Saravanan Natarajan writes:
பொய்யின்றி மெய்யோடு....
An interesting aspect that strikes one from the very beginning of CB’s career is his choice of singers. CB seems to have preferred each album of his to be embellished by a variety of singers. We have seen only 3 CB albums so far, and even within them we see a staggering array of singers- TMS, Seergazhi Govindarajan, Yesudas, SPB, Ceylon Manohar, P. Susheela, S. Janaki, Vani Jairam, L.R. Anjali… And even though it was the end of the 70s and TMS was gradually being relegated to singing only for Sivaji Ganesan, CB chose to ensure that the veteran singer found a place of pride in his early albums.
After a successful show in 1978, with both Mangudi Minor and Machanai Paartheengala being commercial successes and ‘Maampoove siru mainaave’ fetching significant airtime, CB must have looked forward eagerly to 1979. To his bitter disappointment, not a single movie came out that year with his music.True he did work on some albums, but the movies were delayed in the making, and made it to the silver screen only in 1980.
So let us move on to 1980, and look at the movies of that year which had music composed by CB.
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The first is the full-length comedy Muyalukku Moonu Kaal (SPV Films) directed, again by V.C. Guhanathan. The movie had Surulirajan playing the lead character- a petty conman who undergoes a change of heart after seeing the consequences of his actions and determines to set right the financial woes of a hotelier whose business he caused to crash. Vijayababu, Satyapriya, Bhanuchander (debut) and Nisha (debut) acted in the movie, which had a galaxy of comedy actors in well-etched cameos- T.R. Ramachandran, S. Ramarao, K.A. Thangavelu, Ashokan, V.K. Ramaswamy, ‘Vennira aadai’ Murthy, ISR, M. Saroja, Manorama, Sachu… A ‘Pongal’ release of 1980, the movie was a modest success.In a movie whose highpoints were the comic escapades of the lead actor, CB did not have much scope for showcasing his music. I recollect 3 songs from the movie (not counting the short ‘Muyalukku moone kaalu, nee sirikka therija paaru’ sung by CB that is heard during the credit rolls); the lyrics were by Vaali.
The jaunty ditty ‘Muyalukku moone kaalu’ sung by Malaysia Vasudevan & S. Janaki found fleeting popularity at the time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxjCfGyv07I
‘Sarigamapadanisa swaram’ by Jayachandran & P. Susheela, (beginning with CB reciting ‘nilavo neruppo kodhikkudhu nenjam’), a seductive number of slow sizzle, is perhaps too risqué a watch. Yet the lilting tune, with Susheela and Jayachandran at the helm, lingers on in memory. Warning: Better heard than seen:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fx3tP1l6u8U
The third song is the grand ‘Kaadhal kavignan naan’ set of songs. CB, most probably upon VCG’s insistence, structured the entire piece on the lines of RDB’s ‘Bachna ye hasino’ set of songs from Hum Kisise Kam Nahin. However, he chose to carve delightful detours of his own, which save the song from being a mere copy. CB renders the song, along with TMS, SPB and Jency.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_03Dv0oVDW0
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Avalukkul Oru Ragasiyam (Kathirvel Creations) was another album that CB worked on in 1980. However, for reasons unknown, the movie was never released. From the record sleeve, we can barely decipher that the album had 4 songs- the first one sung by SPB & P. Susheela, the second by Chandrabose, the third by Malaysia Vasudevan and the fourth by Vani Jairam.Managed to locate one of the songs- ‘Rajarajeswari arugil rajarajeswaran’, a gentle duet by S.P. Balasubramaniam & P. Susheela.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FC7gra422TY
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Madhavi Vandhaal (The Nathigam Pictures), the third movie that CB worked on in 1980, was produced and directed by a person who rejoiced in the name of Nathigam P. Ramaswami. Vijayababu, Vadivukkarasi and Raji were in the cast. The movie sank without a trace, yet the song ‘Maalai Muthu maalai’ is sure to evoke a smile of pleased recognition in radio aficionados of the early 80s. Written by Kannadasan and sung by P. Susheela (supported by CB’s humming), the song found repeated airtime for while before being buried in the merciless sands of time. It is said that Kannadasan was so impressed with the tune that he stayed back to watch the recording. Seergazhi Govindarajan’s title song and S. Janaki’s ruminative ‘Aaraariraariro’ were less heard. There seems to be 4th song as well- a solo by CB.
