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AVALUKENNA AZAGIYA MUGAM ( SERVER SUNDARAM )
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S.Balaji



Joined: 10 Jan 2007
Posts: 772

PostPosted: Sun Sep 16, 2007 6:11 pm    Post subject: AVALUKENNA AZAGIYA MUGAM ( SERVER SUNDARAM ) Reply with quote

Mellisai Mannar , whenever given the freedom , has given wonderful orchestration with many western instruments extensively applied. I would say that he was instrumental in introducing several western instruments to tamil cinema music.

Some songs like Pattathu Rani parkum parvai , Partha nyabagam illayo , Kettukodi urumi melam , Kann pona pokkile , Ennai theriyumaa , Thulluvadho ilamai , Enna enna vaarthaigalo , Engeyum eppodhum sangeetham , the unmatchable Ulagam Sutrum Valiban are some classic examples of his rich knowledge on apt usage of western instruments while nicely merging with South Indian conventional instruments.

Also, hearing such songs always makes me sad in a way that the opportunities were limited those years as one has to compose tunes for songs which were mostly situation oriented. A vast majority of MSV compositions were set for a given situation & consequently, the tune, the orchestration were all totally focused on how to give the optimum output for that slot wherein the song will get fitted.

But , this trend was also good that we could get more meaningful songs / splendid lyrics. On many occasions, MSV has sparkled like a true champion displaying his class for some unique songs. Today , I have chosen AVALUKKENNA ….AZAGIYA MUGAM…. From the Nagesh’s evergreen movie SERVER SUNDARAM.

A successful stage play of K.Balachander which was made into a movie by Krishnan Panju , this movie of the 1960s is one of the very best of Nagesh. The main hero is Nagesh though Muthuraman also plays an equally dominant role. Hotel Server Sundaram’s immense passion for cinema finally results in getting a very good break and soon emerges as a top artist ….as a hero ….. ( there is also a sad twist to this movie as the woman K.R.Vijaya who is being loved by Nagesh actually loves Muthuraman who is his close friend . Realizing this, Nagesh gracefully gives up with a tinge of sadness…. But lets not touch this aspect because for today’s song analysis, this side story is irrelevant )

On another day at office , the leading hero Nagesh has to perform a dance cum singing with a star and this was the situation…nothing great….but Mellisai Mannar simply grabbed this mild opening to unleash his hidden strengths on western music ……

Surprise of surprises, MSV himself appears in brief in a lovely blazer along with his magnificent troupe !!! As he signals to his drums man …1..2..3..4 , the drummer gives a scintillating start …..now the trumphet specialists give a brilliant support ….now finally MSV moves towards TMS and signals ….. TMS ….AVALUKENNA ….AZAGIYA MUGAM….

The song is picturised with the orchestra group , the Composer, the Singer in a recording hall and slowly moves over to the picturisation part …….. A nice imagination……

Now, lets look at the greatness of the song…. Its not an easy one to set tune… just read the pallavi :

Avalukkenna…azagiyamugam….avalukenna
Ilagiya manam …nilavukkenna…
Iravinil varum iravukkenna
Uravugal tharum uravukenna
Uyiryllavarai thodarndhu varum………

The lyricist would have just coined the words without any consistent rhythm given to him…. In other words, MSV apparently would have been given the wordings to set tune…So it’s a lyrics based tune …..I presume MSV would have made some minor re-arrangements to the lyrics to align with his rhythm planned….

In few seconds, a wide range of instruments…starting with Drums, Bangoos, a Hawain guitar , a rhythm guitar , Accordion and a group of Trumphets , Violin, Double bass guitarist, Mouth organ man .…all being shown ……. Its really a pleasing sight to see the Master in Blazer and the entire orchestra members very well dressed up in nice attire…The entire troupe play their part very enthusiastically ..anxiously looking at Mellisai Mannar as he wades through each one in his own inimitable style……

Trumphets for the first interlude with one set doing the lead and another offering support. Here a scintillating guitar in brief ….and then TMS starts ….Hoo…..AZAGU ORU MAGIC TOUCH !... From now on , the camera veers around Nagesh dancing beautifully with another star…….

And when TMS finishes with Mounam endroru moziyil sonnaal …… a mini break….and then suddenly Avalukkenna !! that’s class apart….

