Kaapi Konashtai and Breezy Bass - The magic behind Naguva Nayana/Paniyil Nanaiyum

'Naguva Nayana' is an iconic composition when viewed from the Kannada hinterland. Pallavi Anupallavi was the first movie that ace director Mani Ratnam helmed and this also happens to be the first ever pairing of the famed Mani Ratnam-Ilaiyaraaja duo who combined to produce sensational stunners from around the mid 80s till the early 90s. Almost every song from this combo sparkles with ecstasy and steeped in musical monarch. 

Around the mid 2000s, I heard that there was a Tamil version of this song and remember searching feverishly across erstwhile sites such as cooltoad, sukravathanee.tk, mohankumars etc but to no avail. Then finally I got to source it from a gentleman abroad who procured it once I described about this song and movie. I recall it was such a blissful experience listening to 'Paniyil Nanaiyum Malargal Rendu' for the first time though it was in it's dubbed avatar. 

This song has always remained a perennial favorite and I absolutely love the freshness that this song infuses every time you listen to it. You tend to mirage a verdant lushness to it that feels so invigorating and refreshing. The ebbs & flows of Kaapi ragam is handled so delicately and the way the bass breezes through is simply riveting. 

Just attempted a portion of this magical song. This beauty also happens to be one of my most favorite romantic duets rendered by SPB and Janaki/Chitra (former Kannada and latter Tamil). An evergreen number for the ages!.

Chinna Chinna Vannakuyil - A Mastery touch of Bass!

This was one of the earliest tracks that completely baffled me especially with respect to usage of Bass. The bazooking harmony which goes in parallel with the main tune has some sort of magical tonic and has always left me in bewilderment with the cohesion effect of how everything unifies and creates a picturesque synergy. This again is just one among a bunch of tip of the iceberg creations that involve the bass component. Many of Raaja's vintage compositions sprinkle bass in profusion and though these tones more or less play a supporting role, they elevate the content of the main melody by a significant notch. They sound so rich simply stand alone and when combined with the song reaches proportions of enormity that emanates a feeling of ecstacy when listening to the number.

This particular song apart from the employment of the trademark bass, Janaki Amma also does an astute job touching all the right chords and traversing on a merry ride along the way. The soundtrack is studded with treasure in abundance and this song surprisingly is the underplayer. However in terms of class it well and truly deserves itself to be held in high esteem.

I attempted a portion of the song beginning from the Charanam portion and connecting back to the Pallavi. There are some lovely little phrases which are a bit difficult to render but just attempted whatever I could to the wee best of my ability. This is a small labour of love to the creaters of this masterpiece who both happen to celebrate their birthdays on the same day - Director Mani Ratnam and Musical Wizard Ilaiyaraaja.