Diwali Special - III: Kalakkap pOvathu Kamal

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Kalakka Povadhu Kamal

By KITKAT

Jaya TV telecasted a very interesting program this deepavali. This well produced (by Subashri Thanikachalam) program was about Kamalahassan as a singer. Ramesh Aravind as the MC talked in fluent Tamil (though he is a Kannadiga) and good job of presenting the show. The show opened with an invocation dance about Lord Ganesha in Sanskrit. (Surprising opening for an atheist’s show) Anyway the song was good and so was the dance.

Ramesh Aravind was really excited about being able to present the program especially since his last Tamil movie was with Kamal (Panchathandhiram). He said that Kamal was in a lot of problems and tension when this movie was being made. Yet he made a good comedy movie. Now Kamal is in a fantastic phase of life, much like a phase 2 and soon we can expect his Vishwaroopam, he said.

After his intro and a dance for the song Kalakappovadhu yaaru from Vasoolraja MBBS, Kamal walked in. Ramesh welcomed Kamal referring to him as Padmashri Kamal for which Kamal (nudge, nudge, wink, wink) requested him not to refer to him as Padmashri Kamal. It seems the central government has asked him to use the title only in letterheads and official communications and generally. Ramesh brought the theme of the program to the attention of Kamal. Kamal joked that weakest point about him is his singing.

The discussion went into the subject of his singing and how Kamal learnt singing. Kamal said his guru was Mr. Balamurali Krishna (hereafter referred as BMK). Mr. BMK came online in a videoconference and said, in the olden days the actor had to do playback, and now the actors don’t even have to say their own dialogues. It is an achievement when an actor is capable of doing both. After the initial how are you etc. He asked Kamal to sing something from what he learnt. Kamal sang a carnatic sangadhi and the song Sriraguraama.

Let me switch to dialogue mode to make things better.

Ramesh: How did this beautiful relationship between you two begin?

Kamal: I was really lucky to get trained by him. I met with an accident and had to fly down to madras with a broken leg. I met BMK in the flight. I apologized to BMK for having the foot up while greeting him. He enquired about the accident and said, “So what are you going to do for the next 2 months?” for which I said “nothing”. He asked me “you sing well, right” for which I exclaimed “ I can’t say that in front of you”. He said” I can make you say that. Hwy don’t you learn music? I can teach you?” I thought he was joking. But he called me back after 2 days and asked why I hadn’t responded to his suggestion. I didn’t know he was serious when he asked when could we start. I said, “Whenever you want”. BMK said, “So we will start tomorrow”. He came home the next day and taught me while I was lying down on the sofa. Before BMK one Mr. Madurai Venkatesan trained me. BMK started all over again. After my leg was healed I wen to his house for the classes. I sat on the sofa and he said, “Now that your leg is good, sit on the floor”. He would make me sing while he goes around his house doing his work. If I stop he would come up and ask why I stopped singing. “Is my presense required for you to sing?” he would say. Those were wonderful days. I am honoured to have sat on the lap of Sivaji Ganesan , to have sat in the floor in front of BMK, to have moved around with Ilayaraaja who was like a brother to me, to have moved around with Balu as a good friend. I am surprised at the astonishing life I have had.

Ramesh: So when did you start singing?

Kamal: (laughs) Everybody in my house sings well. I am the lowest in the level. I used to be called “Pisuru Bhagavadhar”. I acted in plays of Shanmugam Annaachi (The play was “Appavin Aasai”) In those days they used spool tapes. There was a song Uzathu Pizaikka Vendum tuned by Aathmanaadhan Sir. Once in Annamalai hall, the tape got cut. They tried splicing but it did not work out. I was supposed sing a song to my mother at the end of which she dies. Shanmugam Annachi gestured me to sing and I shook my head to give my ok.. He showed 4 fingers and I said OK. The orchestra started the song and from then on there was no spool music for me. I did this play around 50 to 60 times. Later when the play was staged in Thamukkam grounds in Madurai I was nearing my adolescence. Ezuchiyum Veezchiyum thaan vaazkaingaradhukku example ennanna, there is something called “Magara Kattu”. It happens suddenly when the voice breaks as we move into adolescence from childhood. The same shanmugam Annachi who patted my back had to slap his forehead because I could was spoiling the song on stage. The spool came back to the stage for me. That is when I started feeling jittery and wanted to learn music.

Ramesh: So you started singing in movies with Gnayiru Oli Mazaiyil. Right?

Kamal: Yes, you are right. I don’t know if it is Mukta Srinivasans Asattu Dhairyam or his affection (that brought me to singing film songs) but I used to always be tapping some thaalam on the discussion table. I also used to sing Carnatic keerthanas in front of the crew. So, one day Muktha Srinivasan dragged me to Devarajan master. Master asked me if I could sing and I said yes. He is a very simple man. Much like Ilayaraaja, he too started by singing for crowds. He does gestures with his hads to his orchestra and music flows like magic. He came near me and started waving his hand as I was singing the song. I was very scared. He played the recording to Ananthu sir and said, “If he was scared he should have said he could not sing, and if he wanted to be scared he could have done his singing and then shown his nadukkam. Why did he shiver while singing?” I told him I couldn’t do a retake of the song. So even today you can hear my shivering in that song.

