மலர்ந்தும் மலராதவை # 14

மலர்ந்தும் மலராதவை # 14:

வானிலே எந்த நாளும் ஆனந்த சூரியோதயம்....

I’ve often wondered about this film 'Anu'. I honestly don’t know if it was ever released, for I have seen it (twice!) on Podhigai TV. And though the certificate of censor showed the year as 1982, I strongly suspect that it was already some years since the film was made. Perhaps it was destined only for a belated TV release (‘திரைக்கே வராத’ in Sun TV jargon)?

The film was produced by T.R.M. Sukumaran, the son of the T.R.Mahalingam, under the banner T.R.M. Creations. (Sukumaran had also jointly produced மற்றவை நேரில்). 'Anu' was scripted by ‘Vietnam Veedu’ Sundaram and directed by P.N. Menon. Jayadevi played the protagonist Anu; the lacklustre cast included a newcomer Raja, Hariprasad (who acted in நட்சத்திரம்), SSR Rajendrakumar, Rani Padmini and Anumanthu.

The story was of the affluent Anu falling in the love with the poor and principled Ramu, and marrying him with her father’s reluctant approval. Ramu’ s large family (numerous siblings, irresponsible father…) looks at her with initial mistrust, but soon enough, she wins them over with her warmth, simplicity and affection. Tragedy strikes early when Ramu succumbs to a sudden illness. Though benumbed by this irredeemable loss, Anu refuses resolutely to return to her father. She stays on in Raja’s house; gently guiding the hapless family find its moorings.

MSV had whipped up a delectable duet, served in style by SPB & Vani: ‘சந்தனக்காட்டினில் மல்லிகைப்பூத்தது’. SPB and Vani have a natty albeit naughty duet as well: ‘நெனச்சது அப்போது’. ‘வானிலே எந்த நாளும்’ has a pathos version beginning with ‘சிரிக்கும் வாழைத்தோட்டங்களில்’ sung by Savitri, the daughter of T.R.Mahalingam. Savitri was earlier heard setting the stage for KJY’s enchantment to commence in the famed ‘காஞ்சிப்பட்டுடுத்தி’ (வயசுப்பொண்ணு) and following Janaki’s lead in the singular classical treat ‘அழகியப்பெண்னொரு சங்கீதம்’ (இவர்கள் வித்தியாசமானவர்கள்).

* * * *

“இந்தப்பாட்டு.... இது எந்தப்படம் ? ” asked a delighted but perplexed Vani ji when I played this song over the phone. And as I teasingly maintained silence, she laughed and added ruminatively: “It is so beautiful…Aahaa….MSV sir’s tune, definitely. It has MSV written all over it!” When I finally told her about the film, she could recollect it. She too felt that it was never released and added that ‘Vietnam Veedu’ Sundaram named it Anu after his daughter.

'வானிலே எந்த நாளும்' was popularised by Radio Ceylon, securing a regular berth in the Pongum Poompunal parade. The song finds place in the aftermath of Anu’s marriage with Ramu, and Kannadasan fills his lines with the euphoric moments of marital bliss. Content with creating a tune that verily serenades the soaring joys of a newly married girl, MSV leaves the rest to Vani. And as for Vani…oh, her singing surges with this rapturous repletion, and then adds on for good measure fervent hopes for this bliss to continue unabated. If she preens herself smugly in 'நாளெல்லாம் மணவிழா, வாழ்வெல்லாம் திருவிழா’, she is a picture of impassioned prayer in ‘அரசன் போன்ற என்ற நாயகன் அதிக காலம் வாழ்வாரென்று இறைவன் அருளைச்சொல்லுங்களேன்’; and if she is the bashful damsel singing of new found pleasures in 'சிவந்த கன்னம் பாலூறவும், கனிந்த வாயில் தேனூறவும் …’ (that hushed ‘சொர்கங்களே’ hints at so many unsaid delights!), she is the serene epitome of domestic happiness in Kannadasan’s wonderful lines 'ஒளியின் மேன்மை தீபத்திலே...தீப மேன்மை தெய்வத்திலே...தெய்வ மேன்மை கோயிலிலே...கோயில் மேன்மை குடும்பத்திலே.....’ .

This song was surely made for a kinder destiny!

Here is the audio link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnXrPNj-puQ

And the video (the song is followed by the short pathos version by Savitri):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIRXOuKJSVc

Discussion at:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1018417744856618/permalink/1838704609494590/