This is a super hit song with a cult classic status from the movie Konjum Salangai starring Gemini Ganesan, Savithri and others. The music for this movie had been composed by one of the great music directors of the yesteryears S M Subbaiah Naidu. The song was written by the famous yet unsung lyricist Ku Ma Balasubramaniam who has also written such famous songs as Aadaatha Manamum, Yaaradi Nee Mohini, Kunguma Poove, Chithiram Pesithadi to name a few. There were quite a few legends in Tamil Cinema prior to the period of dominance by MSV and Kannadhasan. This song also showcases the talent of the legendary Nadaswaram Exponent Karukurichi P Arunachalam and has been composed as sort of a duet between his talented exploitation of the divine instrument and S Janaki. The effortless way in which Savithri has lip 'synced' this difficult song is a lesson in acting to all modern day actresses. The simple reason why the song has come out so well and has reached a cult classic status is because it has been dedicated to Lord Muruga the god of balance and harmony (swaram) and has received his blessings in full! The song also features Gemini and others.
Showing posts with label Savithri. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Savithri. Show all posts
The First Illusion of Moonlight in Indian Cinema! - Super Hit Movie from 1957
This song is from the super hit movie Maya Bazaar released in the year 1957 simultaneously in Tamil and Telugu. The movie ran for 100 days in 24 theatres and eventually became a Silver Jubilee hit hitting the 25 weeks mark. The movie had stellar performances by its entire cast notable among them being S V Raga Rao as Kadothgajan, Gemini as Abhimanyu, NTR as Krishna, M N Nambiar as Sakuni, Savithri as Vathsala and Thangavelu as Lakana Kumaran. The story is an adaptation of the Telugu folk tale 'Sasirekha Parinayam' based on Mahabaratha. The story's one-liner is as follows - Krishna and Kadothgaja plot and work together to unite Abhimanyu, Arjuna and Subadhra's son with Vathsala (Sasirekha) who is the daughter of Balarama, against the wishes of the Kauravas and Balarama. It seems NTR had been reluctant initially to play the role of Krishna! But we know what happened after that and how NTR etched himself eternally into the minds of the South Indian Cine Audience as the living image of Krishna! This particular song is apparently the first film sequence to have shown the Illusion of Moonlight in Indian Cinema and was shot by the famous Anglo-Indian Cinematographer Marcus Bartley who has several hit movies to his credit. The songs of this movie were written by Thanjai Ramaiah Dass and music was composed by Ghantasala. Enjoy this song and the illusion of moonlight filmed so beautifully with the limited facilities available those days.
Five Decades and Five Hundred Movies! From the Streets of Pazhani to Super Stardom! The Starting Point of an Illustrious Career!
K R Vijaya played the lead role, as heroine, in her 1963 debut film Karpagam, directed by K. S. Gopalakrishnan. K R Vijaya has expressed her gratefulness to K S Gopalakrishnan in several interviews and has credited him to be her mentor and Guru. Incidentally Gopalakrishnan had also directed her 100th film Nathaiyil Muthu.K R Vijaya has starred in more than 500 films in all the South Indian languages, including 100 films each in Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu, a few films in Kannada, and one in Hindi titled Oonche Log (1965along with Raj Kumar and Feroz Khan. The movie was based on K . Balachander's play and movie Major Chandrakant. She had received many offers in Hindi, but had not accepted them as she had been busy in the South.
Between her debut in 1963 and her marriage in 1966, she acted as heroine in films like Ninaivil Nindraval, Thenmazhai, Ooty Varai Oravu, Patanathil Bhootham,Server Sundaram, Kandan Karunai, Paladai, Anarkali, Idhayakamalam and Manam Oru Korungu. She did 3 films Thazhampoo, Vivasayee and Panam Padaithavan opposite M.G.Ramachandran and played supporting roles in Naan Aanaiyittal. She got married at the peak of her career in 1967. At the insistence of Aroordas the famous script writer she made her comeback in 1968 (Source).
After 1968, post her re-entry she had frequently starred with Gemini Ganesan, Sivaji Ganesan, Jaishankar, Muthuraman and other leading actors of that period. she had also done three movies with MGR during that time. Her most popular and well received pairing had been with Sivaji and had gone on to star with him in close to 50 movies during her illustrious career. This song is from her debut movie Karpagam featuring Gemini and herself. The song has been sung by P Susheela. Music by Viswanathan Ramamoorthy and written by Vaali for whom this movie had been the biggest break and a turning point in his career.
He is One! He is Everything! Divine Explanation and Symbolic Representation of the Concept of Marriage!