(Muktha Srinivasan comes in to “sing praise” of Kamal briefly after whick Kamal sings Panner Pushpangalae. He ends it with a strong Malayalam accent)

I was in kerala for 40 to 50days. Raja wanted me to sing this song after I returned. I used to often watch Raja record his songs whenever I had the time. So he asked me to do this song for my own movie. I had to redo the whole song as unknowingly it had a strong Malayalam accent. <Laughs>

Kamal: S.P.Balasubramaniam. He is a great man. I used many of his songs for my romanses. People try to behave like James Bond after watching aBond movie, or like bruce lee after seing his movie. Similarly, Balu’s songs give you an edge to impress girls. Even if your voice is different his voice plays in the background. I have earned some good (girl) friends thanks to him. So he has helped me a lot. He started singing for people like MGR. But people used to get confused with my voice and his because he tries to fit the song for the actor. People used to wonder if there was some “Soul Exchange” amongst us. Assuming I would do some “silmisham” he would do some sangadhis and because he had done some sangadhis I had to do Silmishams (Mischief). Like TMS a lot of people try to imitate SPB. I don’t ask him if he liked any of my movies because he will always say I did a good job. Even if my movie was a “sumaar” (mediocre) one. But I do a lot of sumaar movies whereas he does a good job even in sumaar movies.

Ramesh: So how long has it been since you last talked to him.

Kamal: I talk to him a lot. Sometimes I talk to him for an hour and then ask him where he is. He will coolly say he is in America.

Ramesh: Did you miss him?

Kamal: I don’t because I guess he is here from your words.

SPB walks in.

SPB: So you people are talking behind my back is it?

Ramesh: Let me tell something at this point. Tere was a crowd of around 40 to 50000 people in a concert in Bangalore and I was also there. As he was singing I thought about something. A constable wishes to become a Sub Inspector. AN SI wishes to become a Inspector. Inspector a DGP and so on. I wished on that day that this SP should be demoted to become a DSP. (Pauses) I mean Dhadha Saheb Palke award winner. For the single reason that he and you (Kamal) both deserve it.

Kamal: No, No No, not me. But he surely should get it. It has to be given someday. They usually give it to only old people. They should change it and give it to the young SPB.

SPB: I agree I am not old. I don’t agree to being called young SPB.

Ramesh: So here are 2 DSP’s and here I am sitting like a small Kaedi (thief) in front of you both.

SPB: We have an agreement not to comment on his movies. Whatever he acts looks so good.

Kamal: Yes, you people make me think I am right to the extent that I even hurt my nose. (Turns to SPB and says “He does not know about it anyway”) If I go to Andhra, people ask me what happened to my voice. I have to remind them that the rough voice in Sagara Sangamam is mine and the nice songs you hear me singing is sung by SPB.

Ramesh: Kamal said some time back that your voice in not pinnani kural but munnani kural.

<Continued tomorrow>

[sriks]

Very nice! presentation! good job KK and BB. :)

[Guest]

Good one KitKat

[rags]

Kalakitteenga kitkat :)

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Part II - by Kitkat

Ramesh: Kamal said some time back that your voice in not pinnani kural but munnani kural.

<Continued here>

Kamal: Yes. Many of my Telugu movies even up until Virumandi were hits because they were dubbed by SPB. Once there was this show in Singapore where a song with alternate lines of dialogues was supposed to be sung. Ilayaraja asked me to take SPB because only he can do a seamless transition.

Ramesh: You have sung 40,000 songs.

SPB interjects: That is not accurate. It surely is not that high.

Kamal: Is 30,000 accurate?

SPB: Not that low. 35 to 36 thousands is probably close. You can’t keep rounding off to the nearest 10000.

Kamal: Is 36,000 a small number? SPB does not want to be appreciated for that. He says there are so many great artists. What will they think? That I am better than them?

SPB: Don’t tell it can’t happen to anybody. Anybody can do it.

Kamal: OK. It did not happen to us. So why shy away.

SPB: Have I done so many varieties of roles like you?

Kamal: Variety. Don’t say more. Lets just talk about the variety of songs you have given for me. (To Ramesh) It might look like a fight but don’t fear. OK? (Continues.)
He sang a song Kadavul Amaithu Vaitha Medai for me. That song took me right up to the top. I discovered myself only after I did that song.

SPB: That song had an extraordinary concept.

Ramesh: Similarly have you felt that Kamal did a great job for your songs? Identify one such where he floored you with his acting.

SPB: What can I not say? I got the maximum satisfaction from him acting my songs.

Kamal: If I turn that statement around it will look like patting each other’s back. His back is also big.

SPB: Only when I produced a movie in which Kamal acted did I get to go to the location to see him shoot a song of mine. I found out one thing. Not only does he lip sync so well, he does not sing aloud at all. How do you do it?

Kamal: Balu’s songs are inspiration enough for me.

SPB: Now I will do a pallavi and you mime for me, OK?

Kamal: Don’t sing a new pallavi.

SPB: I can’t even sing Jana gana mana without the lyrics in front of me.

Sings Kamaban Yemaandhaan. Kamal does the acting part.

How did you know I would laugh at that point? I did not laugh at that point in the original!

Ramesh: That is the Two Bodies and one soul formula in action. Very true.

SPB: You are right about it. Not only about movies. Personally too we are two Bodies and one soul.

Kamal: A lady went to Bernard Shaw and asked him to father her child. She said it would be great if we had a child with my beauty and your intelligence. For which Bernard Shaw said, what will happen if it is the other way around? Similarly if I had to sing for his acting it will be horrible.

SPB: Why do you say so? If I do a movie will you not sing for me?

Kamal: I surely would. (Jokes) I have always wanted to insult you. Naan kullanaa nadicha maadhiri neenga Kammiya paadanumnu aasai padaringala?

