SOTD #920: Oraayiram naadagam from sumathi en sundhari

[bb]

Song of the Day: Oraayiram naadagam aadinaaL from sumathi en sundari.

http://www.dhool.com/sotd2/920.html

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- Saravanan writes:

kuyilukku kireedam




Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait…

- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

And the wait, long, arduous and frustrating that it was, has at long last ended. Tucked away in the list of the ‘Padma’ awardees that was released on the eve of this year’s Republic Day is the name of our own Pulapaka Suseela. The revered veteran has been honoured with the Padma Bhushan. The prayers of her innumerable fans have been answered…. After years of callous indifference to the South and marked partiality to the North, the powers that be woke to the atrocious injustice that was being perpetuated and deigned to bestow this belated honour on our dulcet diva. Well, let bygones be bygones, and better late than never. Let us all offer our warm wishes to the Living Legend and join in the joyous revelries!

‘I have no words to say….’ stammered a delighted Suseela (Sun News). Well, that may be, but we sure have plenty to say …. For who else is more deserving of this coveted civilian honour than this unassuming nightingale who has been a treasured companion for generations of fans, the ageless voice that has lulled us to sleep with the songs that throbbed with the warmth of motherhood, encouraged us to pursue our hopes and ambitions with words of affection and faith, wiped our tears of failure and disappointment with solicitous songs of consolation and care, coaxed us to soar on flights of delicious fantasy with verses soaked in romance and love, mirrored the angst that follows thereafter with empathetic lines of longing and loss, instilled the confidence to build our lives again with prophesies of a better morrow, escorted us across the threshold of marital bliss with auspicious lines of blessing, and watched amusedly as we discovered the miracle of parenthood with songs that reflect the related pride and joys… verily, laden with her mellifluous bounty, Suseela laces the rim of the circle of roles that life enjoins us to don….. Far from being an inaccessible celebrity, Suseela has lived each day, each moment of our lives alongside us, with her alluring songs as constant alter egos that laugh, cry, hope, rue, love, hate…in short, live… with us, within us…

If that is the worshipful admiration that an ordinary fan has for Suseela, the stalwarts of the music world are no less in their heartfelt accolades… ‘No other mortal has been blessed with such a voice!’ declared an emphatic Janaki when she appeared on stage to congratulate Suseela on completing 50 years of singing. TMS and PBS have repeatedly showered encomiums on Suseela. “That was a golden era…when Kannadasan, TMS, Suseela and I worked together” reminisced a nostalgic MSV. The redoubtable Bhanumati has gone on record stating that Suseela had no parallel. Lata Mangeshkar flew down to Chennai to be part of the felicitations on Suseela receiving the first ever National Award for playback singing, such was her regard for her southern counterpart. SPB calls her affectionately as ‘namma veLLakkuyil’ and never fails to acknowledge Suseela’s singular contributions. Vani Jairam and Chithra speak of Suseela with becoming reverence. Ilaiyaraja goes misty eyed when he recalls the magical effect that Suseela’s ‘maalai pozhuthin mayakkathilE’ has always had on him. Vaali feels blessed that it was Suseela who sang his first song. Vairamuthu has enshrined Suseela in a halo of glory in his ‘indha kuLathil kal eRindhavargaL’. Even in a recent exposition he gushes, ‘kaN moodi Suseelavin kuralai swaasithaal netRikkuL uNdaana nerukkadi theerum! adhu kaadhukkuL yOgaasanam! thiththippu dhiyaanam!’. A.R. Rahman has expressed his admiration for Suseela on many a platform. Srikant Deva, who recorded a song with Suseela last year for the movie ‘sila nErangaLil’ is the latest in the long line of composers to come under the spell of the wonder voice… the ageless miracle that seems to bask forever in the lines ‘kaalathil vasanthamadi…naan kOlathil kumariyadi…’.

This, then, is the bewitching effect that this phenomenon called Suseela has on celebrity and commoner alike… such is the sheer magic of her song. Couched in the sweetest of tones, her lines flow with the felicity of every conceivable human expression. With exquisitely perfect enunciation, she flutters daintily over vowels, treats each consonant with impartial indulgence, respects each comma, every period. Her songs are immortal keepsakes, paradigms of perfection. Her achievements are many, many. And to think that even after she has accomplished so much, she is completely ignorant of her own greatness!

