Back to vintage era- Revisiting Kannadasan's Lyrics

While growing up in my hometown, the main source of entertainment I had and I still have is access to FM radio. Thanks to the low altitude of our location, the only frequency that could be tuned without noises is 100.5 MHz - Kodai fm. Unlike other radio stations where the mainstream is current trending songs, Kodai fm offers equity by broadcasting tamil songs of all periods ranging from our mellisai mannan MSV's vintage melodies to Anirudh's kuthu beat. As most of the songs that get played are listener's choices, Initially I wondered what was special about the songs of their wishes especially those belonging to vintage era. While analysing them well , I understood that in addition to harmonious tunes by mucisians and flawless and enticing voices of playback singers, the profound thoughts embedded in the lyrics of the songs makes them stand the test of time. Kaviyarasu Kannadasan is one such lyricist whose contribution to tamil and tamil cinema is an invaluable treasure.

Kaviyarasu Kannadasan

Kannadasan has presented philosophical thoughts on almost all of the worldly things. With the aid of simple words and pun he has presented the songs in a broader sense. In his every song he takes us to a short trip to the mood of the movie. I've tried to describe some of his songs in this essay that I love the most in chronological order. The voices to most of these songs have been lent by P. Susheela and TMS.

Malargalai pol thangai(1961) - a tribute to brother-sister bond

The entire lyrics is presented as a heartfelt wishes of a brother on his sister's life, once she gets married to her love. The song is from the movie "Pasamalar", a movie that is standing testimony for brother and sister love. The song alone is enough to disclose the selfless love this brother had for his sister.

Vantha naal muthal(1961) - depiction of evolved human mind in the society

The song moves slowly depicting how everything remains same from the day of origin on this earth except the human minds which have changed to the worse. With his ten-line verse he really made us realise how our minds are corrupted in this society.

Poojiyathukulle oru rajiyathai(1962)- answering the question," who is god?"

Though he's used only simple words, the meaning of this song couldn't be grasped quickly. He starts the song with lines,"God is present in nothingness and is ruling the universe and when one realises this thing he too becomes god." Kannadasan didn't depict the God as a superpower. Instead he points out that minute miracles in this world are brought about by one and he calls the one as God. The song holds only few lines , the entire poem could be seen in his literary works and it gives much deeper sense about God.

Ninaika therintha maname(1963)- from a broken heart of a woman

We've come accross a number of soup songs where the victim of love is usually a man where his suffering would be portrayed in a dramatic sense. But in this song, kannadasan brings out wonderfully how a woman's heart weeps, when her love of life leaves her. In the last stanza , Susheela ma with her high pitch voice raises a question, "Inaiya therintha Thalaiva unaku ennai puriyatha?". It really gives a goosebump moment ,everytime I happened to hear this song.

Ullathil nalla ullam(1964)- defending the mighty hero

Karna, one of the epic hero in Mahabharatam popularly known for his good deeds, takes the side of adharma by destiny though he is good at heart. Kannadasan feels sorry for Karna for every pain inflicted by fate in his life through his verses in this song. With the combinations of kaviyarasu's thought provoking composing, Seerkazhi Govindharajan's devotional voice for the character Kannan and MSV's situational music for the kurukshetra battle field where Karna's soul swings between life and death , this song did a wonder in tamil cinema.

Naan malarodu(1966) - 60's romance

The song follows the style in ancient literature poems on romance between thalaivan and thalaivi in a garden but with the use of simple words. The lyrics metaphorically defines how delicate and beautiful the female lead is and the song beautifully expresses expectations and longings of love in those periods.

Paramasivan kaluthil(1973)- message for a typical family man

Kannadasan's philosophical songs use the situations of the movies as a tool and proceeds with worldly advice for all the people. This is one such song where he delivers his message on family life through the usage of similes to a dominating male lead filled with ego. This song is one of his notable work on philosophy.

I've mentioned here only a drop from the ocean of Kannadasan's works. He's written lyrics for about 5000 songs besides around 6000 poems and a number of books including novels and plays in tamil. For a person who gets bored over the songs with plain lyrics of songs in current trend, a short visit to the vintage period might make them fall in love with those meaningful lyrics. And Kannadasan has given us a repository of such songs that could never go out of existence by oblivion.

Kannadasan raises a question

" Vaazhnthavar Kodi Marainthavar Kodi Makkalin Manathil Nirpavar Yaar?"

in his song achcham enbathu madamaiyada. He's literally become the answer to his question through his priceless contribution to tamil.

-Bharathi Dharmaraj