There is no Telugu not knowing the movie Shankarabharanam. It was actually popular all over India. Songs from Shankarabharanam (esp. Shankaraa) show another dimension of voice modulation by SPB. Every music lover should listen to them.
There is one song I have always loved from my childhood. That's "Prathi Rathri" from Ekaveera. I didn't know the singer(s) at that time. Ghantasala and Balu together sang this master piece. I don't want to talk about the song at all. You yourself find the beauty.
http://www.chimatamusic.com/playcmd.php?plist=172
Another stunning performance by SPB's voice is Tallo Tamara(Tamil: Tangathamarai) from Merupu kalalu (Minsara Kanavu).
The song kadasaaridi veedkolu from Amrutha (Tamil: Kannathil Muttamithal) is not popular in AP, but all SPB lovers should listen to this. This song was sung by MSV in Tamil, not SPB. So even if you are a Tamizh, listen to it once.
Listen to the song "Ghallu Ghallu" from Swarna Kamalam and I am sure your ears will be full of pure nectar. His voice in this song is very pure, soft, soothing and many such things. There are many songs by him like this, but I somehow feel this is too good (probably because of the great composition as well).
Read Sahasra Kantha BalaSubramanyam II
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
The fame factor
When I was a kid, I used to think I should be as famous as Chiranjeevi, Chandra Babu Naidu and many others I knew about. As I grew up, My idols changed but my ambition only intensified. When I started discovering my interest for music, especially when I started discovering that much of the music I admired was by none other Ilayaraja (Believe me! I discovered him myself, I heard his name only a few times earlier but never heard anybody talking about him or his greatness. It is possibly because I was in that sort of environment all my boyhood). When I learnt that all the movies Sagara sangamam, Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari, Geethanjali, Abhilasha and many other diverse movies had music by a single person, I was stunned. I kept on discovering more, more and many more unbelievable facts about that single person till date. Unfortunately, many of these unbelievable facts include things like no Padma award for him, existence of people who criticise him and compare him with others(most such people don't even know 10% of his music). I used to feel very bad for his work not being recognised as much as it should be.
I started wondering, if the man who revolutionized the Indian film music, who took it to another level, who inspired innumerable music directors, who completely dominated the Telugu, Tamil film music for decades, who could compose great music for more than 50 movies in a single year had not become all that popular, how would I be famous.
As an old quote says, I believed that an artist's full satisfaction comes with recognition for his work. I in fact believed more, I believed that an individual's full satisfaction comes with his recognition in the society. But it was when I learnt about Raja, his personality, his music, how immaterial fame is to him, I started to rethink about my beliefs.
Though I started feeling that fame is not all that important, I am not as saintly as Raja to think it is almost immaterial. When I become more mature and dedicate myself to something I love and live in my love, probably then I will start feeling like how he does. I would like to end this article by thanking Guru Ilayaraja for not only giving music sufficient for an entire lifetime but also for having in him many things to learn from.
PS: Even if you are a person who care for fame, don't worry. He is very famous among intellectual community. Also read what NAUSHAD ALI (Doyen of Hindi film music, India) said: Ilayaraja has achieved 100 times more than what any of us have achieved; only time can tell the quantum of his achievements.
I started wondering, if the man who revolutionized the Indian film music, who took it to another level, who inspired innumerable music directors, who completely dominated the Telugu, Tamil film music for decades, who could compose great music for more than 50 movies in a single year had not become all that popular, how would I be famous.
As an old quote says, I believed that an artist's full satisfaction comes with recognition for his work. I in fact believed more, I believed that an individual's full satisfaction comes with his recognition in the society. But it was when I learnt about Raja, his personality, his music, how immaterial fame is to him, I started to rethink about my beliefs.
Though I started feeling that fame is not all that important, I am not as saintly as Raja to think it is almost immaterial. When I become more mature and dedicate myself to something I love and live in my love, probably then I will start feeling like how he does. I would like to end this article by thanking Guru Ilayaraja for not only giving music sufficient for an entire lifetime but also for having in him many things to learn from.
PS: Even if you are a person who care for fame, don't worry. He is very famous among intellectual community. Also read what NAUSHAD ALI (Doyen of Hindi film music, India) said: Ilayaraja has achieved 100 times more than what any of us have achieved; only time can tell the quantum of his achievements.
