Monday, July 7, 2008

Sothanai mel sothanai pothumadaa சாமி பாடலின் உருவாக்கம்

Kaviarasar had a tiff one early morning with one of his eldest sons and his publisher-friend over the publishing rights of his novel which was serialised in Kumudham earlier. After this stand-off he went to one of the assigned studios to do lyrics with Kanmani Subbu following him (after Panchu Arunasalam's incident it was Kanmani Subbu who filled up as his assistant in lyrics).

At the studio MSV was already present with his harmonium and when kaviarasar was told the story situation immediately he uttered the pallavi "Sothanai mel sothanai pothumadaa sami" ('Thanga Pathakkam' 1974). Kanmani Subbu, as usual transcribed the whole song while it was dictated and passed it to MSV after getting the endorsement of kaviarasar.

Traditionally, song tunes are composed on the first stanza only but in this case MSV was trying out different tunes basing on the last line of the last stanza, to wit, "...idipole pillai vanthaal madi thaangumaa". He was emphasising this part of the lyrics so loud and crying which was very unusual.

While the composition was going on Shivaji who was at a shooting in the adjacent studio room quitely came and took his seat amongst them during a break. He did not utter a single word but was clearly seen in a pensive mood with a tinge of sadness. He placed his right forefinger on the right side of his cheek and stared blankly at MSV .

Kaviarasar was seen puffing away a cigarette also in a melancholic mood. Suddenly he saw these three senior citizens shedding tears which was also unusual. Only later it was learned that both MSV and Shivaji had had some sort of misunderstandings and arguments (private) with their respective sons that particular morning too!

Kaviarasar's song befitted the actual life situations of these three gentlemen who were also involved in this film.

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