Vadavarayai Mathaaki

ajit · Post by **ajit** » 09 Jan 2011, 11:30

I would like to know who composed the tune for "Vadavarayai Mathaaki"(from Silappadikaaram) as sung by M.S. Subbulakshmi.

thanks,
ajit

cienu · Post by **cienu** » 09 Jan 2011, 11:32

This wonderful song was set to tune by the great music director of yester years, S.V.Venkataraman. (not to be confused with the father of S.Ve. Sekar who also goes by the same name)

devma36 · Post by **devma36** » 09 Jan 2011, 13:38

this was sung by sudha ragunathan too in the jaya tv programme on 30th dec 2010

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 09 Jan 2011, 21:46

Did SVV set the music specifically for MS? Amma must be knowing the details..
Much obliiged if you can find out the details...

cienu · Post by **cienu** » 10 Jan 2011, 21:43

cmlover wrote:Did SVV set the music specifically for MS? Amma must be knowing the details..
Much obliged if you can find out the details...

Dear CML,
It was the Paramacharya of Kanchi who selected this paragraph from the "Aychiyar Kuravai" portion of “Silappathikaram” and told Sri Sadasivam that this must be sung by MS.
Sri S.V.Venkataraman music director of “Meera” and “Sakuntalai” was given the responsibility of tuning this epic of Ilango Adigal.
(Very few music lovers are aware that it was Sri SVV who not only set the lilting music for the evergreen "Vadavarayai Mathakki" but also for Periyazhwar's pasuram, "Mudi Ondri Moovulagilum”)
The suggestion for setting the 1st paragraph of Vadavarayai Mathakki in Hamsanandi was Smt Thangam Ananthanarayan’s (niece of Sri T .Sadasivam & MS.) Sri SVV happily obliged.
From my mother’s collection I am attaching an extremely rare picture of Sri SVV, directing during “Meera”. (He is at the extreme left waving the baton). A young 10 year old Radha sits in the front ! (She was then called “Boss” by all the artists, not only for her ability to notate at such a young age but also because she used to sit with each musician prior to the recording and practice the notes along with them! It would not be out of context here to mention that it was Radha who selected for the Hindi Version of “Meera” the songs “Ganga Yamuna Nirmala” to match with “Ma Madhurai Manavala” and “hamne suni hari adham udhaaran” for “'arangA un mahimaiyai arindavar yAr',” respectively.
Yet another pleasant surprise in this picture is the presence of the legendary Bharatanatyam Guru Vazhuvoor Ramaiah Pillai. He is seen sitting sandwiched between the Veena Vidwan and the 2 other violin vidwans. (I presume that he must have come for the recording with his star disciple after the hectic morning practice session!) Radha (& Anandhi subsequently) were the first disciples of the Late Ramaiah Pillai whose centenary will be celebrated this year.
Coming back to Sri SVV, he died unfortunately in great penury. (Kindly refer my earlier post below)
http://rasikas.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=10049

mahavishnu · Post by **mahavishnu** » 10 Jan 2011, 21:49

What a great piece of history! thanks for posting this, Cienu.

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 10 Jan 2011, 22:00

cienu - awesome pic...didn't Kumari Kamala play kRshNa in mIrA? I guess that is another reason Sri Ramiah Pillai was there, and not just to guide his other pupil (your mother), right?

cienu · Post by **cienu** » 10 Jan 2011, 22:03

rshankar wrote:cienu - awesome pic...didn't Kumari Kamala play kRshNa in mIrA? I guess that is another reason Sri Ramiah Pillai was there, and not just to guide his other pupil (your mother), right?

Ravi - Absolutely right

Amma being Bala Meera and Kumari Kamala - kRshNa.
Amma recollects that during interludes both the dancers would have a "competition" as to who could dance faster!

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 11 Jan 2011, 07:03

Awesome. Thanks cienu.

cienu · Post by **cienu** » 11 Jan 2011, 10:56

Thank you Mahavishnu and VK

uday_shankar · Post by **uday_shankar** » 11 Jan 2011, 11:13

Cienu, thanks for sharing the rare picture and historical anecdotes.

smala · Post by **smala** » 11 Jan 2011, 11:47

Thanks for the remarkable picture - strange that the music director did not make enough for his lifetime with the runaway success of Meera and his other musical ventures. Something must have gone very wrong - what could that have been?

cienu · Post by **cienu** » 11 Jan 2011, 12:05

shyama-priya wrote:Thanks for the remarkable picture - strange that the music director did not make enough for his lifetime with the runaway success of Meera and his other musical ventures. Something must have gone very wrong - what could that have been?

