Dear all,
This week I picked a Kannadasan song BECAUSE it is plain and simple. The song is characterised by its jubilant rhythm, uncomplicated lyrics and the mellifluous singing.
A newcomer to Tamil movie films (S. Janaki) who had no formal training in classical music was trying to make her mark amidst the popularity of P.Suseela. This song of hers from the movie “பாசம்”,never got its due accolades because of another grander song rendered by her in the same year – “சிங்கார வேலனே தேவா”. Her voice is so fresh and sweet in this song and gels with the excited mood of the character.
The song starts of with the heroine talking to her bullocks urging them to get home faster – her urgency reflected in the rhythm of this exquisite composition by Viswanathan – Ramamoorthy.
“ ஜல் ஜல் ஜல் எனும் சலங்கை ஒலி
சல சல சலவெனச் சாலையிலே
செல் செல் செல் எங்கள் காளைகளே
சேர்ந்திட வேணும் இரவுக்குள்ளே”
(A common technique for lyricists for a fast paced song is the use of “irattai kilavi” – like ஜல் ஜல் ஜல். A similar ploy used by Vaali for the song “வளையோசை கல கல கல…”.
With only the bullocks as her companions all the way, she narrates her falling in love to them in a witty imaginative manner that does bring a smile.
Here lies the greatness of Kannadasan – he purposely choses words for the entire song that are so basic that they could be comprehended by any common pet.
“காட்டினில் ஒருவன் எனைக்கண்டான்
கையில் உள்ளதைக் கொடு என்றான்
கையில் எதுவும் இல்லை என்று
கண்ணில் இருந்ததைக் கொடுத்து விட்டேன்”
After blaming him for her love – she confesses to her share of mischief – Kavignar elegantly expressing the naughty humour and shyness of the character:
“ அவன் தான் திருடன் என்றிருந்தேன்
அவனை நானும் திருடி விட்டேன்
முதல் முதல் திருடும் காரணத்தால்
முழுசாய்த் திருட மறந்து விட்டேன்”
Now her clarity and conviction to spend the rest of her life with him in no uncertain terms:
“இன்றே அவனைக் கைது செய்வேன்
என்றும் சிறையில் வைத்திருப்பேன்
விளக்கம் சொல்லவும் முடியாது
விடுதலை என்பதும் கிடையாது”
Kannadasan beautifully gets into the character of a village girl – speaks her mind using words that can be easily associated with her and still manages to bring out her character and exuberance perfectly.
They say “In simplicity lies greatness” – Kannadasan is simply great.
Trivia: “பாசம்” is one of the rare movies in which MGR dies at the end and hence didn’t do well at the box office.
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