http://www.saregama.com/album/madhavi-vanthaal_101107
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The last movie to come out with CB’s music in 1980 was Dasarathan’s Saranam Iyappa (Amudheswari Films). Most of you would be familiar with 'Master' Dasarathan, the child artiste who acted in many Tamil and Malayalam movies in the 60s. He grew up to be a staunch devotee of Lord Aiyappa, and made 3 movies to propagate the greatness of the Lord of Sabarimalai- 'Saranam Aiyappa' (1980), 'Arul Tharum Aiyappan' (1987) and 'Engal Saami Aiyappan' (1990). Besides scripting and directing these movies, Dasarathan tried his hand at composing the music as well for 'Arul Tharum Aiyappan' and 'Engal Saami Aiyappan'.
Released in the winter of 1980 to coincide with the season of the annual pilgrimage, 'Saranam Aiyappa' had in its cast Saratbabu, Vijayan, Bhupathi, Jayabharathi, Purnima, Ramaprabha, Sumathi, Radharavi, Bhaskar, Surulirajan and Manorama, with an added attraction of popular artistes such as Jaishankar and Bhagyaraj appearing in guest roles. Dasarathan got Yesudas to appear on screen as well.
Dasarathan entrusted the music of the movie to his old friend CB. As we have seen earlier, CB and Dasarathan were room-mates, staying along with Master Sridhar and ‘Pakkoda’ Kadher in a one-room tenement in Eldams Road when they were all searching for opportunities in Cinema. Lying awake at night, Dasarathan used to share with CB his ideas and aspirations and promised to him that if ever he would get an opportunity to make a movie, CB would compose the music.
CB came out with a stirring album for this devotional movie. Lyrics were by Kannadasan, Muthulingam, Poovai Senguttuvan, Pulavar Maari and Dasarathan. 'Sonnaal inikkuthu sugamaai irukkuthu' is a lilting composition sung by SPB & Raji.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGDGnSN3ONc
K. Veeramani has composed and sung many a hymn on the Lord, and 'Malai meedhu maniyosai aiyappa' composed by CB and rendered by Veeramani for this movie stakes claim to a place among the great devotee's best songs ever.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APFouU7UZ0Y
'Swami thinthakaththom' by Seergazhi Govindarajan & chorus became a mandatory inclusion in Aiyappan Poojas all over the state. CB got Kamalhasan to sing a song as well and the folksy 'Annaa vaada thambi vaada' found frequent airtime.
The jewel that glitters the brightest in this crown, however, is the serene 'Poyyindri meyyodu', written by Dasarathan and sung by Yesudas.
"At Sabari hills I do not consider religion. I offer my soul to the Supreme Power. There is a greater search of self than of religions over there!" says Yesudas (Conversation with Hari Kochat).
Take this song as a glittering instance of the singer's devotion. On the sumptuous Subapanthuvarali canvas spread by CB, Yesudas paints a pensive paean of polished brilliance. With the simple, evocative lines by Dasarathan soaked in moving piety, the song captures a place of pride among the finest devotional songs that have found place in Tamil cinema over the decades.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqE3-6gVCIc
- To be continued….
Part 1 here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1018417744856618/permalink/1654218981276488/
Part 2 here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1018417744856618/permalink/1659046027460450/
Part 3 here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1018417744856618/permalink/1666861290012257/
* * * * *
Chandrabose Discography (Covered so far):
1977
1. Madhura Geetham
1978
2. Mangudi Minor
3. Machanai Paartheengala
1980
4. Muyalukku Moonu Kaal
5. Avalukkul Oru Ragasiyam (unreleased)
6. Madhavi Vandhaal
7. Saranam Aiyappa
Discussion:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1018417744856618/permalink/1673541426010910/
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