Really have no clue S-P. But there was a 50 year gap between 1944 (Tamizh Meera) and 1994 (when Dungan wanted to call on SVV). And a lot could have happened during this period ! Secondly , most musicians of that era were not the best of money managers.
I remember having seen SVV a number of times in the Kalki Gardens. He was an utterly simple human being & a fine gentleman always wrapped by a shawl , (as in the picture above) irrespective of the weather !!

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 11 Jan 2011, 23:00

Thanks cienu! A remarkable piece of history that MKR should add to his collections. It is nice to note the incentive from PeriyavaaL and the input of TS. The picture brings back memories of Amma in the old dancing days when she stole our hearts in the pages of Kalki!

The story of SVV does bring tears to our eyes! Has any one written his biography? He was an unforgettable Icon of our Tamil silver screen... I wish Randor Guy reads us an provides some snippets.....

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 11 Jan 2011, 23:17

cienu wrote:Amma recollects that during interludes both the dancers would have a "competition" as to who could dance faster!

What a sight that must have been! I have to ask - were any recordings made??

ajit · Post by **ajit** » 12 Jan 2011, 13:11

Thank you very much Cienu for the information and more!! Do you by any chance know
the name of the flautist sitting behind in the picture?

cienu · Post by **cienu** » 12 Jan 2011, 18:58

rshankar wrote:What a sight that must have been! I have to ask - were any recordings made??

Unfortunately Ravi - No recording was ever done.

suma · Post by **suma** » 12 Jan 2011, 19:05

[quote="cienu"]Yet another pleasant surprise in this picture is the presence of the legendary Bharatanatyam Guru Vazhuvoor Ramaiah Pillai. He is seen sitting sandwiched between the Veena Vidwan and the 2 other violin vidwans. /quote]

Thanks for the nice picture.

cienu · Post by **cienu** » 12 Jan 2011, 19:12

Thank you Uday, CML, Suma and Ajit.
BTW Ajit - I have no clue of the flautist in this picture.
However in the Hindi version of Meera (for which the music was recorded in Calcutta) it is Pannalal Ghosh's flute you will hear. One frequent visitor to these studio recordings was a close friend of Pannalal Ghosh and an MS enthusiast, K.L Saigal

mahavishnu · Post by **mahavishnu** » 12 Jan 2011, 20:14

However in the Hindi version of Meera (for which the music was recorded in Calcutta) it is Pannalal Ghosh's flute you will hear. One frequent visitor to these studio recordings was a close friend of Pannalal Ghosh and an MS enthusiast, K.L Saigal

wow, cienu. This thread is turning out to be an epic documentary of the times! I'm so glad Ajit posed the original question.

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 12 Jan 2011, 20:28

cienu - reading all this stuff makes me want to say - 'anda nALum vandiDAdO'!

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 12 Jan 2011, 20:49

I will let Uday speculate as to how they manged to get the wonderful blend of instrumental sounds with just one mike hovering above and in the absence of sound mixtures and other editing gadgets.

Cienu
Could Amma recall what was the particular occasion (and what recording was going on) of this get together?

suma · Post by **suma** » 13 Jan 2011, 00:28

How old was Radha ji in this picture? she is cute.

oh please ignore my post, just read "10 year old"

ajit · Post by **ajit** » 13 Jan 2011, 00:39

I think the single mike works like a charm in carnatic music concerts - tried that for a concert by
Sri T.N.Krishnan accompanied by Sri B. Harikumar and Sri Vaikom Gopalakrishnan at Sri Venkateswara Temple, Pittsburgh in 1996 or so.. The experience was just amazing. In this case,
its a real challenge with soft instruments like Veena but may be because there were multiple instruments of the same kind, they could be picked up with one mike.

cienu · Post by **cienu** » 13 Jan 2011, 16:13

cmlover wrote: Cienu
Could Amma recall what was the particular occasion (and what recording was going on) of this get together?

Amma says that the song in question being recorded could possibly be "Nandabala" (for which she danced) and that explains the reason why Guru Vazhuvoor Ramaiah Pillai is there.

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 13 Jan 2011, 19:57

Thanks. It fits and she fits the 'Child Meera' just perfect!
Now I am lookng forward to Uday snooping out what line was being choreographed based on the ambience/postures/... and the stance of SVV in that picture...

