Malare Mounama : Duet of this Decade, I reckon

The Start

“Of all noises, I think music is the least disagreeable”, quoted by a famous English writer and critic Samuel Johnson, once. Listening to these days music one would definitely agree with Samuel’s. I agree Music is a sound, but now-a-days ITS JUST A NOISE. I’m not criticizing the Divine Music, but the composers and singers. Especially Singers, I don’t know why they are trying to sing nostrils, sooner or later, they will get a polyp Singer’s nodule in their NOSE, instead of, in their throat. Let me to forget about those, and discuss about a song which will make you wonder if I say, it was composed in this decade, when Music removed from the LIFCO list of Acoustics and added in the list of noice. Just Listen to a song composed by Vidyasaagar based on the Raaga Dharbari Kanada, “Malere Mounama, Mouname Vedhama”, sung by ofcourse My SPB and Darling of Dulcet S.Janaki.


The Raaga

Darbari Kanada, before of all, I would like to write about raga using which the song “Malare mounama” was composed, got this name, as it was composed by the Great Tansen in the Darbar of Akbar. It is usually night time raga and used for enhancing one’s lull mood with a supper. It is, even though consider to be fit for Hindustani Gazals, when you ingredients with ragas Sudha Sarang and Pilu, then one will get southern Gazals. (Just refresh the song composed by SPB, “Vannam Konda Venilave). Hence, one wants heavenly feeling in the nights, after his hectic days, the indisputable ingredient is 3 spoon of Dharbari Kanada plus one spoon of Pilu, cocktail as per one’s wish.

The Ras

Sringar Ras, Romantic feel, this is what the Ras of the song “Malare Mounama”. There are only few songs composed using the raga Darbari Kanada for giving the romantic feel, this song is one among those few. So just imagine, Sringar mood, Darbari Kanada, Night time, and and, “Balu Balu Stop this, Still U R a Bachelor”, My Idiotic intuition always accustoms to warn me.


The Composer

Vidyasagar, I think the name should be ‘sangeedhasagar’, I should say, atleast for the composition of this eternal song. Once, SPB eulogized that Vidyasagar is a complete composer, after MSV and Raaja. No doubt about that statement, as Vidyasagar knows how to attract ‘amateur’ people like me who always says Music is nothing but Melody, and also vidyasagar knows how to attract ‘intelligent’ people who loves fast songs by saying “hi Bals (my name only), now music got a new dimension yaar, Appadi podu Podu Amuithi podu thannala”. To conclude, I think this song is the best song that Vidyasaagar ever composed.

The Lyrist

Vairamuthu, really as the name spells, his lyrics are gems. Just listen to the lines which are apt to the raga Darbari Kanada, and Sringar Ras which are explained above. “Malare Mounama”, (Night time, Flowers start budding), “Kaatrai Pola Vandhu” (Night time breeze), and many more. So, definitely one can give a slap on the backs of vairamuthu. “Oha Podu”.

The Singers

SP Bala, S. Janaki, the singers rendered this song. My secondary school teacher instructed me with a cane not to eat bee-filled sweets; otherwise, eating the throats of Bala and Janu would be my first work. I’m a fond lover of SPB-Janu’s dexterity duets; there will be a stiff competition always between them. In this song also, SPB dominated with his elastic efforts while singing the word ‘malare’ and Janu dominated while singing that humming, which is ofcourse a solitary stamp of Janaki which can’t be possible to reproduce by any singer. SPB always fulfills his fans’ expectation of smiling in between the songs, hence in this song also. One can crack the RSA 256-encrypting algorithms, and the Dan Brown’s secret of Da Venci code, But it’s always a clandestine that how SPB mixing a word and his smile (listen ‘mouname’ in the finishing’).

The Facts

After completing the recording of another song in the same film ‘karna’, (‘Putham pudhu desam’ again sung by SPB and Janu, I like this song equally with ‘malare mounama’ for SPB and Janu’s smile in between) SPB started for the day, vidyasagar requested SPB to sing this song, first SPB denied and then recorded this song.

This song was supposed to sing by Unni Menon, a notable singer from Kerala, but Actor Arjun, the hero and the producer of this movie requested the composer to ask for SPB. Incidentally, Unni Menon also supposed to sing SPB’s “Suthi Suthi Vandheega” from Padiyappa,

Those days, SPB used to record upto 9 PM only in the night, but impressed by the composition of this song, and the urgency of song to be completed in the same day, he recorded this song 10 PM in the night. And rendered his best, finished it in the mid-night.

