IR was bestowing refreshingly different and enchanting scores on film after film. Every film that carried his name as MD had songs which became assured hits as a matter of course. However, before we actually begin with a retrospective of the wonderful songs that Vani Jairam sang this year, let me, in this part, ruminate in leisure, (I am in the "Random thoughts" mood!) over the tfm scene in 1978, especially concentrating on the Music Directors who made a mark, and the female singers who got to sing some good songs this year.We have to surely begin with Ilayaraja, for he had already become the industry's blue-eyed boy.
It was again in 1977, that producer K.Balaji had turned to IR for his lighting his Deepam. In the coming years, these numbers would only increase more and more.We have already seen that in his very second year, he bagged the prestigious TN State Government Award for his awesome score in "16 Vayathiniley". 4 in 1976, 12 in 1977 and 21 in 1978.
And of course, it was IR who added spellbinding sheen to their path-breaking ventures.It was not the new wave directors alone who were seeking IR's musical support. While Bharathiraja was among the pioneers of this movement, two others who set new standards in filmmaking this year were Rudraiyya (Aval Appadithaan) and Mahendran (Mullum Malarum). Melodramatic themes with ageing actors in studio settings were slowly but surely being shown the door. TFM would never be the same again!This was a period when Tamizh cinema was itself passing through an invigorating phase of renaissance. Of course, this became possible only with the help of KJY who had bought the equipment, and willingly allowed IR to experiment and record the songs in 8-track stereo. In 1978, this partnership created magic in 2 completely diverse themes, Kizhakke Pogum Rayil and Sigappu Rojakkal.Again it was in 1978 that not being content with merely making music, IR brought about a revolution in tamizh film music by introducing stereophonic sound in "Priya".
Devar, after the stupendous success of "Aatukkara Alamelu" the previous year, continued with S-G for Thaai Meedhu Sathiyam. And Vijayabhaskar got to compose the music for a K.Balachander film, and in spite of its name, VB's songs had thapaadha thaalangal! Another film that came his way was "Per Solla Oru Pillai".Shankar-Ganesh continued to be a godsend for low-budget producers who weren't too particular. V.Kumar, as usual breathed melody into the songs of Kannamoochi, Ival Oru Seethai, Annapoorani and Chathurangam.
(Salil's first tamizh venture "Karumbu" was never released). When the super hit Malayalam film Madanotsavam was dubbed into Tamizh as Paruva Mazhai, TFM was honored to welcome to its fold, the genius called Salil Chowdhry. R.Ramanujam gave an excellent account of himself in Ananda Bhairavi. Sathyam and Ramesh Naidu peeped into TFM and gave some good songs in Mudisooda Mannan and Melathalangal respectively. His other film "Mangudi Minor", along with the songs, sank without a trace.Shyam, who had earlier worked with R.C.Shakthi and Kamal in Unarchigal(1976), came together with the same team in 1978 to create some lovely songs in "Manitharil Iththanai Nirangala". Among S-G's other films this year were Unakkum Vaazhvu Varum, Panchamirtham, Meenakshi Kungumam and Ullathil Kuzhandaiyadi.Chandrabose, who had arrived the previous year with his "Mathura Geetham", shot to fame in 1978 with his enchanting "Maampoove siru mainave" in Machanai Paartheengala.
Consider a sample of these spellbinding solos: "Matha Un Kovilil"(Achaani), "Veenai meettum kaigale"(Vaazha Ninaithaal Vaazhalaam), "Vaazhkkai Odam sella"(Aval Appadithaan), "Vasantha kaala kolangal"(Thyagam), "Adadada maamarakkiliye"(Chittukkuruvi), "Kanden engum"(Kaatrinile Varum Geetham), "Yethamirachu"(Bhairavi) and "Poovarasampoo pooththachu"(Kizhakke Pogum Rayil), all absolute gems!Her list of duets for IR in 1978 is equally awesome. The songs that she got to sing for IR this year were really memorable. She had strongly consolidated her postion in 1977, and in 1978, she would effortlessly retain her postion. Now let us look at the works in this year of female singers (apart from VJ, whose songs we will be looking at in detail).S.Janaki was, of course, there, right on top. HMV Raghu gave an appealing score to Kanchi Kamakshi.So much for the MDs. Though he composed two wonderful songs for Jayakanthan's "Pudhu Seruppu Kadikkum" in 1978, the film found no takers and never saw the light of the day.
