"MSV CLUB" - The Discussion Forum of MSVTimes.com

[Sriram Kannan]

This is my favorite and first pick, when people challenge me to show a folk song of our EMPERORs. Though there are many of them, I choose this because of the time the song was recorded, the length (SEVEN minutes, one of the longest I have encountered), the excellence and knowledge of the composer portrayed throughout the song. The variety of percussion instruments used, the effectiveness of the chorus and the marvellous orchestration is a straightforward proof for the EMPERORs' reign over all the musical empires. Also, this was one of the songs that became the footsteps for my addiction. I also had an opportunity to watch this song in a "Then Kinnam" programme (Thanks a ton to Jaya TV!!! Rather than copying shows from Hindi channels, our TVs can copy this programme, instead of relaying the usual repeats of old songs). The richness of the music was then clearly visible watching the song. I am very confident, the imagination of picturisation of this song would have come to the director only after hearing to the music. But, how the idea sprang on the minds of the great composer ? A Mystery....

Another diamond in the range of "Pa" series movies, "Baaga Pirivinai" broke the rules of a hero definition. Sivaji's portrayal of the physically challenged character would make anyone cry. (Unfortunately, Shivaji acted in matured roles in his early times that had a better scope of acting. His later period turned out to be a series of failures, despite few movies). "Thaazhayaam Poo Mudichu" and "Thangithile oru kurai irunthaalum" turned out to be the champions. But, the technical expertise of our EMPERORs in recording folk songs is well exposed in this. (Another example would be "Megam Karukuthadi" from "Thanneer Thanner". Bharathiraja expressed his wonder about our EMPEROR in the centenary celebration of the movie).

TMS and P.Leela pairs in this song, with an excellent chorus used, that creates an atmosphere of "Oyilaattam" in front of us. PS : Associate music director for this movie is the great violinist, G.S.Mani.

Thavil and tambourine (the metals attached in the instrument mimicking the "salangai" of the dancers) opens the song, a thunderous opening of a show, with udukkai at equal intervals. Nadaswaram joins the group then, thavil in the background producing a mesmerizing beat. The male chorus joins along in a high pitch, an opening before the singer. The violins begin after the chorus, flows along fast, the thavil moving faster too before TMS starts in a raised pitch. Now, the male and the female chorus is used after every line of the introduction called as "thogayara". The usage of chorus and the instruments here is very good.

TMS : Paalootri uzhavu seivaar

Male chorus : uzhavu seivaar

Thavil and udukkai gives a quick beat

Female chorus : (aaaa) raising up

violins moving down, after them

TMS : Pani pol vidhai naduvaar

The same pattern followed.

PL : Mambazhathu chaar eduthu vayalukku uramiduvaar

Male and Female chorus : uramiduvaar

TMS : Then paaya nel vilayum thenpaandi naatiniley

Male chorus

Thavil and udukkai in a long beat

Here the actual song begins with TMS starting "Therodum Enga Seeraana Maduraiyile oorargal kondadum oyilaattam", the percussions starting from the word "oyilaattam". The music moves like the way the dancers place rhythmic intricate steps. After every line finished by TMS, male chorus repeats, and female chorus does the same after PL, nadaswaram enveloping each line at the end. The nadaswaram and percussions repeat the lines again, the rhythm lingering in our thoughts even after the song gets over. TMS paces up now with "Thandai Silambugal" along with the chorus and tabla entering the song, but when coming back to pallavi, there is a sudden slowing down for a moment at "therodum" with instruments stopping, regaining at "enga", followed by chorus and percussions.This slowing down is too good that when the instruments start from "enga" again, the audience gets the whole impact of the dancing. PL paces up too at "Chinna chirusugal", and slows down at "neerodum".

The first interlude begins with the array of violins with tabla and tambourine background, flute continuing it, taken back by violin and then to nadaswaram, udukkai in a quick run before it. Nadaswaram opens in a higher pitch along with "Kombu", the background changes to thavil, tambourine and claps this time.

The first charanam opens with TMS starting "Chithirai Maadham muthukkal vithu", the male chorus accompanying at the end of the line. PL sings the next line, followed by the female chorus. PL starts again with "chinna chirusugal". Until the pallavi "neerodum", tabla forms the background of the charanam, matching the singers and the chorus movements.

The second interlude is again the same flow as the first one, but with whistling sounds long with nadaswaram. TMS starts the second charanam again, followed by PL and chorus. This time, TMS paces with "Thandai silambugal" until "therodum".

The climax is reached by the quickening up of the percussions and claps, and the singers and chorus with perfect synchronization, the music raising and taken to maximum, and a final slow down at "Therodum".

Therefore, a perfect folk song had been recorded successfully, long before the "era of folk" began as now told by the newcomers. Even after the begining of the era, none could match the effect, our EMPERORs make us experience in these seven minutes.
_________________
Thanks and Regards,
Sriram Kannan.

Follow me at http://bibliomaniac-moviefanatic.blogspot.com/

[tvvraghavan]

Dear SK
This is indeed an out-of-the world composition and your write-up clearly explains the extent to which u have enjoyed every bit of this song. Just to add some more info, the voice that follows TMS' repeating the first line "PALOOTRI UZHAVU SEIVAAR..." and the second line is none other than the associate MD G.S.Mani.

Great write-up !!! Keep up the work !!

MSV Rules !!!
Venkat.

[Baskar CS]

in any aspect it is a an excellent song and today any musician somehow starts and has the urge to finish it fast but in this case such a lenghty song had been composed .

waht a coordination ,understanding and harmony had prevailed .

you cannot imagine such thing in today world of muisc where they send their THINKING OR NOTATION in soundfile .

[s ramaswamy]

Hi,

My favourite Pa series movie with some great acting from all players. And this song is the pick of several nos. The percussion accompaniment in this song is outstanding. MSV must have used all his experience of his native Kerala (Chendai, panchavaadyam etc) to infuse life to this wonderful no. Another winner from VR and TMS-leela pairs.

In fact the picturisation of this song and the subsequent interaction between Sivaji and "Singapooran" M R Radha, their first of many more in the rest of the movie, should be singled out for praise. Great outdoor no.
Tks for picking this song to write about.

This outstanding no. by VR clearly shows that they were masters of this genre of songs too.

Ramaswamy