Vidyasagar was a busy keyboard composer under many composers like Raaja, Rajkumar, and etc. He used to mix SPB’s Songs always and in one of his interview he mentioned that he was always busy and ran with SPB, as SPB sang almost 10 songs per a day.

After the recording of this song, SPB embraced Vidyasagar and kissed; no need to say Vidyasagar’s greatest moment it would be.


The Quotes

“To satisfy producers, composers have to tolerate some voices, but not in Balu sir’s case. Around 9’0 clock in the night I requested Balu sir to sing this song, first he denied and promised me to sing the same in next day morning, but we are in urgency to complete the recording in that day only, hence I compelled Balu sir to listen the track first and decide, he listened and impressed then told me that he will give 4-5 styles, and choose my wish; while rendering I don’t know which one to select as everyone was great and finally I selected the second one. After finishing the recording Balu sir hugged me, really that was my greatest moment.” Vidyasagar told this to Mr. Abdul Hameed, in Vijay TV interview.

“SPB sir sings almost for every singer, but when he sings for Rajni and Kamal, its like Rajni and Kamal singing in front of you, also take my favourite song, malare mounama from Karna, it seems Actor Arjun is singing before you, same is with my composition, I never differentiate my composition for actors”, Vidyasagar when asked about how he differentiates his style for actors, interviewed by Vaishnavi of SUN TV, who recently committed suicide.

“I’m really unlucky for not getting the song like Malare Mounama, but if I were sang that song, it wont be that much beautiful as it was by Balu sir”, Quoted by Singer Unni menon in Aanadha Vikatan.

The Final Frontier

Since all the good things outlive their purpose at some point of time, there may come a day when people simply don’t bother about melody, voices, opera in Music and composer will get singers in the e-shopping carts for shoddy rates. Be ready for those days, and if you are a conformist like me, wanted to spend peaceful older romantic days, my kind advise is “store “Malare Mounama” song in your musical system and in the future you can play it in your grandson’s I-Pod.”


Isaium Ini Mella Saagumo??

Betting : Neither a Crime nor a Sin : Review of song "Kana Kanum" by SPB

“A bet of 3 Rupees”

In my childhood, this was a usual dialogue in my friends circle. Actually the betting value is fixed as we knew the cost of a Ghee polished Roast+2 katori of Sambhar at the popular restaurant ‘Parthasaradhi’ of my temple city Thiruvanaikoval. Now, I can’t get even a single chaaya for that 3 rupees in Delhi, may be I will get a matti or half-a-piece of oil-bathed Bread pakora, Vying with our traditional Banana Bajji. Even for that half piece, I have to request a credit of 50 paise to the shop-owner lambuji. (‘Paachas, paachas paise choduke, abhi paachas rupya uudhar ho gaya’-lambuji) So, at that time we didn’t consider Betting as a gambling (neither a crime nor a sin), as it costs you only 3 rupees. But it’s not a matter of 3 rupees, the topic does matter always. We used to debate many things varies from childish (who will win if were a fight between Rajni and Brucelee) to prodigious (for cini songs which raga is the best Kalyani or Keeravani). For 3 rupees, we debated in all over matters, kamal, Amala, Rajeev Gandhi and even sometimes beetovan vs Raaja. To cut short, if you assure me, not disclosing to BCCI, I’ll reveal you that we, our friends are the unofficial pioneer of cricket match-fixing.


I can say you, betting is not a bed of roses, it’s a battle actually, it requires some luck and subterfuge acts. For me, luck is always an alien, why I’m saying like this is because, if I have luck then Sunny Gavaskar (Gabaskar, at that time) would not getting bowled by a mediocre English bowler named Defrities, and I would have taste the Parthasaradhi’s Ghee Roast. But I can proudly say, subterfuge is my cup of tea, hence I won many betting battles, because of my strength of stratagem. Here, what you need is to fix the solution, and do the bid, say for instance, based on now-a-days scenario, I will start a betting Sachin Vs Lara, who is the best batsman. But don’t think, our betting always ends with a win or loss, apart these two, there are some Fuzzy solutions too, and still some unanswered discussions, one such is “who is the apt singer for actor sivakumar? KJ Jesudas or SP Bala?”

