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Tamil Song 101: Kamal’s Pon Maanai Catchy & Wonderful Classic 1984

kamal haasan music song tamil

(The many faces of the great man in multiple roles all these years and he still making headlines even now. Image source: http://www.bollywoodlife.com)

In terms of acting, after the great Sivaji Ganesan, we were lucky to have Kamal Haasan taking up the lead when it comes to powerful acting. And over the years, he has not let us down with a powerful storyline and acting (still remember this?).

Kamal Haasan is also a good singer when he wants to be and he takes the lead (again) with being the first actor (an “A” star actor that is) to sing for another actor (Mogan – another well-known name from the 1980s). This was back in the 1980s – after his hit “Sakalakalaa Vallavan” and for this, maestro Illayaraja gave Kamal one of the best compositions as well (rest assured it is in my collection). The fast & easy-going tune has been in my mind for the past 2 weeks and it does not seem to be getting any boring even if I am humming the tune whilst I am doing up this post.

Enjoy…

Original Tune from the 1984 Tamil movie, Oh Maane Maane.

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Oh Maane Maane is a 1984 Tamil romance film directed by A. Jagannathan and starring Mohan and Urvashi. It is a remake of the 1974 Malayalam film Chattakari, which was based on a novel by Pamman. The film tells the story of Stella, an Anglo-Indian girl who falls in love with Mahesh, a Brahmin boy. Their relationship faces many challenges due to their different backgrounds and cultures. Stella becomes pregnant and her mother Victoria tries to separate them by isolating her daughter. The film explores the themes of love, prejudice, and social stigma.

The film was released on 22 October 1984 and received mixed reviews from critics and audiences. Some praised the music by Ilaiyaraaja and the performances by the lead actors, while others felt that the film was not as good as the original Malayalam version and that the direction was weak. The film was also controversial for its portrayal of inter-caste and inter-religious romance, which was considered taboo at that time.

And there is a remix version too (it sounds good too)

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Pon Maanai is a beautiful song composed by Ilaiyaraaja for the 1984 movie Oh Maane Maane. The song is sung by Kamal Haasan, who is not the lead actor in the movie but lends his voice to express the pain and longing of the protagonist. The lyrics are written by Mu Metha, who captures the essence of the song with poetic words and metaphors. The song features a variety of musical instrumentals, such as **guitar**, **flute**, **drums**, **keyboard** and **violin**.

The song is about a man who is searching for his lost love, who is like a golden deer that has escaped from his sight. He wonders where she is, and if she still remembers him. He compares his life to a barren land, where nothing grows without her presence. He also blames himself for letting her go, and regrets his mistakes.

The song is a classic example of Ilaiyaraaja’s musical genius, as he uses various instruments and melodies to create a haunting and melancholic atmosphere. The song is also enhanced by Kamal Haasan’s expressive and emotive singing, which conveys the depth of the character’s emotions. Pon Maanai is a song that will touch your heart and make you feel the pain of love and separation.

P.S. There is no clear sign of the next generation of actors who can produce, write, act and sing (an all-rounder) as well as Kamal Haasan but let me tell you this upfront, Vijay is not one of those in the lead. He is a good actor but not in the same class as Kamal Haasan.

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