Fascinating to hear those immortal words "Thai Manne Vanakkam" were first heard by a young boy serving tea! Isn't it so true that great things have humble beginnings!
I have always been intrigued by those dialogue-tracks in Iruvar and Duet - now we know their genesis! MSV in Sangamam is 100% pure emotion. I could never figure out the lyrics for a long time, but once I did, it was really heart-rending. --- In arrahmanfans@yahoogroups.com, Vithur <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > In Vairamuthu Neram today, > > *1.Chittathatinal Konda Pithathinal ( Duet ) * > ** > Myself and A.R. Rahman worked very hard with strenous effort for the film " > Duet". A.R. Rahman selected some lyrics from my works titled, " Thiruti > Ezhudiya Theerpugal ( Rectified Writings of Judgements)". We were thinking > of who could be the best singer who can sing the same. This should come as a > Voice, and should also be in a tune. It should be mid way between the tune, > and the utterings of the words. So, we decided that instead of a singer > singing this, it would be better, if the hero himself could be used to > narrate these lyrics , and sing them, instead of a stand alone singer doing > it. The Director also accepted it. A. R. Rahman also accepted it. The Hero > didnt want to accept it, and was hesitant. We called Actor Prabhu to the > Composing Studio. We asked him to read the lyrics. He is elder to me, but > would address me as " Anne ( Elder brother ) . Pls read the poem yourself, > or make it possible by someone who knows better Tamil than me". I replied, " > No No. You are the successor of Nadigar Thilagam ( Sivaji Ganesan) . It > would be a great fame for me, if you read this. You cannot corner yourself, > as not knowing Tamil. ". He told, that he has studied in convent, and was > apprehensive, but I insisted in him doing it. > > He did a wonderful job in rendering it in the movie > > *2. Udal Mannukku ( IRUVAR ) * > Of all the movies of Maniratnam, I like Nayagan and Iruvar. I consider it a > very great opportunity to write lyrics for the film Iruvar. Because its a > periodical film. The film starts in the 50s, and ends in the 80s. During > these 30 years, how the beauty of the language has changed, how the > lifestyles have changed., how the political system has changed, have been > depicted very well in that movie. I came to write in the 80s. , and the film > gave me an experience of writing songs for about 40 years. There was a > beautiful story line, depicted in that movie. > > when MGR, wanted to utilise his very first chance in movies, what sort of > song would he sing, if he acts in a King, Queen movie. This sort of > situation was given to me by Maniratnam, and he wanted me to write lyrics > for the same The style of the 40s, and the 50s should be replicated in a > movie, which has to be screened in the 90s. I started practising and > learning the style of the lyrics that was used in those times. This is not a > song, but its like a declaration. There was a question, as to who would > sing, or utter these lyrics in the movie ?. we all thought that , A.R. > Rahman could do it himself. But he didnt want to do it. Some people thought > of making it done with the help of some play back singers. That was also not > accpted. Some people wanted me to do it myself. I told them in a very polite > and decent fashion, that my voice neednt come for the Film Industry. > Finally, Maniratnam decided that if uttered by Arvind Swamy, it would be > great. I started teaching Arvind Swamy this song. > > " Udal Mannukku, Uyir Thamizukku". > > I consider it a great blessing, if this song could be added to the Lists of > famous writings on Dravida Kazhagam.... > > *3. Aalakanda ( Sangamam ) * > ** > More than the singers, its always the Music Director, who sings the maximum > number of times, a song. Right from the time, the song is composed, till it > is finished, its the Music Director, who takes the strains in giving it a > complete touch. Its the Music Director, who out of his voice, out of his > skills, out of his fashion gives life to a song. A singer starts singing the > song, only after the Music Director gives him the frame work, and after the > MD digesting it to the core. > > There has been more than 100 songs sung by MSV . I got a great opportunity > to write lyrics for a song which he sung. That song was for the film > Sangamam. A. R . Rahman composed the music for the film. This song appears > like a situation, where the dead father sings at his son, ( like his soul > singing it ) > > This song became very famous, and I started getting calls from a lot of > people. Once my car was halting near Teynampet Signal ( CHENNAI ) . There > was a person who was standing in a cycle near my car. he saw me through the > mirror of the car, and spotted me . he asked me to waive the glass down. he > said, ' Sir. The way you have written lyric.... esp those words, Magane > Magane ( Oh Son, Oh Son ) . after hearing to it, I have started crying very > badly. I started getting memories of my father. You should live for long. ". > I cannot forget the praises that I got from that cyclist , in tha t > teynampet Signal. This is more than a National Award to me. What more does a > writer need ? > > *Thai Manne Vanakkam ( Vande MATARAM ) * > ** > A.R. Rahman always had a slight hesitation, about his voice , and about his > singing. If he sings, will the world accept it ??. Will the music world > accept it ?. In his very first song, " Chinna Chinna aasai", where he hums > that interlude, we observed it and found out that he has got a very bright > future as a singer too.... During the time course, his fear started > reducing, and he started singing very good songs in a very good manner. I > have written a lot of songs for which he has sung in films, and which have > become big hits. But, there is one song , which became a mega hit, more than > that of films. The reason behind it was the Majesty of A.R. Rahman 's music, > and the lyrics and the meaning of that song. > > He came and gave me an Hindi song. For paying respect to the Nation, we have > taken a song, " Vande Mataram " in Hindi. we have to give it to our Tamil > people also. So, he requested me to write tamil Lyrics for the Hindi Song. > and insisted on the starting lines, which would create the impact for the > song. Why the starting lyrics has to be important because, " Maa Tujhe > Salam" ( was the Hindi starting lyrics ). He told, that its the crux of the > song. He wanted that Maa Tujhe Salaam to be converted to Tamil without > disturbing the tune. > > I was writing the lyrics " Thai Manne Vanakkam " sittting in the grass > garden at his residence ( ARR 's residence ) . that time, a young boy got me > some tea. he heard these lyrics Thai Manne Vanakkam, and went and reported > it to Rahman. Rahman came running towards me. He jumped in excitement > saying, " Yes. It has come out very well. This is what I expected. He > started jumping like a small kid. This song is a dedication to this soil > > *Kaadu Potta Kaadu ( Karuthamma ) * > ** > we needed a song , to describe the parchness in the soil. An unfertile > soil. We needed a tune also in sync with that. The tune was ready, and a > voice which will suit the song was the next search. I suggested Dir > Bharathiraaja to sing it himself, and he accepted it, and he sang this song. > This song reminds me of the type of lives we lived in the early 50s, and > 60s, when the soil was not that fertile, and the times, were not that good. > > > > > > -- > regards, > Vithur > > ARR -- The Sweet Cube always >