Sivakumar is a talented artist, well utilized by the Director KB. May be sivakumar was eclipsed by some ‘James-Bond’ heroes, but I can say, he is very much versatile artist, and at that time people used to call him as “Sivaji of Poor director” what my generation did it for Mohan against kamal. To all of you aware, sivakumar is a wonderful modern artist, and his potent voice is the pick of all. People wont believe you, if you say Sivakumar is of 60 plus. In sivakumar’s film, SPB or KJJ used to lend their voices for him. If KJJ leads in the songs like “Nee Powrnami” and “kalaivaniye”, then SPB in “Kanne Unnai Thedugiren” and “Then Sindude Vaanam”. In those days, some of the SPB songs were given to KJJ, and vice versa, most of them were in Sivakumar’s films, as “Unnidam Mayangugiren” supposed to sing by SPB, and “Illansolai” supposed to KJJ. You can say, both the voices of SPB and KJJ are pertinent playback to actor sivakumar. I like all the songs sung by SPB for sivakumar, but the song “Kanakanum” from Agni Satchi directed by KB is my favorite of all. Take the prefix of Sivaji, and suffix of Kamal, the best actor of Tamizh film Industry is Sivakumar, I reckon.

SPB rendered many songs for Sivakumar and many styles like melody, jazz, tappankuutthu, voice change, semi classical, R-N-R and many to list. In an Interview (thanks to ambalam.com) Sivakumar’s son Surya, a 16-feet leaping kid told “I happened to see many singers in orchestra singing the song ‘vaa pon mayile’ song from Poondalir, but they cant able to produce the intensity of Balu uncle, who sang this song with great effort, actually its our family’s privilege that Balu uncle sang for my father and for me”. This is what SPB’s strength. SPB does always not singing for the actor sivakumar, but for Sivakumar’s character in that particular film. I was just two, when the movie ‘Roosapoo Ravikaikari’ was released, otherwise I will get a Ghee Roast by starting and winning a bet of “who sang the ‘maaman oru naal’ song?”

In 1982, SPB was in a peak (ippa mattum enna) and so much popular in north India also, because of the box office hit “Ek Dujee Ke liye”. SPB always gives an extra effort to KB’s songs, who will forget, “kadavul amaithu vaitha” and “Engaium Eppodum”. KB always prefers SPB and gives maximum of Songs to him, it continues till now, as KB gave two splendid songs to SPB in his new movie “Poi”. I always like SPB-KB compo, and if “Theerodum Annadha” Song from Noolveli is my bed time lullaby, then “Unnal Mudium Thambi’ is my career changed curve song. SPB never fails KB’s faith, hence gives extra effort to KB’s songs, and in Duet movie Inaugural function, KB interviewed to the media “Balu is my son”. This particular song “Kanakanum” from Agni satchi is an all-time hit, and no need to say the SPB’s performance in this. One can simply correlate actor sivakumar’s actions with SPB’s articulation. The whole song I like as said earlier, but especially SPB’s punch in the lines “Kumari Uruvam, Kuzhandai Ullam”, whenever I listen to this lines from SPB’s mouth(the honey pot) a youth in me, becomes kid to SPB and closes its eyes in the crooning cradle. To add the superlatives of this song, Vaali also helped. Don’t worry, if you not yet watch the movie ‘agni satchi’, just listens this song, its all enough. I don’t have that much of musical knowledge or privilege to praise the composer, but if one asks me who is the best at violin jazz, I will bed and bid his name.


Even these days, me and some of my friends use to play bedding (thanks to mobile technology), may be those unanswered debates of my childhood took new Visages and versions. Even last month, my friend, a big fan of KJ Jesudas rang me and started a bid, “Nee Powrnami’ sung by my KJJ for sivakumar Vs Kaananakanum Kangal sung by your SPB for sivakumar, my bid is on KJJ, can you go for SPB’s horse, Shall we bed??”

I replied him “In Nee Powrnami song, the highlights are KJJ’s potent pouring of alapana, his pronunciation of Nee Powrnami in the starting, and his voice culture”, by seeing my friend’s self-righteous smile, I continued, “In Kanakanum Kangal song one will feel the actor sivakumar’s voice and character”. My friend laughed, “Balu you got defeated, send me the betting rupees”. But I denied, tell me friend how come I? My friend is not at all ready to accept my statement, atleast can you friends?

