SPB: A Musical History - Part 12: SPB, Raja and Tamil Film Music of 80s - Part 1

 (You can read the earlier parts here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6 , Part 7, Part 8, Part 9,  Part 10 & Part 11)

We have seen the emergence of Illayaraja in an earlier part. By the beginning of 1980s he had established himself as the foremost music director of Tamil film industry. Veterans like MSV were fading and the other music directors of that era like Shankar Ganesh, Chandrabose and others could not match up to the quality that Raja was delivering. 

In the 1980s, SPB had also found his style. This was the culmination of more than a decade of singing. SPB was now extremely confident of himself and his style. With the veteran actors slowly fading from both Tamil and Telugu film industry, SPB, who was the voice of the new generation of actors, was in high demand across languages. 

In the next couple of posts, we will not have much to discuss about SPB's singing since it remained quite uniform across the decade. What we will do is that over a two parts we will look at songs which enabled SPB to become a well loved singer and we will also look at songs which put demands of the talent of SPB. 

In this part we will see some SPB Raja songs which are well loved and which still reverberate across Tamilnadu.

Let us start with this joyous beauty from 'Nizhalgal' (1980). 'idhu oru pon malai pozhudhu'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ux0LERGc1cc

When this song was released people did not know what hit them. The use of Kedaram, rarely, if ever, used in film music was a master stroke. Added to it were the ambient sounds of birds that Raja had provided. SPB is superb in this song. His singing is inch perfect for this song.

'Germaniyin Senthenmalare' from 'Ullasa Paravaigal' (1980)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Mcz0ILzzh0

SPB's voice was a perfect fit for Kamal. The dash of style that Kamal brought on screen, SPB brought into his singing.

'poonthalir aada' from 'Paneer Pushpangal (1981)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crO9G1iUzGI

Another well loved song for a youthful romantic situation. SPB's voice is fresh as the dew in this. This is a song which people even today love to sing

Talking of well loved songs, who can forget 'andhi mazhai pozhigiradhu' from Raja Parvai(1981)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sL8jk3olC1Q

This was a humongous hit when released. One more song of SPB for Kamal

'pothi vachcha malligai mottu' from Man Vasanai (1982)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1XLJk4W97U

What a brilliant song so well delivered by SPB and Janaki

The amazing 'pani vizhum malar vanam' from Ninaivellam Nithya (1982)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B51ctzRUWJo

Based on Chala Nattai, this is a sensational song. As I had indicated in an earlier post, whenever Raja wanted something extremely new to be delivered, he always called upon SPB. This song is an example for that.

Another all time classic. 'ilaya nila pozhigiradhe' from Payanangal Mudivadhillai (1982)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsN_9uXAoNE

This song is so close to people that they started called Balu as 'Ilaya Nila Balu'. Another song which SPB delivers wonderfully. You can hear how controlled he is while singing. 

The quintessential New year song, 'ilamai idho idho' from 'Sakalakalavallavan' (1982)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sL4IelFmpwk

A perfect song for SPB. This demands his high energy singing and the stylishness he brings to his singing. 

Now for a hit Rajni song, 'rathiriyil oothirukkum' from 'Thangamagan' (1983)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itdH0cOlP9M

This Hamsanandi based melody is a well loved one and is still a popular melody

'paadum vanapadi' from 'Naan Padum Padal' (1984)

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

Another song whose starting lines became SPB's title as well. 

The absolutely romantic 'kadhain deepam onru' from 'Thanmikku Endha Ooru' (1984)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2C78pEVf9oY

When people are asked which is their favorite Rajni song, many point to this song. SPB's voice is perfect for this song.

'idhayam oru kovil' from 'Idhaya Kovil' (1985)

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

Another well loved song. 

'sangeetha megam' from 'Udhaya Geetham'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbY5Nog0eOo

The number of songs I have left out is enormous. The idea in this part is to highlight the songs of SPB that made him a household name and took him close to people's heart. For a singer to be enshrined in people's heart the singer must have a good voice, lot of talent and should get good songs to sing. There are in the current generation many singers who are talented and have a good voice. Unfortunately they don't get such songs wherein they can easily become the crow favorite. SPB's generation and the generation before him were lucky because they got some amazing songs. SPB got outstanding songs from Raja and SPB did great justice to them. The important thing to note is that even if the singer is exceptionally talent, there is only a limit to which the singer can salvage a poor melody. SPB's career in Telugu, if you take away the Raja songs, is littered with so many mediocre songs that you will stunned. Yet, there were enough good songs for SPB to shine. In case of Tamil, with Raja dominating the scene, the number of amazing songs that SPB sang were so many that he now permanent residence in the heart of music loving Tamilians.

Next week we will take up songs in the SPB Raja combo wherein we will showcase the versatility of SPB and analyse how Raja used SPB for various situations in films.