மலர்ந்தும் மலராதவை # 8:
அலைபாயுதே கண்ணா....
In tune with the music season, here is a classical treasure by Ilaiyaraja from an unreleased movie- a celluloid adaptation of a story by none other than the redoubtable Jayakanthan...
* * * * *
‘Who asked you to believe in me? You must first believe in yourself!’
This was JK’s stern rejoinder when the young Ilaiyaraja, his brother Bhaskar and Bharathiraja visited JK in his house, and told him that they have come to Madras trusting that JK would help them find their moorings. IR had known JK well from the days when he used to accompany his brother Pavalar Varadarajan in his concerts featured in meetings of the Communist Party wherein JK was the star speaker. IR was always an ardent fan of JK and his writing. And now when IR, Bhaskar and Gangaiamaran arrived in Madras in search of livelihood, they thought it appropriate to call on JK. In a recent speech, IR said that it was only in jest that they sought the support of JK, but JK took it seriously, and JK’s words inspired IR to develop self-confidence and motivated him to expand his horizons even further.
In later years, as IR became the monarch of all he surveyed in Tamil film music, he continued to admire JK. IR was among the chief speakers when JK was felicitated on being conferred the Jnanpeeth Award in 2006. In his tribute laced with wit, IR recalled the long years of his association with JK and the experiences of accompanying his brother to conclaves of the Communist Party. IR showered encomiums on JK, and said humbly that to speak on JK, one needs to be a greater genius, which he was not. He even read out a verse in wherein he equated JK with Bhararthi.
IR’s speech on JK:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxWLc9hZ0wU
When IR constituted a literary forum called "Isaignani Ilakkiya Perumandram" in 2007 to encourage Tamil writers, he invited JK to serve as the president of the forum. IR then produced a celluloid tribute to his friend in 2008. The docufilm titled ‘எல்லைகளை விஸ்தாரித்த எழுத்துக்கலைஞன்' was directed by Ravi Subramanian and the haunting background score was composed by IR. In fact, the movie opens with a soulful song sung by IR, even as JK is shown going on an early morning drive.
* * * * *
However, this was not the only instance of IR composing music for a film associated with JK. In the early 80s, B. Lenin sought to craft JK’s ‘எத்தனை கோணம், எத்தனை பார்வை’ on celluloid, and engaged IR to compose the songs for the movie. It is pertinent to note that Lenin’s father Bhimsingh had made brilliant movie adaptations of JK’s ‘சில நேரங்களில் சில மனிதர்கள்’ (1977), ‘ஒரு நடிகை நாடகம் பார்க்கிறாள்' (1978) and ‘கருணை உள்ளம்’ (1978) which had fetched widespread critical acclaim. ‘எத்தனை கோணம், எத்தனை பார்வை’ is said to have been based on ‘காத்திருக்க ஒருத்தி’, a novel that JK had written in 1980. I have not read the novel, but have vague memories of a friend relating the story to me- it seemed to be woven around a woman who takes the bold step of separating from a wayward, alcoholic husband. Interestingly, way back in 1965, JK had written a short story titled ‘எத்தனை கோணம், எத்தனை பார்வை ’, which showed the startlingly varied angles at which different members of a family, and even the man and woman concerned, view a marriage proposal.
The movie never saw the light of the silver screen, though I believe the video cassette of the movie was released a few years later. I have seen the EP record of the movie. The record sleeve showed images of Thyagarajan, Sripriya, Suresh, Nalini and Charuhasan. I have vague memories of Vadivukkarasi being part of the cast as well. The year of manufacture of the record was 1983. JK drafted the screenplay and scripted the dialogues. Lenin must have been disappointed at the movie finding no takers. But years later, in 2001 to be precise, Lenin was in the news again, and this time it was because he had won the National Award for the Best Director for his work in ‘ஊருக்கு 100 பேர்’, adapted from JK’s eponymous novel.
The person who must have been most saddened with ‘எத்தனை கோணம், எத்தனை பார்வை’ proving to be a non-starter is Ilaiyaraja, for he had composed an outstanding set of songs for the movie. However, his labour was not wholly lost, for as its wont Radio Ceylon went to town with the album, and the songs turned out to become quite popular in their time.