The number of her songs was steadily coming down. "Sugamaana Sindhanayil"(Taxi Driver-MSV), "Ninaivu pothum"(Punniya Bhoomi-MSV), "Ven Meghame"(Aayiram Jenmangal-MSV), "Sindhunadhippoovey"(Shankar Salim Simon-MSV), "Ithu ilamaikaala iravu"(Kai Pidiththaval-S-G), "Penn ninaithaal"(Meenakshi Kungumam-S-G), "Ananda veenai naan meettum pothu"(Melathaalangal-Ramesh Naidu), "Then malar kannigal"(Paruva mazhai-Salil Chowdhry), "Oh kaadhal bodhai"(Mudisooda Mannan-Sathyam), "Ponne bhoomiyadi"(Manitharil Iththanai Nirangala-Shyam).PS was definitely not where she was, say even 3 years back. A random selection from them: "Alaiye kadal alaiye"(Thirukkalyanam), "Engum niraindha iyarkkaiyil"(Ithu Eppadi Irukku), "Hey paadal ondru"(Priya), "Kovil mani osai" and "Malargale"(K P Rayil), "Then malli poove"(Thyagam), "Ninaivo oru paravai" and "Indha minminikku" (both Sigappu Rojakkal), "Oru vaanavil poley"(Kaatrinile Varum Geetham), "Aazhakkadalil"(Sattam En Kaiyil), "Kinnathil then vadithu"(Ilamai Oonjalaadukirathu).And with IR showing the way, other MDs too gave SJ some great songs this year.
Though she made a comeback of sorts in the early 70s and got to sing a few songs in the following years, it was IR in 1978 who gave her an alluring solo- "Kaadhalennum kaaviyam, kanni nenjin oviyam"(Vattathukkul Sathuram). However towards the beginning of the 60s, due to personal and other reasons, Jikki lost out and quickly became history. She was said to be one of the two favorite singers of G.Ramanathan, (the other one being S.Varalakshmi). Jikki proved herself as a singer of rare merit in this galaxy of stalwarts like MLV, (Radha)Jayalakshmi, R.Balasaraswathi, T.V.Rathnam, P.A.Periyanayagi, P.Leela, T.S.Bagavathi, A.P.Komala, Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi, K.Jamunarani, and later PS and SJ. Jikki (Pillavaallu Gajapathi Krishnaveni) was the queen among singers in the 50s, and this was no mean achievement, for in the 50s, unlike in the later decades, highly talented and trained singers were many in number. Recollect these ones: "Darling darling"(Priya), "Thaalaattu"(Achchaani), "Iyarkkai rathangale"(Vaazha Ninaithaal Vaazhalaam), "Megame thoothaaga vaa" and "Moha sangeetham"(Kannan Oru Kaikkuzhandhai), "Dhinam dhinam oru nadagam"(Idhu Eppadi Irukku), "Thangakudathukku pottum itten"(Maariamman Thiruvizha), "Orey idam"(Sattam En Kaiyil), "Unnai nambi nethiyile" & "En kannmani"(Chittukkuruvi) - all IR, "Manjal itta nilavaaga"(Aval Thandha Uravu), "Kannanai ninaikkatha naalillaiye"(Seervarisai), "Veera magan poraada"(Maduraiyai Meeta Sundarapandiyan), "Joyful Singapore"(Varuvaan Vadivelan), "Udhadugalil unathu peyar"(Thangarangan) - all MSV, "Vaa nilave"(Panchamirtham-S-G), "Neram vandhachu"(Thaai Meedhu Sathiyam-S-G), "Kannanukku kovam enna"(Annapoorani-V.Kumar), "Sirithaal andha sirippil"(Ananda Bhairavi-R.Ramanujam).One singer whom IR brought back into the limelight this year was the great Jikki.
"Itho itho en nenjile"(Vattathukkul Sathuram with SJ - IR), "Nadigai paarkkum nadagam"(Oru Nadigai Nadagam Paarkkiraal), "Adiyenai paaramm"(Vanakkuthukkuriya Kadhaliye) and "Rathi devi sannidhiyil"(Oru Veedu Oru Ulagam) – all MSV, were her songs this year.K.Swarna got to sing two songs for her husband in Chathurangam, "Ada abishtu" and "Aarambam maalai nerathu". Among her songs for MSV were "Oru pakkam neruppu"(Vandikkaran Magan), "Kottu Potta" and "Azhagi Oruthi"(both Pilot Premnath).It was a memorable year for BSS as well. It remains to this day a song of mesmerizing beauty.LRE got one of her rare opportunities to sing for IR this year: "Nee Mohiniya"(Thirukkalyanam).
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