Charulatha Mani

Vaidehi Kathirunthal is a 1984 film written and directed by R. Sundarrajan, starring Vijayakanth and Revathi. The story was developed based on songs that Ilaiyaraaja had composed earlier. Released on 23 October 1984, it became a commercial success and emerged a breakthrough in 'Captain' Vijayakanth's career. The film is memorable to this day for its evergreen raga-based music by the maestro Ilaiyaraja. Abhogi ragam: T he evergreen classic ' Indraikku en indha anandame ' is an example of how a classical raga may be adapted to silver screen seamlessly and uncompromisingly. This composition of Ilayaraja is set in tisra nadai, the beat progressing in threes, making for lively listening. The singers Vani Jayaram and Jayachandran, both classically adept, cleverly navigate through the sangatis in “kanavugalin suyamvaramo”, gently swaying the Gandhara towards Madhyama and back.       Chandrakauns ragam: Ilaiyaraaja has explored this raga to its fullest in ‘ Azhagu Malar ...

MK Thyagaraja Bhagavathar  was the first superstar of South Indian Cinema with an incredible fan following. He was perhaps the first actor of the region to achieve such popularity with a fistful of films, and was the most sought after personality between 1934 and 1944. His films usually ran for months and ‘Haridas' (16 October 1944) , set a stunning record by running uninterrupted for 114 weeks at Broadway Cinema, Madras. It even witnessed three Deepavali festivals of 1944, 1945 and 1946! Directed by Sundar Rao Nadkarni, it also starred TR Rajakumari and NC Vasanthakokilam . With music by Papanasam Sivan and G Ramanathan , the score is replete with raga-based melodies. Raga-based songs of 'Haridas': The song that probably tops every playlist in  Charukesi   ragam would be ‘ Manmadha Leelaiyai '. This song was one of the earliest appearances of Charukesi on the silver screen, and till today, remains one of the best. In the sonorous voice of M.K. Thyagaraja Bhaga...