Sunday, November 22, 2009

NALLA MANAM VAAZHGA - ORU OODHAPOO KAN SIMITUGIRADHU




Saravanan writes:
23.12.2014
I watched as birthdays and death anniversaries of so many artistes were commemorated and remembered in Facebook this month… It is sad that the late Dakshinamoorthi’s Swami’s birth anniversary on December 9 passed unnoticed.. Let us set right this unjust slight…
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How excellent to bear into old age
The poet’s ardor and the heart of youth;
To keep to the last sleep the vow of truth,
And leave to lands that grieve a glowing page!
- Florence Earle Coates (Tennyson)
In the august assembly that had gathered for the release of Ilaiyaraja’s Tiruvasagam in Symphony in 2005, not many noticed a frail old man seated unobtrusively on the dais. But when he was called upon to release the ‘Making of the Album’, he became the focus of attention that brief glittering moment.
It was the same gentleman who had the happy privilege of releasing M.S.Viswanathan’s biography the previous year, and the legendary Naushad appeared overcome with emotion as he received the first copy at the hands of Venkateswara Dakshinamoorthi, the beloved doyen of music, venerated by all music directors of the south.
V. Dakshinamoorthi, called respectfully as ‘Swami’ by the film faternity, was born on 9 December 1919 in Aalapuzha to Venkateswara Aiyer and Parvathi Ammal. By just listening to his mother and sister sing, Swami mastered 27 Tyagaraja Kritis when he barely 6 years old. Later, with formal training under Guru Venkatachalam Pothi, Swami gave his first public concert when he was 13 years old. He came to Madras in 1942 to participate in an All India Radio programme. The first movie that Swami composed music for was the 1948 Malayalam film ‘Nalla Thanka’. Thereafter, Swami strode Malayalam Film Music like a colossus, reining supreme there as the pioneering patriarch for over 4 decades.
Swami’s first Tamil film was K & K Combines' 'Jeevitha Nowka' directed by K.Vembu that was made simultaneously in Malayalam and Tamil in 1951. Shot at Udaya Studios, the film had Thikkurusi Sukumaran Nair, B.S.Saroja, Sebastian Kunju Kunju Bagavathar and Pankajavalli in its cast. Under pressure from the producers to adopt popular Hindi tunes, Swami had to come out with numbers such as ‘Joraaga uduthen naane’ by P.Leela based on Lata’s ‘Hawa mein udutha jaaye’ and ‘Sahayam yaarum allada’ by Tiruchi Loganathan, based on Rafi’s ‘Suhaani Raat dal chuki’. Vanaraniye, a soft romantic number sung by Mehboob & P.Leela was the popular number in the album.
Swami’s next Tamil film was 'Amma', released in 1952, also directed by K.Vembu. The film was produced simultaneously in Tamil & Malayalam by T.E.Vasudevan under his Associated Producers banner. The film had Thikkurusi Sukumaran Nair, Lalitha, B.S.Saroja, Shantakumari and others in its cast. Swami’s songs such as ‘Idhai yaarodum’ by T.A. Mothi & Gananamma David, ‘Ammave deivam ulaginile’ by Jikki and ‘Varuvaai aasai kiliye’ by Gokulapalan & Jikki found popularity and were aired regularly by Radio Ceylon.
Swami’s next Tamil venture was again Associated Producers’ TE Vasudevan’s Tamil- Malayalam bilingual titled 'Aashadeepam' in Malayalam & 'Aasaimagan' in Tamil. Released in 1953, the film starred Gemini Ganesh, Padmini, Sathyan & B.S.Saroja. Lyrics were by Kuyilan. The lilting A.M.Raja- P.Leela duet ‘Odam eri sendre’ and Jikki’s ebullient solo’ gramathin idhayame’ are unforgettable songs composed by Swami in this forgotten movie.
We next find Swami in the 1959 movie ‘Arumai Magal Abirami’, produced and directed by V.Krishnan under the banner Aravind Pictures with Prem Nazir & Rajasulochana in the lead. The lovely PB Srinivas- P.Susheela duet ‘Thanga niram idazh sempavazham’ composed by Swami was very popular at the time. ‘Inai solla mudiyaatha’ by Seergazhi Govindarajan, ‘Nalla pillai endru solli’ by Ravu Balasarsawathi and ‘Joraana kattazhagu penne’ by Jamunarani were the other noteworthy songs in the album.
It was only in 1968 that another Tamil film came Swami’s way. And that too because it was a remake of the Malayalam magnum opus 'Kavya Mela' in which Swami’s music was the scintillating mainstay. Titled ‘Devi’, produced & directed by A.K.Velan under his Arunachalam Pictures banner, the film had Muthuraman playing a visually impaired singer and Devika as his pair. The obscure Palladam Manickam wrote the lyrics for the Tamil songs. The videos of the songs are not available anywhere. I have uploaded short audio clips here:
Thithikkum Muthamizhe:
http://youtu.be/WEm7vtUL52s


Chinna Kuzhandhai:
http://youtu.be/lN5BfoRq2Ec

Swami then composed music for Vinayaka Films’ Jeevanaadi starring Ravichandran & Lakshmi, directed by A.K.Subramaniam. Listen to this lovely Yesudas- Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi duet composed by Swami.

