Evolution of Carnatic Music In Films

[S.NAGESWARAN]

Evolution of Carnatic Music In Films

Tamil cinema in the period 1930 to 1935 [+ or - 5 years] was only a sort of silent films with a man dressed as a joker and stands by the side of the screen where the silent film is projected. As the artists deliver the dialogue the joker will speak in different voices depending on the character on the screen.

The next scenario was that the films with actors delivering the dialog which was heard by the audience. Small stories were shot as films.

Any producer of the films in those days would be immensely pleased when the film producers started to take up stories from the Ramayana, Mahabharatham and all mythecalogical films. To add more interest to the audience they have started introducing music in the film sung by hero, or/and heroine, clowns and etc.

There was a period when a stranger in the film bursts into a song if somebody in the film asks for the route to go to Rathnapuri!!!!.

Here in the services of Sri Papanasam Sivan was made use of in films.

Sivan, who is a composer of many songs in Tamil on all the deities in many Carnatic ragams [his inspirations for composing of music have come from many of thyagaraja’s krithis] made use of his knowledge in composing music for the films. [G.S.Mani in one of his LEC-DEMS mentions that to include music for the first time in films, where else the music composers can go except to Sri Thyagaraja’s krithis]
G.S.Mani describes Sri Thyagaraja as the terrorist from south Punjab [referring to the confluence of the 5 branches of River Cauvery at Thiruvaiyyaru]. Having worked in the tinsel world for many years, Sri G.S.Mani had full praise for the songs composed by Sivan in films and demonstrated in his lec-dem how the compositions of Sivan in many Carnatic ragams in films were immortalized by the vintage actors MKT, P.U.Chinnappa, and other actors and heroines of yester year.

Sri Madurai Mani, D.K.Pattammal, and D.K.Jayaraman were great admirers of Sivan and they have popularized the Sivans’s Carnatic krithis.They had great understanding of the krithis composed by Sivan and conveyed the Bhakthi content of the songs in their concerts and immortalized the krithis of Sivan.

One other LEC-DEM which had taken me to the cloud nine is that of Sri D.K.Jayaraman on Papanasam Sivan’s compositions. When Sri DKJ sings even one line of the krithi of Sivan, It takes me to my younger days when I have enjoyed the full krithis of Sivan [Kana Kan koti Vendum, Kanavendamo etc] sung by MMI, DKJ, KVN, and others.

Sri DKJ in his speech about Sri Papanasam Sivan mentions that after composing a song for a film. Sivan will go to the house of Smt.DKP and DKJ and sing the film song and get an opinion and if necessary
Correct the words as suggested by DKP and DKJ.

Download the link given below the LEC-DEM of Sri DKJ about Sivan and enjoy.

http://www.mediafire.com/file/qmn3jjmehml/01-Lecture Demonstration -Sivan's songs by Sri DKJ.mp3


Dear Rasikas, kindly post your views in the thread after listening to the LEC-DEM of Sri DKJ.

S.NAGESWARAN.

[VK RAMAN]

Interesting narration of events leading to CM debut in movies

[thanjavooran]

In one word 'excellent' ! congratulations shri Nageswaran Avl
Thanjavooran

[venkatakailasam]

Some of the ragas used in films:
Bhilahari;
In "Konjum Salangai" Ramalinga Adigalar's bakthi verses `Orumayudan Unadhu' set in Bhilahari and rendered by Sulamangalam Rajalakshmi was a popular hit. Another popular song is `Unnai Kandu Naan Ada Ennai Kandu Nee Aada' from "Kalyanaparisu." "Thalaiva Thavapudhalva," the song In the film "Agathiyar" was set in this raga. The Hindi song "Korakagaz" ("Aradhana") owes its melody to the charm of Bhilahari.
Rathipathipriya
Jagajanani Sukavani Kalyani' composed by M. M. Dhandapani Desikar is a very popular song in this raga.
Shanmugapriya
This was beautifully used to make the song "Maraindirundu Parkum" in the classic "Thillana Mohanambal" immortal.
Kalyani:
Chindanai Sey Maname' and `Mannavan Vandanadi' are some of the famous songs in Kalyani.
Karaharapriya
Popular song was Ariya Parumavada Madana., `Bagavan Avatharippar' composed by S. M. Subbaiah Naidu for the film "Valmiki" was also a hit. Another superhit was `Madhavi Ponmayilal.
Aaberi
Singaravelane Deva' ("Konjum Salangai"), `Vaarayo Vennilave' ("Missiyamma"), `Amaidhi Illada Maname' ("Pathala Bhairavi"), `Malarndum Malarada' ("Pasamalar"), `Kannodu Kanbadellam' in "Jeans" and `Gomatha Engal Kulamatha' ("Saraswathi Sabatham") are some of the enchanting songs set in Aaberi
Charukesi
Manmatha Leelayai' sung by MKT
adal Kaaneero' in "Madurai Veeran," `Vasanthamullai pole,'
Unakkum Enakkum Isaindha Porutham


Mohanam:
Giridhara Gopala' in "Meera" sung by M.S., `Aaga Inba Nilavinile' in "Mayabazar," `Thillayambala Nataraja' in "Sowbagyavathi," `Malargal nanaindana paniyale' in "Idhayakamalam," `Ninnu Kori Varnam' in "Agni Nakshatram," `Andanal mudal indanal varai'
Desh
Shanthi nilava vendum,' `Inda ulagil irukkum mandaril ezhil udayon engal tamizhan' (M.M. Mariyappa for the film "Kanjan"), `Leelaigal purivane' in the film "Meera," `Thunbam nergayil' in "Or Iravu
Maya Malava Gowlai
Madura marikozhundhu vasam' is a popular village folk song in Mayamalava Gowlai.
Margazi Ragangal is the latest.
Most of the folk songs are in ragas like Anandabhairavi, Kedaram, Neelambari, Kurinji, etc.

Above compiled from a Kunnakudi Vaithinathan Article.
Madurai Shri G.S.Mani has
done a good job to bring out a mutiple no., of such film songs in specific ragas which I remember to have heard in smashit.com
At this link:
http://ww.smashits.com/carnatic/music-2 ... ons-k.html


Songs of MKT Bahavathar / PU Chinnappa / SG kittappa can be listened at
my blog 'e'-swara at
http://myblogkumara.blogspot.com/
at the following link:

http://myblogkumara.blogspot.com/2011/0 ... engar.html

venkatakailasam

[cmlover]

Dear SN
your link is defective...