Some movies are not big hits. Yet, the songs live forever. Unakkenna Maelae Nindrai is one such.

SPB sings the Pallavi and Charanam and ends it with Naanenna KaLLaa paalaa nee sollu nandhalaalaa.

Kamal: Let me tell you. If it is morning then it is Paalu. If it is evening then it is KaLLu. (All Laugh)

SPB: It astonishes me to see that tunes like this were even possible. There is another song Thakida thadhimi. I loved the song so much that when Kamal did my movie I had the same song again in my movie too.

Sings “ Ulaga Vaazkai Nadanam, nee oppukonda payanam”.

Did you see his dance for that song? Wow.

Kamal: Balu sir is such an Ustad; he is heard in every house. He should always be in the center stage.

SPB: This is your show. You are supposed to be in the center. My most favorite song for which he acted was done without many movements. No dance. Nothing. A very nice but less popular song.

(Sings Neelavaana Oadaiyil..

A lot of people have said that Gangai Amaran had stolen this song from Raja. No. I can vouch for it. G.A. did this song himself.

Ramesh: Hindila Tere Mere Beech Mein padiningalae.

SPB: Kamal has got me 2 National awards. One was for Sagara Sangamam and one more was for Ek Dhuje Ke Liye. That was my first Hindi song. Even today if we play the frst flute interlude in any show the crowd will go wild.

Sings, Neendhu Na Aayae mujhe…

Kamal: Another song, which made me feel tall, was for a short character. Vaali wrote many versions none of which was accepted. Finally he gave up. He wrote something threw it at us and said that this is all he can do. And he gave a masterpiece. It got me a national award. I did not have much work to do for this song. Just visuals, situation and expressions did it. Nothing more.

SPB: Just with his innocent expressions he captivates all. How do you do it?

Kamal: I actually am innocent. That’s why.

SPB and Kamal sing alternate lines of Onna Nenaichen Paattu padichen.

Kamal: I used to sing a song or two. Now I am convinced that I have to let him do the singing. I told you even before. If SPB comes don’t make us sing together. It will become like a (match between) Sumo wrestler and Josiyam paakara KiLi. There is no competetion.

Ramesh: But you both did sing a song together.

Kamal: I did not sing. I spoke in that song.

SPB sings saandhu pottu and kamal raps his lines.

(SPB made a mistake where he swapped words but managed to recover the song without missing a single beat and also saying sorry in between)

SPB: It is rare to get such situations in movies.

Ramesh: Is it true that you (SPB) drink fridge water?

Kamal: You would not believe me. He will drink fridge water, eat/drink hot kozambu, sometimes I have even seen him drink others unfinished drinks. He has no worry about infection or anything.

Ramesh: Sir, we will be very worried if you get sick. Please don’t do that.

Kamal: His friends will be very worried too. He has a very tightly knit group of friends.

SPB: See. Profession is not as important as life itself. If I say more people will call me Sanyasi.

Kamal: If we both talk we can keep talking until pongal. There is so much for us to talk and reminisce. So, thank you very much for your presence Balu sir.

SPB: I wish you the best in future my brother. And to the audience I would say eat a lot of sweets. But before every sweet remember me. Burst a lot of crackers. But before lighting each remember Kamal. It is rare to get another artiste like him. I feel very proud to even know him. I can’t say I Love you on screen.

Kamal: Oh. You can. Go ahead tell me.

All laugh heartily.

(Continued tomorrow)

[Thamizh]

WOW! Awesome!

What else can I say ?

Idhudhan Nijamana Deepavali Pattasu!

Thanks a ton Kitkat and bb

DHOOL Kilappittinga!

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Hi Thamizh, Welcome to this page. Can you please register yourself? Registration is quick and easy.

[Arun]

Kalakkalaa poikittu irukku...
Full interviewvum podunga !!!
Jaya TV hit sixes with this program ...!

[RS]

Great, Jaya TV parkkAtha kurai thIrnthutu

[Guest]

Kitkat,
Thanks for the patience in typing this up. The exchanges were brisk and natural. Felt like the best of TV--good material, no commercials.

[nemo]

Ohh bb! and Kit Kat!!

Thanx a million to you guys!! :)

I watched that gem of a presentation by subhashri thanikachalam on jaya tv on deepavali day! i wud say it's the best programme ever done by Jaya tv(that includes its previous avatar JJ tv!! :wink: )

Kamal was great singing all those old songs! It was a great experience seeing him all nostalgic!

And PLEASE give the full text of that Madras Kuppam Gana song - that kamal wrote himself and sang in that nigazchi - in FULL (no censors pleasssssssssseeeee!!!)

I'd be thankful if you did that kit kat!!....

I presume there were some Madras "nalla" varthaikaL in that kalakkal gana that kamal sang - so if you dont wanna post it here in full - please send it to me as a pm..

bb - this is my humble request to you!! :)

Thanx guys! :D

[Guest]

BB,
Enga continuation-a kAnom?:-) Thanks, it really is great to see the camaradie b/w these stars.

[chandru]

<Continued tomorrow>

eppO tomorrow varum ? kathirukkirOm ...........

[thops]

i had to see this program after reading Kitkats post...so just watched this program in NumTV...it was romba too much pullarichifying...thanks a lot Kitkat and bb for bringing it to this forum...otherwise ppl like me would have never known abt this...

[KITKAT]

Sorry makkalae for the delay. It is pretty tedious work. Taking notes from the video and typing the whole thing again. The next part is coming very soon.

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Part III - by Kitkat

For academic interests let it be known that after the SPB interview, Grace sang Sirichi Sirichi Vandhaa Sina Thana Doi.

