SPB: A Musical History - Part 14: SPB, Raja and Tamil Film Music of 80s - Part 3

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(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, Part 12 & Part 13)

Versatility - Part 2

In the last post, we looked at some songs which showcase the versatility of SPB in singing modern songs, high energy songs, emotional climax songs and songs that needs a softness of touch. That was quite a range but that was not all. In this post we will look at some more aspects of SPB's singing with the songs he sang for Raja in the 1980s are examples.

A genre of songs which SPB was famous even before he started singing for Raja was the comic songs genre. We had in one of the initial posts observed how SPB would mimic the voice of a comedian like Allu Ramalingiah. Raja used SPB for many comic songs. Let us look at a few of them here.

'randi randi randi' from 'Rudraveena'

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

The whole song is structured as a comic song and here SPB is not singing for the hero. He is singing for the comic actor. The song is not easy to sing for in many places it is structured as prose and yet, there is a underlying melody. SPB's ability to morph his voice comes to the fore here. The 'voice acting' part of his personality is used effectively here.

Raja transforms this song completely in Tamil. Instead of the almost conversational tune, he uses a carnatic base for this comic song. Balachander, the director, also changes the situation, this time locating the situation in a kitchen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAXlCw5GnNg

Here SPB's singing is spot on bringing out the humor effortlessly with a small laugh here and pause there. The whole song has to be sung such that the humor comes out and at the same time the essence of the ragas is conveyed unambiguously. Be it Kalyani or Vasantha, SPB brings out the raga characteristics along with the humor.

'botany patamundi' from 'Shiva' (Telugu)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6LKzxOhTqQ

This was a great hits when it was released. SPB sounds so much like a casual college student in this song and as usual he does his mimicry to great effort. (I had totally forgotten how awesome Amala looked in this movie !!)

Let us look at one more fun song. This is not really a funny song in that sense but requires the stylishness of SPB's singing for it to succeed.

'ennamma kannu' from 'Mr. Bharath'. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pl1_Iln2AGM

While Raja probably used the voice of Malaysia and his own voice for a majority of folk songs, he did use SPB many a times to sing songs which had the folk lilt. 

'vasalile poosani poo vachiputta' from 'Shenbagame Shenbagame'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSf5kcZuhag

'thana vandha sandhaname' from 'Oora Vittu Ooru Vandhu'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SVw-PqT2l8

'kalaivaniyo raniyo' from 'Villupattukaran'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCLFP4ifCbo

SPB sings these folk music inspired songs wonderfully. These are not exactly folk songs because Raja goes beyond folk songs but at core, the soul of the song is folk based. The rhythm and the melody have the folk lilt. Though SPB's voice is quite polished, it still doesn't distract from the folk song. Typically the voices singing the folk songs are more raw but because these are sung in films, the polish in the song is fine. (Purely from a voice perspective the voice of Raja and Malaysia Vasudevan suits the folk songs much better but SPB compensates for it by his song delivery)

SPB was terrific when it involved joyous love songs. There are so many examples where the joy overflows. Let us look at some of them now.

'valaiyosai' from 'Sathya'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoN-IVl2938

This song is such a joyous one. The song expresses the joy of young lovers. The tune and orchestration are amazing. SPB sings in a joyous fashion, especially those minor effects in his voice, which enhances the song. It is not a song which gives the singer scope to introduce anything of his or her own but SPB does stamp his own style in the song.

'kadhal kavidhaigal' from 'Gopura Vasalile'

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

Like 'valaiyosai' this is an extremely joyous song. As usual SPB conveys the joy brilliantly.

One more example

'then poove poove va' from 'Anbulla Rajnikanth'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFMI3EelAYg

What a wonderful song this is.

SPB was also called it to deliver lot of songs which involved chorus as well. Here is an amazingly joyous song which involves a chorus.

'tholin mele baram illai' from 'Ninaivellam Nithya'

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dZ35dKLxCo

The energy and joy required for the song needs someone like SPB. 

One more such high energy song involving chorus.

'jagada jagada' from 'Geetanjali' (Telugu)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHRC8cHbgMI

The song is tough not just because of the tune but also because of the poetry. The Telugu here is not easy to sing but SPB's control over Telugu make him sing this easily. 

Another high energy, rhythm oriented song, this time involving a chorus and puli aatam

'annatha aadurar othiko othiko' from 'Aboorva Sagodharargal'

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

Observe the voice in the song and the songs we played previously and you can see that SPB changes his voice a bit for this song. 

'yelela kuyile' from 'Pandi Nattu Thangam'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHom0mxihJI

Not only joyous songs, SPB was also a master in singing sad love songs. This is another genre in which he has multiple songs. We will listen to a couple of them.

'poovuku poovale manjam ondru' from 'Anand'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUJWaM3xqnc

SPB's voice is filled with sadness in this song. His voice almost breaks down in the charanam conveying the heartbreak of the protagonist. His voice modulation is perfect for this song.

Another evergreen love song, 'unna nenachen paatu padichen' from 'Aboorva Sagodharargal'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7gj1GwwgMM

The sadness is not in your face but subtle. SPB's once again delivers the emotion superbly

From sad songs, let us move to the other end, an erotic song.

'nethri rathiri yamma' from 'Sakalakala Vallavan'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psfxD9s6MpI

'While SPB does a great job, this particular song belongs to S.Janaki

Another excellent erotic song

'meendum meendum va' from 'Vikram'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9aRcE-JekI

Janaki was the master when it came to singing these songs and even in this song, Janaki dominates though SPB does give it the erotic touch with his singing

'lipu kissu lip ragam' from 'Chakravyuham' (Telugu)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cpf1TYXaAs

SPB also song lot of inspirational songs and angry songs. His voice suited this segment well because of the energy he was able to impart to the songs.

'sahasam na padham' from 'Maharishi' (Telugu)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bM7jlCA_Dtg

A song that requires SPB to maintain high energy throughout which he does well. 

'nadapadhu nadakkattum' from 'Brahma'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uysPV6ckNlI

This combines philosophy with drinking !! This calls for SPB to use his voice acting skills. You can see clearly how SPB changes his voice in this song

I have missed many many songs but I hope I have been able to convince you of SPB's versatility in the 80s. 

In next part, let us look at how things changed in the 90s.

Comments

சகி said…
Just happen to see this. "Randi Randi Randi' from Rudraveena is not by SPB , but by Mano.
March 20, 2022 at 9:32 PM
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