18 May 2011

ദേവരാജന്റെ സംഗീതം - ചില വീണ്ടുവിചാരങ്ങൾ

Hi all.
I have started a column on music in Malayalam.
It is in Chandrika Weekly published from Kozhikkode.
Name of the column is PAATTINAPPURAM.
You could read it here after 15 days of every article published.

Link to the article published in the May 7 2011 issue of Chandrika Weekly.
Devarajante Sangeetham Chila Veenduvichaarangal

9 comments:

ஷாஜி said...

FROM K B BABU - KB_Babu@m2sin.com -

Over the years, we have become more matured in terms of having an unbiased stand on evaluation of music.

As such, I tend to agree to Shaji to a great extent on the typical limitations of devarajan music. I also feel that the lyrics written by Vayalar, P Bhaskaran, ONV , Thambi etc and the brilliant voice of Yesudas had helped him get better regard/popularity for his songs among the music lovers. He also had the advantage of the era which was desperate to get out of influence of hindi music in Malayalam films. Shaji was also right in his view that Salil/Baburaj deserved more appreciation for bringing in freshness & innovation in Malayalam film music.

However, I don’t subscribe to shaji’s view of limiting Master’s best compositions to a mere 100 number. Enjoyment of music is more personal which cannot be just based on universal acceptance. Most of the songs listed out in the article fall under the category of POPULAR SONGS ( For eg, I can’t rate Chanchalakshi as one of Master’s top compositions)- there are MANY which haven’t got enough publicity & coverage . All these have quality music content which can survive even in the absence of quality lyrics and just cannot be kept out when we are discussing best songs of Devarajan Master.

Some examples : Vaadiya maruvil veendum kaalam, Kalabhathil mungivarum vaisakha rajaniyil, Neelakkadambin poovo, Raajyam Poyoru raajakumaran,Sraavana chandrika poo choodichu, Kalyana soungandhikapoongavanathil, Poovittu poovittu, Sabarimalayil thanga sooryodayam, Chethi mandaram thulasi, Kaadambari pushpa, Ayalathe janalil, Poovamkuzhali penninundoru, Maghamasam Mallikappoo, Pularikal sandhyakal, Guruvayoorambala nadayil, Aayiram villodinju, Mangalya thaaliyitta manavatti, Muthinu vendi mungankuzhi, Sangeethame nin poonjirakil, Radhika Krishna radhika, Amme amme, Mandaakini gaana mandakini,Navakabhishekam kazhinju,Premabhikshuki,Thiruthirumaran kaavil,Ente sankalpamandakini,Himasaila saikatha,Dalia pookkale,Kudamullappoovinum, Aaro Paadi Anuragamasmara ganam,Madhavi madhumalathi……..there are MANY MANY MORE.

Shaji should also be aware of the fact that if he attempts an article on Salilda, Babura or Dakshinamurthy on similar lines , he will struggle to list out more than 25 top songs composed by each of them. In fact, it would be highly impossible to list out more than 50 best songs for any music director if we go by the sheer CLASS/quality of composition.

While Shaji is able to successfully establish limitations in Devarajan Master’s compositions, he would need to have better homework & understanding of Master’s complete works (rather than depending on his friends for the POPULAR SONGS LIST) before he makes a statement on longevity & quantum of Devarajan’s EVERGREEN songs.

Overall, I felt the article was well written and was really MAKING A POINT.

vidhya said...

me too tend to agree with most of the contents of this post
M k arjunan ,salilda,babukka didnt get their due ithu ende vykthiparamaya thonnal aannu
devarajan mashinde contributions nne ottum kurachu kaannikanalla ,pakshe dasettande maasmara shabdhavum,onv,sreekumaran thampi thudangiya prathibakalude sambhavanakalum koodi chernnannuu devarajasangeethathine etrem popular aaki theerthathu

Anonymous said...

I also agree shaji with some point eventhough I am not heared oldsongs.
Madhuri enna gayikayude shabdam, ucharanam enniva thripthikaram alla ennu prasthavichathu thettayennu marupadi lekhanathil parayunnu-pakshe s janakiyumayi compare cheythal madhuriyude shabdathinte limitations vyakthamaanu.

Anonymous said...

Thaangal ezhuthu nirthiyo

ஷாஜி said...

I am too busy with my writing assignments in Tamil and English right now. www.shaaji.com
Love to write in my mother tongue and will start it again soon.
Thanks
Shaji

Rahul Balachandran said...

Dear Mr.Shaji,

Recently I've gone through your article on Devarajan Master.
2 B frank, I felt deeply hurt by
reading some of your statements in that. Ofcourse, I agree that he was an arrogant character & not at all sweet 2 the public. Lot of people had bitter exp'ce from him. U simply ask living legends (ONV sir, Dasettan, Thampi sir etc...) about his REAL CHARACTER. They'll tell U what he was. Matter is not that -
in the article U wrote that; "2000 gaanangalil ninnum kriyaathmakamaaya valare kurachu paattukal maathrame adheham srishttichittullu, nalla 100 gaanagal polum adhehathinte illa ......" This was too much Mr.Shaji.
Nobody can digest this. If so, WHO ELSE Mr.Shaji.
If I'm wrong, U ask the above said living legends about it. They'll give an AUTHENTIC REPLY.

Shaji said...

Dear Rahul
You are a FAN and your sentiments are natural for a 'FAN' of 'LEGENDS'. But the sad fact is that you have not at all understood what I was trying to say with the article. I have no issues with anyone being arrogant. One's arrogance has nothing do with my comments on his music. I don't need anybody's 'authentic reply' on Devarajan's personality as I knew him personally. He was a honest and straight forward person. My contentions are on his music and I have explained all my arguments in the article. I have nothing more to say on this. You are even welcome to ignore my article as the ramblings of an ignorant person. Let your sentiments win.

SHAJI said...

അഭിപ്രായങ്ങൾ എഴുതിയ എല്ലാവർക്കും നന്ദി

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