The Padma Bhushan is ours finally. The Dada Saheb Phalke Award will follow. It must.

* * * *

And in celebration of this honour, let us share one such slice of ecstasy, one such moment of pristine enchantment….

‘Oraayiram naadagam aadinaaL’ from sumathi en sundari
Sung by P. Suseela
Lyrics by Kannadasan
Music by M.S. Viswanathan

‘sumathi en sundari’ (1971/Ramkumar Films) was directed by C.V. Rajendran and starred Sivaji Ganesan, Jayalalitha, Thangavelu, Nagesh, Chachu, V. Goplalakrishnan, ‘Thengai’ Srinivasan, Maali and ‘Vennira aadai’ Moorthy. Based on a Bengali story by Prashanta Deb, the movie had Gopu drafting the screenplay and dialogues. Interspersed with hilarious moments, the movie was a breezy narration of a film star called Sumathi who is poised at the pinnacle of glory. Fame and fortune are hers, but so is an aching emptiness and loneliness. She longs to lead the life of a normal woman, but society does not permit her these simple pleasures. While traveling to an outdoor shoot, she gets down from the train in a small hillside station to get into another compartment, but the train speeds away before she could clamber in. She seeks refuge in the house of a surly young estate manager who is a misogynist to boot. Thankfully, he has never watched her movies, has never traveled far from his beloved tea gardens, and is unaware of the celebrity status of his sudden guest. Sumathi introduces herself as Sundari, and persuades him to put her up for the night. How she gradually enters his heart and keeps evading the reach of the film crew form rest of the reels. Sivaji as the ill-tempered estate overseer undergoing a change of heart and Jayalalitha as Sumathi pretending to be Sundari played their roles with characteristic panache. The movie had a successful run of over 100 days in most centers.

One of the chief reasons for the movie’s success was MSV’s wonderful album. There were 7 songs in all:



Or aalayamaagum mangai manadhu- P. Suseela
ellOrukkum kaalam varum- A.L. Raghavan, L.R. Eswari & chorus
Oraayiram naadagam aadinaaL- P. Suseela
pottu vaitha mugamO- SPB & B. Vasantha
oru tharam orE tharam- TMS & P. Suseela
yE puLLa sachchaayi- TMS & L.R. Eswari
kalyaaNa sandhaiyilE – P. Suseela

Kannadasan penned the lyrics for all the songs, save ‘oru tharam orE tharam’, which was written by Vaali. ‘pottu vaitha mugamO’ was the first song that SPB sang for Sivaji Ganesan, and the song was a runaway hit. The gently tantalizing ‘oru tharam orE tharam’, recorded but not used in an earlier movie, was included in this album. ‘Or aalayamaagum mangai manadhu’ is a rhapsody of marital rapture.

The SOTD finds place when Sumathi explores the sylvan tea gardens. The grouchiness of her unwilling escort does little to dampen her enthusiasm as she gambols amidst the tea bushes….the azure sky, the balmy breeze, the silvery cascades, the verdant greenery that covers the slopes, the industrious women cheerfully plucking tea leaves…… all beckon to her, and she responds with joyful abandon… she had donned several roles earlier, but this tea garden is far away from that tinsel town,….. This is life… and she intends to live it to the fullest, as she fears that it is not bound to last long…



How much elation is encapsulated in MSV’s tune, and how does Suseela manage to coat each word with such buoyant happiness! The sheer joy of living tumbles down the lines. Listen to that breathtaking humming before each ‘Oraayiram’…. Isn’t it akin to a bird spreading its wings and soaring gracefully in the sky?

Tags: M.S.Viswanathan , P.Suseela

Pottu vaiththa mugamO: http://www.dhool.com/sotd2/20.html

[Anniyan]

Saravanan,

What a wonderful melody and how beautiful is your write up! The choice is indeed very apt which speaks volumes of the capabilities of this Padma Bhushan awardee. But I dont think the award has come late , it has come at the right time that the entire attention would turn towards this extremely talented singer.