Ramesh: From Sridevi to Sneha you have done duets with so many heroines. Off screen with whom did you start singing duets?

Kamal:Probably my Anni(brothers wife). At that time the song Bambarakannaalae (J.P.Chandrababu’s) was very popular. So I used to sing that song with her. Then I started singing with Amma, which is Janaki Amma. I have done a lot of duets with Janakiamma probably because she has a lot of patience for me or a wide heart.

Ramesh: Sir, let us welcome S.Janaki. (To SJ) Sir was praising you a lot. It seems you never show off and are very humble.

Kamal: Not just that. It would seem as though some body else is singing playback for her when she sings. She remains so still while singing unlike other singers who would almost roll all over the place.

Ramesh: Probably that is why she stands tall and unshaken. (Figuratively)

Kamal: Yes. She is unshaken.

Ramesh: You have done a lot of songs with Kamal Sir. Let us take Sundari Neeyum Sundaran Gnyanum. How did the whole song start?

Kamal: It all happened because of SJ’s patience and Raja’s courage, ‘cause I only used to do some small simple tracks.

Janaki:(intervenes) You have done very good numbers. Not just tracks. We even sang together. There was no track mixing.

Kamal: No, what I meant was, until you came I used to practice like kids who sit in their fathers chair and get up when the father is in sight. If SPB or SJ comes in I will just get up and go. Only if a singer is just not available will I get the song. That is the truth.

Ramesh: You did a good job in that song with a Malayalee accent, singing like Jesudass and the slow motion scenes. Which came first? The concept for picturisation or the song?

Kamal: No, No. We just wanted a song like Margazhi ThingaL. After the lyrics were written, Raja just changed one thing. We said that the tune existed for 1000 years. But he made a modern day hit out of it. He made me sing it in the last minute. I was hoping he would ask a good singer to sing it. After I sang the song and came out, he said to me that it is a hit. (Shakes his head and imitates Raja saying “Hit”) He said it as if somebody else scored the song. After that we had to start working hard to make a video out of it. So for the first time the complete song was lip-synced in slow motion.

Ramesh: Can you sing it for us?

Janaki: He has sung a lot of songs like in Sigappu Rojakkal.

Ramesh: Ninaivo Oru paravai. Was that your first one together?

Janaki: I don’t know the statistics. But we did a song En Jodi Manja Kuruvi in Vikram. I recorded my songs live onto my own cassette and I have it even now. I heard his lines were redone by SPB later. I did not know that then.

Ramesh: Another song is Inji Iduppazaga.

Janaki: Do you know what Kamal did after I sang the song? He asked me to do the acting part too. (Laughs shyly) I said tell me if you have an old lady’s role.
I will do it.

Ramesh: She did funny sounds in that song. Didn’t she?

Kamal: Yes. It is easy to recollect that song. But when you see her in person you will wonder whether she is the one singing it. You will wonder whether songs like Nilakayudhu Neram Nalla Neram comes from this humble looking person.

Ramesh: She has even sung in a kid’s voice.

Kamal: She is like the Old lady who does the karate kicks and back flips in Michael Madana Kama Rajan. No relation between her physique and her performance.

Janaki: When I see Kamal I see him as the kid who acted in Kalathoor Kannamma. I don’t see him as a grown up.

Kamal: It would be good if there were more people like her.

Ramesh: Rate him as a singer. How many marks out of a hundred will you give him.

Janaki: I will give him 100 out of 100. He sings very well.

(They sing Sundari Neeyum Sundaran Gnyanum together)

Ramesh: You both sang so well. (To Kamal) You had some memories about Ninaivo Oru Paravai.

Kamal: Yes. In a Cinema Express Award function, they wanted me to do something different and I sang this English song. The song was “One is the loneliest number”. (Ramesh says “Is it by “Hot chocolate””?) When I sang this song on stage I did not know Raja was right in front of me. The very next day he called me to the studio to do the song. I tried to say no but he said, “Come on, you can do it. I heard you sing yesterday. This song has been tuned very similar to that song”. So now you can hear SJ sing beautifully while I shout Pa pa ba pa pa pa in the background.

Ramesh asks SJ to sing Inji Iduppazaga.

Kamal: Watch carefully. It will be as though somebody else is doing playback for her. (They both sing the song.)

<Paadal Pirandha Kadhai>

Kamal: The words Inji Iduppazaga was not even conceived in the beginning. We wanted a song like Dil ye deeewana Hai, Deewana Hai Ye dil, Dil Deewaana.
You see, if you ask for a song “Like that” Raja never gives a song like that. He will give something similar but never “Like that”. I was closely observing the morphing that was taking place. He played the Hindi tune in his harmonium and added a single note at the end. He added a rhythm at the end of the line and repeated the line 3 times. We were watching how he is going to end the pallavi. After a pause he did the last line. I immediately said this song is mine. He said, “Of course it is yours but I haven’t tuned the full song”. I said, “ I know you will get the rest too”.

Panel Discussion

Participants:
Ramesh Aravind, Kamal, K.S.Ravikumar, Baradhwaj (Music Director) and Prof. Gnanasmbandham (Film Critic and researcher)

Ramesh: We are here to discuss the need for songs in movies in the new age cinema. Are songs a speed breaker in movies?

Kamal: The word speed breaker reminds me of my guru. With Baradhwaj by my side let me clarify one thing. I want to become the Narakasura of this Deepavali.. What were 17 to 20 songs in MKT’s time are now 4 to 5 songs. People have taught us that they can’t sit in movie halls for 3 hours any more. I don’t do movies that long now. So, why should we still stick to the old pattern of 4 to 5 songs?

