Released in 1979, the Tamil movie Ninaithale Inikkum directed by K. Balachander (1930 – 2014) was a true gem of its time. Starring the legendary actors Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth, Jaya Prada, and Geetha, the film left an indelible mark on the hearts of Tamil cinema lovers. Image source: Saregama
Read More »Nostalgic Tamil Song 101: Bharathi Kannamma – Melodious Lovely Feeling
Nizhal Nijamagiradhu is a 1978 Tamil movie directed by K Balachander starred by Kamal Haasan as the main character with the background score and songs composed by maestro MS Visvanathan. The movie only has 2 songs and both are classic with lyrics written by the poet Kannadasan. Image source: IMDB
Read More »Nostalgic Tamil Song 101: When Great Poets Gets Cheated Song by MSV 1978
Santhi is a 1965 Indian Tamil movie directed by the famous A. Bhim Singh and starred by Nadigar Thilagam Sivaji Ganesan. It is known for a particular song and the story behind it because the story was told by Maestro M. S. Viswanathan (MSV) himself. Image source: Youtube
Read More »Nostalgic Tamil Song 101: Sivaji’s Thoughtful Yaar Antha Nilavu by MS Viswanathan 1965
If you look at the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s Tamil movie scenes, T. M. Soundararajan (TMS) was the top male singer, singing a reported 10,138 songs from 3,162 films and over 11 different languages. Image source: Wikipedia
However, when Maestro Ilayaraaja came into the Tamil movie industry, TMS was not keen to sing for him. Apparently, he did not think highly of this “new” music director. If not mistaken, he only sang about 7 songs for the maestro so it is rather rare to find TMS singing for Ilaiyaraaja’s composition.
Read More »Nostalgic Tamil Song 101: Mesmerising Nallavarkkellam by Great Ilaiyaraaja 1978
Puthiya Paravai (meaning New Bird) was a 1964 Tamil movie that was produced and acted by the Nadigar Thilagam, Sivaji Ganesan. It was Sivaji Ganesan’s maiden movie that he produced under his own production company, Sivaji Productions. Image source: Smule
It is reported that Puthiya Paravai is a remake of an earlier Bengali film which is itself inspired by the British film Chase a Crooked Shadow (1958).
Kizhakke Pogum Rail (transl. Eastbound Train) is a 1978 Indian Tamil-language romantic drama film, directed by Bharathiraja, starring newcomers Sudhakar and Raadhika. The film had a musical score and songs by Ilaiyaraaja and was released on 10 August 1978. Image source: Amazon
Read More »Nostalgic Tamil Song 101: Mesmerising Kovil Mani Osai by Great Ilaiyaraaja 1978
16 Vayathinile (translated as At Age 16) is a 1977 Tamil movie written and directed by Bharathirajaa in his directorial debut.
The movie included a number of big and new stars namely Kamal Haasan as retarded Chappani, Sridevi as Mayil and Rajinikanth (his famous line – ithu eppendi irruku) who often with his man, the funny Goundamani. K. Bhagyaraj worked in this movie as an assistant director to Bharathirajaa. Image source: Twitter
Read More »Nostalgic Tamil Song 101: Mesmerising Aattu Kutti by Ilaiyaraaja 1977
Kadal Meengal was a 1981 Tamil movie starring Kamal Haasan, Sujatha, Nagesh and Swapna. Kamal Haasan in a dual role as father & son on opposite sides with the younger Kamal Haasan bent on taking revenge. Image source: IMDB.
Unfortunately, this movie was not the highlight of Kamal Haasan in his string of blockbusters but stands out for Ilaiyaraaja’s classic songs.
Read More »Nostalgic Tamil Song 101: Mesmerising Thaalattudhe Vaanam by Ilaiyaraaja 1981
Let’s go back almost 60 years back to 1960 and this particular movie titled Mannathi Mannan which is a 1960 Tamil movie starring M. G. Ramachandran, Anjali Devi and Padmini in the lead roles and with music scored by Maestro MSV. The story for the movie was actually written by the famous poet Kannadasan. Image source: Amazon
Read More »Nostalgic Tamil Song 101: Romantic Kaniya Kaniya Mazhalai by MS Viswanathan 1960
(No matter where you are right now, no matter how old you are, I am sure you always have your favourite old songs by these dynamic duos that you don’t mind humming the whole day long. Image source: Silverscreen India)
Despite “starting off” with the music of Illayaraja and later discovering the new age music of A R Rahman and then Yuvan Shankar Raja, Harris and all the new music directors, I always had soft spot for the music from the 1960s and 1970s in particular songs composed by MS Viswanathan – Ramamoorthy (MSV) and penned by the great poet Kannadasan (I also liked songs composed by KV Mahadevan and AM Raja).
Read More »Genius of MSV Part 1: Why Old Songs Will Melt Cold Hearts