TR Mahalingam Centenary Isai Payanam

Isai Payanam is inspired by great musicians. Dr Charulatha Mani discusses classical film hits of yesteryear singer-superstar TR Mahalingam and shares interesting links between classical music and film songs - a nostalgic journey that also urges us to think about music differently!

Thenkarai Ramakrishna Mahalingam (16 June 1924 – 21 April 1978) was one of those national treasures whose vocal prowess was amazing without qualification - across genres, eras, and geography. Any operatic tenor would have been envious of his seamless voice production and robust projection, combined with great squillo/ring, while at the same time being able to sing floridly, delicately with mezza voce and legato for softer lyrics. It is just mind-boggling listening to his pure akaram, brighas, being equally at ease singing heavy Carnatic, Hindustani-flavoured, folksy, or popular contemporary-styled film songs in Sri Valli (both versions), Naam Iruvar, Maalayitta Mangai, Thiruvilaiyadal, Agathiyar and many more.

• Sri Valli (1945): 
• TRM's first big break, this is remembered as the first Tamil film to use playback singing through post synchronisation. It also became the first Tamil film for which the dialogues were released by Gramaphone records. Mahalingam’s singing in the legendary SG Kittappa style was much appreciated. Cinema house managers and AV Meiyappan’s travelling representatives told him that the heroine’s songs were a minus point, in comparison to Mahalingam’s. AVM boldly decided to replace Rukmini’s voice in all songs in the film which was running to packed houses! Overnight, Periyanayaki sang the songs and AVM’s technicians worked round-the-clock to get them ready on film (Randor Guy - The Hindu)
• One of the most spectacular forays into Bhairavi on the silver screen was that of T. R. Mahalingam in the stunning ‘Kaayaatha Kanagathe’ viruttam from the film (music by G. Ramanathan). The countless brighas and lightning fast sweeps across the scale leave us in raptures. Even now, after nearly 67 years of its release, this song is a hot favourite among music lovers, an example of the timelessness of raga-based melodies. 
• A refreshing wave of Shuddha Saveri swept over us in the song ‘Ellorayum Polave’ from the stage drama 'Valli Thirumanam' (starring S.G. Kittappa as Muruga and K.B. Sundarambal as Valli). This song sung by S.G. Kittappa is a delight. Starting at the dhaivata, replete with gamakas and ornamental sangatis, Suddha Saveri comes alive in this piece. This piece was also a T.R. Mahalingam favourite and he sang it in the film 'Sri Valli' (1945). It is interesting to note that this song was composed by Kavi Kunjara Bharati. K.B. Sundarambal sang ‘Porumai Ennum’ in Avvaiyar (1953) in the same tune as ‘Ellorayum’. Through this song, Avvaiyar lists the qualities (albeit conservative and outdated) an ideal woman should possess in order to have a happy family life. In the line ‘perinbam adaindhida’, the phrase ‘PD R, SDP’ is sung with great style and sweeps over us like a whiff of fresh air. 
   
• The film begins with 'Sambho Mahadeva', a brisk piece in Devagandhari
• Interestingly, Mahalingam also appeared in the 1961 remake of Sri Valli, this time in the role of Narada, singing 'Karpaga cholaiyile', begins in Jonpuri, and continues in Kaanada and Sahana.
• Thiruvilaiyadal (1965): 
• “Illadadondrillai .. ” begins T. R. Mahalingam with devotional fervour, pouring his heart out in piety, tambura in hand. This viruttam is a stunning piece in Simhendramadhyamam by the music director K. V. Mahadevan and the singer. The cascading briga explorations, thrilling and warming our hearts at the same time, are a connoisseur's delight. Here too the top-octave Rishabha is given due respect and the composer lives with it to weave magic. 
 
• “Isaithamizh nee seidha” is a piece-de-resistance in Abheri, showcasing TRM's vocal brilliance in full.
• Agathiyar (1972): 
• In “Andavan darisaname” T. R. Mahalingam seamlessly scales the raga, adorning it with many a sangati. This song also begins in the upper Sadja, true to the character of Jonpuri.
• “Isaiyai Tamizhai” is a lilting piece in Kharaharapriya. Kunnakudi Vaidhyanathan's music, complemented by the voices of Seerkazhi Govindarajan and T R Mahalingam, makes this complex piece an aural treat.
• 'Malainindra Thirukumara' is set in Abheri.
• Malayitta Mangai (1958):
• One of the earliest and most successful appearances of Abhogi on the silver screen is “Naan Andri Yaar Arivaar” sung by T R Mahalingam and A P Komala, in the music of Viswanathan-Ramamurthy. The song begins in the lower Sadja with the opening phrase “S, R, G, M,, GR,”, a simple traditional approach to Abhogi. In the phrase “yaar thoduvaar”, the traversal from the upper Gandhara all the way down the scale to the Sadja is fascinating. Madurai Sri G.S. Mani in the concert video explains the effect of Valaji in AP Komala's passages owing to her base pitch - an instance of implicit grahabedam.
• The film 'Malayitta Mangai' had several super-hits, the crowning jewel being ‘Sentamizh Thenmozhiyal’ sung by T.R. Mahalingam. This piece has got some of the most intricately vocalised sangatis in Kapi. Try keeping pace with the colossal sweep in ‘Kaatrinil Pirandavalo...’, you will see what I mean. M.S. Viswanathan —Ramamoorthy have surpassed themselves in this piece.
• Inbavalli (1949):
• 'Umapathe Unnai Allal' is set in Hemavathi, the 58th Melakarta ragam and prati-madhyama equivalent of Kharaharapriya. It is called Simharavam or Deshi Simharavam in Muthuswami Dikshitar nomenclature. Dikshitar's 'Sree Kanthimathim' is the most well known composition in this raga. Co-starring BS Saroja, the film was in the folklore/fantasy genre. The soundtrack was by G Ramanathan.

• Vedala Ulagam (1948):
• 'Kalvi Sirandha Tamil Nadu' in the music of R. Sudarsanam, features Kedaragowla ragam.
• Thiruneelakandar (1972):
• In the music of C. N. Pandurangan, 'Ambalavananai' is set in Gowrimanohari.

• Aada vandha deivam (1960):
• 'Kodi kodi inbam' was a hit number from this film, with music by K. V. Mahadevan, and the story adapted from 'Ghaleer Ghaleer', a Tamil novel written by LRV. A fully music/dance themed film, three of the female characters are named after Karnatik ragas - Kalyani, Hamsanandi, and Bhairavi!