Ramya Cine Arts’ ‘Oru Oothappoo Kan Simmitugirathu’ produced by S.Sankaran and directed by SP. Muthuraman was the next Tamil movie that had songs composed by Swami. Based on a story by Pushpa Thangadurai, the film starring Kamalhasan, Sujatha & Vijayakumar had some memorable songs. Lyrics were by Kannadasan, Kovai Kumaradevan & Ira Pazhanichami. Though ‘Nalla manam vaazhga’ sung by Yesudas was the most popular song from the film, the brooding ‘Aandava illa ulagamedhu’ is my pick…with Swami at the helm and TMS & Vani Jairam as the crooners for the fisherfolk, the salt-laden breeze acquires a dreamy mystique…

The next year, the Vijayakumar-Sumitra starrer 'Nanda En Nila' came out with Swami’s music. Produced again by S.Sankaran under the same Ramya Cine Arts Banner and directed by A.Jaganathan, the movie had some outstanding songs composed by Swami. While ‘Oru Kaathal samrajyam kannil varainthaal’ sung by Jayachandran & T.K.Kala brings to pulsating life the vibrant verses of Na.Kamarasan, the title song ‘Nanda nee en nila’ is the jewel in the crown, where Ira.Pazhanichami’s lines capture the iridescent hues of Madhuvanthi on Swami’s canvas.. SP. Balasubramaniam croons and cajoles, woos and wins… Swami’s most popular Tamil composition, a timeless treasure…

What a song! Even if this were the only song that Swami had composed in Tamil, he would merit a magnificent mention in the annals of Tamil film music on the strength of this exquisite wonder alone…
The story of Aadi Shankarar was told with arresting detail on celluloid as ‘Jagad Guru Aadi Shankarar’ in Malayalam directed by P.Bhaskaran. The movie was dubbed and released in Tamil in 1977 under the banner Sri Kaladevi Art Films. Muralimohan played the role of Shankarar. Kannadasan wrote the lyrics for the songs, going the extra mile to translate Baja Govindam into Tamil. Swami’s outstanding compositions such as ‘Baja Govindam’, ‘Aatmagyana devan’ “Tripurasundari’- all sung by Yesudas & ‘Kumudathin malar thannai’ sung by Janaki added immense value to the well crafted movie. Listen to a short clip of the eternally uplifting Baja Govindam..

Swami’s next Tamil album was ‘Oru Koyil Iru Deepangal’ produced by S.Sankaran under the banner Lalithapriya and released in 1979. Directed by SP. Muthuraman, the film had new faces Sundar, LIC Narasimhan and Saroja in its cast. The film sank without a trace, but Swami’s songs such the mischief-filled’ Muthu Muthu punnagaye’ by SP. Balasubramaniam & P. Susheela and the philosophical ‘Endha paathai enege payanam’ by Yesudas found fleeting air time.
The last Tamil movie to come out with Swami’s music was ‘Bhaktha Hanuman’ , dubbed from Malayalam and released in 1980. Swami had filled the album with brilliant compostions soaked in piety such as ‘Rama Rama Rama’ and ‘Rama Jayam SriRamaJayam’ by Yesudas, ‘Inge idhayam paadidum ragam’ by Vani Jairam, and ‘Sarithira Nayaga’ by P.Susheela.
To sing the rare Thyagaraja Krithi ‘Sudha Madhurya’ along with Janaki set in Sindhuramakriya for the 1986 film 'Maragatha Veenai', Ilaiyaraja requested his beloved Swami to do the honours, and the benevolent patriarch willingly obliged.

