2023-06-01 12:20:00
WA YouTube video spewing poison. Below the video, the audience is having fun throwing mud at each other. Mostly personal insults and profanities, not comments. The more you read down, the harsher the obscenity gets. It reaches the level of the bone.
Every now and then a request caught my eye by chance: ‘Please come here and listen to this song. This is for you…’ and a song link.
I was curious. Will there be any spillage? I clicked the link with some trepidation. Then a song flowed like a spring of hope; In Yesudas’ Gandharva Naadam:
‘Whether you draw a line or a cross
Even if you bow down and pray
One thing to see and one thing to hear
Merciful God…’
I don’t know if it was under the influence of listening to the song, the level of anger decreased in the later comments. The lyrics, melody and Yesudas of the song are the subject of discussion. I still remember reading a comment that touched my heart: ‘Instead of reading the scriptures, if we listen to this song in our heart, all our problems will be solved…’
The song that was not included in the film
The song ‘Kurivarachalum’ was recorded for the movie ‘Maunam’ about a decade and a half ago. ‘At that time racism was not so intense and scary in our country’ which was written and arranged by M.D. Says Rajendran: ‘A song that suits the context of the film. That’s all I thought. But even I am amazed at the dignity these lines have acquired today; Scary.’
It is doubtful whether there have been any other film songs in the last quarter of a century that are so meaningful and embody the concept of secularism. It’s been a long time since the old ideas about movie songs have changed. Proclaiming great ideals like ‘Man Created Religions’ (Achhan and Bappa), ‘One Race One Religion One God Orme Venami Advaita Mantra’ (Friends), ‘God Is Hindu Not Islam Not Christian’ (Postman Missing) and ‘In the Land Where Advaita Was Born’ (Line Bus) We cannot imagine songs and such lyrical contexts in contemporary cinema. Maunam was the story of a rebel who fights against the injustices of the society as a single person. Madamp Kunjukuttan’s best screenplay. When director Suresh Machad asked for a song that covers the whole idea of the film, its lyrics naturally came to mind…’ MDR’s memory.
Ten years before that, K. The pallavi that starts with ‘Kurivarachalam’ was written for the film ‘Godman’ (1999) directed by Madhu. Friend Karim requested a song on the theme of religious harmony as the title song of the film. ‘The beginning was the same but the lines of the stanzas were different,’ recalls MDR. ‘But that song did not have to be used in the film. As it is an action film, the makers of ‘Godman’ decided not to have any song. It was lucky for a number. Otherwise this song would not have been noticed so much…’
After rewriting the song for ‘Mauna’, MDR first went and met the Devarajan master. Malayalam
Most of the songs that made a mark in the film were sung by the master like ‘Sundaree nin thumpupititta churl mudiil’, ‘Himashaila Saikata Bharmi’, ‘Mayamalava Goula Ragam…’ and a handful of classics. ‘My wish was to compose the song using mash. That is the time when he kept his distance from the cinema. But I thought I’d give it a try. When he went to his house in Chennai and got the urge, he bought a piece of paper with the lines written on it and read it patiently. Then he looked at me and said: I was wondering whether he was singing or mocking. Anyway, gathering all my courage, I made him sing the song in my mind…’
Then comes the turning point in the story. After listening to the song, he stood up and walked inside. When he reached the door, he turned back and told me: I will not do this song. Just do it yourself. MDR said that the sincerity of the master’s words could be read from that facial expression. They were words of confidence.
‘You didn’t write this song’
The track was recorded at Priyageetham Studio in Thrissur. Also recorded at Pooja Studio in Tripunithura. Today is the day the song was born. In the memory of Rajendran, 19th February 2009. On that day, the image was also worshiped. We had already decided that Yesudas should sing. As soon as he reached the studio, Yesudas asked for the song and started reading; Not once, twice, many times. Dasetan said, ‘You didn’t write this, you can’t write it like this’. MDR was completely upset. I don’t understand what he meant. Then comes the next sentence: ‘Written by some unknown force.’ MDR said that his breath dropped when he heard those words.
