SOTD #580: Oh Nenje from Darling Darling Darling

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Song of the Day: Oh Nenje from Darling Darling Darling.

http://www.dhool.com/sotd2/580.html

- Sabarivasan writes:

This movie came at a time when Bhagyaraj made some enjoyable movies. I love the element of comedy in almost all his movies of that time. He had original ideas and a distinct style of his own. He was very good at making movies with real substance. A lot of his movies had powerful dialogues. Even though he never had elaborate sets, etc the music in his movies were of good quality. Even though it is tempting to attribute that to the music directors he employed like IR, MSV,etc, I think the more important reason is that he knows a lot about music. A director who knows and pays importance to music goes a long way in making the songs in a movie more effective both by giving creative input and ofcourse in picturization. A lot of good songs from KB movies come to mind: Thamthana Thamthana, Vaan Megangale from Puthiya Varpugal (IR), Velakku Vecha, Andhi Varum Neram & Aariraro from Mundaanai Mudichu (IR), Thanga Sangili, Yerikkarai Poongatrae from Thooral Ninnu Pochu (IR), Sapthaswara Devi Unaru and Thendraladhu Unnidathil from Andha 7 Naatkal (MSV) beautifully rendered by Jayachandran (aptly chosen because of his Paalakadu-based character in the movie – another point in favor of a director who pays extra attention to the music). Daddy Daddy from Mouna Raagangal (IR) featuring Janaki’s voice as the kid is worth mentioning here. I think the best song in all his movies is the haunting Boopalam Isaikkum from Thooral Ninnu Pochu (IR) which has featured in SOTD before (http://www.dhool.com/sotd2/527.html). I am sure I am missing a lot of his songs. Feel free to add to this list.

KB also tried his hand at Hindi movies: Aakhree Raasta, Mr. Bechara and Papa the Great.

KB has scored the music himself for atleast two of his movies: Idhu Namma Aalu and Enga Chinna Raasa. These songs are not bad at all and show off his skills in creating a melody-based song (Ammadi Idhu Dhaan Kaadhala), a song with a classical touch (Sangeetham Paada) which makes me laugh whenever I hear it because of the comedy track, a “colorful” song (Naan Aalana Thaamarai) and a “Rajini-type introduction” song (Pachai Malai Saami Onnu) which he renders himself: horribly I might add.

Now that we have got the Bhagyaraj introduction of the way, let us talk about the movie at hand, Darling Darling. Another good quality movie with a particularly hilarious comedy track. I will never forget the scene where KB’s father hands out checks for Rs. 3 to the ‘kaikarikkaari’. This movie also featured his assistant Pandiyarajan in a very small role. Ofcourse Pandiyarajan also went on to make some successful movies of his own, Aan Paavam being notable. I know that K. Bhagyaraj was married to Poornima. Did they fall in love during the making of this movie?

I chose this song because of many reasons:
- Shankar Ganesh’s music. SG has chosen, for a sad song, a dance-based rhythm with guitar for this song’s pallavi. Even though other composers have done that, that is one of the most noticable things about this song.
- SPB’s soulful rendering: SPB has sung this song well within himself without giving too many kamakas.
- Lyrics: Very good lyrics by Kuruvikkarambai Shanmugam. I will give the notable lines as we listen along.
- Mood of the song: The primary emotion in this song is obviously sadness. Poornima and her friends ask KB to sing a song. KB uses this an opportunity and pours his heart out in this song. Not a bad situation to compose a song on at all.

SG goes very aptly for the simplest possible start to the song with SPB singing the beautiful lines:

Oh Nenje nee dhaan paadum geethangal
Guitar chords
Yenindru neer mel aadum deepangal
Guitar chords

The 2nd time SPB is accompanied by the dance rhythm I talked about earlier.

I loved the fact the song comes to a mini-stop after SPB sings :
“Sogathil thallaadum pedhai ullathai” the 2nd time.
It is as if the song has such a great impact so early that even if the song does not continue from here, we would have called it a great tune.

At this point, KB remembers his childhood days when he and Poornima used to play together. To capture this temporary feeling of happiness, SG uses female chorus. That is just brilliant. Notice that he does not change the guitar playing in the background. These 2 elements go together very well indeed.

Followed by this, as seen in many other comtemporary songs of this period, SG shifts seamlessly to the completely indian feeling with Indian percussion instruments and handles the shift very elegantly.
Notice the long phrases “Sangeetham” and “Sindhooram” in
“Sangeetham pongadho un chinna chirippil” and
“Sindhooram sindadho un kanna chivappil”.

Followed by this are the most wonderful lines in the song:
“Ennaasai Mangai
Ennaallum Gangai
Kanneeril thaalaattinaal”.
He is so deeply in love that even though she has hurt him very much, he still sees her as Gangai and someone who “thaalaatufies” her, even though in kanneer.

SG transitions back nicely to the guitar and the pallavi using the flute which sounds more like the one what is used in western orchestras (even though I heard it many a time in tamil songs also).
SPB renders the 2nd more stretched “Oh Nenje” very beautifully. Anubavichu Paadiyirukkiraar.
It is almost an unwritten rule that every sad song needs to have violins and SG obligies in the 2nd interlude.

The lyrics in the 2nd stanza are about hope.
“Ullakadhavai Nee Mella thiranthal
Annaale ponnaalai en janman vidiyum..”