[vengayam]

I too was happy that PS was awarded Padma Bushan . the happiness turned into a scowl when I found out Asha Bhonsle had won the padma Vibushan.
Not that I am against AB, in fact I love many of her songs but it is always a part of a greater design that people south of the Vindyas are kept one step below. It would have been apt had Ps got Padma Vibushan along with Lata and it would have been apt if LRE was conferred Padma Bushan alongwith AB . But that will never happen.
ithu etho ponaal pogattum enru kodukapatta viruthu. ithanal padma Bushanukku vendum aanal perumai PSkku illai!

That apart it was really a cute choice. PS sounds really bubbling with enthusiasm which - at the risk of earning OISG's wrath - is sure wasted on JJ. Sumathi en sundari, Raja,Galatta kalyanam, Sorgam marked the period when sivaji got a second wind and looked considerably thinner than his "Pa" days. The movies were also breezy entertainers which helped me making the cross over from MGR's fold! SES also showcased sivaji in loud check half sleeve shirts which were quite a rage that time. we (my sister and myself) gave one such shirt to my father on his birthday which shocked hima bit but still wore for the love of his children.

Lovely song and ok on second thoughts we - lovers of TFM - can congratulate each other on the honour . PS ithayum thaandi unathamaanavar.

[bb]

Did TMS get Padma Bhushan/Vibhushan or Sri?

[Cinema Virumbi]

bb,

Pl. see the link below:

http://www.hinduonnet.com/2003/01/26/st ... 891000.htm

In Jan 2003, during NDA rule, TMS, Vairamuthu, Sukumari , Venkataraghavan and Danny Denzongpa were awarded Padmasri while Umaiyalpuram Sivaraman and Naseeruddin Shah were given Padma Bhushan, with Sonal Man Singh getting Padma Vibhushan.

Cinema Virumbi

[rajeshkrv]

Nice writeup Sara,

Hope Dada saheb follows

[Udhaya]

Saravanaa,

Superlatives galore for the song, writeup, and singer. Historically, India's slight of its South has been anything but slight. But Suseelaa doesn't need these after thought awards. Acknowledging her now is like circling the sun with a Sharpie. irundhaalum pinnanip paadalgaLin munnanip peNmaniyai paaraattuvadhil thavarillai.

[rajsrini]

Ennathai solla, Lata = Bharat Ratna, Asha = Padma Vibhoshan (Vibheeshan, considering her relationship with Lata, would be more apt? :-)). I think PS should decline this award. This is the equivalent of the speck of dust under her feet.The day is not far-off when Bappi Lahiri gets a Vibhoshan(read carefully, not vidhooshakan) award the same day MSV is grudgingly given a Padam Shri.

[ssriram]

SES also showcased sivaji in loud check half sleeve shirts which were quite a rage that time. we (my sister and myself) gave one such shirt to my father on his birthday which shocked hima bit but still wore for the love of his children.

Apart from the songs that are showcased here, the delightful reminiscences like these are the joys of visiting dhool. really loved it:) Thanks.

[Saravanan]

Thanks for the responses :)

[*]

nice tribute sara befitting the occasion :)


Congratulations to krvrajesh, udhaya and other HCPSFs :lol:

[vinatha]

Sara Sara Sara
Loved your write-up. Sumathi En sundari... nice movie. JJ rocks.

[OISG]

What a song! MSV-KD-PS combination has come with a stunner. S’n S was a nicely crafted movie with all artists putting together their best performance. The story line was good. (oops! Bengali story!). That man MSV …he had a pack full of aces up his sleeves then.

PS has sung wonderfully and you can t think of anyone other JL on screen for this one and ”Chittu kuruvi (சவாலே சமாளி)”. Two days back I saw the other song “aalayamagum” from the S’n S in Jaya TV. MSV’s gauri manohari and a stunning JL in that green saree made my day. You need a woman like JL to bring back Misogynists to normalcy :D Vengayam உள்ளேன் ஜயா ..sorry ஐயா

கணேசன் அண்ணன் was good looking shedding lot of pounds. From 1966 to 1972 till "Raja" அண்ணன் looked perfect. Then started the pounding :(


PS should have won a national for this one too. Well! For all the aggrieved southerners like us who complain about quota based Sris, Bhushans ,vibhushans some consoling lines