Later, Yesudas was seen standing in front of the mic and melting into the song like Tapasi. Everyone present, including sound engineer Suresh, director Suresh and Bernie who came to play the mandolin, were engrossed in that atmospheric singing. After the recording was over, the first thing Dasetan did was to call his wife Prabha on the phone and listen to the song. MDR said that his eyes filled with tears when he spoke with admiration about the lyrics and the instrumentation. The orchestration for the song ‘Kuri Varachalam’ was done by Poly, a native of Thrissur. Behind the charm of the song is the appropriate instrumental arrangement.
There are other songs written and sung by MDR in ‘Mauna’ starring Saiju Kurup, Thilakan, Salim Kumar etc. The Taraat Unnipoove sung by Chitra was impressive. Unfortunately the film did not make it to the theatres. The premiere show was held at Thrissur Swapna. The then Culture Minister Anil Kumar, Madamba and Tilak were in the audience. Everyone said good things about the movie but it didn’t hit the theaters due to various reasons’ MDR.
The song is picturized as a blind singer singing in Thrissur Thekinkad Maidan. There is also the character of hero Saiju Kurup as one of the listeners. The song is on YouTube, but few people have seen it. To a certain extent it was good for the song. The listener can picture the song in his mind. This may be the reason why the Malayalee has taken it up as an independent song beyond just a movie song.
The poet says that the famous song ‘Manusyan Religione Prasatya’ inspired him to write the song in ‘Mauna’. ‘In a sense my composition is an extension of Viola’s song.’ Many political leaders have heard Vayalar’s work referred to in their speeches. MDR has nothing to do with it. ‘I am proud to see even the comparison with Vialar.’
Tilak’s song; and SPB
MD wonders how the song ‘Kurivarachalam’ has gone viral even though it was born in a time when there was no song promotion and promotion through YouTube like today. Rajendran. Not many people even know that it is a movie song. ‘As Dasetan started singing regularly in ganams and concerts, the song reached more people. Gradually, the song became a regular feature in the shows of other singers. If you open YouTube today, you can hear many cover versions of it. People like Gadanapally Ramachandran, who have gone beyond this, sing the song regularly at public functions.
There are many heart touching experiences to associate with that song. ‘It was I who took Thilakan Chetan to the premiere show of Maunam. Even though he was drawing, Chetan was singing throughout the journey. He said that it was a song that conquered his mind on the first listen.’ During a concert in Thrissur, Fr. When Paul Poovathinkal sang this song, SP listened with emotion. Balasubramaniam’s film cannot be forgotten either. “I was lucky enough to come on stage and say a couple of words about the lyrics of the song. SPB spoke later. This song is the need of the hour. This is not just a song of a language or a state; It is the song of the land. He sang the National Song.’
MD said that the Hindi and Tamil versions of the song Kurivarachalam will be released soon. Rajendran. Yesudas wants to sing both. MDR himself wrote the lyrics in both languages. The beginning is Tilak Lagathe in Hindi. Always and always in Tamil.
MD for the film. Although the number of songs written by Rajendran is relatively few, most of them have captured the hearts of the common Malayali: ‘Himashaila Saikata, Sundaree’ (Shalini My Friend), ‘Sishirakala Meghamithuna’, ‘Sasikala Chartiya’ (Devaragam), ‘Alliilam Poovo’, ‘Ritu Kalpana Charuta Pari’ (Mangalambheda). Nerunu), ‘Nandasutavara Tava Jananam’, ‘Kurunirayo’ (Parvathi), ‘Vachalam en maunavum’ (In search of a nest)…all poetically beautiful songs.
All the songs written are like my own children. But more than all of them, I appreciate the song Kuri Vachachalal. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. God’s grace…’ words of M.D.R.
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