Again, wonderful play on words:
“Kothana mullai
pithaana ennai
eppodhu muthaaduval”

SPB comes close to overdoing his “emotional singing” towards the end of the song but thankfully keeps it under control.

The ending is simple like the beginning. I think it must be mentioned to SG’s credit that he resisted the temptation to end the song with the words “Oh Nenje” sung again with a longer variation (like the song “Swasame” from Tenaali ends, even though in that case it made perfect sense).

The other song in this movie “Azhagiya Vizhigalil Arupdhu Kalaigalum Ezhuthiya Thirumagale” is also a very good song which is probably more dificult to get hold of. If anyone has it please let me know. I chose “Oh Nenje” because of the situation. “Azhagiya Vizhigalil” is a typical duet situation. I can still remember KB dancing horribly in his bell-bottom pants. It is a lot of fun watching it though. We also see the regular routine in all KB movies where he supervises while the heroine dances. I am not sure if he does that because he knows to a certain extent that he is just a horrible dancer and he needs to control his natural urge :)

[rajeshkrv]

Sabari, the Daddy Daddy Song you mentioned is from Mouna Geethangal.
Also Puthiya vaarpugal is a Bharathiraja film.

Oh nenje is a great song by SPB & good lyrics by Kuruvikarambai shanmugam

[RS]

On nenje is a great song. Thanks for this SOTD.

Btw, enga chinna raasa's music was scored by Shankar ganesh and not by K Bhagyaraj.

[Usha Sankar]

Dear Saravanan,
Today's song is a rare one. In ur mail,U told about a film. The Movie name is Mouna Geedhangal.MD of the film is Gangai Amaran.

[rajesh]

KB was in deep sorrow following the sudden demise of his first wife.

Only at that time he started making the film Darling..D...D...

he was fascniated by the love and affection of Poornima. So he fell
in love with her and got married later.

the marriage function was held in Gobichettipalayam.. it is the
native of KB. later the reception was held in Palmgrove hotel, chennai

MGR had been there to that function too...since he liked KB very much.

[Guest]

Gangai Amaran is the music director for Mowna Ragangal. MSV also scored music for another Bagyaraj film (Oru Kai Osai-1980). For
Avasara Police 100 - MSV composed 2 songs ( Anna Nee En Deivam)
and Bagyaraj composed the rest of the songs.

[chandru]

Hi sara !

who is the MD of ArArO ArirarO ? ( is it not KB?)

[OISG]

SG have morphed of Jana Gana mana but this song is still a great effort :wink: SG did a ok job in Poi satchi,good one in this and wonderful one in Ënga Chinna Rasa"for Bagyaraj.It is still rumoured that SG did the arrangement for Bagyaraj's Edhu namma aaLu.

This song must be a special for SPB as this is his "family song"with Charan and Pallavi joining.More than the music it is the lyrics which hold you.

The story goes......Kuruvikarambai Shanmugham came to see his old student Vairamuthu during the recording of Andha 7 NaatkaL.For the tune of the pallavi of "Kavidhai arangerum" the spectator Shammugham when asked by Bagayraj came out with the stunning lines

Kavidhai arangerum neram Malark
kaNaigaL parimaRum dhEgam
Bagayaraj was awestruck and immediately asked him to write the song.

Reminding you of Sujatha's story in Vikatan (1980)Kanavu thozhiRchalai when a spectator comes out with a pallavi more or less similar to this
"varigaLil sikkatha sirippu en
varthaigaL thadumarum vanulaga virippu

Bagayaraj did try with almost all the available lyricists in his movies from Kavignar to GA.Even Muthulingam came out with a gem in Vidiyum varai kaathiru "Neengatha eNNam".Shanmugham,Pulavar Chidambaranathan (erikkari pongatheEy) could have provided the much needed lyrical support after the demise of KaNNadasan. The 80s save for few sparks provided by VM and Pulamaipithan will remain as the kaLapirar kalam with low quality lyrical content in TFM.

Sabarivasan,save for minor slips with the movie names and MDs, the write up is good.Thanks for the good choice.

[E. Suresh]

Thankyou for taking me back to the early 80s. Another great KB song that you missed out was 'Nee Oru Kodi malar thoovi uruvaanaval' from Bama Rukmani, in which he had starred with his late wife Prathima.

I wonder if I could recommend that song as a SOTD?

[Sabari]

Sorry about the mistakes about the directors, etc foks. I probably should not trust raaga.com.

rajesh, I heard a different version of the story of how KB's first wife died and how he fell in love with Poornima (and the order in which it happened :) )

[Arun]

Hi
One more song of KB is Kadhal vaibogame from Suvar illadha sithirangal.
Malayasia Vasudevan and S J. The way MV renders the lines " Kodaai kalathil thendral , kulirum pournami thingal" is a great treat
Also in Thavani kanavugal there is a song " Sengamalam sirikkudhu "
He did contribute an MD in the movie, Sundara kandam who didnt succeed much later. But this talented guy is out of market which is a bit disappointing. May be he should have taken movies with other actors like Raj Kapoor.
Regards
Arun

[hehehe walrus]

We also see the regular routine in all KB movies where he supervises while the heroine dances. I am not sure if he does that because he knows to a certain extent that he is just a horrible dancer and he needs to control his natural urge :)

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[thumburu]

If KB can compose music, then u and I can. I personally know few of them whose MD dreams shattered and these poor guys had to end up being ghost composers for the likes of KB