மலர்ந்தும் மலராதவை # 7

Saravanan Natarajan writes:

மலர்ந்தும் மலராதவை # 7:

ஒரு மானைத்தேடுது மான்விழி....

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In the past weeks, songs composed by Gangaiamaran from the unreleased movies ‘மலர்களிலே அவள் மல்லிகை’, 'வலம்புரிச்சங்கு' and ‘தேநீர் ’ had been featured in this series. 'வேலியில்லா மாமரம்' seems to be another project with music by Gangaiamaran that was abandoned midway. I have no clue as to the cast and crew, but memories lingered on of listening to this bewitching song on Radio Ceylon’s Mandha Maarutham during my schooldays in the 80s.

The song disappeared gradually in the swirling mists of time. In the early 90s, no one in any of the recording centers in Madras had even heard of the movie or the songs. And during my articleship period that took me to far flung corners of the state, this song was always in my list when I chanced upon recording centers. My search for this song was long and arduous and yet, I would not give up. Surely, someone besides me would remember this song!

Finally, it was at an obscure little audio center in a place called Bhavani, near Erode, that I struck gold. On a sultry Saturday afternoon, the youngster manning the center allowed me a free hand to search through the heaps of grimy vinyl records stacked on shelves…shelves that were fitted from the floor to the ceiling. I found therein many elusive albums that had long been on my wish list, and the icing on the cake was an unobtrusive record without a cover, with the title ‘வேலியில்லா மாமரம்’. The date of manufacture was 1980.

‘சார், இந்த ப்ளேட்டெல்லாம் வருஷக்கணக்கா யாரும் தொட்டதில்ல... ' the youngster grumbled as he took the records I had picked. He was about to state some excuse for being unable to cater to my request, but a plea in my eyes must have made him relent. We both indulged in a sneezing duet as he wiped the dust off each of them and recorded the songs into audio tapes for me.

The வேலியில்லா மாமரம் album consisted of 5 songs: ‘வேலியில்லா மாமரத்தில் வந்ததம்மா இந்தக்கனி', which has a soulful Vani accompanied by Gangaiamaran himself; ‘ஏலே ஏலேலங்கிளியே' - a rustic rhapsody by Janaki; ‘ சிக்கிச்சிக்கா சிக்காச்சிக்கா', where a breezy Vani impresses despite the inane lyrics; ‘ஆரம்பமே வெகு சுகமா’ – a joyous Jayachandran/Janaki duet; and ‘ஒரு மானைத்தேடுது மான்விழி’.

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The very mention of Ashok would bring to remembrance the title track of ஒரு விடுகதை ஒரு தொடர்கதை, wherein he made a dazzling debut, managing to hold court despite making a late entry in the 3rd Act after SPB and Janaki have had their say. In the following years, he showed promise in the few songs that came his way, like the exuberant ‘பூச்சூடி பொட்டும் வெச்சு’ (from another unreleased film- பொன்னி, music again by Gangaiamaran) and the haunting ‘காற்றே யாழ் மீட்டு’ (from மஞ்சள் நிலா, Music by Ilaiyaraja).

Unfortunately for him, his songs failed to elicit notice. And Ashok found himself fading into oblivion; just another entry in the remorseless list that includes names like M.C.Balu, Ramesh, Raj Seetharaman, Brahmanandam… singers who engaged our attention for a brief while, and then slipped unobtrusively far into the dusty rear shelves of Tamil Film Music archives…

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How I wish Kozhi Koovudhu didn’t fare as well as it did! For then the wretched Gangai Amaran might have not have been led into distracting pretensions, and would have attended assiduously to his true calling; Tamil film music would have been undoubtedly richer today had that happened. And GA could have passionately nurtured and honed his innate music skills, and would have probably emerged as a prolific composer, gifted as he was with some refreshingly inventive perceptions.

Dismiss the innocuous chorus voices, observe the uncluttered progression of the prelude; hark at the obscure Ashok usher in the enchantment, with the remarkable Janaki adding to the allure, and the dream-laden, cuddlesome charanam that engulfs you caressingly in its flow; let this wondrous Valaji soak in…. a simple and scintillating sample from GA’s enviable repertoire.

Song: Oru maanai theduthu
Film: Veliyilla Maamaram (unreleased)
Vocals: M. Ashok & S. Janaki
Lyrics & Music: Gangaiamaran

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_N6UAJKCuk

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