Tribute to MSV – Part IV

K.Pradeep in The Hindu dated 17^th July, writes an interesting incident.  Once, when MSV’s music was censured for being imitations of popular Hindi film tunes.  This happened when Kalai kOvil (1964) was released.  A journalist wrote with examples of the Hindi tunes that Vishwanathan Ramamurthy team had used in various films.

But, MSV’s response was so measured and frank.  He said that one thing is born out of another and that while Naushad and others like him were true composers, he was just a music creator.  He had no qualms in accepting and acknowledging his sources of inspiration, - mentions B.Vijaykumar, film historian.

Randor Guy writes in Hindu about Bilakshan-i-Todi- This is the rare raga which was untouched by even Hindustani musicians in films.  But MSV did few songs viz.,

padathAnE - Nichaya Thamboolam

Thereydu- Pasam

Satti suttatdada- Alayamani.

Though there is a separate website for MSV and his songs are preserved.  They will remain and enlighten many fans like me.  Youtube is always there to view those beautiful songs.  But Why then the lump in the throat ?  the choked feeling ?  that despair in the heart ?  some one very dear in your life had gone, though you have not even met him ?  

Because with him, has gone yet another part of the life of a generation, which laughed with him and cried with him even as his baton tirelessly wove magic for all those matinee idols with whom the mass identified itself.

Another writer echoed my views saying “It is nearly 30 years since MSV receded to the background from active composing to be precise.  But what an amazing outpouring of grief admiration and nostalgia his demise has created ?

His song “india Nadu, en VEEDu” from Bharatha VilAs is tough desi competition for VandE mAtaram of AR Rahman.

A melody like “Tannilavu ThEniraikka” from padithal mattum pOdhuma by P Susheela is like honey in your ears and how a female’s feelings are beautifully portrayed by Kannadasan and MSV due ?

So many duet songs for MGR and Sivaji were there. It was a long list and endless too.  But, there are two songs of MGR which swing my heart- oh my God”  type

Kumara pennin ullathile – Enga veetu pillai

Chandrodhayam oru pennanatho- Chandrodhyam.

Let us take two songs from Shivaji film

amathiyAna nadhiyinilE- andavan kattalai

madi meedhu thalai vaithu- Annai illam

All famous “neerarum kadalutha” – anthem- MSV will forever be part of the Tamil psyche.  He has been conferred  Isai peraringnar title by Tamil isai sangam, which is usually conferred on professional carnatic musician.

Tribute to MSV Part III

Tribute to MSV- Part III

“When the mind stills and becomes te music that it hears, when the heart recognizes that it has heard its soul mate, then you know it is MSV”- writes Ramesh vinayagam in The Hindu.

He has the greatest of them all. Original, versatile, innovative and prolific. He is a mystery.  How could he invent those exquisite melodies, those thousands of songs ?  How could he get into the minds of all the characters and sing like they would ?  How could the he make all those who heard the songs feel as if it were their own ?.  MSV was a boon to the Directors, a challenge to the singers, a friend to the lyricists, a revelation to the orchestra and above all else, a king to the people. So innovative, was he that he would just start with a raga and then change its course at will only to make it sweeter.

For example, MuthukkalO kangal begins like Madhyamavathi and somewhere along the way sounds like Darbari.  He was also expert in creating tunes devoid of a classical slant such as “Yengiruntho asaigal” or rock and roll “Viswanathan vElai vEndum.  His “laughter song”- “Sirippil undAgum” and a typical MGR  song “Pudhiya VAnam”

To me, he was a great psychologist- who knew his characters upside down and inside out. His real genius lay in the fact that he never composed anything which his characters would not sing  He never showed off his musicianship,

Can there ever be a more poignant song than “Kalamithu kAlamithu” or “Malai pozuthin”.   Can devastation be expressed more poignantly than in “Enge nimmathi”, “Yaar andha nilavu”  ?  What about “ilakknam marutho” or “Nalam nalam thirunalam” ?

Even today, these melodies stir emotions deep wihin us.  I realize he has created beautiful music that expresses every human emotion.

His creativity par takes, even with a whistle sound/humming can change the mood of the song.  Let me give you some of the songs :

NenjathilE nEE nerru vandhai – Shanthi-  Whistle sound

Ennirandu pathinaru vayasu- Annai illam- LR Easwari’s beautiful humming. It will take you a beautiful heaven.

Kallellam mAnikka-Alaya mani- beginning voice of LR Easwari will outshine the TMS voice followed.

Velli kinnamthan- Uyarntha manidhan-P.Susheela, rare background humming voice. What a beauty it is ?

To be continued.