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

THE "MSV" EXPERIENCES - PART 2
By Andy

In continuation from where I left off in the MM part 1 : ))

During the break the MM was one busy bee... He didn't quite appreciate the break (like many here : ) ) impatient as a kid, and he didn't want the tempo of the show to be lost. He picked a couple of cookies and coffee and like a kid would, was visibly impatient to get on with the show : ))

14) As the screen went up after the break, T.K. Ramamurthy was seen sitting in the middle of the orchestra with his violin!! the MM invited a special guest to the show - the best melody voice - PB Srinivas. the MM handed the mic to PBS to say a few words. PBS said "kalaiyin madhippae - rasippathu". He said that the MM moulded him to be a rounded singer. He said his explanation for the MM is "Madhura Sangeetha ViLakkam" and for TKR - "Tamizh Kavidhayin Raagam".. He said his life success started with "kaalangaLil avaL vasantham" and he said that his "vasantha kaalam" of his life was with the music of the MM. PBS was seen flanked on either side by the MM and TKR.

He sang the pallavi "nilave ennidam nerungaathe".. Wow his voice still captivates. He also said he thinks the song is based on "bhagyasri", though he thought he could be wrong : )

The MM said that "thiramai engirunthaalum ezhumbi varum" and that all that he did was "thiramaiyai aettri vittatuthu". PBS went on to say that there's no new without the old and no old without the new!! He also thanked the MM for giving his nephew an opportunity to sing.

15) TKR on the violin played "unnai ondru kaepaen" in E-major... Woooooow, what hand control even at this age!!!

The MM then said that they used to have 50-60 violins entirely supervised by TKR and that TKR was so sharp that he could pick from those if anyone erred!!That was the level of concentration and levels of perfection.

16) Next, he spoke about a movie produced by the Kavingar. They had a full orchestra and it was Kavingars birthday. K. Balachander had offered a ponnaadai for the Kavingar. the MM was asked to compose a song on stage with the Kavingar ON STAGE (an experience that those who attended the launch of MSV times, were gifted to witness). The entire song was completed on stage based on the feedback from the public in 90 minutes. The final song was selected from many mettus and lyrics. He said KB had the "chippiirukkuthu" song based on this true and lovely incident : )

The MM went on to say that, "thiramai uLLavargaLai naangaL rasippOm". He said he
and Illaiyaraaja were good friends and said that the next song was from a movie that they worked together "mella thiranthtathu kathavu" - "ooru sanam thoongiruchchu". It is a well known fact that the MM was the brain behind the songs from this movie, though the MM always shares the credits with Illaiyaraaja.

17) The next song, the MM said could be very difficult to replicate.. The song that had around 125 violins and recorded till around 3AM!!!! Yes, "engae nimmathi" from "puthiya paravai"... I must say, he did bring a phenominal effect, especially the eerie beginning to the song, and with such a little orchestra, and so true to the original. Kovai Murali sang it pretty well, though TMS's original is hard to replicate.

He was a bit touched and went down memory lane and kinda felt sad that many who played for him during these periods are no longer around but in a way felt happy that their children / grand children were playing on stage now!!! He introduced atleast 15 of them on stage.. He said he owed his success to them as they were his "thooNs" for his success.

After the song.. he exclaimed...
125 violins - recorded at 3am... Where is a voice like TMS now? Shivaji's acting.
One could see feel his "loss" when he spoke thus.

TKR said, nilayaamai, iLamai azhindhuvidum, sangeetham eppavum azhiyaamal irukkum. The said that the reason why their music probably stood the test of time was probably because of the strong foundation that their gurus laid for them.

18. The next song was "deivam thantha veedu". He was very appreciative of the lyrics and the lyricist and the director.

19) The next song was one of those songs that carries a "stamp" on it. A song that has so many variations that many have tried in vain to replicate it. He said that this was a another song that they had to put to great deal of effort into. The song -"oru raaja raaniyidam" from "sivantha maNN".. He said that the once sang / played this song for 4 hours on "encore" requests!!!!!!!!!!!!! Who wouldn't want to listen to it repeatedly?

20. Next was one of their ways of expressing how a fisherman would express his love. The MM said that the meter, matter and melody blended well and this song was born- "thottaal poo malarun" from "padagOtti".

21. The next song was sung by PBS's nephew. "chinna chinna kaNNanukku" from "vaazhkai padagu" - It what a good piece of work all around !!! PBS's nephew has a voice that sounds similar to his uncle.

22. Earlier that evening, just before the show started, a person had walked upto to the MM, who was receiving guests backstage, and said that he was living because of the MM's music and that he had come from Kerala to attend this show just to listen to his music. He wanted the MM to sing a malayalam song, and had handed him not only the request, but the lyrics of the song called "abhinandam". The MM had apparently said to him that as he had not rehersed the song (he still believes in rehersals and perfection) and that he would try to do his best. On stage, he called out for this person and said that he would sing a couple of lines from the song. However, it turned out that he sang the entire song in all it glory!!!

He also recollected that he was punished by his mother during his younger days for not singing this song properly : ))

23. The next song he said was a "thaalaatu" song for a Bheem Singh movie. They (the Director and MM) had apparently decided to make a shift from the regular and have just "whistling & humming" instead of lyrics. The kavingar, who the MM hadn't met in a few days, had come to know of this. Kavingar apparently went upto Shivaji, saying the MM has decided a song with just whisling and humming and that it was ridiculous. Kavingar, apparently, on the sly, heard their tune during their practice, wrote out the lyrics and got it okayed by Shivaji and made sure that his lyrics found a place in the song. The song - "neer Odum vaigaiylae" from "paar magaLae paar". He also added that the Kavingar was very possessive of him and that he wouldn't let the MM score music for other's lyrics, but it was ok that he wrote for other music directors.

Running out of time, the next song was "aaLala kaNda" from sangamam. Wow, what a reproduction and what a voice!!!

The last piece was a "thani aavarthanam" consisting of 2 tablas, 2 bongos, triple congos.. and 2 drums.. and the MM was enjoying himself...

One must note here that the MM was on stage during the entire duration - standing - singing and playing on his harmonium and keyboard - at 78 yrs of age!!!!

A truly unforgettable evening had to come to an end as it was well past 10 pm and the peronnel from the auditorium wanted to leave - thoughthe MM would have continued to perform till dawn and longer!!!

As I was so engrossed in what the MM had to say and also was listening to the music, I am afraid I did not make note of who sang which song. However, I do know that Kovai Murali sang many of the TMS songs, Kalpana sang many of the P.Susheela songs and Anathu sang many of the SPB songs. As I was backstage, sadlym, I am not sure who were present at the show.

I hope I have been able to get atleast a bit of the great show to you : ))

Many thanks for your wishes....