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 13 Jan 2011, 20:24

Cienu,
Your mother's keen memory and her diligently collected precious photos are such a rich addition to our fragmented musical history. Of course, we thank her son too for bringing it all to us. Aishwarya and Soundarya are surely going to continue the heritage of the family's music and that of CM's history too, by the look of it. Aishwarya is already one of the junior members of Rasikas.org

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 13 Jan 2011, 20:34

well said arasi!
MS musical journey continues brilliantly.
We are grateful to cienu for being the instrument just like his grandpa who gave us MS!

uday_shankar · Post by **uday_shankar** » 14 Jan 2011, 05:16

cmlover wrote:Now I am lookng forward to Uday snooping out what line was being choreographed based on the ambience/postures/... and the stance of SVV in that picture...

Haha ! cmlji, that's a tought one, all the more since I don't know the song. Wonder what my brilliant colleague at the Chennai Photo Forensics, Cienu, has to say.

vs_manjunath · Post by **vs_manjunath** » 14 Jan 2011, 05:58

Cienu- Thanks for all these inputs.
In Balaji Panchartana Maala(Annamacharya Songs) sung by MS Amma,
Some of the songs were supposed to have set to music by Sri Venkataraman, I suppose this photo refers to the same music director ?

Ramasubramanian M.K · Post by **Ramasubramanian M.K** » 14 Jan 2011, 06:05

Cienu: What fond memories--YOU are doing a great service in bringing out your Mom's contribution to MS Amma 's legacy.Ask your Mom about the Ellis Duncan episode where he chided her during the Sakunthalai shooting for being distracted(there was a "road engine" the road roller that is used to lay asphalt roads)-- making one hell of a racket of noise outside the studio--Radha was fascinated and animated watching the Road engine (she was about 6 years old I think at that time)--Duncan trying to get a scene right after repeated problems of lighting etc finally gets set to roll the cameras when he spots Radha gazing outside instead of facing the camera--in frustration Duncan asks Radha "Radha What do you think you are doing" Radha without missing a beat promptly replies I am watching the Road Engine, bringing the entire studio crew including Duncan with laughter--the typical "chip of the Old(TS) block in terms of timely quips and repartees!!!

Re; her dance career-- I remember the first time-- i think it was in 1945/46--the FIRST time-RADHA AND ANANDI were to dance in Mumbai @ the special pandal at the Indian Gymkhana club in matunga --with MS Mami singing--what a double feautre-- the pandal was full and the gate collection set an unprecedented record-- I still remember(we have a pic in our archives) Radha's Malai Pozhudinele(with the Mohana Punnagai Dhan Purindan--brought Lord Murugha out---to this day Radha's Abhinayam set the Gold Standard--besides Kamala who I think is older to Radha by 2 years-- Ramiah Pillai's name and fame grew because of Radha executing his vision flawlessly. I also remember the issue of continuing the dance was debated and some "external" forces convinced Mama to stop the dance much to radha's chagrin--she was doing so well and enjoying --many a times I have rued the thought How much her own talent in Music and Dance had to be sacrificed to further Mami's career--Radha herself never has expressed the thought but having grown up with her and being witness to every event in her life I cannot but entertain the thought..
Radha herself is an excellent raconteur and Cienu please coax her to share some of her memories-she was extemely adept at steering Mami after a concert when the Rasikas would crowd around Mami(Mami would be polite and civil to the tiniest of tiny tots) Radha will acknowledge each admirer(who invariably will cite an inane episode to "jog" her memory and Radha would deftly nod in recognition--I knew she did not remember the trivial episode that the person was trying to jog her memory on-but the narrator would later be thrilled and recite this ad nauseum to their friends-by the time this exchange is completed Radha would have gently "ushered" Mami into the car without offending any of the sycophants milling around!!!l

Under the gravest of provocations within the family I have never seen Radha say anything even remotely harsh--she had remarkable poise and tact--she retained Mama's sense of humor without his "volcanic eruptions"--an excellent go-between between Mami and Mama.

Look forward to anecdotes from the "Horse's Mouth--Cienu please get going!!!

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 14 Jan 2011, 08:15

Welcome back MKR. With you and Radha we now have a double-barrelled gun (I mean fun

Do collaborate and fulfill our insatiable appetite for MS/TS/Family episodes...