K.S.Ravikumar: We don’t get that much profit from audio rights as we used to before, because of piracy and FM stations. The number of listeners of our songs has increased but it is not reflected in profits.

Kamal: Why should we depend on just movies. We not only expect the audience to hear, we expect them to see the songs too.

Bharadhwaj: You want to encourage private albums?

Kamal: Yes, I am also ready to do albums. I can sing for some time to promote this and then let the genuine singers take over and prove their mettle.

Bharadhwaj: Songs are being used like montage to show the growth of the character etc. There were 30 songs before but it reduced to 4 and now is up to 5 or 6. But you did movies like Kadamai Kanniyam Kattupadu.

Kamal: Pushpak, Kurudhippunal also had no songs. I did Thevar Magan after Pushpak, and it had 9 songs if you realize it. Even in an English movie Top Gun, there are 9 songs. But the songs appear as a background, much like a transition song or calender shots in movies or even instead of background music score.

Bharadhwaj: So, songs have to be more relevant, meaningful and important part in a movie.

Kamal: He (Baradhwaj) hopes that the issue will miss his head. (Thalaikku vandhadhu thalappaagaiyoda poidumnu edhirpaakarar)

Prof. Gnanasmbandham: The maximum number of songs in a Tamil movie was in Indira Sabai. It had 60 songs. The characters will always be singing.

Kamal: English movies like My Fair Lady and recently Chicago also had songs to convey emotions like in our movies.

Prof. Gnanasmbandham: It all is an influence of stage plays. In the olden days stage plays had songs to say that one is going to shoot another and one more song to say that you shot me and I am going to die. Yet another song will say that he is now dead.

Kamal: People even feel songs are for taking a smoking break. To have a song worth a cigarette break is worse than smoking itself. Like Baradhwaj said, it is very important to think about the treatment and not to give songs for number sake.

Prof. Gnanasmbandham: People can even guess when a song is coming in a given movie.

Bharadhwaj: That is because of the stereotypes. If we make movies which avoid cliché audience will stay and watch.

Kamal: Even in some of my movies, if you remove the song, the movie will still make perfect sense. I have even made a parody of it in one movie. When the hero and heroine meet, the heroine will ask “what next”? And the hero will say “A Duet”.

K.S.Ravikumar: Even in Tenali you will say “Come, lets change our dress now” in a song.

Kamal: Even with 20 songs people can do movies. But as screen play writers KSR or me can fit 2 songs in to a story. But the 3rd song will not fit in. SO we have to dream up a dream sequence for the heroine. For the fourth song the hero has to start dreaming. Instead of all this if a story needs only one song we should be ready to go with it.

Prof. Gnanasmbandham: Do you decide on the need for a song before a movie is made or else?

Kamal: Most of us fit a story in between 6 songs. We can’t condemn this, but.

Prof. Gnanasmbandham: All that is fine, but I can’t understand the logic behind 30 people running behind the lead actors in a romantic duet. I appreciate the dancing talent of those people but shouldn’t romance be a private affair?

K.S.Ravikumar: Tell me who would even sing to their beloved?

Kamal: Hold it. I do that often. I sing songs to impress min lady. (Everybordy laughs) But 20 group dancers behind is something I wouldn’t have in real life.

Prof. Gnanasmbandham: There are movies in which the hero hardly moves. Like, Sivaji singing Yaar Andha Nilavu in Santhi with a Cigarette in his mouth.

Kamal: A of my songs like Kannae Kalaimaanae, Sippi Irukkudhu, Unnai Nenachen etc are like that.

K.S.Ravikumar: How many songs like that can you have in a movie?

Bharadhwaj: No. He says the content of the song has to be heavy. If you hear today’s songs, the deterioration starts with poor situations. If you can’t dream up good situations but want only beats, you can’t get good lyrics. To fill in fast beats you need fast lyrics. This brings in Hindi and English words, so that even north Indians can sing the song. This is how the whole thing deteriorates.

Kamal: In KSR’s movie (Avvai Shanmugi) the hero’s name Paandiyan is hinted in a song so well. (Sings “Thoonukkullum Irupaandi, Thurumbilum Irupaandi” )
Subtle meanings like this add value to the songs.

K.S.Ravikumar: The inspiration came from “Engo pirandhavaram Eppadiyo yen manadhai kavarndhavaram”

Prof. Gnanasmbandham: People really appreciate when they understand.

Kamal: But criticism starts at conception. Right ten they will say that nobody will get the meaning. Even before they break the coconut they will start to look for the rot.

Bharadhwaj: Music for a movie comes out a month before the movie does. It is more like a visiting card for the movie.

Kamal: Even English movies do that. Even Batman had an album. As we move towards international level of competence we have to get away from stereotypes and stop having things for the sake of having it.

K.S.Ravikumar: Ultimately it is all business.

Prof. Gnanasmbandham: When K.S. Gopalakrishnan made Aadhi Paraasakthi, he faced a lot of skepticism. But he was sure. The movie was half historical and half contemporary. The movie ran for more than 100 days in the then Asia’s biggest theater Madurai Thangam.

Ramesh: All of us agree that business is the driving force behind the music in movies. With the new cinema, we all hope that songs are more relevant to the theme and not made for the sake of it.

<End of discussion>.

<Jeyam Ravi dances for Raja Kaiya Vecha>

Ramesh: You speak many dialects in movies. But you excel in madras baashai. How do you do it?