Tell me friends, what is the success of singing and a singer?? Shall we bed??

I can see the Cost-board of Parathasaradhi hotel via my VRML Vision,

“A bet of 15 rupees“

'Rum' Single Space 'Bum' : Rock-n-Roll SPB

“If Kamal is a hidden Singer in an Actor, then SPB is an epitome of the Vice Versa”, an Adage, I author’ed, used to quote to my friends, thereby, the only time I make my friends’ heads waggled and me ends with a smug. Whenever listening to this song “Rum Bum” From MMKR, my Brain (“Bala, Do U have one?”-My Brain) starts asking some questions, OK Let it Be, Now I’m Listening to that Song.

MMKR is a perfect Comedy movie, so for this song Kamal Requested Raaja to compose a starting Bit, with some humor sense, hence Raaja Composed. Just Listens the Starting Bit and Starting Before the First Stanza, Composed in 25 Minutes! Is anything there in Music that Does Raaja not aware of?

Once I Asked a State Ranker Girl (thanks www.prodigyhub.org), she is now my close friend, about her favorite Comedian, expecting some Jim Carrys, the maxima or some Viveks, the minima, But She Replied me “Kamal Hasan”. Sometimes, not only the Questions, but also the answers make one to think, and hence I did, then. In this song, Kamal’s performance is quite amazing, the Dancing, mischievous, Usual impish leelas, what not? And not to forget his laughing after getting a L2L (Refer Lover’s Lexicon) from Kushboo.Is there any Special Superlatives than an actor, because if Kamal said to be an actor, then how come I can call all other amateurs?

Rum Bum, Aarambam, What it Means, many would have asked the lyrist, (seems ‘vaali’ bhakavinar, Srirangam means Mischievous, isn’t?). But, just listens, the singer (especially, male singer) stressing Rum, half a Maathirai (for the definition of Maathirai, ask your tamizh aasaan), and then Bum, another half a Maathirai, And then one intoxicated Aarambam, hmm the male singer is “Theeradha Vilaiatu Pillai, Avan Singara Manmadhan dhan Sandhegam Illai.” Once, teen-aged Balu (was a good boy, then) asked his English master “Sir, What is Rum, and What is Bum?”

Chitra, the Name Spells Melody, one can Say. Those days, the money was on the cards of SPB-Chitra duets, and they did a splendid job. The list is a lengthy with everlasting duets like “Kaadhal Kavidhaighal”, “Guruvaurappa”, “Unnai thota Thendral” (Don’t confuse it with SPB-Swarnaladha’s), and this particular song. I Think Chittu’s Voice is Apt to Kushboo, in this song also she competing with SPB very well. Why don’t you call Wordsworth’s CUCKOO as Chittu?

Balu, the top of the above four, yet a simple song, amazing is his perfection and delivery. No one can be perfect, if one, and then SPB, I would say. I repeat my above adage here as listening to “Ezhu Ettu Nattkal Aachu”, listen the articulation of the word “Ezhu”, and one small ‘EEakkam’ one will feel; but this is not new to My SPB as he always doing this, Just refresh another great duet of Balu-Chitra, “Yai Aiyasamy” from Varusham 16, and listen the lines “Vaaram Naala Aachu Mulza Toonghi” (Paazil Always gives one song to SPB in his Films, but always that song will beat the songs of Paazil’s in-house singer, don’t get anger, listen to Sivagami Nininipanile), but the highlight of song “Rumbum”, is the elocution of the word “Peernembam” of the first stanza finishing, with some agile articulation, simultaneously watch the action of Kamal, Can anybody tell me which comes first, “Recording of a Song” or “Picturization of a song”

There is one cini hall called “Madhi” in the temple city Madurai, once this hall got a fame of releasing Kamal’s movies, now migrating into Vijay’s and Ajith’s. But still in all the Audio shops of MDU welcomes U with a smiley face, wearing white shirt, who is none other than a famous ACTOR knows how to SING the representation of Pathos, Romantic, tease, Potent, yes also Comedy, his name is SPB, I asked one of the shopmen (Japan Audio Vision, Mahamadiyar Lane, Town Hall Road) “If Change is the Only Constant, why so always SPB?”, he replied

SPB is an Everlasting ERA