Alai Payuthey - basic questions

[Rsachi]

Dear Rasikas,
I just heard a wonderful flute rendition of this song on Blr AIR FM (missed the artiste's name announcement-sorry) and got some basic questions:
1. Who sang this first and made it popular?
2. Who tuned it, (was it Oothukadu himself- how sure are we?)
3. Which is the earliest recording available today?
4. Who has sung it best? KS Chitra? Sudha? Yesudas? Who? Which instrumental version is the best?

Thanks for your kindness and patience as you answer these... Obviously there may be many different answers... all are welcome to this ignoramus.
Sachi R

[varsha]

1-3-4 pithukuli murugadas

[smala]

Varsha is right, this is one song I have heard directly.

Here is Pithukuli Murgadas, it is unbeatable, IMO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPnbrBoDvDc

[rshankar]

Sri Ravikiran (Chitraveena) should be able to answer if the tuning in kAnaDA was Sri OVK's original tune - in all probability, it was Sri OVK's original tume, because, Needamangalam Sri Krishnamurthy Bhagavatar or his descendants have not questioned it.
The best version I have heard is from a dance recital (I do not remember the name of the vocalist), but I actually like Smt. Nitaysree Mahadevan's version in an album of songs composed by Sri OVK called 'Nithya SreeKrishna' very much - it is a studio recording, but it has been recorded with a an echo that makes it haunting - and I get goosebumps when I listen to it.
RSachi - we discussed this song in this earlier thread.

[smala]

Rsachi, here is a soulful instrumental version for me, one that I love a lot, by the late great maestro Sri Kunankudi Vaidyanathan. Hope you enjoy it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBw3VjSkRR0

[Rsachi]

Varsha, Smala, Rshankar, many thanks! It is turning out to be a feast, of music and meaning!
After having just heard a few versions including the flute version, Chitra, Murugadoss,so far today, I am now taking in Lalgudi in the Parvathi blog 1973...I will course through all versions as you give them to me.

Whoever composed this song and tune (OVK) has loaded it with a deep aesthetic and poignancy so as to make every singer and instrumentalist express so much emotion. And the magic of Kaanada!

Thanks again!

[Rsachi]

A novel interpretation by Kudamaloor Janardanan:
http://youtu.be/BVEZdu7pHyE

[rshankar]

Whoever composed this song and tune

I do not think there is any doubt that this indeed is Sri OVK's...

[varsha]

Some must-listen versions
TRS , U Srinivas , Veena Gayathri , Karaikurchi , Santhanam - Apart from the ones mentioned here .

[Rsachi]

will do today sirs, Happy Onam!

[krishnaa]

I have always loved the flute rendition of Kudamaloor Janardanan