Conversations with M.S.V - Part II

[bb]

Conversations with M.S.V - Part II

Here is the second part of Sriram Lakshman's conversations with MSV.


http://dhool.com/msv/index.html#two

[KITKAT]

The wait was long but you did not disappoint. Very well done SL. Another feather in Dhools cap.

[vijay]

SL, reading your writeup created the feeling of being there when all that happened. Asking the composer about raga-based tunes was very interesting and you seem to have touched upon points which our so-called journalists often miss while interviewing MDs. No stereotypical questions, just a casual conversation that reveals a lot. Keep writing.

[vijay]

I guess you can probably "nail" MSV on intentional choice of raga for a song if you ask him about Adhisaya raagam :-) In case you already did that, am eager to know what the reply was.

[haris]

Great Interview. I wonder why you did not audio tape the interview?

[SL]

Vijay, did not ask him about 'athisaya rAgam' because he had given the answer for that in a TV interview. It went something like.....KB had requested MSV for a tune based on a raga never used before. MSV bumped into Dr. BMK in AIR and communicated his predicament. BMK it seems responded stating that mahathi, his own creation could be a choice. Mahathi is a derivative of Harikambhoji mela kartha with only 4 swarams. This went against the 'Minimum 5 swarams' scheme and a verbal battle ensued between BMK and Veena S Balachander. athisaya ragam is a wholesome melody using 4 swarams and has traces of valaji. Lisen to the sitar pieces in the first BGM, followed by spurts of violin, flute and the sitar piece handover to the charanam. Lot of Valaji in it !!!!

Next time around, when he mentions his closeness to RD Burman, I will ask him about RDB using in Shaan, the core piece of the BGM in 'Ayirathhil oruvan' :)

One more area untouched, whenever he used ragas like Sivaranjani, the real face of Sivaranjani (that we wouldnt like to see, thanks for Laxmikanth Pyarelals, SA Rajkumars and Bharadwajs) remained suppressed. If ARR has re-tuned 'uthharavindi uLLE vA', we know what inspired him to use Sivaranjani for 'kaNNum kaNNum koLLai adithhAl'. Apart from 'uthharavindri uLLE vA' (which I thought was a masterful composition), enna vEgam nillu bhAma, poovA thalayA pOttA theriyum are songs which disfigure the true Sivaranjani (as mankind knows it).

[vijay]

SL, that was interesting. I have never imagined Sivaranjani for Uththaravindri uLLE vaa although I had heard it several times. Just never struck me, especially the pallavi portion. (BTW, in which song did ARR retune Utharavindri uLLE vaa or did I interpret your comment wrongly?)
My earliest revelation of this side of MSV was "namma ooru singaari" where he had used veena pieces laid over a rock'n'roll kind of rhythm in the preludes/interludes. Once again the scale, Hindolam(or Sudhdha dhanyaasi?)
was never foremost in mind when I heard that song. A freaky number.

[rags]

Vijay,
I guess SL is talking about the song in NEW movie(SJ Surya and Simaran).

[Murali Venkatraman]

SL - kalaks PBS, SPB maadhiri ellaama paadi kaamichcheera ? :)

[raja m]

Wonderful write-up SL; as vijay had mentioned, felt like sitting and listening to MSV in the flesh. When you meet him next time, try to get more info on his interactions with RDB and mutual influences. So when is the next installment ?

[rajaG]

From rajaG-

SL,

In the company of these extraordinary mortals, you have a rightful place too. I love your writing style; I hate that I have to wait (again) for a few more months before the next instalment :-)

Of course, laziness a paththi polambaradhukku enakku vakkillai nnu bb, Udhaya, MS, ivaa ellaam muNumuNukkaradhu en kaadhula kEkkaradhu.

[Saravanan]

Great going, SL!

[rajeshkrv]

Gr8 sriram..

expecting more

[sathyakabali]

Hi SL,

Great write up! Waiting for the next part!

[Audio Please]

SL, Atleast next time please see if you can provide audio of your conversation with the great MD.

[vengayam]

Good show SL, Also ask him why the musical score for his home productions were always below par? So typical of the man - mathavangallukku nalla tune koduthu vittu thanakku sadha tune pothum enru ninaithaara? ( amara kaviyam, mangalla vaathiyam et al)

[Karthi]

SL, I am waiting for MSV's recollection of Karnan songs. It is indeed surprising to know Pattathu Rani's tune was composed first! I am eager to know his indepth comments on PS since she's the one who sang most of his songs, could you try that, please! I also would like to hear his comments on the song Ennai Eduthu (padagotti).

[rajaG]

SL,

Would it be possible to ask MSV why he chose PS for most of his female lead songs? andha amma fantastic singer thaan. aanaa andha aLavukku chance kudukkalainnaa indha Karthi Oda rOdhanaiya innikku naama kEttirukka vEndaamE?

innoNNum kELungO. PS paadarchchEy (padaththa paakkaamalEyE) indha paattu Devika pachcha color pudavai kattindu thaazhamboo vachchundu kaal la adi pattadhaala konjam vindhi vindhi nadandhu vara scene nu namakku ellaam theLLantheLivaa theriyaradhE - recording paNrachchEy MSV kkum adhu therinjudhaa nnu engaLa madhiri saadhaaraNa paamara janangaLukku theriyaNum.

[rajaG]

Karthi-

All this mentioned assuming that you are "The Karthi". If you are not, sorry for the dig :-)

[SL]

RajaG,
Karthi would expect you to apologize even if he is "The Karthi" :)

[rajaG]

Karthi-

All this mentioned assuming that you are "The Karthi". If you are not, sorry for the dig :-)

[Ramachandran]

I would have been happy if we had an audio clippings of the interview

[Viv Richards]

Why this thread is stopped totally ?

SL, did you meet Mellisai Mannar after episode II ?

Pl narrate everything to us before MSV loses his remaining memory powers :cry:

Besides, can we have the list of his movies ?


S.Balaji

[virgoram]

Dear Sriram
It is unfortunate that the enitire world has forgotten the contributions
of T.K.Ramamurthi for all the soul hauting songs of viswanathan Ramamurthi songs. His contribution of ragas base songs were too many and it is unfair to ask ONLY to M.S.Viswanathan. I met both of them many
times and knows well how both used to compose a song. TKR told me that
he will play violin while the tune was initiated in Harmoniam by MSV which
will be flat and the tune will become so meloncholy with the improvisation
and in some place with the addition and orchastration. Please here carefully the MSV songs and Viswanathan Ramamuthi songs. You will find
miles of differance. Unfortunatly know one has botherd to go in detail which iam at it from the day they seperated.In fact I did compose a film
just in a despertion for their seperation and I could not continue as I left the counrty for more than 12 years. Ramamurthi is very strong in Rythem
and orchestration and soul touching notes example: Paruvam enathu Padal, Unnai Naan Santhithen ( Ayirathil Oruvan) Kannukku Kulam Ethu,
Ennuyir Thozhi, Ullathil Nalla, Nilavum Malarum (Karnan) Mannavane
Azalama (karpagam) Pavazha Kodiyile Muthukkal Koorthal Panampadaithavan) like this almost hundreds of their songs his contribution is their and no one acknowlege this fact is Typical Indian Quality. Sajjad Hussain is the ONLY music Director composed every note
original says Anil Biswas,.. Ustad ki Ustad by Naushad. I happen to here his songs last week and I vouch I will not here any other Music Director
other than the Soul Piercing ORIGINAL new notes of SAJJAD HUSSAIN.
msv never acknowledges TKR contributions. It is Sad and exsits with
every Indian Blood.
R.Ram Murthi