That we sit sometimes in the wayside nook
With mischievous, vagrant, seraphic look
And try if we cannot feel forsaken

(Robert Frost “In Neglect”)


Saravanan, I seek your permission to use your write-up language to present ORG KPI, Personal appraisal, & Balanced score card presentations.

callous indifference / marked partiality
the powers that be woke to the atrocious injustice that was being perpetuated and deigned to bestow this belated honour
dulcet diva.
more deserving
unassuming nightingale
treasured companion for generations
the ageless voice
with the warmth of motherhood
encouraged us to pursue our hopes and ambitions with words of affection and faith, wiped our tears of failure and disappointment
consolation and care
coaxed us to soar on flights of delicious fantasy with verses soaked in
mirrored the angst
empathetic lines of longing and loss
instilled the confidence to build our lives again with prophesies of a better morrow, escorted us across the threshold of marital bliss with auspicious lines of blessing
verily, laden with her mellifluous bounty
laces the rim of the circle of roles that life enjoins us to don
bewitching effect
phenomenon
Couched in the sweetest of tones
Flow with the felicity of every conceivable human expression.
Exquisitely perfect enunciation,
flutters daintily
with impartial indulgence
respects every comma, every period.
immortal keepsakes
paradigms of perfection

That’s lot of words! Have you ever faced the problem of “running out of words”?

[Anniyan]

OISG,

Brilliant! That was typical of you. Even your response for a PS song writeup deserves another Padma Bhushan. Neer baley killadi! Btw, is Alayamaagum mangai manadhu not Peelu?

Even Sara's prose is poetry. Sara, I strongly believe must be an incarnation of Kavichakravarthy Kambar as words are just pouring in ---azhagaana varthaigal ennai eduthukko ennai eduthukko endru vandhu ani vaguththu nirkindrana endraal migaiyaagaadhu. Long live Saravanan!

[Saravanan]

Thanks again, Prabhu, Vinatha and OISG!

OISG, Sundar :D

[Anniyan]

Padma Bhushan P Suseela felicitated

Actor Y G Mahendra with his Y.Gee Melodies music troupe presented a programme titled “Yaar yaar yaar ivar yaaro”, featuring songs from Gemini-Savitri films on Saturday the 2nd Feb 2008 at Kamarajar Arangam, Chennai. YGM, himself being a fan of PS , used the opportunity to felicitate PS on her conferment of Padma Bhushan award this year. YGM had planned to honour PS by another Padmasri/Padma Bhushan awardee who was also a great fan of PS, K J Yesudas. KJY had cancelled all his appointments to be present for the occasion. KJY reminisced his first meeting with PS in 1964 during a recording of revered Devarajan master. KJY strongly objected to PS being referred as the Latha Mangeshkar of the South when nobody referred Latha as P Suseela of the North. KJY rated PS’ Athaan en athaan as one of her bests and suddenly hummed the pallavi of Neela vanna kanngal irandum (Veeranganai) to everybody’s surprise, but very few could appreciate the beauty of this song.

PS felt so elated by the encomiums heaped on her by ‘brother’ KJY that she sang a few lines of Athaan en athaan. She told that she had sung a beautiful number with KJY in Vizhiye kadhai ezhudhu (sang the full pallavi upto… unakkaagavey naan vaazhgiren). KJY had on several occasions insisted PS to sing atleast one Thyagarajar kriti during annual Aradhanai but as that was never to happen she would sing them there itself She sang a few lines from Banturiti, , Chalamelara saketa rama and Needayaradha. She spoke in broken tamil only throughout but declared that she had learnt to speak also well now.

Gemin-Savitri daughter Vijayachamundi was also present.

Actor Sachu presented PS with a shawl.

The one rare song that the troupe presented was MSV’s enchanting Kalyanappandhal alankaaram from ThattungaL thirakkappadum sung by PS for Savitri.

I used the opportunity to handover copies of this excellent write-up on PS by Saravanan to PS herself and to Malathy Rangarajan, THE HINDU correspondent, who was present there to write a review on the programme.

[vengayam]

Anniyan your being there was as if I was also present! Yes you were representing all of us at Dhool -TFM lovers!

