Part 2 A
Around two weeks back, I had posted my blog on the duets of the legend T M Soundararajan ( TMS) with singers other than P Susheela with a promise that I would follow up with my blog(or blogs!) on his evergreen duets with the nightingale P Susheela.
For any Tamizh music lover, this is a golden pair and there could not have been a single day , when at least few dozens of their duets would have been aired in radio during the 60’s, 70’s and even into the later decades, till music tastes changed completely in the present times. Now one has to seek for their duets in the Internet /any other media that is available .
Although I am not an expert on statistics on Tamizh film songs, it is generally believed that this golden pair might have sung around 700-800 songs together. This exceeds the numbers by two other famous pairs -not in Tamizh, but in Hindi films-Rafi and Lata might have sung around 400-450 duets and Rafi and Asha around 600+ duets.
When I started listing out the popular songs of T M Soundararajan & P Susheela ( for brevity, I will henceforth refer to them as TMS & PS), I was overwhelmed with the number of songs that I could list out. It is truly an impossible task to select few out them. Still I have tried my best to provide a comprehensive list that not only includes their great duets under the baton of the great composers Vishwanathan -Ramamoorthy , M S Vishwanathan as an independent composer , K V Mahadevan, G Ramanathan but also many other composers.
I tried to find out if both TMS & PS had talked in depth about their experience in singing so many duets, but unfortunately there is hardly any such interview available to the best of my knowledge. There were just one or two I could find but that was very brief and not done in a professional manner.
One of the main objectives for me to create this blogsite is to provide a single source for looking at all the legendary artists of the Tamizh and Hindi film music. To that extent I feel glad that I have been able to write about so many legendary artists, provide links to few of their great songs and do my tiny bit in preserving their memory.
The inherent depth in TMS’ voice, his ability to modulate according to the actor on screen combined with PS’ sweet-as-nectar voice and together, their perfect Tamizh diction ( despite PS’ mother tongue being Telugu and TMS of Saurashtra origin but settled for many generations in Tamil Nadu) , ability to traverse those high notes with perfect ease-all these factors must have contributed to their duets being immortal. Above all these factors, the way they got into the soul of a song-be it a happy one or a pathos is something that is very unique.
I will try to cover some of their duets in two parts as I feel one single blog will become too lengthy! Though it sounds too academic, I have named this blog as Part 2 A that lists few selected songs till the year 1965 ; Part 2 B shall be on songs for films made in 1966 and onwards.
Arranged in chronological order as per the film’s release and with the song-film-year-music director and lyricist mentioned in that order, here I list out some of their greatest duets.
- Mullai Mele Moikkum Vandu-Uthama Puthiran-G Ramanathan-1958-A Maruthakasi
One of the earliest hits of this golden pair has to be composed by none less than that veteran -G Ramanathan-who else! Those were the days when both TMS and PS were establishing their name slowly and this Darbari Kanada/Kanada based composition should be the right song to start my list.
2. Naan Pesa Ninaipathellam-Paalum Pazhamum-1961- Vishwanathan Ramamoorthy-Kannadasan
Paalum Pazhamum’s music got the best appreciation by the legendary composer Naushad Ali, who after listening to the songs initially refused to work on the Hindi version of the film Saathi, stating that it would be better if Vishwanathan -Ramamoorthy themselves do the Hindi version also. But language was a barrier and ultimately he also created excellent songs in Saathi. I have selected two songs from this film-each one a masterpiece.
3. Ennai Yaar Endru-Paalum Pazhamum-1961- Vishwanathan Ramamoorthy-Kannadasan
4. Kaveri Karairukku-Thayai Kaatha Thanayan-1962-K V Mahadevan-Kannadasan
After three songs picturised on Sivaji Ganesan , here is one on MGR with KV Mahadevan coming out with a lilting tune for the golden pair!
5. Kodi Asainthathum-Paarthal Pasi Theerum-1962- Vishwanathan Ramamoorthy-Kannadasan
One can understand why the duets of TMS & PS are so charming by listening closely to the expressions they bring out in this song-especially the humming at the beginning of the song. That is how legends are made.
6. Pesuvathu Kiliya Illai-Panathottam-1963- Vishwanathan Ramamoorthy-Kannadasan
That “ hoi hoi hoi” phrase sung by both in different ways at different places of the song is enough to charm you. Banjos, accordion add even more charm to the song.
7. Andru Vanthathum Ithe Nila- Periya Idathu Penn-1963- Vishwanathan Ramamoorthy-Kannadasan
The good old team of Vishwanathan -Ramamoorthy+ Kannadasan+TMS+PS come out with a ball room dance , westernized song but at the same time maintaining the beauty of superb lyrics in our Tamizh . The vocal tones of TMS & PS are somewhat different from what they usually sing, in line with the type of song. That is why they are the legends!
8. Enathu Raja Sabaiyile Ore Sangeetham-Kalyaniyin Kanavan-1963-S M Subbiaha Naidu-Kannadasan
S M Subbiaha Naidu was a master in composing songs with a distinct rhythm pattern , using mostly Indian instruments only.