IR inserted some scintillating classical songs in the album. 'பாஹிமாம் ஸ்ரீ ராஜராஜேஷ்வரி’ by Yesudas is a veritable feast for learned connoisseurs. Then there are several delectable bits such as ‘கௌரி கல்யாண வைபோகமே’, ‘நிதி சால சுகமா’, ‘கல்லானேயானாலும்’ and soulful bits of aalaaps, all by Yesudas. ‘புகழ் சேர்க்கும் புது வாழ்வு’ accentuates the softer, sentimental side of Malaysia Vasudevan, while ‘நிமிர்ந்த நன்னடை’ has the same Vasu in his usual strident strain. 'என்ன வித்தியாசம்’ is a ditty full of philosophical mischief, rendered by Malaysia Vasudevan & Gangaiamaran. ‘எத்தனை கோணம் எத்தனை பார்வை'’ has Malaysia Vasudevan & Chorus ruminating on the vexatious issues that plague the society and prescribing socialist solutions to the ills. I believe JK had written the lyrics for ‘புகழ் சேர்க்கும்’, ‘என்ன வித்தியாசம்’ and the title song.
Let us listen to the remaining 2 songs from the album. The first is Uthukkaadu Venkata Subbaiyer's
famed ‘அலைபாயுதே கண்ணா’ by Yesudas & S. Janaki set in Kaanada. Shankar-Ganesh had sought inspiration from this ancient composition for setting the tune of the pallavi of ‘ஆசைகளோ கோடி’ by Janaki (அர்த்தங்கள் ஆயிரம்/1981). Years later ARR stuck to the traditional tune when he had to include the hoary composition in ‘அலைபாயுதே’ (2000). The song was sung by Kalyani Menon, Harini and Neyveli Ramalakshmi.
Ilaiyaraja waves his baton, and lo- the violin and flute set the stage for enchantment. The interludes- the first with interesting moments where the Veenai flirts with the Guitar and the second dominated by a bewitching flute are simply ethereal, even as the mridangam provides unobtrusive support all through the song. Yesudas, who keeps singing this song on many a December stage, brings to the fore his impeccable pedigree, while the singular Janaki matches Yesudas valiantly note by note. She soaks her rendition with the tremulous ache of being in love with Lord Krishna.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJtak7kc8Yg
We have next ‘விதைத்த விதை தளிராய் எழுந்து’ a joyous duet of hope, sung by Deepan Chakravarthi & B.S. Sashirekha, with IR at his creative best. This time the maestro’s glance falls on Darbaari Kaanada and he conjures a tune that weaves the nuances of the Raaga as a tantalizing trellis. The prelude and interludes are vintage Ilaiyaraja. The first interlude opens with the guitar, and then the violins make merry with the tabla offering some sedate moments before the guitar and veenai escort the tune to the charanam… The intriguing veenai- guitar dalliance continues in the second interlude as well, while this time it is the flute that beguiles the tune back into the charanam. Lyrics by the birthday boy Gangaiamaran.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKAaQcNwNOs
Discussion at:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1018417744856618/permalink/1810478982317153/
அலைபாயுதே கண்ணா....
In tune with the music season, here is a classical treasure by Ilaiyaraja from an unreleased movie- a celluloid adaptation of a story by none other than the redoubtable Jayakanthan...
* * * * *
‘Who asked you to believe in me? You must first believe in yourself!’
This was JK’s stern rejoinder when the young Ilaiyaraja, his brother Bhaskar and Bharathiraja visited JK in his house, and told him that they have come to Madras trusting that JK would help them find their moorings. IR had known JK well from the days when he used to accompany his brother Pavalar Varadarajan in his concerts featured in meetings of the Communist Party wherein JK was the star speaker. IR was always an ardent fan of JK and his writing. And now when IR, Bhaskar and Gangaiamaran arrived in Madras in search of livelihood, they thought it appropriate to call on JK. In a recent speech, IR said that it was only in jest that they sought the support of JK, but JK took it seriously, and JK’s words inspired IR to develop self-confidence and motivated him to expand his horizons even further.
In later years, as IR became the monarch of all he surveyed in Tamil film music, he continued to admire JK. IR was among the chief speakers when JK was felicitated on being conferred the Jnanpeeth Award in 2006. In his tribute laced with wit, IR recalled the long years of his association with JK and the experiences of accompanying his brother to conclaves of the Communist Party. IR showered encomiums on JK, and said humbly that to speak on JK, one needs to be a greater genius, which he was not. He even read out a verse in wherein he equated JK with Bhararthi.
IR’s speech on JK:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxWLc9hZ0wU
When IR constituted a literary forum called "Isaignani Ilakkiya Perumandram" in 2007 to encourage Tamil writers, he invited JK to serve as the president of the forum. IR then produced a celluloid tribute to his friend in 2008. The docufilm titled ‘எல்லைகளை விஸ்தாரித்த எழுத்துக்கலைஞன்' was directed by Ravi Subramanian and the haunting background score was composed by IR. In fact, the movie opens with a soulful song sung by IR, even as JK is shown going on an early morning drive.
