MSV Times | The Official Website of M.S.Viswanathan

THE "MSV" EXPERIENCES - PART 1
By Andy

I had a sweet surprise one Friday evening last year on my return from
work!!!!

I had an invitation to attend a show that the MM was conducting for IOB on their inauguration day...

I rushed directy to the auditorium (Music Academy) atleast half hour before the show. I was sweetly surprised to find the MM already present (probably the first to arrive) in his classic attire with a gleaming smile, welcoming the guests as they arrived. He was warm and was exchaning pleasantries with everyone who went up to him. Many gave him bits and pieces of paper containing requests and he humbly responded saying, that he is doing his best to satisfy everyone : )

On the dot - on schedule the show began...

The mellisai mannargaL M.S. Viswanathan and T.K. Ramamurthy were present on stage with his orchestra.

1. Grand opening - As the curtains raised, MSV, began the show with his classical "Vanakkam" and started the show with the song "vanakkam pala murai sonnaen".. He said, that he felt this song better than a "kadavul vanakkam / vaazhththu" as his "kadavul" are his "rasigaas"... He also mentioned that this song was penned by the great kavingnar and his best friend, Kannadasan.

2. The next song was a dedication to the great kavingnar, Kannadasan. the MM narrated, that just a few weeks before Kannadasan breathed his
last, he had asked MSV to sing this song in every stage that he performed.

Eversince, MSV said that he has sung this song in every performance and dedicated it to the great kavingar. The song "pullaanguzal koduththa
moongyalgalae".

The genius that he is, the MM had many variations in the melody, apart from singing "andha kannan geethaiyai koduthaan, indha kanadaasan aeraaLamaana padaLgalai koduthaan" and "indha kannadasan pugazh paadungaLaen".

He also said that he is indebted to Kannadasan for his entire success.

3. MSV also said, "pazhamai maaraatha pudhiya isai" is what would face the test of time.

He said the 3M's give success - Meter - Matter - Melody. The next song that was preformed was "kadavul oru naal ulagai kaana thaniyae vandharaam". A lovely foot tapping number that one could dance at any time!

4. IlakkaNam maaraatha - ilakkiyam maaraatha isai vellum!!! The MM said that this was one of his favourite songs. He said, anyone who listens to this song and the movie would immediately be taken throught the scenes of the movie as it has a story. He said this was an example of how a song should be to a movie. Ananthu, a shishya of MSV sang this song. The song, ilakkaNam maaruthO, ilakkiyam aanahtO.

5. He said, when he was 14-15 years when Haridas was released. Those were the days where songs were used to tell stories - thathtuvam - matter (information) and lyrics were not filled in for "mettu".

He said, Papanasavam sivam was special that he could write and sing for the mettu and at times even ask for change the melody. He reiterated... "pazhamai maaraamal pudhumai vaendum"... eppOthum

This MKT song "ammai appanae ungal anbai maranthaen" was sung by Ananthu...

MSV was visibly touched by the song.. He said the song has "life" / "uyir" for all - the person who wrote it, sang it and to the person who listens to it.

6. He said MGR was one of those few who were very particular about how a song "sounded" and "reached". This song was originaly in "Kalyani" raagam and was made in that raagam. However, with the insistence of MGR it was agreed by MSV & TKR to make a small touch change to accomodate the lyrics "he wanted to be forgiven for that".. TKR added that the variation - sudhdha madyam - sampoornam - etc" this kinda went over my head... (I wish I could have taped it)

Msv said that TKR was the one who "adayalam kaatufied him" and that
they were nagamum/sadhayum, neerum/nilamum, sabngeethamudan ingeetham... even though they went their ways...

The song that followed was "kaNpOna pOkkilae kaal pOgalaama..."

7. For the next song, the director had a requirement... paatu kaetkum pOthu muthtukkkal udhiraNum... paathezhuthi mettu pOtta paatu...
KaNaL engae...nenjamum engae.. one of those beautiful songs from "Karnan" - muthtaana paatu - paatu kaetkum pOthu muthtu sidharavaendum - directors requirement was met!

8. The next song he said was inspired from his "gurunaadhar" S.M. Subbaiah Naidu. This song was in his memory. The song - "singaara vaelanae daeva" - He said songs like these were "bankla pOtta nidhi".. could be used anytime!!!

9. He recalled, that there was a requirement that a song be made in "raagam" and so a song was made out and given to the Kannadasan to write out lyrics for the song.

But kannadasan wanted MSV to put the mettu for a song that he said he had written out... and that song ... "raagangaL padhinaaru uruvaana varalaaru"... The MM wanted Ananthu to be forgiven as he said that he may not be able to emulate Balu, who sang the song with "aathma".... However, Anathu did a great job...

10. While the previous song was for Rajnikanth, the next was also for Ranji. A song that the MM himself sang. SambO sivasambO. His voice is not as dexterous now and he made "online" changes to the song and the variations sounded as good or at times ever better! He also sang the "manavinagaL yaarudanO" bit from "moondru mudichchu".. wow what a voice!!!

11. He said, the success of a song is team work. There was this movie "Rajapart Rangadurai". The song "Madhana maaLigaiyil". They had made out 8 tunes and the problem was... each on liked one. The director, producer, lyricsist, himself etc. like a different one. They were in a fix on what to do.

Now, a coffee boy who had come into give refershments, apparently said "andha 3aavadhum 7aavaadhum mix paNNi pOdunga sir".... He was chased away immediately by Kannadasan... The coffee boy however stood at a distance and was watching... MSV then decided to take the boy's advice and mixed the tunes 3&7 and it was immediately accepted.... He said he owed the success of that song to that coffee boy!!! He said, one has to be open and be willing to accept information from anyone... and also said.. for him the 7 swarams are Gods!!!!

12. The next song was in Hindi. He said he considered Naushad Ali his
guru. PB Srinivas's nephew sang this song from Beiju Bawra (a movie that the MM said he saw without buying a ticket) - the song "oh duniya kae rukku wale"... He did sing the song pretty well..

13. While talking about the next song, the MM said that for him ellaaam sangeetham - eppothum sangeetham - (he knows nothing but music.. and there is no doubt that he knows it best!!) engaeyum sangeetham. The song - engaeyum, epOthum sangeetham santhOsham... The whole auditioriom was clapping during the "come on everybody clap"

Interval. the MM was willing to continue the show right through to the finish, but the organisers had asked for a break... so... what else...
see you on the other side of the

B R E A K : ))

("After the Break".....Continued in Part-2)