His Other Voices

Yesterday being the death anniversary of the great Nadigar Thilagam, I was happy to see numerous heartfelt posts in tribute of the actor nonpareil. Here, on this day last year, we watched his scintillating performance as Samrat Ashokan in Annaiyin Aanai and also had a detailed discussion on Veerapandiya Kattabomman here:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1018417744856618/permalink/1278781972153526/

Revisiting that post, I watched the songs of the movie, including ‘Vetri Vadivelane’ sung by veteran V.N. Sundaram for Sivaji Ganesan. That set my chain of thoughts on Sivaji and his songs. 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 (1954) to Gnanapparavai (1991)… None understood the thespian and his needs better than TMS, and for many of us, TMS seemed merging into Sivaji when he sang for him….the dynamics were just perfect…

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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzB6978aU3Y

5. Madhavapeddi Sathyam in Mangaiyar Thilakam:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3g9zP-8r18w

6. S.C. Krishnan in Raja Rani:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ol-3eZ_pt5Y

7. V. N. Sundaram in Veerapandiya Kattabomman:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WBAyd6iRxo

8. 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

9. Seergazhi Govindarajan in Kappalottiya Thamizhan:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fPff1_R7mA

10. P.B. Srinivas in Naan Sollum Ragasiyam:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiOrWn5ksxc

11. T.A. Mothi in Sabash Meena:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MewOsMqwg3Y

12. MSV in Paava Mannippu (only humming)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOm1VbH843A

13. Ajit Singh in Thavapudhalvan:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORqLDJZ6WJk

14. Saibaba in Thangapathakkam:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGyhXnU05nk

15. SPB in Sumathi En Sundari:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MT758TvZnM

16. Kovai Soundararajan in Dr. Siva:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8JDMne6e4w

17. Yesudas in Andaman Kathali:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvFu-gm0UuY

18. Jayachandran in Rishimoolam:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKOWOGren-8

19. Malaysia Vasudevan in Imaigal:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqpTjeUxwRc

20. Ilaiyaraja in Muthal Mariyadhai:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmyzafV8Vko

21. Mano in Thampathiyam:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-gjUBs0LxY

22. Sivaji Ganesan singing for himself in Thevar Magan:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_6YmmXLOP8

Request friends to let me know if I have left out any other singer who sang for the Nadigar Thilakam.

Discussion:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1018417744856618/permalink/1670027083029011/