Famous Indian composer Ilaiyaraja, who has composed 3,500 songs for 700 films, is launching his book Vazhi Thunai tommorow at Auditorium DBKL at 7.30 pm. Works minister and MIC President Datuk Seri Dr. S. Samy Vellu is guest of honour. The event is organised by Swaralayya Enterprise which promotes fine arts and literary works. Ilaiyaraja learnt Carnatic and Western music and obtained his grade 8 in Trinity College of Music in London where he passed with flying colours and walked away with the gold medal. Hailed as a maestro for his performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, he has also been awarded a string of other titles. He's a three-time recipient of India's National Award for Music in 1984, 1986 and 1988. In 1994, Ilaiyaraja was confered honourary citizenship of Teanech Township by the Teanech in New Jersey, John Abraham.

Introduction:

Friends - please bear with me as I take you on a long winded journey through my experience with Ilayaraja in person. My purpose in doing it is to recreate my moments of excitement as well as to put all of you in the same frame of mind. Do not miss reading any of my writings (by simply scanning through them) as you will miss many interesting tidbits. I was about 10 yards from him for three solid hours, and was I overwhelmed. I grew up on Ilayaraja music and I can liken it to thaai-paal for me. The hours, days, weeks, months and years that I obtained pleasure from his music is indescribable. Yeththanai vaatham, yeththanai poorippu! That he was there in person, his humility, his aanmeega-ness, was enough to drive me into a frenzy. Top politicians, kavignars from both India and Malaysia and a rep. from US, heaped praises upon him. Many of these were similar to what we have seen on the TFM Discussion forum, that I couldn't help thinking they were inspired from some of the discussions.

Pre Programme Mood:

With much anticipation and a little doubt (whether IR will really turn up) I stepped into the hall with my wife. We were drowned with IR's gambira voice from his Geethanjali album (the devotional - not the Murali starrer). Strangely enough, although I've always felt that the album was depressing, last night, it filled me with a sense of anticipation and preparation for things to come.

We were there very early, before 7 pm, skipping dinner, not wanting to miss getting good seatings. Well, I managed to entrench myself three rows from the front, smack in the centre, and later discovered that I was on eye-level with Isaignani. We were quite apprehensive on what time the programme will begin, as it is a known fact that in typical Indian (Malaysian) fashion, programmes can even start an hour late.

At exactly 7.45 pm, the maestro walked in surrounded by VIPs and other celebrities! The hall was bursting with applause and everyone gave him a standing ovation. Maestro clasped his hand and from top to the bottom, payed his respects to the overflowing crowd. Surprise, surprise, he was accompanied by his wife and guess what, Bhavatharani.

Formalities:

The compere for the evening was Maidee Sultan, ex-DJ of Radio 6. He is a seasoned emcee as well as a good kavignar. The evening began with a vaazhththu paadal on Ambal (appropriately - as the chosen deity of Isaignani) by Mrs. Premalatha Manee Mohan. Manee Mohan is the organiser of the event. Maidee Sultan began the programme, saying that Malaysia is honoured to play hosts to Isaignani again. "Appothellaam, namakku mariaatheithaan irunthathu, ippozhuthu ungal varugeiyei enni baya-bakthiyoadu ethirpaarththu kondirunthoam. Yeinendraal neengal oru anu-vallarasilirunthu vanthirukkureergal!" (I don't know whether I got the spelling correct, but he was refering to the nuclear tests conducted by India recently). The entire evening was sprinkled with such witticism.

Isaignani in his speech later said, "Sultan endraal Raaja" and pointing to himself, "Raaja endraal Sultan," much to the amusement of the crowd. Maidee Sultan was not to be outwitted and replied, "Raaja Raajathan!"

The next programme was the garlanding event. I believe a faux-paux was created by garlanding the Minister before Isaignani, to which even the Minister protested. But the consolation was that Isaignani was garlanded at least five times besides the ponnaadai poaththuthal.

Speeches:

Mr. V. Muthusamy, Inspector of Police made a brief welcoming speech on behalf of the organisers.

The next speaker was Kavignar Arivumathi from India. He looked like a guy of our age (in the 30s). I guess I got irritated, when he came on to the stage wearing slippers (with pants & shirt). At the podium, he looked up at the crowd silently for at least 20 seconds, and then said, "Anthe mounamthan Isaignani!" to a roaring applause from the crowd. With his commanding voice and powerful command of Thamizh, I quickly forgave him for wearing just slippers.

He continued speaking of Isaignani in glorious terms and spoke of his experiences in working together with him. Arivumathi said that if not for his complexion and being born in Tamilnadu, Isaignani would have reached worldwide acclaim. He also said, "Isaignani hamizargalukku kidaiththa pokkisham." He referred to Isaignani as his "father" and recalled the time when he had his differences with Isaignani and were not on speaking terms for eight years. He mentioned about his speech in some other function as the cause of this fallout, but did not elaborate. Apparently they bumped into each other on many occasions and Arivumathi would silently say Vanakkam, is spite of not getting a response from Isaignani. They have now mended their differences and Arivumathi has begun writing for Isaignani again. Arivumathi also recounted the time when he was in prison for 27 days for taking part in some demonstration. During that time he wrote a pathos song for his daughter and he proceeded singing it, to the delight of the audience. The song was mesmerising and heart-wretching. Even Isaignani was captivated by it, that he mentioned later in his speech that he only discovered in Malaysia, that Arivumathi could not only write and sing but also compose music. Isaignani also mentioned that Arivumathi can become a successful MD, so watch out for him guys.

