M.S. Viswanathan performing at ‘MSV on the Grand Piano’ at Museum Theatre, in Chennai on September 29, 2008.
| Photo Credit: RAVINDRAN R
A series of programmes titled ‘MSV Isai Vizha’ is being organised by Mohan Nair, son-in-law of the legendary music composer M.S. Viswanathan. The series will have thematic presentations of MSV’s tunes. The inaugural (event support Abbas Cultural; orchestra Udhaya Ragam UK Murali Innisai Mazhai), gave the audience a glimpse into the Kannadasan-MSV collaboration.
TMS’s son Balraj sang ‘Pullanguzhal kodutha moongilgale’. Gandhi Kannadasan spoke of how the song came about. AVM’S Saraswathi Stores wanted to make an album of songs about Krishna, for HMV. When AVM Kumaran approached Kannadasan, eight songs poured forth from the poet in quick succession. MSV took less than a day to compose the music. One of the songs is ‘Amarajeevitham’ — Kannadasan’s first song in Sanskrit, which MSV sang. The album titled Krishna Ganam turned out to be a huge hit.
A.V. Ramanan’s light music troupe, Musiano, took ‘Pullanguzhal kodutha’ to every corner of Tamil Nadu, by making it their opening song in all concerts, said Gandhi.
MSV with Kannadasan and Sridhar during the composing session for Sumaithangi
| Photo Credit:
The Hindu Archives
‘Agayapandalile’ was presented by Balraj and Mathangi Ajithkumar. The background music, suggesting two people racing to meet each other, plays a major role in the appeal of the song. In the film Ponnoonjal, before the song begins, Sivaji and Usha Nandini tear through fields, to fall into each other’s arms panting. Full marks to Murali’s orchestra for bringing out the beauty of the background music.
Kavitha and U.K. Murali took the stage with ‘Yaadum oore’ from the film Ninaithale inikkum. Kannadasan begins the song with the famous line from Purananuru.
T.M. Soundararajan with MSV during a recording at Kothandapani Studio in Chennai on December 10, 2008.
| Photo Credit:
S.S. Kumar
Balraj sang the TMS song ‘Paramasivan Kazhuthilirundu’ (film Suryakanthi). In the film, Kannadasan is shown singing this song on stage. Annadurai Kannadasan shared an anecdote about this song. Major Sundarrajan was supposed to be the singer in the film. But Jayalalithaa insisted that Kannadasan should portray the singer. The poet had fractured his collarbone and appeared on screen with a black shawl draped over his shoulder to hide the bandage.
MSV with his orchestra
| Photo Credit:
The Hindu Archives
O.S. Arun recalled that he was in the audience during a programme, when MSV called out his name, and asked him to sing. Arun sang a Sindhubhairavi bhajan. When Arun finished, MSV sang ‘Raman ethanai Ramanadi’, a song which he (MSV) had set to tune in the same raga. As Arun sang ‘Adhisaya ragam’ (film Apoorva Ragangal), one couldn’t help marvelling at MSV’s genius. The song is in raga Mahathi, with the charanam ‘oru puram paarthaal’ in Bhairavi. Who would have thought that Mahathi with just four swaras could lend itself to such a grand song?
Music director Bharadwaj said that he and MSV presented a programme called ‘Andrum Indrum’. When Bharadwaj sang ‘Unnodu vaazhaada’, which he (Bharadwaj) had tuned, MSV wanted to play the harmonium, because he liked the tune. Bharadwaj said that a song was nothing but dialogue in musical form. Every song has to convey something. This is possible only if the music is appropriate, and MSV scored it that way. “MSV’s improvisations were amazing,” said singer Shrinivas, who sang MSV’s ‘Nilave ennidam’, in hushed tones, without any background music.
From the inaugural edition of the ‘MSV Isai Vizha’ series
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
“While what I now sang is what we have all heard, I wonder how many versions MSV came up with before finalising the tune,” said Shrinivas. While all the songs chosen for the programme had lyrics by Kannadasan, some were songs tuned by MSV and T.K. Ramamurthy together.
Sapna Sundararajan, who sang ‘Andru vandadum’ ( music by MSV and TKR), deserves special mention for her pleasant voice.
Chandru, MSV’s right hand man, was given a cash award. Jayanthi Thangabalu, who did a series on MSV for Mega TV, received the MSV award.