I am always wonderstruck that while PS' s spoken tamil is just barely passable her pronounciation in all her songs has been flawless. How much of the credit should go to the MD and lyricists. why don't they do that to sadhana sarghams and shreya ghoshals ( more for the former and quite a bit for the later!)

I only wish PS has a long,peaceful, healthy and musical life for the rest of her days here!

BB,
why don't you feature
" Thamizukkum amudhenrru Per "from "Pancha varnakilli" one of my all time favourite PS songs!

Thanks Sriram the pleasure was all mine.( Though saravanan often chides me for this that i write more about other things than the song itself ) It is the imagery and fond memories of older times that I feel compelled to write about. I sure am happy that you liked it! :D

[vengayam]

You need a woman like JL to bring back Misogynists to normalcy :D Vengayam உள்ளேன் ஜயா ..sorry ஐயா

I sure didn't get that one :wink: I am not a misogynist am I? :?

[OISG]

Anniyan, If Kanshi ram,Jagjivan Ram could get recommended for Bharat Ratna why not me for a Padma award?( I would be happy even with a Padma Laxmi award ...remember Ex-Mrs.Rushdie?)

I saw this PS program on MAA TV.I must admit that
a.the program was half-way thru when i started watching.
b.my telugu understanding is marginally better than rudimentary.
c.the program was a PS monologue with no interviewer
so much of caveat to avoid controversies at this jucnture!
She was all praise for AVM, Nagi Reddy, Pullaya,KVM. She talked about her telugu national awards and only "Jummandi nadam" from "siri Siri muvva" was played. they showed her Bhaktha Prahalada songs both 1958 and 1968 versions (Rojaramani version with Ranga Rao playing HiraNyan in both versions). Mesmerizing they were!. Then she talked about S.Rajeswara Rao. She talked about Anjali Devi-Adutha Veetu peN and Adi Narayana Rao. When i was expecting "மன்னவா" but the title song "கன்னித் தமிழ்" was played.

She told about NTR's praise for her "ஆண்டவனே! " from "ஒளிவிளக்கு". "சிட்டுக் குருவி" (with ravishing JL on screen!) was then played and it was in fact the signature tune for the program. Then she mentioned that she got the first national for "உயர்ந்த மனிதன்" for "நாளை இந்த" - I felt that MSV's name could have been mentioned.

It was when she talked about Chakravarthy she mentioned about other singers ....Vani Jayaram.Chak used her for singing "Jayamalini" numbers that were intgral part of all 70-80s telugu movies and she did not want to sing such numbers.I felt she sounded a bit dismissive.


Regarding Peelu /Gowri Manohari going by carnatic theory i find the song fully falling within Gaurimanohari and i do not know hindustani fundamentals.I think i can give the swaras shortly.
You can get the GM when PS sings the காலைப் பொழுது for the 2 time in Pallavi. Going by MDs' template this falls within the same template as that of "சரவணப் பொய்கையில்" and ஆண்டவனே! ". So a N3 presence naturally brings in the GM shade.

[Saravanan]

Anniyan, have to keep on thanking you for all that you are doing!

Vengayam, I too enjoyed reading about that gift that startled your father! And regarding chiding you, I do that only when you write nothing at all about the song itself, or respond without listening to the song at all :)

OISG, heard about Rushdie romancing Riya? :roll:

[Udhaya]

Anniyan,

If you ever do a follow up with PS on the writeup, do inform us about it. Thanks.

[ssriram]

OISG, heard about Rushdie romancing Riya? :roll:

movie, year, director, singer, MD, banner, producer, lightsman, poster boy, poster boy's onnu-vitta chithappa - indha ella details-um therinjadhu paththaadhu-nu, ippo latest Bollywood-London society kisu-kisu veraya?

[Cinema Virumbi]

OISG,

You can definitely aspire for something closer home, the Kalaimamani award! Selvi Aarthi (the 'gundu' comedy artiste in Sun/ Kalaignar TV) got it last year!!!!

[Anniyan]

Sure Udhaya, I am planning to meet her soon.

[RajaM]

Thanks Saravanan for the great writeup.

Brilliant song from PS & MSV - top of my favorite list for years.. One should listen this song just for the subtle tonal changes especially after.. Ilaya magal - sheer vocal magic from PS. MSV transports you to a tea estate just by using the flute.