* * * * *
However, this was not the only instance of IR composing music for a film associated with JK. In the early 80s, B. Lenin sought to craft JK’s ‘எத்தனை கோணம், எத்தனை பார்வை’ on celluloid, and engaged IR to compose the songs for the movie. It is pertinent to note that Lenin’s father Bhimsingh had made brilliant movie adaptations of JK’s ‘சில நேரங்களில் சில மனிதர்கள்’ (1977), ‘ஒரு நடிகை நாடகம் பார்க்கிறாள்' (1978) and ‘கருணை உள்ளம்’ (1978) which had fetched widespread critical acclaim. ‘எத்தனை கோணம், எத்தனை பார்வை’ is said to have been based on ‘காத்திருக்க ஒருத்தி’, a novel that JK had written in 1980. I have not read the novel, but have vague memories of a friend relating the story to me- it seemed to be woven around a woman who takes the bold step of separating from a wayward, alcoholic husband. Interestingly, way back in 1965, JK had written a short story titled ‘எத்தனை கோணம், எத்தனை பார்வை ’, which showed the startlingly varied angles at which different members of a family, and even the man and woman concerned, view a marriage proposal.
The person who must have been most saddened with ‘எத்தனை கோணம், எத்தனை பார்வை’ proving to be a non-starter is Ilaiyaraja, for he had composed an outstanding set of songs for the movie. However, his labour was not wholly lost, for as its wont Radio Ceylon went to town with the album, and the songs turned out to become quite popular in their time.
IR inserted some scintillating classical songs in the album. 'பாஹிமாம் ஸ்ரீ ராஜராஜேஷ்வரி’ by Yesudas is a veritable feast for learned connoisseurs. Then there are several delectable bits such as ‘கௌரி கல்யாண வைபோகமே’, ‘நிதி சால சுகமா’, ‘கல்லானேயானாலும்’ and soulful bits of aalaaps, all by Yesudas. ‘புகழ் சேர்க்கும் புது வாழ்வு’ accentuates the softer, sentimental side of Malaysia Vasudevan, while ‘நிமிர்ந்த நன்னடை’ has the same Vasu in his usual strident strain. 'என்ன வித்தியாசம்’ is a ditty full of philosophical mischief, rendered by Malaysia Vasudevan & Gangaiamaran. ‘எத்தனை கோணம் எத்தனை பார்வை'’ has Malaysia Vasudevan & Chorus ruminating on the vexatious issues that plague the society and prescribing socialist solutions to the ills. I believe JK had written the lyrics for ‘புகழ் சேர்க்கும்’, ‘என்ன வித்தியாசம்’ and the title song.
Let us listen to the remaining 2 songs from the album. The first is Uthukkaadu Venkata Subbaiyer's famed ‘அலைபாயுதே கண்ணா’ by Yesudas & S. Janaki set in Kaanada. Shankar-Ganesh had sought inspiration from this ancient composition for setting the tune of the pallavi of ‘ஆசைகளோ கோடி’ by Janaki (அர்த்தங்கள் ஆயிரம்/1981). Years later ARR stuck to the traditional tune when he had to include the hoary composition in ‘அலைபாயுதே’ (2000). The song was sung by Kalyani Menon, Harini and Neyveli Ramalakshmi.
Ilaiyaraja waves his baton, and lo- the violin and flute set the stage for enchantment. The interludes- the first with interesting moments where the Veenai flirts with the Guitar and the second dominated by a bewitching flute are simply ethereal, even as the mridangam provides unobtrusive support all through the song. Yesudas, who keeps singing this song on many a December stage, brings to the fore his impeccable pedigree, while the singular Janaki matches Yesudas valiantly note by note. She soaks her rendition with the tremulous ache of being in love with Lord Krishna.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJtak7kc8Yg
We have next ‘விதைத்த விதை தளிராய் எழுந்து’ a joyous duet of hope, sung by Deepan Chakravarthi & B.S. Sashirekha, with IR at his creative best. This time the maestro’s glance falls on Darbaari Kaanada and he conjures a tune that weaves the nuances of the Raaga as a tantalizing trellis. The prelude and interludes are vintage Ilaiyaraja. The first interlude opens with the guitar, and then the violins make merry with the tabla offering some sedate moments before the guitar and veenai escort the tune to the charanam… The intriguing veenai- guitar dalliance continues in the second interlude as well, while this time it is the flute that beguiles the tune back into the charanam. Lyrics by the birthday boy Gangaiamaran.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKAaQcNwNOs
Discussion at:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1018417744856618/permalink/1810478982317153/
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