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Whose song is that?

Topic started by RV (@ c660409-a.frmt1.sfba.home.com) on Fri Apr 21 23:48:53 EDT 2000.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

Who is the person identified with a song? In other words, if you hv to pick up one owner of a given song, who would you pick?

The most natural answer is that the music director, as the "creator" of the song. But this doesnt seem to be quite true. When I think of a song like say, "Adho Andhap Paravai Pola Aada Vendum", my mind automatically says MGR song. Maybe MGR deserves the honor as he supposedly played a crucial role in choosing tunes and polishing the song. But then why do we identify Sodhanai Mel Sodhanai with Sivaji?

Sometimes, one contributor to the song is so outstanding that we automatically identify the song with that person. When I hear Mannil Indhak Kadhal, SPB is the first name that pops into my mind. Atthikkai Kai Kai becomes a Kannadasan song. Chinna Chinna Aasai becomes an AR Rahman song and so on.

Cassettes of MGR duets, Sivaji thatthuvap padalgal, Rajini songs, Chandrababu songs, PBS songs, IR songs, Rahman songs, Maniratnam songs etc are more common than KV Mahadevan songs, Vali songs, AP Nagarajan songs. What makes us recognize a song like "Oru Naal Podhuma" as a Balamuralikrishna song rather than a KV Mahadevan song or even a Kannadasan song?

Please come up with theories, answers.

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Responses:

• Old responses
  
• From: RV (@ c660409-a.frmt1.sfba.home.com) on: Sat Apr 29 22:16:30 EDT 2000
  
  This posting is aimed at understanding what makes us recognize an author. I am going to mention a few authors and say what I think as the reasons for recognizing them as authors.
  
  MKT: Popular actor, very popular singer. He is the figure that one saw in the screen and it is well known that he is the singer. The tradition of song dominated dramas was prevalent; many of the music personalities like SG Kittappa, Rajaratthinam Pillai etc. were recognized. MKT became one who used the medium first.
  
  PUC: Followed in the tradition of MKT.
  
  TR Mahalingam: Has a very identifiable voice, popular star, following in the footsteps of MKT & PUC.
  
  Bharathiyar: Using Bharathiyar songs became a marketing technique for a while in 40s and 50s. Using an established figure, whose songs are recognizable by many, gives the author stamp to him.
  
  Bharathidasan: Ditto, but less effect.
  
  MGR: Probably the first actor to get so involved with songs. Recognized as a heroic figure quite early, (probably beginning with Malaik Kallan), he ensured that there are advisory songs, great duets etc. in each movie.
  
  Sivaji: Luckier than MGR - in that he was recognized as star quite early -, it surprises me that people recognize Sivaji songs. Probably has a visual signature in many early songs.
  
  G Ramanathan - This brand is probably not well recognized. But his unique contribution in blending Carnatic music and TFM makes many people say "Is that a GR song?" whenever they hear a "classical" TFM song.
  
  MSV-TKR - This brand probably got recognition for transforming TFM from a classical bent to a light music bent.
  
  Kannadasan - This, I think, is a question of being there at the right time. PKS died, many of the older generation were fading, MSV-TKR became a team with him, and great song came up in early 60s causing MSV-TKR and him to be a force. Thats the reason when people tend to ascribe the authorship of good songs by Vali to him, especially if it is recognized as a 60s song.
  
  CSJ - Voice. The nasal voice submerges many other brands associated with a song.
  
  Trichy Loganathan - Voice, but not a popular brand.
  
  Chandrababu - Voice and dancing.
  
  TMS - This brand is slightly weakened by the fact that many of his songs become recognizably MGR songs or Sivaji songs.
  
  PS - In my opinion, most of the female singer brands are quite weak. They get submerged into other brands. This is true of PS too. But voice contributes to her brand.
  
  SJ - Ditto. But being recognized as part of the greatness of IR brand helps. IR did lot of experiments with her and that really helps the brand.
  
  AMR - Voice and great songs as an MD in a 2-3 year period.
  
  KJJ - Voice.
  
  PBS - Voice. The sweetness in the voice of all three gives them the distinguishing factor of the brand.
  
  
  Jikki - Voice, but not a popular brand on her own. AMR's brand submerges this.
  
  MS Rajeswari - Voice. But not a popular brand.
  
  Seergazhi - Voice. The Ganeer kural submerges many brands associated with his songs.
  
  Kamal - I think a similar reasoning like MGR applies here. But a much weaker brand than MGR.
  
  Rajini - Similar reasoning like Sivaji. But a much weaker brand.
  
  Malasia Vasudevan - Submerged in the IR brand.
  
  KV Mahadevan - His talent makes one really wonder why he is not a brand to reckon with.
  
  Balamuralikrishna - Established figure in classical music, recognizable voice, occasional forays in TFM.
  
  IR - genius and marketing.
  
  ARR - talent and great marketing.
  
  Vairamuthu - Recognizable trademarks like Vervai, Raja,etc. In my mind at least, the brand works like, "Oh God! Vairamuthu must hv written this one!"
  
  unnikrishnan, Nithyashree - Similar reasoning as Balamurali.
  
  Looking at these recognized authors, I think occasional contributor theory is very valid; Very distintive and recognizable voice is the most applicabe theory; the larger than life image of actors plays a great part in identifying songs with him. (in my opinion, only MGR, Sivaji, Rajini and Kamal) Thats why songs are not identified as Gemini songs or Karthik songs. For lyricist, I think he needs to recognized as the best in a given time period. Kannadasan and Vairamuthu fit that definition. (IMO, Diamond doesnt qualify, but I am talking about perception.)
  
  I am leaving for a vacation tomorrow and hope to see lot of postings in this thread when I come back after a week. Dont let this thread die!
  
  Looking at these remarks,
  
  
  
• From: eden (@ 202.54.71.153) on: Tue May 2 01:47:40 EDT 2000
  
  As an adjunct to the theory of `mass appeal' of a person (that I posted earlier), a song is often identified with a person because the lyrical content eulogises him. Apart from the MGR stuff, other examples are:
  
  Rajinikanth:
  -My name is Billa
  -nAn pollAthavan
  -podhuvAga emmanasu thangam
  -super star yArunnu kEttA
  -manithan manithan
  -Emperu padayappA
  & the likes
  
  Kamal:
  -nAn thAn sakalakalA vallavan
  -dheham pattoo (nAn dhAn rAjA)
  
  IR:
  -pAttAlE budhdhi sonnAr
  -madai thiRandhu (pudhu rAgam padaippadhAlE nAnum iRaivanE)
  -en gAnam indRu arangErum
  and many more
  
  Such songs are probably not identified by DFers as that of the above personnel (who try to categorise every song with the MD), but in the popular mind, it is HIS song!
  
  
• From: dinesh (@ ) on: Thu Apr 10 02:53:16 EDT 2003
  
  thanku
  
  

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