மலர்ந்தும் மலராதவை # 16
தலைவா…..இனி நான் உன்னிடத்தில்....
January 7 will always be a sad day for Tamil film music lovers, for it was on this day in 1996 that an unassuming melody maker made his exit from this world…an uncaring world that neither recognized his prodigious talents nor utilized his genius adequately. I believe he would have found peace at the feet of the Lord, the peace that eluded him this world of the ingrates and the treacherous, the fraudulent and the envious. One afternoon in July 2016, when Suresh Kumar narrated to me the sequence of events in the last day of his father the great V. Kumar, I couldn’t help my eyes moistening. I could picture vividly the last moments his father, and the irredeemable loss and anguish of Smt. Swarna and the young Suresh.
Today, in this series of obscure gems from unreleased movies, let us honour the memory of the ‘மெல்லிசை மாமணி’ by listening to two songs that he composed for ‘அவள் ஒரு காவியம்’, a Black & White movie that was made in 1979. After years of hibernation in the cans, the movie was released in a few centers in 1983. It was sent back to resume its hibernation without much ado. Much later it did a few desultory rounds on TV.
‘அவள் ஒரு காவியம்’ (Sri Sivalaya Films) was one of numerous movies made by the prolific Durai in the late 70s and early 80s. True, many of them did bite the dust at the hustings, but there was always a novel perspective, some heartwarming characterizations, striking performances and startling twists in his narrative.
The ‘அவள்’ in ‘அவள் ஒரு காவியம்’ refers to the majestic role played by Savitri, in one of her last appearances in Tamil Cinema. The great ‘நடிகையர் திலகம்’ was moving unwaveringly towards hastening her own end in the late 70s. Separated from the love of her life and chased by mounting debts caused by venturing into film-making, she had sold off her palatial house in Habibullah Road and moved to a small house in Anna Nagar with her son. Avaricious relatives and unscrupulous ‘advisors’ had been plundering her hard- earned wealth and properties for many years. Seeking solace in drink and plagued by ill-health, an emaciated Savitri continued to accept the offers that came her way. Nonetheless, she never failed to make a mark in each of these appearances- notwithstanding their insignificance.
Here, Savitri essayed the role of the benevolent Parvathi Ammal, who is a patron of many a home for
destitute women. She takes the courageous step of getting her only son Sathyan married to Vani, one of the inmates of the home who had been a victim of abuse by her employer. When Sathyan comes to know the history of Vani, he keeps away from her and wants to start life afresh with his collegemate Geetha. How Sathyan undergoes a change of heart when the truth of his own parentage is revealed forms the riveting climax marked by a brilliant display of the famed histrionics of the great ‘நடிகையர் திலகம்’.
Leaving aside the club dance song 'தேனான நேரமிது' by L.R. Eswari, two lovely songs composed by V. Kumar were picked from obscurity by the solicitous Radio Ceylon, nurtured with care and aired with deserving pride.
The first is a song that to me sounds to be patterned on the lines of an immortal composition of his beloved MSV, most probably on the request of Durai. Kannadasan pens this paean to his favourite Lord Krishna, his lines flow in felicity expressing the tremulous gratitude of a hapless girl who has found a tranquil sanctuary. P. Susheela, Kumar’s anointed Diva, invests in the song the sedate soulfulness that it demands. Her velvety sheen brings in glittering appeal to the beautiful composition- ‘கிருஷ்ணப்பிரபு உன்னிடம் குடி கொண்டேன்’:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SN3YBTmSSA
The other is a mesmerizing duet that sadly seems edited even out of the version of the movie available in YouTube. I could not to let this jewel crafted by loving care by Kumar continue to teeter in oblivion, hence have uploaded the audio from my collection. Jayachandran and Susheela ushering in a million joys in ‘கோடி இன்பங்கள் தேடும் உள்ளங்கள்’. Lyrics by Alangudi Somu. Kumar in his enchanting elements....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSEfU6zI3LU&feature=youtu.be
Discussion at:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1018417744856618/permalink/1845068542191530/
தலைவா…..இனி நான் உன்னிடத்தில்....
January 7 will always be a sad day for Tamil film music lovers, for it was on this day in 1996 that an unassuming melody maker made his exit from this world…an uncaring world that neither recognized his prodigious talents nor utilized his genius adequately. I believe he would have found peace at the feet of the Lord, the peace that eluded him this world of the ingrates and the treacherous, the fraudulent and the envious. One afternoon in July 2016, when Suresh Kumar narrated to me the sequence of events in the last day of his father the great V. Kumar, I couldn’t help my eyes moistening. I could picture vividly the last moments his father, and the irredeemable loss and anguish of Smt. Swarna and the young Suresh.
‘அவள் ஒரு காவியம்’ (Sri Sivalaya Films) was one of numerous movies made by the prolific Durai in the late 70s and early 80s. True, many of them did bite the dust at the hustings, but there was always a novel perspective, some heartwarming characterizations, striking performances and startling twists in his narrative.
The ‘அவள்’ in ‘அவள் ஒரு காவியம்’ refers to the majestic role played by Savitri, in one of her last appearances in Tamil Cinema. The great ‘நடிகையர் திலகம்’ was moving unwaveringly towards hastening her own end in the late 70s. Separated from the love of her life and chased by mounting debts caused by venturing into film-making, she had sold off her palatial house in Habibullah Road and moved to a small house in Anna Nagar with her son. Avaricious relatives and unscrupulous ‘advisors’ had been plundering her hard- earned wealth and properties for many years. Seeking solace in drink and plagued by ill-health, an emaciated Savitri continued to accept the offers that came her way. Nonetheless, she never failed to make a mark in each of these appearances- notwithstanding their insignificance.
Here, Savitri essayed the role of the benevolent Parvathi Ammal, who is a patron of many a home for
Leaving aside the club dance song 'தேனான நேரமிது' by L.R. Eswari, two lovely songs composed by V. Kumar were picked from obscurity by the solicitous Radio Ceylon, nurtured with care and aired with deserving pride.
The first is a song that to me sounds to be patterned on the lines of an immortal composition of his beloved MSV, most probably on the request of Durai. Kannadasan pens this paean to his favourite Lord Krishna, his lines flow in felicity expressing the tremulous gratitude of a hapless girl who has found a tranquil sanctuary. P. Susheela, Kumar’s anointed Diva, invests in the song the sedate soulfulness that it demands. Her velvety sheen brings in glittering appeal to the beautiful composition- ‘கிருஷ்ணப்பிரபு உன்னிடம் குடி கொண்டேன்’:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SN3YBTmSSA
The other is a mesmerizing duet that sadly seems edited even out of the version of the movie available in YouTube. I could not to let this jewel crafted by loving care by Kumar continue to teeter in oblivion, hence have uploaded the audio from my collection. Jayachandran and Susheela ushering in a million joys in ‘கோடி இன்பங்கள் தேடும் உள்ளங்கள்’. Lyrics by Alangudi Somu. Kumar in his enchanting elements....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSEfU6zI3LU&feature=youtu.be
Discussion at:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1018417744856618/permalink/1845068542191530/
No comments:
Post a Comment