This is an all-time great hit song from the movie Thiruvilayadal starring Sivaji Ganesan, Savithri, Nagesh, Muthuraman, Devika, Manorama and others. This song has been monumentalized by K B Sundarambal through her profound rendition of the lyrics in her unique and dazzling voice! If there ever is a voice that could be called dazzling it is surely hers without any doubt! If the rendition is brilliant, the lyrics by Kannadasan is nothing short of an illustration of outstanding intellectual and creative accomplishment! The song begins with Avvaiyaar singing in praise of Lord Shiva. At the behest of Goddess Parashakthi, Avvaiyaar sings the praise of Lord Shiva in numbers, describing Him as the One and Everything in this Universe. He is the One, The Duality of Matter and Energy as Ardhanaareeshwara, Three Forms of Tamil (Iyal, Isai and Naatakam), The Four Vedas, The Five Elements, The Six Different Types of Tastes, Seven Svaras (Musical Notes), Eight Siddhis (Ashtamaa Siddhi), Nine Emotions (Navarasa Vithaanavan), He is Timeless (Mutraadhavan), He is the Core, He is Limitless, Boundless and the Beginning (Moola Mudhalaanavan), He the Mahaa Kaalaa is Timeless and Neutral to the Past, Present and the Future, (Munnaikkum Pinnaikum Naduvaanavan).
Now comes the part of the divine explanation of marriage. He stands tall as man and woman in unison (Aanaahi Pennaahi Nindraanavan) symbolically implying that both man and woman become one when married (Avai Ondru Thaan Endru Sonnaanavan) He stood as the Ardhanareeshwara, the symbolic representation of marriage. This it to indicate that marriage is an institution that is built on the foundation of the intricate and inseparably interwoven fabric, in equal measure of Binding Feminine Energy and Substantial Manhood Materiality! (Saripaathi Penmaikku Thanthaanavan). Matter and energy are one and are meant to stay that way. So is the single entity of the Married Couple wherein man and woman are one and are meant to stay that way in the lifelong journey! Kudos to Kannadasan to have brought out this profound concept in such simple words! One can notice the glow of warmth and comfort as an aura in couples who have been united blissfully for long in a marriage based on this kind of oneness and an intricately interwoven relationship based on affection, faith and trust! (Anbin Oliyaaghi Nindraanavan). Divine composition as usual by KVM. The acting part deserves a separate post! Truly!
Auspicious First Song! Super Hit First Movie! Starting Point of A Phenomenal Acting Career!
This is Kamal Hassan's first movie and first song, marking the beginning of a phenomenal and illustrious film career spanning over six decades and going strong even now! Kalathur Kannama is a Tamil romantic drama film starring Gemini, Savithri, Kamal and others. Gemini Ganesan meets Savithri in a Train and falls in love with her. Savithri is the daughter of S V Subbaiah who works for Balaiah. Balaiah the father of Gemini who is opposed to his son marrying beneath his status, convinces Savithri to leave the village. Savithri gives birth to a baby boy, who is however left at an Orphanage by her dad Subbaiah. Finally, Balaiah reveals the truth to Gemini Ganesan and he reunites with Savithri. There have been varying accounts of the story regarding Kamal Hassan's entry into this film: V. S. Srinivasan of Rediff once said that young Hassan had accompanied a doctor who had gone to treat an ill woman at the residence of A V Meiyappan. On hearing a loud noise from a first-floor tenant of the bungalow, the doctor was concerned that it was disturbing his patient. Young Kamal Hassan strode up the stairway to ask the noisemaker (AVM) not to shout over the phone as he was disturbing someone who was ill, leaving the person astonished. An impressed Meiyappan later provided Kamal Hassan an entry into films through this movie. However, the other version is that when Hassan accompanied a family doctor of Meiyappan to his house, Meiyappan's son, producer M. Saravanan noticed Hassan as a hyperactive and bold child. He took him over and introduced young Kamal Hassan to his dad Meiyappan who was looking for a young boy to act in Kalathur Kannamma. The rest as they say is history! Six Decades and more to come of a phenomenal acting and movie career! Music: R. Sudarsanam, Direction: A. Bhimsingh. Lyrics: Vaali, Singer: M S Rajeswari.
Actress Par Excellence! The Female Sivaji of Tamil Cinema!
Savithri was one of the few actresses who were able to share screen space with Sivaji and match his performance and dialogue delivery along with impeccable diction on par with him. It is hard to believe that her native language and mother tongue was Telugu and not Tamil! Be it her effortless portrayal of the character of an young school teacher during her early days in Missiamma or her transformation at will into Sakthi and Saraswathi in Thiruvilayadal and Saraswathi Sabatham during the later stages in her career, what stood out was her outstanding ability to connect with the audience through her performances. Her performance in Maya Bazaar, matching and at times over shadowing the performances of S V Ranga Rao, Gemini Ganesan, M N Nambiar, Thangavelu and others confirmed her as a Legendary Actress and rightfully earning her the title Nadigayar Thilagam. Her own production and maiden directorial venture Praptham in which she paired with Sivaji in spite of having received critical acclaim did not do well at the box office. Her performance in Pasa Malar as Sivaji's sister is part of the folk lore, history and legend of Tamil Cinema. She exhibited her flair for comedy in several movies and this song is one such performance of hers in a guest role in the movie Vallavanukku Vallavan.
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