Kamal: I am brought up here. Chandrababu was the pioneer in developing this dialect in movies. Sings China Bajaaru Naina Ushaar . He has a bakery in the movie. He sings “Un kannu sweet bun-nu, Un kaadhu Cake-kaadhu” I first spoke Madras baashai in Sattam En Kaiyil. I had engaged Loose Mohan to be with me all along. In between the shots I will just converse with him to get my dialect and mood right.

Ramesh: How come you sing in Madras Baashai?

(Kamal sings Kasumela Kaasu Vandhu, singers Karthick, Harish Ragavendra and one more guy sing some lines from Adhisaya raagam, Pachai Kiligal Tholodu, Manaivi Amaivadhellam etc.)

Another paadal pirandha kadhai.

Kamal: These young people sing so well. I will tell a situation we had in a movie and what happened afterwards. Guess the song I am talking about. We wanted a pulambal song for our movie and asked Raja sir to do something like Kaavaa vaa vaa, Kandhaa Vaa Vaa, and he gave this ultimate song. This is my personal favorite.

The third guy identifies the song and sings Paarthavizhi paarthapady poothu irukka.

Kamal: Jesudass sang this song so effortlessly but it was so amazing to watch the song being created.

(Nemo’s wish will be granted in the next and hopefully the last chapter. Chitra, Vidyasagar, Manorama etc are yet to come)

[Guru]

what a patience you have, KITKAT. it is great going. very interesting translation and narration. you have even observed and noted the laughs, smiles in between by the partcipants. really great of you

[thops]

the third singer was Ranjith....

bb, any issues/interest in putting up audio clips of this program...

[bb]

Thops, if you have it, send it to me or put it up somewhere. I can link it.

[thops]

Thops, if you have it, send it to me or put it up somewhere. I can link it.

i'll get it for you in a day or two...

[thathuvavaathi]

FYI: Ramesh Arvind is not a kannadigaa. He is a Tamilian (srirangam iyengar)

[nemo]

Kudos Kit Kat!!

Wondeful job! great goiing!! :)

Thanx to bb too!

( Nemo’s wish will be granted in the next and hopefully the last chapter )

woww!! Thanx kit kat!! :D

Waiting for your next instalment! :D

[bb]

Part IV - by Kitkat

Ramesh: At one point of time, one could become an actor only if he knows to sing. Right?

Kamal: Yes. J.P.Chandrababu for instance was once a play back singer for S.Balachander before he became an actor himself. Without being able to sing one could never break into filmdom. The person who broke that trend was our Thalaivar, Sivaji Ganesan. He narrated his dialogues so well; the dialogues themselves were popular like songs. Only after Parasakthi did playback singing become popular.

Ramesh: You are a good Singer/Actor amongst male. As a female, the best one would be your favourite Aachi Manorama. She is a great actor and singer. We felt her presence would add value to this show. She was so graceful to come. Please welcome Manorama.

Both sing “Vayasa Kurathadhu Yaaru” as Manorama enters.

Ramesh: Kamal always sings your glory. He holds you in high esteem always.

Manorama: He is my son.

Kamal: Like a mother she has really seen me grow.

Manorama: We both acted in Kalathur Kannamma, his first movie.

Ramesh: The common interest with both of you is music.

Kamal: Yes. She has sung a lot. The song, which is my personal favourite, is Vaa Vaadhyaarae Vootaanda. Initially the song was affecting me because my sister used to sing the song and she would point to me and sing Jaambajaar Jakku, Ivan Alwarpettai makku.

Ramesh: But now everybody sings Alwarpettai Aandavaa.

Manorama: I am very happy to be here. I cannot forget the movies I have done with Kamal. From Kallathoor Kannamma to Aboorva Sahodharargal we have done a lot of movies together. I am proud to be in the same film field as he is (Kamal tries to intervene) and he is proud to be in the film field I am in. Is that what you wanted to add?
I knew you would want to say that. I have told this before to you. I wished I had a role in your award-winning movie Nayagan. I wished I had got the role of the old lady who goes up in flames to save the hero. I liked the movie so much.

Kamal: Appreciation from artists like you matter the most to me. It is better than national awards. I remember you driving down to my house to personal wish me after watching the movie Hey Ram.

Manorama: Shall we sing a song together?

Kamal: Why not. Want to sing Alwarpettai Makku?

Ramesh: Sing a duet.

She sings Vaa Vathiyaarae with Manorama using the lines Alwaarpettai Makku.

Kamal: If my sister hears this song she will be very happy to see that her lyrics has become so popular. Another song of yours, which is a favourite of mine, is Muthu Kulikka Vaareehalaa.

Both sing the song.

Kamal: Even 2 days back they telecasted a movie in Bharatha Vilas. You say a long dialogue and at the end act as if somebody called and walk away as you answer the person who does not exist. That scene was so good; it deserves to be used as a lesson to teach acting. A similar favorite is the role of Jil Jil Ramamani. APN sir is an actors delight because he himself was an actor. He used to appreciate good acting, a lot.

Manorama: He is an Ashtaavadhaani. Like a sculptor he made the movie bit by bit.

Kamal: Seniors like you and Sivaji Sir are always delight to watch. Sivaji for instance used to be the first in the sets when we made Devar Magan, as if he is a fresh face waiting to impress others. He studied everybody. I am lucky I had the chance to observe people like you. If not I would have become an Oodhaari Actor.

Manorama: I remember Sivaji annan have a baby in hand and sing Pillaikku Thandhai Oruvan, Nam ellorukkum thandhai iraivan. The baby will just be staring at him as if observing his acting.

