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TMS songs for Sivaji and MGR

Topic started by RajaG (@ 207.43.195.201) on Thu Jan 28 13:23:31 EST 1999.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

Many people have told me that, in their opinion, TMS modulated his voice, style differently to suit the voice/action etc. of MGR vs. Sivaji. In fact there is a hypothesis floating around that if one listens to a TMS song, one could easily detect if it has been rendered for Sivaji or MGR. I have listened to many songs by TMS and have not found any distinctive indications. I think most people who 'discover' the distinction, already possess the information about the movie, actors etc., and then conclude that somewhow TMS brought about a difference in the song.

Any comments on my observation ?

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Responses:

• From: SM (@ 208.236.83.26) on: Thu Jan 28 17:11:16 EST 1999
  
  
  RajaG,
  
  I beg to differ. I feel TMS modulated his voice for different actors, and this will look quite obvious in case the actors are Sivaji or MGR. I feel he was a 'perfect' example of a great playback singer and soon SPB followed in his footsteps but with a different style. You can also distinguish SPB's voice whether it is for Rajni or Kamal or "Mike" Mohan. When I first listened to the song 'muthukkalo kangal' ("Nenjirukkum Varai"), I hadn't seen the film yet, and in fact, I didn't have any idea about which film has this song also, but I could figure out certain mannerisms of "Shivaji" Ganesan by just listening to the song itself. And then I came to know about the movie, I could find out certain mannerisms of "Shivaji" which exactly matched with what I had imagined also. Similar is the case, when I listened to "andru vandhadhum adhae nila', for MGR. I can quote similar examples for SPB also when he sings for Rajni or Kamal or Mohan.
  
  
• From: SM (@ 208.236.83.26) on: Thu Jan 28 17:14:46 EST 1999
  
  Hi,
  
  In continuation with my previous posting, when TMS sings for MGR, there will be some extra pace in the song like how a dynamic character like MGR will sing and when he sings for "Shivaji", the pace will slow down and the voice will be more "expressive". So TMS not only modulated the voice so that it can suit that particular actor but also he saw to it that it suited the character, which the particular actor portrays, also. That is why, I feel TMS was a trend-setter in playback singing and he is the best example of a perfect playback singer.
  
  
• From: rajaG (@ 207.43.195.202) on: Thu Jan 28 17:55:03 EST 1999
  
  SM,
  
  Keep in mind that the MDs composed different types of songs for Sivaji vs. MGR. Firstly, MGR did not have too many of the classical based songs for eg. Madhavi Pon Mayilaal, Paattum NaanEy, etc.Second, Sivaji had more emotion flowing songs like Poo mudippaaL indha, Ammammaa thambi endru nambi, etc. whereas MGR had more happy, life's cool type of romantic solos and duet.
  
  My point is the difference was established by the MDs and the lyricists even before it got to TMS's hands (or throat). I still feel thet TMS did not do anything different for the actor playing the role per se. Let's take another example - ponnondru kandEn peNNangu illai (TMS&PBS). TMS emotes as if he is crying/lamenting whereas the situation of the song doesn't warrant that kind of emotion (especially 'naan paarththa peNNai nee paarkka villai').
  
  Actually we should come up with a list of say 10 similar category of songs (say classical based)for both Sivaji and MGR and give it to a person who does not know who the actor is, and find out of they can find a perceivable difference.
  
  SPB showed the difference in 'engeyum eppodhum' vs. 'namma ooru singaari'. Nowadays he doesn't even get a chance to establish his contribution to the difference through style. The lyrics for Rajni like oruvan oruvan, autokkaaran, arunachalam naanthaanda are dead giveaways that nothing is left for the singer to add a subtle difference in style.
  
  
  
  
• From: SM (@ 208.236.83.26) on: Thu Jan 28 20:17:17 EST 1999
  
  
  RajaG,
  
  I also accept that the MDs composed different types of tunes for "Shivaji" Ganesan and MGR. As I said earlier, it is the job of the playback singer to bring the modulation in his voice that will suit the singer and the situation. And, TMS brought a lot of expression and emotion while singing for the former while for MGR, he didn't have to stress to hard. In certain songs, I couldn't find the difference like 'kan pona pokkilae kaal pogalaama' in which TMS has tried quite hard to differentiate his voice for MGR. I still get the feeling that it is a "Shivaji" song.
  
  Hear to "adho andha paravai pola vaazha vaendum" ('Aayirathil Oruvan') and you can see that TMS voice suits MGR. Hear to "silar azhuvaar silar sirippaar" (Film : Paava Mannippu?) and you can say it is a "Shivaji" song without seeing the film. There are always some exceptions but in most of the cases I think one will be able to differentiate his songs.
  
  Regarding the 'pennondru kandaen song', I feel that the tune itself is like that, which makes you feel that TMS is crying/lamenting. Anyway, I feel that the tune itself didn't fit the situation 100%.
  
  
• From: rajaG (@ pool020-dwan1x2.800.dialup.earthlink.net) on: Fri Jan 29 03:37:59 EST 1999
  
  Regarding peNNondru kandEn I disagree. PBS paadarachchEy azharamaari illaiyE. IMHO even muththukkaLo kangaL kooda avar romba sumaara paadiyirukkiraar - especially the line 'vaazhai thOraNa mELaththOdu'.
  
  
• From: rajba (@ socks1b.rochester.ibm.com) on: Fri Jan 29 14:35:35 EST 1999
  
  TMS oru trend setter dhan.. Mookala epdi padardhu
  nu trend set pannar.. Thats being followed by
  people like Kumar Shanu these days!!!
  
  
• From: raja (@ spider-te031.proxy.aol.com) on: Fri Jan 29 22:42:44 EST 1999
  
  rajba:
  
  One more singer in TFM who also mookala padinaar and acted was Kamalahasan ..
  
  
• From: k p subramanian (@ ) on: Sun May 12 14:27:55 EDT 2002
  
  rajba i'm really surprised you are so deaf to a the Voice. how can you say, tms sings through the nose. perhaps his is the only male voice in tamil film industry. Even when he reaches octave he maintains his poise.
  about modulation, listen to his songs with an open mind. from the first note, you can catch the mood of the song and each of word it, unlike the so called great singers of yours.
  sorry if i had hurt your feelings
  
  

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