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1994 - En Mel Vizhuntha Mazhai Thuli
by Sankar [OISG], 36, Middle East

 

The year was 1994. Gentleman (1993) had completely wiped out the competition. ARR had to compete only with himself. In fact, in 1994, all his experiments came good and what a list we have... Duet, Kadhalan and May Madham.

Vikatan had earlier mentioned that K Balachander and ARR were seen among the audience in a Kadari Gopalnath concert. He also mentioned that KB's next movie has the Hero playing a Sax. To me it sounded pretty weird...A Tamil cinema Hero playing Sax and losing his chance to emote during a song sequence... (One man who could do it was Sivaji!) Honestly KB and Prabhu were not in my good books. I left for a North assignment after telling my friends that Duet is going to be ARR s waterloo.

The day I came back from the assignment and my cousin called me to join him for the movie at Prarthana -Neelangarai. When we entered, the title was on and sax sound started filling the arena. Suddenly there was absolute silence. When "Naan paadum Santham" ended I was jumping with joy. The song brought back memories of "Nizhal Kandavan Naalum inge" from "Ninaithle Inikkum". With each song I was getting restless to reach home and listen to them in peace. (The visuals were distracting the phenomenal music). Then it struck me that I do not have the cassette. Well ...this is gonna be long night
I thought. Maand, Anandha Bhairavi were flowing like Ganges.

When "En Kadhale" started I was sure that ARR must have something special. This time I was correct. Meenakshi enters the party; Prabhu sees her and spontaneously goes to "Anjali Anjali". Realising the switch suddenly, he comes back and joins the melancholic mood of "En Kadhale" - all in Sax! Since that moment, I have never once doubted his abilities.
I was truly convinced that this man has understood what film music is all about and is here to stay!

Next day, while travelling back to Trichy, at Ulundurpet, I heard the sax sound again. A week later, at a small village near Thuvarngurichi it was the same sax sound and the teashop owner spontaneously turned around and increased the volume.
I think that sums it all!

I would rate Duet as his best score till date followed by Iruvar. These 2 movies are clear examples that he infers better
from the script and visualizes the scripts than the directors themselves.

Kadhalan.... well! An absolutely contrasting opening for the songs, for me. I had an agreement with my Cassette shop owner that as soon as the cassette reaches his shop he shall call me and I should buy the first cassette. I was boarding a bus to go my native village. Suddenly a conductor from the next bus ran towards my bus conductor hands him a cassette and told " Maplai! Pudhu paatuya. Amarkalama irukkuthu". The driver loaded the cassette and "Urvasi" started. I was furious; my vendor has cheated me! The not-much-heard Dilruba, UK, PJ cooled me. When I reached my destination, already "Muqqabla" had been played thrice (passenger request!). Late night I reached back Trichy, straightaway went to the vendor and told "nalla ematheetinga thalaiva! Kadhalan paatu vandhiruchu". He took me to the rear side of the shop (where he resides). His 5-year-old son was dancing to "Muqqabla". The man turned around and said "Nethu rathirleyiruthu ithey paatuthan oodikittu irukku. Eppathan puriyuthu en neenga evvalvu aarvama keteengannu" (Since yesterday night this has been going on. Only now do I understand that why you were so eagerly expecting it!)

May Madham - My father, then 57, a TV hater, with usual complaints about present day songs, dance etc ("Chinna Chinna assai" was an exception even at that time!). We were all watching "Ottagatha Kattiko" on Sun TV. Father was sitting in the same hall but reading the morning newspaper just to show his displeasure and disapproval. The next song request was "Margazhi poove". The Suprabatham interludes started. Just out of curiosity, father downs his paper and watches the song. Till the song was over he did not go back to the paper. After the song was over he said "Entha mathiri paatunna parava illai." Who said that only Sahana, NadhaNamkriya would soften tougher people; in this case the Suddhya Dhanyasi has done that! From that day the intensity of his hatred towards new songs came down. Today if "Nila Kaigirathu", "Pachai Kiligal" songs are on the box, even live cricket matches have to take the back seat.

The vendor's boy was 5, my father was 57 ... representatives of 2 different generations fell for the same thing ...it was music ...and it was by AR Rahman.

Let God continue to bless him.

 

 

2002 Constellation - A group of ARR fans from TFMPage.com