'Haridas' - 80th Anniversary
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 Bhagavatar and the music and lyrics of Papanasam Sivan (orchestration of G Ramanathan), this song is a delight. In the lines '...En mel unakkeno paraamugam...' there is a plethora of sangatis, each one unfurling from the top Sadja and landing at various vital notes.
- ‘Ennudal Thannil’ is a ragamalika of ragas Yadukulakambhoji and Atana, with the Atana portion sung by MKT very effectively.
- ‘Nijama Idhu Nijama’ is a pristine piece in Begada ragam.
- 'Krishna mukunda murare' is a well-known song, based on Navaroj
- 'Annaiyum Thandhaiyum' based on Kapi ragam
- 'Kanna vaa manivanna vaa' in Shuddhadhanyasi sung by NC Vasanthakokilam, a Karnatik musician with a pure-toned voice that was effortlessly florid in higher tessitura. She would probably be remembered much more vividly today, had she not passed away too soon, at the age of 32.
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