Lord Shiva's songs in Telugu movies
There are many many great songs on Lord Shiva in our Telugu movies. On occasion of Shiva Rathri, I thought of listing some of them here.
1. Mahesa Papa Vinasa from Sree KalaHasti Mahatyam sung by none other than Ghantasala.
2. Deva Deva Dhavalachala Mandira from Bhukailas. Who else could have sung it so uniquely?
3. Neela kandhara deva from Bhukailas, again by Ghantaaswara Ghantasala.
4. Siva Siva Sankara from Bhakta Kannappa sung by Rama Krishna.
5. Sankaraa from Sankarabharanam by SPB with voice modulation as usual.
6. Om NamahSivaya from Saagara sangamam by S Janaki, deserves much more than national award.
7. Aanatineeyara from Swathi Kiranam sung by Vani Jayaram, no comments.
8. Om Shivoham from Nenu Devudini by Vijay Prakash. This is my first song of Vijay Prakash.
9. Namo Bhutanatha from Satya Harischandra, another song by Ghantasala .
10. Kanaraara Kailasa Nivasa from SeetaRama kalyanam.
11. Om Maha praana deepam from Sree Manjunatha sung by Shankar Mahadevan.
12. Om Namahsivaya from Paramanandayya Sishyula katha.
A Great Achievement of Indian Music by A R Rahman
I am really excited as our beloved Rahman won two oscars, one for his original score in Slumdog and another along with Gulzar for the song "Jai Ho".
Congratulations Rahman for making our and your music popular. I wish you achieve a lot more in future.
Congratulations Rahman for making our and your music popular. I wish you achieve a lot more in future.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Mano on Ilayaraja n Rahman
Singer Mano talked very sound about his Guru Ilayaraja and well-wisher Rahman. He said,"To talk about Ilayaraja is like a discourse on God. It was he who game me a career as a singer. To see him is a gift. To sing a song under him is a boon. He is the fastest musical mind I have ever seen in my life. He himself is a treasure of instruments. He can compose native and original tune in just 20 minutes. I challenge, no one can compete with him, even today. He is the best and no.1 in the area of background music too. "
He talked great of Rahman, who gave him new life as a singer. Mano, who was long considered as a carbon copy of SPB, got unique recognision and fame with Muqala from Premikudu (Kadhalan). He said," Rahman has his own strategy and power to create magic tunes. For the song Muqala Muqabula, Rahman asked me to do something different by changing my voice. He wanted a little variety and he said you can do something that will make people sit up and ask who the singer is.''
"I mimicked a few voices and he liked the duplication of R. D. Burman. He asked me to continue to sing in the same voice. When I was recording something told me the song was going to be a hit the beat, the sound and rhythm. I rendered that song in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi. It has given me new life. If in a year a playback singer gets the opportunity to sing three or four songs like this, he can stay in the hearts and minds of the people. I am truly grateful to Rahman.''
He followed with hits like Thillana from Muthu, and Azhagiya Lailaa from Ullathai Alli Tha.
He talked great of Rahman, who gave him new life as a singer. Mano, who was long considered as a carbon copy of SPB, got unique recognision and fame with Muqala from Premikudu (Kadhalan). He said," Rahman has his own strategy and power to create magic tunes. For the song Muqala Muqabula, Rahman asked me to do something different by changing my voice. He wanted a little variety and he said you can do something that will make people sit up and ask who the singer is.''
"I mimicked a few voices and he liked the duplication of R. D. Burman. He asked me to continue to sing in the same voice. When I was recording something told me the song was going to be a hit the beat, the sound and rhythm. I rendered that song in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi. It has given me new life. If in a year a playback singer gets the opportunity to sing three or four songs like this, he can stay in the hearts and minds of the people. I am truly grateful to Rahman.''
He followed with hits like Thillana from Muthu, and Azhagiya Lailaa from Ullathai Alli Tha.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Sahasra Kantha Subrahmanyam I
SPB is singer with thousand different voices built in him (How else could he have sung 40,000+ songs without boring us for over four decades). He also pronounces differently according to the actor he is singing for. It is probably difficult for himself to identify his own voice sometimes. I am here trying to discuss some of his masterpieces where he excelled in not only singing but also modulating his voice.
