Memory recall as a new dawn unfolds in Tamil Nadu Politics

About 25 years back around 2001-02 much before all those sprawling apartments and star hotels had cropped up in MRC Nagar c/o Pin Code 600028 (prior to the surfacing of Leela Palace, Somerset, 174 and many other properties), we used to regularly play cricket in that neck of the woods. I recall vividly one day after finishing playing, we were walking back when a crowd had congregated a portion of that area. I was curious as to why the formation of people that too during the peak summer hour and hence asked someone there as to what was happening. The person quite bemused with my question quoted the following "Deivam munnadi irukam podhu yaaru nu kekreenga" translated as "When God is here right beside you, how can you even ask who it is!". Then I turned for a bit and took a glimpse to see a young actor on a bike shooting for a movie. That was my first tryst with crazy fandom and was long before the advent of social media. I believe that was also the first time I was seeing a celebrity Live in Person although it was just for a blink and miss moment. That young actor by the name of Joseph Vijay who was back then only in his 20s is now appointed to take charge as the Chief Minister of the state of Tamil Nadu.

I am not in any way a fan of the man or his movies but this golden memory is entrenched within me. He will no doubt be facing the music in times to come but what he has done by breaking the bastion and emerging victorious over the 2 dynasty parties who have been exchanging power for the last 6 decades is quite epoch making to say the least. May a new revolution in Tamil Nadu politics begin and wishing Vijay all the best as he embarks on this exciting new venture of heading and leading the ever cultural and traditional state of Tamil Nadu.

Malarendru Mugam Ondru - Yodel along with Rock 'n' Roll

This is your quintessential Rock 'n' Roll in groovy style brought to you by the inimitable musical duo of Vishwanathan - Ramamurthy. It's also perhaps the first of it's kind in this genre in Tamil cinema and the movie Kadhalikka Neramillai happens to be the first ever to be shot in Eastman colour. 

Just the way the flow of the song is structured and the manner in which it waltz away is simply spell binding. The yodeling and La La phrases are of pure gold standard. You cannot but not shake a leg listening to this lurking lavender. 

I always have been wanting to try this especially due to it's eye catching arpeggios and spinning swings which keep gyrating in an up and down cycle with effortless ease. Just happy to attempt a glimpse of the magic this song is gleamed upon in all it's glory. 

The entire soundtrack is loaded with studs aplenty and each track is worth lavishing encomiums. Malarendra Mugam Ondru was rendered by LR Eswari & MS Raju and penned by the incomparable Kaviarasar Kannadasan. An evergreen composition and truly one for the ages.

June and the Music connection!

June is the month when the International Music Day is celebrated which falls exactly on Jun 21st. It also marks the summer solstice and said to be the longest day of the year. In the Tropical Zodiac the month of June consists of both Gemini & Cancer whereas as per the sidereal zodiac it includes the month of Taurus and Gemini coined locally as 'Vaigasi' and 'Aani'. 

From a constellation perspective the Sun traverses the 3 Nakshatras of Rohini, Mrigashira and Arudra during the month of June. Rohini happens to be the Nakshatra of Lord Krishna and everything associated with beauty comes under the ambit of this star and is there anything more beautiful than music? Mrigashira is said to be a soft & tender star and as per muhurtha it's said to be ideal to start learning any new activity like music on this day. Arudra or 'Tiruvadirai' as it's termed in the South is denoted itself by the symbol Veena, hence music and this star tend to blend really well. 

Apart from all the astronomical gazing, taking a cursory glance of some of the finest musicians many of them incidentally happen to be born in the month of June. Some all time favorite names that pop up include Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, SP Balasubramaniyam, Mellisai Mannar MS Viswanathan, Kavignar Kannadasan, Rahul Dev Burman, Madan Mohan, Paul McCartney, Brian Wilson etc. Though the Music Day was just chosen to be one of the days in the year, the fact that it's in June seems to bear exemplary significance and relevance. 

The song dedicated for this music month happens to be a partnership of two legends who formed an irreplaceable musician cum lyricist duo churning out some of the most memorable hits from the bygone era. And the one who rendered this number has a repertoire of the greatest ever songs to be sung on celluloid running into plenty of '0000 multiples. And all these 3 legends were born in the month of June - Kannadasan (24th June), MSV (24th June) and SPB (4th June). 

Just tried attempting a small portion of this song. The way swaras alternate adds a diminutive touch giving it an extra zep. This jewel is almost half a century old and still lingers on merrily as ever in it's own dashing style. A truly evergreen number from the golden era of Tamizh cinema.