The Sri Krishna Temple at Guruvayoor heralds the dawn with Melpathur Narayana Bhatathiri’s Narayaneeyam, set to music by Swami and sung by P.Leela. Swami has written numerous devotional songs as well; he has even written a book of Tamil devotional songs titled ‘Aathma Deepam’. And as an acclaimed teacher, Swami’s list of celebrity disciples includes names ranging from N.C.Vasantakokilam and P.Leela to Ilaiyaraja and Bhavatharini.
Awards and accolades, though meriting no significance in the spiritual realm that Swami dwelt in, are too many to enumerate. The ‘Ganarcharya’ title (conferred by the renowned Sanskrit scholar Dr. K.P.Narayana Pisharady), the ‘Gayakaratna’ title (given by His Highness Padmanabha Dasa Uthradom Tirunal Marthanda Varma, under the auspices of the illustrious Sri Swati Thirunal Sangita Sabha), the Kamukkara Award, the Abhayadev Award, the ‘Sangeetha Saraswathi’ title are the ones that readily come to mind. A musician, musicologist and a music director, Swami’s accomplishments are indeed varied and numerous.
Despite living and working in Madras, and ruling the Malayalam film music world, only 11 Tamil films spread over 4 decades came Swami’s way. However, he breathed his life and soul into his works, which sing a song of eternal melody.
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In the late 80s, I used to frequent a video library called ‘Harini Videos’ in V.M.Street near my house. They had a decent collection of movies from the 70s, which I used to rent for their memorable songs. Once I asked for Nanda En Nila, and when the owner said that they didn’t have it, I asked for Oru Koyil Iru Deepangal. The owner, as was his wont, grumbled good naturedly on the never-heard-of movies that I seemed to want (Till the last I saw of him in 1990-91, he wouldn’t believe that there was a movie called Thunai Iruppaal Meenakshi!) and as I was leaving the library, a person who was sitting and chatting with the owner asked me why I wanted those two movies in particular. I explained to him about their common factor- Dakshinamoorthi’s wonderful music, and then spoke at length about Dakshinamoorthi’s works in Tamil. Imagine my embarrassment when at the end, the gentleman who had been listening to me so far with an indulgent smile, introduced himself amusedly as Dakshinamoorthi’s son!
Another experience was thrilling, to say the least. In the late 90s, a journalist/writer was tracing the life and times of TFM greats as a series in a magazine. Though much elder to me, he had become a good friend, bound as we were by a common passion for film music. We used to spend hours discussing the artistes and their works, and listening to their songs. One Saturday, I was listening to ‘Aandavan illa ulagamedhu’ and it struck me that my friend hadn’t written about Dakshinamoorthi yet. I gathered my collection of Dakshinamoorthi’s songs and hurried to his house. When I told him my desire, his eyes widened in amazement- for he had just returned from meeting Dakshinamoorthi Swami and was intending to write about him!
And a few years later, I caught a glimpse of the venerable Swami. Slight in build, spartan and simple in his attire, and though he seemed feeble due to his advanced years, he was erect in his bearing and majestic in his gait. I saw him from a distance at the inner sanctum of the Kapaleeswarar temple one evening, and gazed at him with wonder. As the lights from the lamps danced on his face, Swami, with his eyes closed in prayer, reflected an inner glow and serenity that reposed as a halo over his person.
Imagine my excitement, when good friend Ragapravaham Sundar (who else!) suggested that we go meet Swami in November 2010! I jumped with joy at the prospect and we visited Swami at his residence in Mylapore. Swami greeted us with old-world courtesy, treated us with utmost kindness and spoke to us animatedly at length on his various and varied experiences. An wry sense of humour that peeped in at unexpected intervals revealed his fun loving side. His eyes lit up when I helped him with some lines of a song that he was trying to recall. He sang some lines from few of his songs in the course of the conversation.... what a fine, stately voice he had, even at that age! His wife Smt. Kalyani and daughter Smt. Gomathishri joined the conversation... they ensured that we felt at home and were gracious in their hospitality. As we parted, we took the blessings of Swami. By a happy coincidence, it happened to be my birthday that day, and I felt an inexplicable rapture settle on me as we took leave of that divine soul.
Swami passed away on 2 August 2013 at the ripe age of 92. Co-incidentally it was on that very morning that a detailed article on him was published in the Hindu.. a quirky twist of fate indeed!
This August, as I had said earlier, Sundar wished to celebrate the 25th year of Ragapravaham by presenting a special program. He wanted to present some not so frequently heard composers. He took 3 for himself, and allotted me 3. And in my lot fell Swami.
Swami’s wife Smt. Kalyani, his daughter Gomathishri and their family attended the program. After I completed my presentation on Swami, Smt. Gomathishri came on stage and spoke few kind words in appreciation. She said that she was deeply moved that her father and his works were presented in such detail.
I was in the corridor outside the hall as Swami’s family was leaving. His grandson thanked me for the segment on Swami. Smt. Kalyani then held out her hands and as I clasped them, her moist eyes spoke the volumes that her lips left unsaid.... I was overwhelmed by emotion… Swami was smiling from above…
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