SPB has a voice hidden in him which he used only for NTR. Oh! I am sorry, it was not SPB singing for NTR. It was NTR singing for himself. It is a mysterious fact that only a few know about. Listen to any NTR's song sung by SPB you will clearly understand that it was sung by NTR himself (something seriously wrong with the sentence, right?)
Sample songs: Aresukoboyi (Adavi ramudu), Naa kosame meerocharu (Yugandhar), Aaku chatu pinde tadise (vetagadu).
Whatever was written for NTR applies for any other actor SPB has sung for, especially ANR. He completely changes his voice, it becomes dominantly nasal so as to match with ANR's voice.
samples: All from Premabhishekam (Vandanam, AAgadu, Naa kallu, Kotappa, Devi mounamaa, taaralu digi, oka devuni), anubandham (mallepulu, jim jim etc).
Close your eyes and listen to this song, you will start wondering if veteran actor Krishna was awarded "Padma Bhushan" for his singing. Yeah, this makes more sense than him receiving the award for his acting.
Appana tanna manna (Chuttalunnaru jagratta)
It's time to stop wondering. It is our Balu singing, not Krishna. I know, its hard to believe.
It is very tough to write about all his greats in a single post. I will keep posting more about him and his singing modulation.
SPB has a voice hidden in him which he used only for NTR. Oh! I am sorry, it was not SPB singing for NTR. It was NTR singing for himself. It is a mysterious fact that only a few know about. Listen to any NTR's song sung by SPB you will clearly understand that it was sung by NTR himself (something seriously wrong with the sentence, right?)
Sample songs: Aresukoboyi (Adavi ramudu), Naa kosame meerocharu (Yugandhar), Aaku chatu pinde tadise (vetagadu).
Whatever was written for NTR applies for any other actor SPB has sung for, especially ANR. He completely changes his voice, it becomes dominantly nasal so as to match with ANR's voice.
samples: All from Premabhishekam (Vandanam, AAgadu, Naa kallu, Kotappa, Devi mounamaa, taaralu digi, oka devuni), anubandham (mallepulu, jim jim etc).
Close your eyes and listen to this song, you will start wondering if veteran actor Krishna was awarded "Padma Bhushan" for his singing. Yeah, this makes more sense than him receiving the award for his acting.
Appana tanna manna (Chuttalunnaru jagratta)
It's time to stop wondering. It is our Balu singing, not Krishna. I know, its hard to believe.
It is very tough to write about all his greats in a single post. I will keep posting more about him and his singing modulation.
Sahasra Kantha Subrahmanyam II
Mutyalu Vastaavaa was sung for Lt. Allu Ramalingaiah garu for the movie Manushulanta okkate. It is said that Allu garu had felt himself singing and could feel his unique style of pronunciation in the song.
Mutyalu Vastaavaa
Listen to this magical song in which Balu shows us his versatility in singing as well as his mimicking skills. It is tough to describe the song in words. It is a great composition by M S Vishwanathan.
Junior (Idi katha kadu)
Let me first describe the situation of the song I am going to talk about. This song from the movie allari mogudu is sort of a battle between two singers. Oneof them is an aged classical singer (Role played by Nagesh), other one is the hero Mohan Babu. This time SPB creates mindblowing magic by singing for both the characters. Observe the variation in his voice. Very good song from Keeravani.
Naa paata panchamrutam (Allari mogudu)
This song shows his involvement in singing a song (As a matter of fact, any of his songs does). It also shows how beautifully he dubs for Kamal hassan. Should mention Ilayaraaja for the great composition.
Kammanee (Guna)
Let us look into the great classic Rudraveena. If you had listened to these great songs, you would have noticed an outstanding village singer (Chuttu pakkala, few lines from Nammaku). I don't think I need to say who that singer is. Whereas he uses his Chiranjeevi voice for the remaining songs he sang. He stuns everyone with his "Cheppalani Undi". OOOH...The entire emotion and all the feelings of the actor are perfectly transferred to the listener.
Listen to RudraVeena songs
Oh my god..It's a never ending post. Shall meet in the next post.
Read Sahasra Kantha Subrahmanyam I
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