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Un/Under Recogized Gems of IR in the '90s

Topic started by Krishna (@ 170.philadelphia-01-02rs.pa.dial-access.att.net) on Thu May 18 01:17:34 EDT 2000.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

In this thread, I want to highlight some of the songs from IR in the '90s which are brilliant but have in my opinion gone unrecognized because of the popularity of the movies. I would frequently play these songs to my friends who would not have heard of these movies before and they will be absolutely impressed by these songs. Pls. join in to contribute to this list.

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Responses:

• Old responses
  
• From: vijay (@ 68.16.25.50) on: Tue Aug 17 14:55:36 EDT 2004
  
  Purv, dont try mapping songs like "undhanain paadal" to a raga. The song is so diluted off the raga flavor with its flat notes it just becomes a meaningless exercise.
  -------------------------
  Here are a few for this thread:
  
  Alai Meedhu - kaadhal kavidhai - One of the best orchestral melodies since the mid-nineties. IR would have been sentenced to life for choosing Bhava to sing this song if ever there was a court for music-related crimes. A short song with vintage orchestration and a rarely used 5-beat cycle that was left off the film. Shame on the director.
  
  Vanna chindhu vandhu Vilayaadum - a wonderful folkish tune, better than "Aala pol" from Yejamaan(I am comparing these two because of the slight similiarities in scale/orchestration). One of the best tunes from IR in the early-to-mid nineties. Unfortunately neither Mano nor an aging SJ added any value to this tune through their renditions.
  
  Munnam seidha dhavam(SPB,SJ)- Vanaja Girija - although Unnai edhirpaarthen was the more popular song, this is a better composition considering everything. Once again, wasted on a dud film.
  
  IvaL yaaro - Raajavin paarvayil - wonderful song with a Ghatam backing. Arunmozhi mauls it but still enjoyable.
  
  Vennilavil - Adhiradipadai - a pleasant slow-moving well rendered romantic duet by SPB, Chitra
  
  kaadhal nilaave - MaNikuyil - once again a pretty decent melody wasted by Arunmozhi.
  
  Maargazhi maasam & enakku ULLadhellam - Vietnam Colony -One of the overlooked albums of IR in the mid-nineties. It had atleast 3 good songs including the debut song of Bombay Jayashree, a wonderful devotional "kaiveeNaiyai" in Hameer Kalyani. The 2 songs that I mentioned both have Swarnalatha as the singer thankfully(the first song is just a killer) and she is just a delight to listen to, one of the best finds in the late 80s/early 90s.
  
  Others worthy of discussion:
  
  Therkke veesum, Mouna raagam - KolangaL(another overlooked album, the latter song set in a rare raga)
  Azhagaana nam paandi, Manam pola maangalyam - Pudhupatti Ponnuthaayi
  Un kaadhalan -Nannum oru indhian - an enchanting number once again pulled down by Bhava. UnniK salvages the rest of the song
  Poongatrile - Paattu paadava -'nuff said
  Solladha raagangal - a forgotten vintage SPB-SJ number from Mahanadhi
  and many more...
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• From: purv (@ ) on: Fri Aug 27 17:02:16 EDT 2004
  
  Sorry Vijay. Just that I'm in the habit.
  
  I wish the songs from 'Puthuppatti Ponnuthaayi' were available on the net somewhere....
  
  
• From: purv (@ ) on: Mon Sep 27 21:57:32 EDT 2004
  
  I have more to add.
  
  'Muthu There There' is a divine melody in Kalyani, from Paarvathi Ennai Paaradi. The film also had 'Suriyaana Kandathum,' with fabulous WCM touches.
  
  'Maruthaani Charedutha' from Ilaiyaragam, mentioned earlier in this thread, is a fabulous hip song, as is the case with the other songs in this film (including 'Pattikkaattu'!) But this song gets my prize for best song of the album.
  
  'Aadi Sivan Tholirukkum' from Kadavul is a song very unbecoming of late 90s IR. It is based on Hamsanandhi raagam, a rarity for IR post-80s songs! I could care less Bhavatharini's the singer!! This is probably THE best song she's sung, I'd say! The interludes are super brilliant.
  
  In Puthuppatti Ponnuthaayi, 'Madhurai Vaazhum Meenaakshiye' is a song that grows on you the more you listen to it. I devoured this song for two reasons: 1> it is one of the very few songs Unnimenon sang under IR, and 2> it is set to Aarabhi raagam (one of my 'pet' raagas). It is way different from 'Sandhakkavigal Paadidum' and 'Mannavane Mannavane' wherein Aarabhi had light usage, and more like 'Aasai Kiliye' and 'Nattu Vatcha Rosa Chedi' with classical usage of the raaga. I love those pieces with that percussion instrument in the first interlude(what's it called?? It was also used in 'Poongaatre Theendhaathe' and 'Naan Oru Ponnoviyam Kanden'. It has a deep, rich sound.)
  