The second interlude is a mind blowing work ! When the trumphets take the lead, the violin section gets behind and when the latter surge forward, the piano plays a supportive role . A flute is inserted to give an artistic touch but ultimately MSV’s penchant Accordion finishes with a flourish … Double Bass is heavily applied in the background…….! All in few seconds ……Now LRE …ANBU KADHALAN VANDHAAN KAATRODU…

The third interlude is equally impressive .This time, Piano plays the lead only for the flute to take over & finally…..SITRIDAI ENBADHU …..MUNAZAGUUU…..

The song ends with a flourish…. Both TMS & LRE humming the pallavi and the instruments repeating it……

Another fascinating aspect is that this song has 3 charanams with 3 different tune & lude arrangement, a clear message that this man is ready to take any challenge on music . All 3 ludes and charanams , structured superbly and the whole song comes like a well made package .

Minute observation will also reveal that while the singers sing, various instruments play a lovely backing ….one can hear Guitar, violin, Piano at regular intervals …..hear it in Stereo , you will feel the difference…The rhythm …beats…. For each charanam are totally different…..The notes have been set very sharply giving a robust touch .. the whole song is an epic …..

So, this song has no real situation but MSV smartly used this mini opening to present a wonderful song with a scintillating tune and wonderful orchestration…….Which makes me wonder now that we would have missed many such compositions during the halcyon days of the Master…

The Creator of the concept of light music …..long before had proved his class on western compo……applying a wide range of instruments ….But we all tend to forget the history……

This song remains in my hearts as one of the evergreen and despite hearing it umpteen number of times, the passion .... the desire to listen to it only grows more !!!
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madhuraman



Joined: 11 Jun 2007
Posts: 1226
Location: navimumbai

PostPosted: Sun Sep 16, 2007 8:23 pm    Post subject: Avalukkenna Azagiya Mugam Reply with quote

Dear Mr. Balaji,
Your write-up on A A Mugam is very good and it innately carries your admiration of MSV. I may not contribute to the analysis of the song. But, my additions here would give some more details not well known to some. When the planing of picturisation for this song was discussed in AVM, the core team could not come to a common understanding. Ultimately, AV Meyyappa chettiar decided to have the way we see it in the movie [any way itwas not AVM Saravanan as some one had posted in our site earlier]. A part of the crew was afraid that how songs are recorded and played should not be made public. But, AVM said we are revealing so much about "mazhai" and 'puyal' in the same movie and nothing bad will accrue. He requested all the orchestra to be in full cinematic attire for presentation. When we saw MSV on the screeen in 1964-65, he was so much appealing by his very articulate / swift signals to orchestra and to understand the other team we had to see the movie again and again. Our joy of seeing MSV knew no bounds.
{ Those days all artistes could only be seen in movies and that was one major factor of ignorance among the general public about orchestra kingpins} Any way in this song, besides MSV, one can see the charming Henry Daniel and the lyricist Vaalee. At that stage, Vaalee was beardless.He is seated in the front row in black pants, seen tapping his foot in perfect response to MSV's percussion beats. Another reference to Mr Balaji's wite-up is the actress dancing with Nagesh for this song. It was
Ms Shantha who was a dance master in AVM. Needless to say that AVM took the opportunity to honour some of their technicians. In fact, the same Shantha appeared in "Silai eduthhaan" in the same movie. By any reckoning Server Sundaram was a great movie for its very novel approach explaining the 'inner' happenings.
Warm regards Prof.K.Raman Navi Mumbai
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Prof. K. Raman
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baroque



Joined: 15 Feb 2007
Posts: 478
Location: San jose, CA, U.S.A

PostPosted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 4:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

MASTERY OVER FUSION MUSIC!!
My all time favorite song!!
Well conceived contagious, lively, flirtatious CHA CHA touch in prelude-pallavi grown into a LRE’s JAZZY performance.
Mega musical with deliberate tune variations glitters in the ambience of Hindustani RAG BHAIRAVI. Deliberate tune variations did not stumble the composer to feast your ears with essence of raga. He knows to cherish his wealth while embrace others for better! Romba samathu MSV

There is a reality show airing on ABC (USA) - DANCING WITH STARS, I love that show. I think of Shri.MSV & his different genre musicals. What a musical marvel!
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Sriram Kannan



Joined: 12 Sep 2007
Posts: 103

PostPosted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 10:23 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

A wonderful composition, indeed!!! Thanks for mentioning it, Balaji Sir... My favourite place is the third interlude with just piano opening up and joining with flute, and TMS starting "Sittridai Enbadhu..."