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 14 Jan 2011, 08:17

Maybe start a new thread...

cienu · Post by **cienu** » 14 Jan 2011, 10:41

vs_manjunath wrote:Cienu- Thanks for all these inputs.
In Balaji Panchartana Maala(Annamacharya Songs) sung by MS Amma,
Some of the songs were supposed to have set to music by Sri Venkataraman, I suppose this photo refers to the same music director ?

vs_m : The Venkataraman you are referring to is Kadayanallur Venkataraman, a genius in his own right. Please find the link below:
http://www.hindu.com/fr/2004/02/20/stor ... 430400.htm

vgovindan · Post by **vgovindan** » 14 Jan 2011, 10:52

"We take to music because... Well, if you are the sort of person to whom I have to explain it, you will not understand it anyway."

Only a heart can speak to another heart - not words - essence of silence.

cienu · Post by **cienu** » 14 Jan 2011, 10:59

Absolutely right Sri VGV.

For those who may wonder from where the quote has come from, please read the last line in the link given in post # 34

vs_manjunath · Post by **vs_manjunath** » 14 Jan 2011, 11:58

Cienu- Thank U Very Much for the link.

cienu · Post by **cienu** » 14 Jan 2011, 18:19

Ramasubramanian M.K wrote: Re; her dance career-- I remember the first time-- i think it was in 1945/46--the FIRST time-RADHA AND ANANDI were to dance in Mumbai @ the special pandal at the Indian Gymkhana club in matunga --with MS Mami singing--what a double feautre-- the pandal was full and the gate collection set an unprecedented record--

Thank you Ramesh Mama for your kind words

With reference to the dance at the Indian Gymkhana Club, the program brochure is now part of the MSS tribute website. Rasikas can view this in the link below: (Total of 6 pages - Please keep clicking on the "next" button as you read)
http://www.msstribute.org/pageflip/arangetram.html

Ramasubramanian M.K · Post by **Ramasubramanian M.K** » 14 Jan 2011, 18:23

Cienu: Nice link! I had not seen it before--I remember your Grandmother lamenting KV's demise(she herself passed away 10 months later) and regretted that he had not amassed any wealth and how dedicated and selfless he was. I have been privileged to be around the long rehearsal sessions @ Valluvar Kottam house as well as Kotturpuram house-- the long "waits" he had to endure because your Mom had to be fetched from Kilpauk--the sessions were purely music related--no side /idle talk(he was a man of few words- a gentle smile of acknowledgement and a terse Ubhayakuchalobari(tete-a-tete) about when did you come, how long will you be staying -despite the interruptions of visitors(most of them unannounced) that held up the rehearsals,he would never get annoyed-- Your GrandMa had such high regard for him she used to lament how humble he is for the prodigious talent he had--he for his part thought it a privilege to tune songs for Mami--and rightfully so. He always ack Semmangudi Mama's role in getting an intro to your GrandMa(more on Semmangudi Mama's relationships with his Shishyas in the Seemangudi Saga --left adrift and to be revived soon!!).

Cienu: get more stories from your Mom how he went about the rehearsals--how unique his approach was --note the Dolayam(Khamas) how non-intrusive the Kakali Nishadam is in that piece-- or the cascading sangathi in Bhavayami Gopalam(Chathura Nagara or Paramapurusham)--KV will brim with pride at the execution of that sangathi(designed exclusively for Mami)-there are milions of artistes who can technically execute those brikas but NONE with the clarity devotion and spirit of Mami and as a tunesmith he was immensely satisfied that what he had put into the composition was so eloquently brought out!!!!

As an aside, Papanasam Sivan used to compliment DKJ on his execution of a Kapali or Nambi Kettavar saying he(Sivan) himself did not realise that there could be so much Bhavam in his compositions and how well DKJ brings them out-- Likewise GNB used to say how much Vasudevachar used to compliment him on rendering Brocheva(Khamas)--the rendering far exceeded his(Vasudevachar's) expectations when he composed the song. POINT: Composers/Tunesmiths are MOST satisfied when the presenter brings out ten-fold WHAT they had intended--KV was no exception

It was a Dream Association--the KV-MSS--millions are singing Kurai Onrum Illai(some of them adding their own needless spirit-draining sangathis) BUT NONE can come close to the original!!

WHAT A GREAT ARTIST AND WHAT A GREAT TUNESMITH--POSTERITY WILL THANK THE DUO FOR THE LEGACY THEY HAVE LEFT BEHIND!!!

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 14 Jan 2011, 22:04

Isn't there a story that MV was stunned to hear MS rendering Brocheva the first time and with tears in his eyes he thanked God for the inspiration for that composition! Does anyone know the complete story( the time an place)? I gues it was released on the vinyl subsequently...