Kamal: He has gone already but we still are observing him. Thank you amma. My mother passed away, but I don’t miss her because of people like you who pat my hair and kiss my cheeks. Happy Deepavali.

Manorama: Happy Deepavali.

* * *

Ramesh: This person has a nice diction, which is so native in whichever language she sings. Be it Telugu or Tamil or her mother tongue Malayalam she songs so true.
Chitra is here. She sings beautiful and laughs so beautiful but seldom talks.

Kamal: I have not sung together with her though we have done a duet. When I see her she would give a smile, and you feel she wished you good morning but the words actually don’t come out of her mouth. She will lip sync good morning.

Ramesh: For us Kamal and Chitra will sing Injirango Injirango from Thenaali.

Kamal sings Unnai vida indha ulagathil from Virumaandi. (Co singer unknown)

<Padal Pirandha Kadhai>

Raja did the tune and asked me to write the song. I was surprised. He said I could do it. I was asking for a piece of paper the assistant directors went looking for one. I meanwhile got some lines, which I wanted to write down. So I picked this paper in the garbage, which was nothing but the round label in the middle of a film reel and wrote the pallavi of this song. I was happy at what came out. When Raja called me for the lyrics the paper had flown away somewhere. I hurriedly wrote the lyrics again on the bare ground of Prasad Studio and asked the assistants to copy it and bring it in before I ran to see Raja sir. It was like the aksharaabyaasam ritual done for small kids. So it was a song written on the ground.

Kamal sings Maarugo Maarugo Maarugaiyi from Sathi Leelaavathi. (Co singer unknown)

<Paadal Pirandha Kadhai>

In Kalvanin Kaadhali Aathmanaadhan sir wrote a song Vaanam Paadigal Polae, Prema gaanam paadi magizvom naamae. We were considering a song similar in structure. Raja sir made this medley of old songs in the same mohana raagam.

Kamal sings Muthae Muthamma from Ullasam (Co singer unknown)

I would not say no to anybody from Raja’s family. So when Karthik Raja asked me to sing this song I just did it. After I did the song did I know that it was for Ajit. It was happy.

Ramesh: Do you remember the period when Elvis Presley sang songs with lights and mike and all that jazz?

Kamal: In my early days of acting my family used to tease me when I leave for a shoot. They would remind me to take my mike to the shooting. APN (A.P.Nagarajan?) Sir was a student of TKS. So I was a pet child for him. So when he made Mel Naattu Marumagal he decorated me very well. I even wore disco lights on my dress.

Ramesh: Hope you did not receive any shock.

Kamal: Oh. Yes, I did. I get my back all burnt because of the shock. People would praise me for my dance. I would exclaim, “ If a 220V shock is given to you, you would dance well too”. I have told you already about my struggle to get out of that image.

* * *

Ramesh: Here is a youngster who has come to do a medley of your mike songs.
Mr. Manikandan of “Boys” fame.

After Manikandan’s dance Kamal congratulates him.

Ramesh: He did a good impression of your mike songs. He danced on table much like you.

Kamal: I struggled to hand over my mike to Kokila Mohan. Here Mr. Manikandan, I hand you the mike now.

Ramesh: Two or three days after the release of the movie Hey Ram we all were sitting with a gloomy mood. Suddenly you got up and said “We shouldn’t be like this. We have to get way from this mood and get out of this”. You then wrote a Gaana song and we all were rolling on the floor laughing. (Easyaa ROTFL’nu ezudhiyirukkalam. Hmm.) We have brought that song. This is Deepavali, a festival of joy. So let us do it.

Kamal: Gaanaa songs. I have a lot of friends in the kuppam areas. They may not be much educated. They may live in poor conditions. But the Sandham and Poetry they make are interesting. The mix up English and Tamil so well, I would wonder where from these words, lines and connections cometh. We can learn that Tamil only there. They taught me this.

Sings the song.

Pattanum Parai Kaelungo
Pattanum Parai Kaelungo
Pusthogam padikkalingo
aana bodhanai solvenungo

Mazai penji thanni vandha –gudsaikki
Kozanji dhaanungo uLLa ponum
Thaavaaram thinnai ellam – appala
Thavalakka kutti podum
Kakkosu gallejellam – theppamaa
Kuppathai suthi vaarum
Veiyilu adchaakka paar – shokka
Sandhellam kanji poodum

Summeru vandhuchinna – munnala
Kaanjadhu parndhu poodum
Paipula kaathu varum
Thanni pambula naatham varum

(Pattanam parai kaelungo)

Koovam adayaaru ellam
Kuppai koolamaa pootadhaala
Andraava kaettugurom
Adhuvarai adjust panrom
Kudikkavae illinaaka –appala
Adhukellam yedhu thanni
Foreigner dhorai maarungo
(Repeats Engai. Foreigner dhorai maarungo)
shokka paperla thodaikiraango
paeyaatam thindra kootam -inga
Bale bale-aa paper vonum
(The next two lines are not comprehendible)

(Pattanam parai kaelungo)

Inga figurunga nallarukkum
Pasanga bodyum nallarukkum
Paiyango bodyellam - thuduppu
poattu poaatu vandhudhungo
saeri figurungo body ellam – thoachi
kodiyila kaayidhungo

(Pattanam parai kaelungo)

Odambu Novichinna
Konjam oorallu yethikkuven
Kadaluuku pova solla – sunti
Sorudhaan sethukuven
Beedi cigarette ellam
Namma body-kki kedudhalndraango
Raw Gutka poattaa - suguraa
vaayila punnundraango
Limiteda jalsa senja
Romba naalaikki vandi oadum
Pal settu kaithadillam
Illaama paadaikki baody povum