Thanks and Regards,
Sriram Kannan
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Baskar CS



Joined: 19 May 2007
Posts: 203

PostPosted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 10:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

avalukkenna song .. imagine a song by sirkazhi who does for nagesh and suseela for heroine

but here it was tms lre ..reason is master is clear as to how to get where to get and as wondered earlier he must have enjoyed the whole song mentally even before the composition .

it is the challenge that the lyricist gives the composer ..

when it is bit short like neela nayangalal -- it will have its own stretch and another example is naan unnai azhaikavillai -- he could have had a short pallavi ,but he sings musically and weeps too according to situation

by any length and breadth master had lived every minute in music .

in this case of avullekkenna .. the pause is the music and the bangoes with a complete rythmn and scale at the mercy of the MD is all the beauty .

a simple exercise .. can you imagine this song in any other raga with any other singers . when you say no it is an answer that the best is done .
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Baskar CS



Joined: 19 May 2007
Posts: 203

PostPosted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 10:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

avalukkenna song .. imagine a song by sirkazhi who does for nagesh and suseela for heroine

but here it was tms lre ..reason is master is clear as to how to get where to get and as wondered earlier he must have enjoyed the whole song mentally even before the composition .

it is the challenge that the lyricist gives the composer ..

when it is bit short like neela nayangalal -- it will have its own stretch and another example is naan unnai azhaikavillai -- he could have had a short pallavi ,but he sings musically and weeps too according to situation

by any length and breadth master had lived every minute in music .

in this case of avullekkenna .. the pause is the music and the bangoes with a complete rythmn and scale at the mercy of the MD is all the beauty .

a simple exercise .. can you imagine this song in any other raga with any other singers . when you say no it is an answer that the best is done .
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irenehastings
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PostPosted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 2:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Wow... Balaji sir

excellent post.... what a write up..!!. simply tremendous.

yes, as you rightly mentioned, three different interludes and three different tunes for three charanams.

roaring trumpet, followed by guitar and start first charanam..

'Oh.. azagu oru magic touch'

flute follwed by accardian and second charanam..

'anbu kaadhalan vadhaan paattodu' (shivering voice of LRE, followed by vilolin for every line)

wonderful piano, followed by flute and third charanam..

'sitridai enbathu munnazaghu'

magic... magic... nothing but magic by MSV, the magician.

Did you watch the voice modulation of TMS ?. it is not the voice he give for MGR or Shivaji or Jaishankar... but exactly fit for Nagesh.

Yes, TMS is another magician.

till now I never watched Valee in that group. I saw only MSV (with full suit) and TMS. Just after reading the posr of Professor only I know that Valee id sitting there.

Next time definitely I will identify Valee there...
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S.Balaji



Joined: 10 Jan 2007
Posts: 772

PostPosted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 4:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dear All,

Given a youtube link . Watch the wonderful song’s picturisation .

http://youtube.com/watch?v=gPNrbKXexO4


Dear Prof.

Thanks for giving more info. On the song.
I identified Valee tapping the foot ! Pls point out where the great Henry Daniel is ? Is that gentleman with Hawain Guitar or rhythm guitar ?
Apart from the 2, can you identify other lead players please ?
I don’t think there is any other song which covers MSV’s elite troupe members . This one is really precious….

Dear Irene,

Neengalum ennai pollave anu anuvaaga rasithuleergal enbadhu miga nandraagave purigiradhu ….. Thanks a lot for recollecting even subtle touches given by the Master for the one you had pointed out….. For every sentence from Anbu kadhalan vandhaan….. THERE WILL BE VIOLIN SUPPORT ….. great observation !

This song is peerless & simply incomparable orchestration , way ahead of times then !

What further captivates me is the nice choreographic work…. Nagesh , the ever cheerful dancer on any occasion , shows his versatility ….. Eepecially the movements he gives to bend backwards during the second interlude ….terrific !
And the way he pushes Ms. Shanta on one shot …..to show that its another day at office ! excellent presence of mind…

Vaidy or Ramky or Venky may pls. get more information from the Master about this super song
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rajeshkumar_v



Joined: 19 Apr 2007
Posts: 79

PostPosted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 11:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Wonderful song

This is the First song of VAALI in AVM Banner

Vaali's word play is mind blowing
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Ram



Joined: 23 Oct 2006
Posts: 782

PostPosted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 2:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Amazing write-up dear Balaji. Your mention about "Pallavi" and how MSV could have tuned for the lyricist is great....