Unbeatable track from the duo.. Just cannot believe that she has been neglected for years by our authorities/ idiots who give awards left and right.

[vinatha]

Great job, Sara!

Completed reading your write up ( I do it on installment :) ) Enjoyed while listening to oru naal iravil, ammamma kaatru vandhu...., Neeradum kangal inge ..... , oru naal yaaro, etc..indeed a virtuous artist!!

I love her improvisations. While reading listening to AZHAGE VAA ARUGE VAA...What a haunting piece of musical.

You missed an opportunity.

You could have selected a bunch of compositions displaying her virtuosity, made this write up as all about her, only her instead of one song from SeS.

Anyway..thanks, Vinatha.

[SGRK]

I am always wonderstruck that while PS' s spoken tamil is just barely passable her pronounciation in all her songs has been flawless. How much of the credit should go to the MD and lyricists. why don't they do that to sadhana sarghams and shreya ghoshals ( more for the former and quite a bit for the later!)

PS might not speak tamil very fluently and 'colloquially' but she listens to spoken tamil all the time, she is very familiar with the language. On the other hand Shreya has said in an interview that after singing so many songs in tamil and telugu she still cant tell the difference between the two languages, half the time she does not know whether she is singing telugu or tamil according to her. May be that is why the uchcharippu difference.

Anyway, some vambu about the bhushan. It seems Lata-tai was offerred Padmasri along with Rafi in mid-60s. Apparently she let know she wants the next one, and refused the Sri. Rafi went ahead and accepted though, and guess he remains Sri to this day. Lata-tai got the PB in 69 and PVB in 1989, give or take a couple years.

[Lokesh]

>> On the other hand Shreya has said in an interview that after singing so many songs in tamil and telugu she still cant tell the difference between the two languages, half the time she does not know whether she is singing telugu or tamil according to her<<

I can never understand this craze for making North Indian singers sing South Indian songs. How terrible is it to listen to Udit Narayan et al sing Telugu, Kannada and Tamil songs without their understanding a single syllable of what they croon!!!! The main defect is not that they don't understand the language, rather it is their utter unwillingness and unsympathy to learn anything about the languages. Thus they can't tell Telugu apart from Tamil. Why should they when, in either case, the result is bags full of money???

[PS_fan]

Padma Bhushan P Suseela felicitated

Actor Y G Mahendra with his Y.Gee Melodies music troupe presented a programme titled “Yaar yaar yaar ivar yaaro”, featuring songs from Gemini-Savitri films on Saturday the 2nd Feb 2008 at Kamarajar Arangam, Chennai. YGM, himself being a fan of PS , used the opportunity to felicitate PS on her conferment of Padma Bhushan award this year. YGM had planned to honour PS by another Padmasri/Padma Bhushan awardee who was also a great fan of PS, K J Yesudas. KJY had cancelled all his appointments to be present for the occasion. KJY reminisced his first meeting with PS in 1964 during a recording of revered Devarajan master. KJY strongly objected to PS being referred as the Latha Mangeshkar of the South when nobody referred Latha as P Suseela of the North. KJY rated PS’ Athaan en athaan as one of her bests and suddenly hummed the pallavi of Neela vanna kanngal irandum (Veeranganai) to everybody’s surprise, but very few could appreciate the beauty of this song.

I agree with KJY that PS should not be called Latha of South. PS is PS. Nobody can hold a candle to PS. But when KJY raises these issues and puts himself on a pedestal, he does not seem to realize that three fingers are pointing to him as well.

Do you think it is justifiable to give KJY award to the likes of Asha Bhosle, Manna Dey and above all P Susheela? What does KJY have to say about this? Has he protested against these issues ever? Asha and Manna Dey are senior to KJY in the field by around 20 years. PS is senior to KJY by around 10 years in the music field. One more issue: how about giving KJY award to SPB? SPB has achieved as much if not more than KJY.

Reference link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swaralaya_Yesudas_Award

[rajsrini]

PS Fan, SPB has already got that award :-). Its there in the link you gave.
I'd much rather have PS a KJY awardee than calling her Lata of the south. Not that thats fine individually. But it is the lesser of the two evils :-)