A brilliant song in the film Athma. I had long wondered why Ilaiyaraaja had TN Seshagopalan sing this, and not, say, KJ Yesudas, who was the go-to singer for such type of numbers at that time.
The song, of course, is set to the rare ragam Gowda Malhar.
The song, of course, is set to the rare ragam Gowda Malhar.
This ragam is widely credited to have been conceived by Harikesanallur Muthiah Bhagavathar. He well and truly belongs to the pantheon of greats in Carnatic music.
And his well known disciple was Ramanathapuram Sankara Sivam, who in turn was the guru of, well, TN Seshagopalan.
And his well known disciple was Ramanathapuram Sankara Sivam, who in turn was the guru of, well, TN Seshagopalan.
TNS is generally seen to uphold the Harikesanallur tradition.
So, the whole song was Ilaiyaraaja's way of paying a tacit & beautiful tribute to a legitimate legend of Carnatic by getting his disciple TNS sing a song in a ragam conceived by him (Bhagavathar).
This is so touching!
So, the whole song was Ilaiyaraaja's way of paying a tacit & beautiful tribute to a legitimate legend of Carnatic by getting his disciple TNS sing a song in a ragam conceived by him (Bhagavathar).
This is so touching!
I don't think there is another Tamil film song in the same ragam. (Needs verification).
But what could be a better homage to a musical master than a song that will perpetuate his tradition & style.
Thanks to Raaja, Harikesanallur's Athma is now forever etched in a song in Athma.
But what could be a better homage to a musical master than a song that will perpetuate his tradition & style.
Thanks to Raaja, Harikesanallur's Athma is now forever etched in a song in Athma.
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