  
• From: Shyam (@ 24.148.77.119) on: Mon Sep 27 22:30:58 EDT 2004
  
  How about all the songs in "Kaadhal Rojave"? Especially "Chinna Vennila Saayndhadhe.." (Unni??) and "Ilavenir (??) idhu vaigasi maasam"..(SPB). Not a geek with Raagas, but if somebody could tell me the raaga for Chinna vennila sayndhadhey i would appreciate it. It was such a soothing melody.
  
  
• From: Gyan (@ 68.75.54.10) on: Mon Sep 27 23:16:19 EDT 2004
  
  2 unconventional songs of IR i heard recently only. Roja Ondru Ullangayil Poothathu in O Maane Maane - that pallavi just has the most unexpected twist i'ever heard. i think Rahman' July Maadham vanthaal guitar sounds is a highly inspired take on this song.
  
  no. 2 is: Siru Kanavugal in Nizhal Thedum Nenjangal..... spectacular romantic duet with jazz sounds....
  
  
• From: Suresh. C (@ 202.158.31.135) on: Tue Sep 28 00:13:10 EDT 2004
  
  Dear Mr Vijay,
  
  Vanna chindu vandhu vilayaada is from which film??
  
  
• From: T (@ 12.33.141.41) on: Tue Sep 28 09:09:56 EDT 2004
  
  Suresh,
  Vanna chindu vandhu is from Kovil Kaalai
  
  
• From: Gyan (@ 68.75.54.10) on: Tue Sep 28 21:46:19 EDT 2004
  
  anyone knows of this late 70s IR song from which movie? avagai malargal SJ with MV' voice (+guitar ,flute) in interludes? fast song and begins almost like Malligai Poovukkul (in Maganey Maganey)
  
  Thanks.
  
  
• From: ahi (@ 203.110.29.199) on: Wed Sep 29 00:09:34 EDT 2004
  
  i just recently picked up some old cd's in the sale bin ( some real treasures in there), the store owner must have not know th true value of these rare songs, amongst them all was the song:
  
  Raaagm azhaithu vandha geetham : sung by Chitra , and Bombay Jayshree, the music was credited to Ilaiyaraja, and directed by KR. there was another song immediatly after that, that was sung by Ilaiyaraja himself, but no mention of Movie name.
  
  anyone have any clues ?, the cd cover has Veneeth and some unknown face on the cover
  
  
• From: thumburu (@ 83.89.145.50) on: Wed Sep 29 14:12:19 EDT 2004
  
  Hi IR fans, there is another decent melody from an obscure film 'thodarum' a 1999 release . It is "ammaa ammaa thalli nillu" ,
  sung well by SPB + Chitra. The song situation seems to be a mixture of sensuality and some pathos. IR has used sivaranjini scale for this song.Though I would not club this song with IR's greats, nevertheless, it is a good melody.
  Purv, I would like to know from where did you get to listen to these rare songs which you have quoted?
  
  
• From: purv (@ 137.140.142.87) on: Wed Sep 29 14:24:01 EDT 2004
  
  I downloaded 'em from coolgoose.com.
  
  
• From: thumburu (@ 83.89.145.50) on: Sat Oct 2 14:46:58 EDT 2004
  
  Iam really moved by few songs from Kaadhal jaadhi like 'kaathe kaathe' which encapsulates the beautiful simhendramadhyamam raaga, the soft, caressing melody 'manase manase' and the simple yet melodious 'kanni maaru kovilile'. The most striking feature is the extensive use of flute in most of the songs.
  purv, thanks
  
  
• From: purv (@ 137.140.142.87) on: Sat Oct 2 15:45:44 EDT 2004
  
  Just found another one last night-- 'Thendral Varum Theru' sung by Mano and Swarnalatha. The film the song's in has the same title as the song itself. Thank Providence that this song is not butchered by any of that techno orchestration that was really popular around this time. Anyway, if you like songs with Mohanam or Pahadi flavor, then this song is worth the listen.
  
  'Maan Kutti Nee Vaadi' which was mentioned earlier in this thread I also got ahold of. The drum (what's it called?) has been used in a complicated way. The song also has a nice melody to it; raaga flavor leans toward Aabheri, although I'd have to play it out to know for sure.
  
  That's all I got to say for now. Will listen some more. :-))
  
  

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