Great interludes, Scintillating Melody, Rolling Rhythms, Timeless Music !!!
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madhuraman



Joined: 11 Jun 2007
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Location: navimumbai

PostPosted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 6:08 am    Post subject: Pick a Song and Analyze! Server sundaram Reply with quote

Dear Mr.Balaji, Avalukkenna song of SERVER SUNDARAM offered nice moments for MSV rasikas- no doubt for before that such a sequence has never been picturised with the real artistes.
There is one more song where we can see some members of MSV troupe. It is in Soorya Kaanthi of Mukta Srinivasan in the song "Parama sivan Kazhuthil irundhu paambu kaettadhu" where Kanna dasan appears as the singer. Definitely one can spot RonnieDavid with his flowing hair, violin in hands and in dark glasses. There are a few other artistes whom I am unable to name. It is another grand song revealing the race between lyricist anfd the MD with TMS BEING THE SINGER THIS TIME TOO! Must be just a coincidence.
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raghavankannan



Joined: 05 Jan 2007
Posts: 57

PostPosted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 6:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dear MSVs

(Shankar) Ganesh, Mandolin Raju, Hendry Daniel, Joseph Krishna also available in the stage.

RAghavankannan
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tvsankar



Joined: 24 Jan 2007
Posts: 229

PostPosted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 8:33 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dear Balaji,
As usual...
Nice write up form you .

Avalukenna azhagiya mugam - Idhai pola sila padalgalai ketum podhu,

MSV ai patri manadhil vandha ennam - Unmaiyana MSV in style idhu dhan enru ninaika vaikum..

Sivaji, MGR enra adaiyalam,. imagination, enra endha kattupadum illamal,

New comers ku compose seiyum MSV ai parkum podhu - Unmaiyana MSV ivar dhan enru ninaika thonrum...

Netru night Indha paadalai parka nerndhadhu.. Paadalai parkum podhu, indha paadalai patri ezhudhiya anaivarin view vum manadhil vnadhuadhu. Paatai veru dimention il parthen.....Except my view... Laughing

With Love,
Usha Sankar.
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irenehastings
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PostPosted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 12:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

tvsankar wrote:
Netru night Indha paadalai parka nerndhadhu.. Paadalai parkum podhu, indha paadalai patri ezhudhiya anaivarin view vum manadhil vnadhuadhu. Paatai veru dimention il parthen.....Except my view... Laughing
With Love,
Usha Sankar.


Yes Usha madam,

Yesterday surprisingly I was fortunated to watch this song in newly launched 'Kalainger TV' and I could identify Valee and Hendry Daniel. I dont know howmany 100 times I watched this song, but still fresh to watch as a new one.

Another surprise, yesterday I have watched "Paramasivan kazhuthil irundhu" song too in Jaya TV then kinnam programme and can identify some more crew members of our MSV sir's team.

(adhu sari usha madam, enge adikkadi kaanaaml poyidureenga?)
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tvsankar



Joined: 24 Jan 2007
Posts: 229

PostPosted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 2:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dear irenehastings,
Yes. Nanum Kalainyar TV il dhan parthen.
Net prob. Adhan ennal seriyaga vara mudiyavillai.

Innum sila padalgal upto 1.00 a.m. keten nu ninaikaren.

1.Naan parthadhilae

(NIght la indha padalai ketal effect ae thani dhan....

2.Paatuondu padipar paradiyadi yamma - nice song. Different interludes.

3.Thathai nenjam - K.R.Vijayavae paduvadhai pola padum PS in beautiful rendition...

4.Paatuku paateduthu - Beautiful themmangu.

5.Avalukenna azhagiya mugam - adhan solliyachu

6.En kelvikenna bhadhil - Indha patai ketkum podhu, Sivaji kanga oru padalaga than thonrum...

Paramasivan - indha paatai nanum parthen.Yes.MSV team members ai ellam kaatugirargal...

Netru Unmaiyilayae MidNight MSV yaga irundhadhu..

Naamaga padalai thervu siedhu ketpadhai vida, enna padal next varum enra oru edhirparpodu ketkum padaluku charm adhigam enru feel pannuven.

With Love,
Usha Sankar.
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