(Pattanam parai kaelungo)

Elavarasi Raaningallam – munnala
Kilingala valathaangalaam
Avunga aalukku saedhi solla
Kiliya dhoodhukku vittangalam
Kuppathu kosungo kooda – ippo
Kili size-u vandhudchungo
Rathiri thoonga solla – kaadhula
Duettu paadhungo
Othana kadcha kosu – avan
Daavaiyum kadchidhunna
Kandippan marnaalaikkae
Adhunga rendukkum kulir joramdhaan

(Pattanam parai kaelungo)

Joolu romba vutta
Manasa Lolludhaan panna sollum
Dhillu irundhaalum nee paar
Enakku aaalu kedaikilingo
Bus standu kaadhal ellam
Munnala bandhaavaa nadandhudhungo
Daava Eve teasing-undraan
Ippo vaazkaiyae kozappam dhaango
Prithiviraajan kadhaiya
Koothaa paathu valandhavana
Ippo paikatha maatha solraan
Ponna madakina jailla thalraan
Kalla note-ukkum jailu
Somma kanakku paathaalum jailaa?
Serachaala moonu varsham
Ammaala kolasenja ettu varsham
Athini saamikkum paar
Aalukku rendu voodu
Aamblainga thappillingo
Idhu aandavan vutta vazi

(Pattanam parai kaelungo)

Indha vebachaaram senjavango
Romba obachaaram senjavungo
Dokku moonji kaaranukkum
kaadhal dhuttukku thaarravungo
kal thondri man thondrappo
idhu koodavae thonichingo
madhavi senjadhungo
mary magdeline senjadhungo – ayyo
kallaala adikkaadhingo
innum kalyaanam aagalingo

(Pattanam parai kaelungo)

* * *

Ramesh: What did you think of what has happened so far in this program.

Kamal: I really enjoyed it. I don’t know if the viewers would.

Ramesh: Of your recent movies, Anbe Sivam stands out as the best in my opinion.
I thought you are surely going to get the national award for that movie.
Let us talk about the music in that movie and Vidyasagar sir.

Kamal: Is Vidyasagar going to be here?

Ramesh: He may be here.

Kamal: Then let him come. We will talk in front of him. I don’t like to say anything from behind.

Ramesh: You are in the front. He has to anyway be behind you.

Kamal: Then let him come in front of me. Then we will talk. Don’t start the Panchathandhiram joke all over again.

(Vidyasagar joins in)

Kamal: It is very difficult to do a new hit tune. Everybody knows that. But reminding the audience about a 1000-year-old feeling without lifting the tune abruptly is a very difficult thing to do. Just giving the audience a touch of it gives them fond memories.

Vidyasagar: Like an echo. It is new to hear but yet it has this traditional feel to it. We did all other songs in this movie but somehow did not dare to come to this song. We put it off to the end.

Kamal: We wanted a punch line, which could convey the story in few words, and Vairamuthu delivered it correctly. I became a fan of the song. in the olden days when tune, lyrics, and everything is just right.

Ramesh: Like you said, the tune, situation, lyrics and singing were all excellent in the song. In this show we focused on Kamal sir, as a singer and a nice way to conclude the show would be to let him sing this song.

Kamal sings Anbe Sivam, the title song from the movie Anbe Sivam.

<END>

Thanks to all your encouragement. BB, thanks for the opportunity.
Happy Thanksgiving.

KITKAT

[Thanigai]

kitkat, kizhi kizhi nu kizhichuttapaa. great reading as if we watch the programme. how did u achieve this? u recorded the prog and later drafted the script? amazing machi :-)

[KITKAT]

Thalaivarae
Aamaam. Record senjidhaan type pannen. Romba thanks for the compliments.
BTW, dhool.com'la register pannitingala?

[isaiosai]

Kitkat,
KalakkitangO! It was like watching the program live. Mikka nandri for all your painstaking efforts just to entertain us.

bb, thanks to you toooooo! Kandippa kalakkap pOvathu dhooL!!

[Guest]

Great job Kitakat!

I admire your patience and passion.

[KITKAT]

Guest,
Thanks. I wish you had given your name.

[thops]

To add to the wonderful work done by KITKAT, here is the audio of the entire program for your listening pleasure...Please download and listen...

1. Invocation Song
2. Introduction by Ramesh Aravind
3. Kamal as a singer - early years - Dr.BMK special guest
4. SPB (special guest) - part 1
5. SPB (special guest) - part 2
6. Seena Thaana from Vasool Raaja
7. S.Janaki (special guest)
8. Inji Iduppazhaga - paadal pirantha kadhai
9. Panel Discussion
10. Raaja Kaiya Vecha - dance by Jeyam Ravi
11. Kamal's Madras Baashai
12. Comedy Track Digression
13. Karthik, Harish and Ranjith entertain Kamal
14. Manorama (special guest)
15. Chitra (special guest)
16. Onna Vida - live
17. Onna Vida - paadal pirantha kathai
18. Marugo Marugo (Sathi Leelavathi)- live
19. Marugo Marugo - paadal pirantha kathai
20. Muthe Muthamma - live
21. Kamal's mike songs
22. Gaana by Kamal
23. Vidyasagar (special guest) and Anbey Sivam song

-Vijay
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http://thoppus.blogspot.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Murali Venkatraman]

Thops ! wonderful. Let me ask bb if he can feature it as a special !

Regards
MS