SPB: A Musical History - Part 10 : Illayaraja - Vamsi - SPB

(You can read the earlier parts here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6 , Part 7, Part 8 and Part 9 )

K. Vishwanath was a man who made most movies based on classical music and his themes were quite similar. Vamsi, who had worked as an assistant to K Vishwanath, was an eclectic director. His themes varied a lot. He could cover serious movies, comedies, thrillers, classical music based movies and so on. He had a streak of craziness in him which reflected in his movies. Illayaraja seems to have loved this streak in him and he also gave eclectic music for the films of Vamsi. It was almost an unwritten rule by then in the Telugu film world that the male lead singer would always be SPB.

'Sitara', the first film that Raja and Vamsi combined together had some wonderful melodies. It is difficult to pick any single one from this. Let us hear 'kuku kuku'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8TlKkqN_B8

SPB's voice suits this melody perfectly. SPB is able to convey the sweetness in the melody perfectly.

Vamsi then made a thriller 'Anveshana' and a comedy, 'Preminchi Pelladu'. 'Anveshana' was a sensation when it was released and was a big hit. People loved everything about the movie. The music was the highlight though, with all the four songs being big hits. 'keeravani' being the biggest hit of them all. That is a wonderful melody no doubt but let us hear, 'ekantha vela'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hheI2Ec006U

If you observe, the song has to be a melody and also convey a sense of dread, a sense of suspense. SPB sings almost as if he is whispering. A different kind of melody for him. Also observe the melody. It is made of lot of short phrases. It would seem that short phrases would be easier to sing but to generate melody within that short a phrase requires excellent skill, which both Janaki and SPB possess in abundance. In fact Janaki has much more short phrases and she makes each one of them sound so melodious. A definite top class addition to SPB's song list. 

Vamsi made the comedy 'Preminchi Pelladu' with Rajendra Prasad. He would go on to collaborate many more movies with Rajendra Prasad. This movie too had outstanding songs. 'nirantaramu vasanthamule', 'vayyari godaramma' are all top class songs but we will pick up 'gopemma chetilo' for the quirkiness with which Vamsi picturizes this song. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SXuCUoJF4A

This song needs someone like SPB to convey the fun and the craziness. The song needs that extra touch of style to make it better. Janaki and SPB, as usual, execute the song flawlessly.

One more similar crazy song from the comedy, 'Ladies Tailor'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bu1OABbkSLc

The craziness of Vamsi can clearly be seen. Raja's tune is apt for the situation and it is difficult to imagine anyone other than SPB singing this song. He had by then mastered the art of singing such comic songs.

Vamsi kept his craziness in films like 'Maharishi'. Here is what is called a 'Sanskrit Disco'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpOJqFjIk4s

Raja, as usual, freaks out with an amazingly crazy tune. Not sure who wrote the lyrics, which are also of the freakout variety and SPB, in his usual style, is enjoying himself. It is impossible to listen to this song without a smile on your lips.

One more comic song, this time from the movie, 'Chettukinda Pleader', 'neeru gari pari poku'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKM5XWimTHY

One more crazy picturization. The lyrics are outrageously funny. In this song SPB has to sing this in subdued fashion and not show outward craziness. That seriousness if what makes this song so funny.

I have given you some examples of how SPB was able to convey the craziness required from the Raja Vamsi combination. At the same time, we must not think that the combination only produced such songs. They produced some all time great melodies as well.

'kinnasani vachindamma' from 'Sitara'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XMzl-6QlBk

Raja scored this for 'Sagara Sangamam' as a short song. The song was not used in the movie. Vamsi, who was an assistant in that movie, seems to have requested Raja to expand that short song to a full song and thus this amazing song was born. SPB at his melodic best.

'Alapana' had fantastic songs. Here is SPB doing a classical number.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DboLkpd4MrU

This song can easily fit into a K Vishwanath movie. Another song which enables SPB to explore new territory. It is not an easy song to sing. It challenges the singer. The tune changes many times and then the slow build up to the climax. A song which is designed to showcase the talent of SPB.

The ethereal 'sumam prati sumam sumam' from 'Maharishi'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHsfGhOqo5c

The picturization has all the craziness of Vamsi but the melody is an extraordinary one. Observe the twists and turns in the melody. A real challenge to sing.

Finally, 'yenadu vidiponi', a heart touching melody based on Chkravakam ragam

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yoSrSnfyOM

This is a delicate melody, and it would crack like delicate glass if sung with any harshness. Janaki and SPB give the softness of touch the melody requires.

Ofcourse there are so many more songs of this combination that can be listed but our aim was to show how the Raja Vamsi combination enabled SPB to display all his versatility. If the Raja Vishwanath combination pushed SPB to his limits, the Raja Vamsi combination expanded SPB's range and gave free reign to his versatility. This was one more great combination which produced some unforgettable melodies in Telugu film music.

In the next part, we will talk about SPB's parley into Hindi films.