9. Poopola Poopola Sirikkum-Naanum Oru Penn-R Sudarsanam-1963-Panchu Arunachalam(?)
I am not very sure if this song was written by Panju Arunachalam-most of the Internet sources attribute to him. One of the most famous songs by the veteran R Sudarsanam that was also taken as it is in the Hindi version of the film -sung by P B Sreenivas and Lata Mangeshkar ( Mein Bhi Ladki Hoon film-song: Chanda Se Hoga Woh Pyara composed by Chitragupt )
10. Thoongada Kannendru Ondru-Kungumam-1963-K V Mahadevan-Kannadasan
KVM was known for his lilting melodies that he invariably composed after the lyrics were written. Perfectly apt for the situation , he comes out with a soft melody and both TMS & PS as usual take the song to a great height with their restrained singing.
11. Nerodum Vaigaiyile Nindradum Meene-Paar Magale Paar-1963-Vishwanathan Ramamoorthy-Kannadasan
In the parts of the song where both sing together, it is absolutely a delight to listen to. Perfectly synchronized!
12. Javvadu Medaikatti-Panathottam-1963-Vishwanathan Ramamoorthy-Kannadasan
One would normally never see MGR acting in a tipsy way. I have not seen this movie and so do not know what was the context-he might have been just play-acting as if he was tipsy. He was always very particular about his on screen persona. But our focus is more on the golden pair rendering this so perfectly-not their usual style but observe how they have performed this behind the microphone! Despite singing in a tipsy way , just observe how they maintained the clarity in diction and maintained the dignity in singing.
13. Thottal Poo Malarum-Padagotti-1964-Vishwanathan Ramamoorthy-Vaali
If one can list the best ten duets of TMS & PS , this one will definitely be at the top of the list. What a composition by Mellisai mannargal and equally brilliant singing by the golden pair.
14. Paattukku Paateduthu-Padagotti-1964- Vishwanathan Ramamoorthy-Vaali
From the same film Padagotti, this song scores so high on the emotional content -it appears as if both are trying their best to outdo each other through their singing. Especially in those parts where it is just their vocals without any accompanying music, it is just heavenly. One of my personal favourites!
15. Vannakili Sonna Mozhi- Deiva Thai-1964-Vishwanathan Ramamoorthy-Vaali
An out and out guitar song played by Phillips -VR’s best guitarist. A lilting melody that remains in our memory long after the song is over.
16. Amaithiyana Nadiyile Odam-Aandavan Kattalai-1964- Vishwanathan Ramamoorthy-Kannadasan
This is one evergreen duet of TMS & PS that needs no introduction. Music, lyrics, singing all at its best ever. When PS makes an entry with the lines “ Naanalile Kaal Eduthu” in the last stanza, after a counter melody alaapanai in the interlude, the song reaches its zenith !
17. Methuva Methuva Thodalama-Vettaikaran-1964-K V Mahadevan-Kannadasan
K V Mahadevan composed many hit songs for the film Vettaikaran ( most famous being Unnai Arinthaal Nee Unnai Arinthaal) and they were quite different from his usual style.
18. Naanamo Innum Naanamo-Aayarathil Oruvan-1965-Vishwanathan Ramamoorthy-Vaali
The last film in which the mellisai mannargal worked together before parting ways was a landmark film musically. All the songs are still cherished by music lovers.
19. Ponnezhil Poothathu Puthathu-Kalagarai Vilakkam-1965-M S Vishwanathan-Panchu Arunachalam
I think this was the first film that MSV composed independently after the unfortunate parting of ways with his long-time associate T K Ramamoorthy. And what a grand start to another glorious innings as an independent composer! The evergreen pair of TMS and PS as always render a scintillating song with their typical flair. The high notes they travel through look so easy when we listen to but what a great effort must have gone into their work!
20. Anbulla Maanvizhiye-Kuzhandaiyum Deivamum-1965- M S Vishwanathan-Vaalidetecet
After MGR & Sivaji Ganesan, for other actors like Jaishankar also TMS rendered some of his best songs. One can detect a distinct tone that he used for other actors apart from MGR & Sivaji. When it comes to voice modulation, there was no one to beat TMS in Tamizh ffilm music. This is a delightful duet picturized on Jaishankar and yesteryear actress Jamuna. PS adds equal charm to the song.
21. Gnyayiru Enbathu Kannaga-Kaakkum Karangal-1965- K V Mahadevan-Vaali
Once again check out for the subtle variation in TMS’ singing for another actor- S S Rajendran. This is a rare association of KVM with Vaali-a delightful melody.
I have just touched upon a tiny fraction of this great singing pair’s evergreen duets-will come back soon with Part 2 B that will mention the songs they sang together 1966 onwards.
Acknowledgements and Disclaimer:
I sincerely thank the publishers of following Internet sources for the information that I could gather for this article:
- You Tube
- Wikipedia
- Ragamalika TV-QFR series
The songs mentioned are from the popular, public domain and have been embedded here only for the listening pleasure of the music lovers. The photograph is taken from the internet, duly recognizing the full copyrights for the same to the original creator or the site where they were originally displayed .This blog does not claim any copyright over them, which rests with the respective owners of the rights.
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