Kamal Hassan - The unsung singer!

Kamal Hassan, is very well known as a multi-faceted actor, hell-bent film-maker, and an avid dancer. But few people must have adored Kamal Hassan as a singer. It might raise an eyebrow, if I were to tell you that Kamal has sung close to 75 tracks, and as it turned out be, most of the songs were runaway hits. Lot of the people though denigrate Kamal, accusing him that, he forcibly persuades music directors to have him sing at least a track in films he's casted on. But people, fail to understand Kamal is qualified enough to do the singing himself(occasionally). Why???

Kamal under the tutelage of Dr Balamurali Krishna has practiced carnatic music and Mr. Krishna was so impressed with Kamal, that he asked for 2 and a half years while Kamal continued with him, and he would make sure to get Kamal on stage with him. Kamal engrossed with movies couldn’t really afford the time! Dr. Krishna was so fond of Kamal, in the Miley Sur Mera Tumhara short film, he wanted Kamal to sit next with him on the Tanpura, but Kamal humbly declined saying it'd be unfair.

Ilaiyaraaja was the first MD to spot the singer in Kamal and gave him ample opportunities to sing all-along in their long term illustrious association. Memorable films include Aboorva Sagotharargal, MMKR, Virumaandi and the recent Mumbai Express. Kamal has also sung for other music directors which includes ARR, Karthik Raja, Bharadwaj, Vidya Sagar, Yuvan Shankar Raja…

I thought it’d only be befitting a post to come out with a compilation of my personal favorites

Kamal has sung for Ilaiyaraaja and other Music Directors…

So here it goes for the ultimate connoisseur of music!

• Vizhiyorathu Kanavum - Raja Paarvai
• Vikram...Vikram… - Vikram
• Ammammamma Vandadhingae - Per Sollum Pillai
• Potta Padiyudhu - Sathya
• Raja Kayya Vecha - Apoorva Sahodarargal
• Sundari Neeyum - Michael Madhana Kamarajan
• Kanmani Anboda - Guna
• Inchi Iduppazhaka - Thevar Magan
• Thanmanam Ulla Nenjam - Mahanadhi
• Ram Ram Salaam - Hey Ram
• Sanyaas Mantra - Hey Ram
• Unnai vida - Virumaandi
• Maada Vilakke - Virumaandi
• Ninaivo Oru Paravai - Sigappu Rojakkal
• Yaar Yaar Sivam - Anbe Sivam
• Alwarpettai Aazhuda - Vasool Raja MBBS
• Muththe Muththammah - Ullasam
• Peek Into Assasin's Life: Neruppu Vaayinil - Pudhupettai
• Kadhal piriyathu kavidhai - Pancha Thanthiram
• Injirango Injirango - Thenaali
• Kadavul Paadhi - Aalavandan

Ilaiyaraaja & Counterpoint….

Yesterday, I bumped into this word called 'Counterpoint'! I had absolutely no clue what this word meant and I started wading through innumerous websites and journals to get the hang of it... Here you go!!!

Counterpoint is often defined as the art of combining independent lines. The term derives from the Latin contrapunctum, meaning ‘against note'. When there is more than one independent melodic line happening at the same time in a piece of music, the music is said to be contrapuntal. The independent melodic lines are called counterpoint. Bach's counterpoint, often considered the most profound synthesis of the two dimensions ever achieved, is extremely rich harmonically and always clearly directed tonally, while the individual lines remain fascinating.

The Musical Saint, Mr.Ilaiyaraaja, know for his out-of-the-world novel compositions, has incorporated the counterpoint technique during his prime (Late 70's and 80's) with élan. The brilliance lies in the fact that the counterpoint technique is so native to western music and Raaja has adopted that into the musical patterns of Tamil songs nonchalantly. The way Raaja has blend the western music with east is simply riveting. Sheer Genius!!! Raaja has also experimented a two-voice counterpoint in conjunction with a third voice, amid mellifluous interludes … Also, Raaja celebrated this Bach-smitten- technique with instrumental counterpoints in his illustrious musical journey!

Here are some of the songs which has shades of the counterpoint technique, and all these years we've been listening (at least I've been listening) to them without actually understanding the technical nuances of it!!!

But do we need to really understand them to appreciate Raaja??? Well, yes… We'd appreciate him even more!

• En Kanmani Un Kadhali, Chittu Kuruvi ( 1978)
• Poonthalir Aada, Panner Pushpangal (1981)
• Kanmani Anbodu, Guna ( 1981)
• Poomalaye, Pagal Nilavu(1985)
• Vikram…Vikram, Vikram ( 1986)
• Nee Partha, Hey Ram ( 2000)

P.S: Am not an expert in music. This is just an honest attempt to exemplify, counterpoint technique and glorify the brilliance of Maestro. Please let me know if you find something incorrect!

Happy Belated Birthday!

It was not just another child artist who donned the greasepaint at the tender age of 6 for the movie 'Kalathur Kannama'(1960)… The world had little hindsight about this prodigious talent… Little did they know about the destiny of this child-prodigy…

A wannabe director, Kamal never wanted to face the camera, before he would be first spotted, cradled and nurtured by the ace-director KB, who persuaded him to take up acting and eventually proffered him meaty roles in his earlier years at the filmdom… The actor has come of age since then, taking success and failure into his stride with equanimity… 38 years at the tinsel town, he's ruled the roost and is hungry for more success as ever…

Perhaps he’s the only actor in the world to have dabbled with myriad arts of film-making such as Production, Direction, Writing, Lyricism, and Choreography …Saluting the legend of Kamal Hassan…The real thespian...

Happy Belated Birthday!