Next to speak was Dr. V. Poobalan, who is the controller of Radio 6. Listeners to this radio will be familiar with his "Ungal Sinthanaikku" five-minute programme every morning and evenings. He is a reknowned kavignar. He began by saying that he felt heavy-hearted, and said only God knows his burden. He continued by saying that the Interview with Isaignani was cancelled. As he was saying this, Isaignani was frantically gesticulating that he was not the cause of the cancellation. Poobalan continued with the pugazh maalai, with a specially written poem in honour of Isaignani. He also read out excerpts from Isaignani's book "Vazhi Thunai" saying that the work cannot be called puthu kavidhai or marabu kavidhai. "Ithu ethoa oru ragaththil seirnthavei - anubaviththu ezhuthapattirukkindrathu endru nandraaga unarugindroam."

The next speaker was a surprise. He had just flown in hours before and was not expected - Kavignar Mu Mehta! "Isaignani oru pournami" he began. "Pournami enna karuppaaga irukkindrathu endru paarkareergalaa?" endru nakkalaaga keitaar, to the audience's laughter. "Intha pournami velichaththei tharugindrathu!". Mu Mehtha continued of his experiences dealing with Isaignani and recounted the time he wrote songs for him in Siraichaalai. He also recalled the time when he wrote a song in Poomani, Yen paattu yen paattu. "Athu yen paattu thaanayya!" he continued! But apparently after writing the song, he stopped to listen to the recording. Isaignani himself sang the song but on recording, he had changed the lyrics - giving the song a greater impact. This incident took Mehta by complete surprise and earned Isaignani his respect. Mu Mehta also said that Isaignani was solely responsible for Tamil youths abandoning anniya songs for Tamil songs. The rest of what he said is too racist, that I won't mention it here.

Dr. A. Ravindran of the Tamil Nadu Foundation, New Jersey, USA was the next speaker. Apparently he works in Boston. He began by saying that he was not an eloquent speaker like those before him (He was right - he wasn't, at least in Tamil!) He praised Isaignani for making the US Tamil children curious about Tamil songs, and begin speaking in Tamil. He also made a joke about Isaignani's song Kavalai padathei manitha (Is there such a song? I hope he was not refering to Deva's KP Sagoathara!) which the US kids were translating as Don't worry be happy. Apparently it was Isaignani who paved the way for other MDs into the US.

Interlude:

I think that it's about time I said a little about the book Vazhi Thunai.

1. The cover of the invitation card was nothing but a reproduction of the back cover of the book. No wonder it was impressive.

2. The book is horizontal and is of very high quality print. Size is about 9 (width) by 5.5 inches. The cover is white with a colour potrait of Isaignani's face merging into a picture of an harmonium board with a young, naked boy walking towards the horizon. Both the boy and the harmonium board are in sepia tones. Very tasteful and elegant. The content pages are not simili or art paper but textured (probably recycled) paper.

3. The credits are:
Muthal achchu - Viyarvei thingal 1998 (What does that mean?)
Veliyittu muyarchi - Manee Mohan, Malaysia; M. Radhakrishnan, Thanga maaligai, Kallakurichi, Vizhuppuram
Kanipori achchu - Bharathan
Kidaikumidam -
Saaral Veliyidu,
Arivumathi,
73, Abibullah Saalai,
Thyagaraayar Nagar,
Chennai 600 017, Tel: 8283319

4. The illustrations are by: Actor Sivakumar, Aathimoolam, Santhanam, etc. One is also done by Isaignani himself. The book says that he is a Oaviakalluri Maanavar.

5. Did you know that the book is compiled by Arivumathi. Yes, Noolakkam by Arivumathi. According to him, this was his life-time ambition.

6. Appreciation is given to Kumudham (!!!), Mu Metha, S. Thanu, Gangai Amaran, Lenin, Indran, Pazhani Bharathi, Vaasan, Shankar, Devaneyan, and Radhakrishnan.

Isaignani's Munnurai:

Intha ulagirkkoa - athil vaazhum manitha inaththirkkoa - ethaavathu arivurai koori avargalei nanneri paduththum ennamum, munaippum enakku ellalavum illai. Manithargalei nanneri paduththuthal patri ezhuthumpoathu, avargal sariyaaga illai endru - naan velippaduththuvathaaga neengal ennalaam. Ovvoru manithanum - kaanum ulagam veiruveiraaga iruppathuthaan anupavarethiyaana unmai. Paarppatharkku orey maathiriyaaga thoatramalikkum ulagam yein ovvoruvaraalum viththyasamaanathaanaga uraippada veindum? Vanna kannadiyei kannil aninthukondu entha porulei paarththaalum apporul kannadiyin niraththileiyei kaanapaduvathu poal - manithanin mana amaippei ulagaththin meethu padinthu avanavanin manam amaintha niraththil kaatchi alikirathu. Aam, manamey kannadi..

Book Launch:

The Keynote address and Book Launch was made by Dato' Seri Dr. Samy Vellu, MIC President and Minister of Works, Malaysia Samy Vellu is to Malaysia what Karunanidhi is to India - leader of the Tamils. Dato' Seri is a pattam given by the Malay rulers and is the third highest order. MIC stands for Malaysian Indian Congress, one of the main members of the ruling coalition party.

Samy Vellu began his speech by saying, "Puthusaa vanthirukku oru paattu, Telephone mani, telephone mani (he had the grace to get the words wrong. athu maathiri intha auditorium ulley pala hand-phones-in saththam keitgirathu. Yennidamum ullathu moondru hand-phones!" He went on to give a short lecture. He then said that he was from the old school of thought and proceeded to sing two old G.Ramanathan numbers. Honestly folks, I have no idea of the songs. But Isaignani was enjoying himself, and was moving his right hand in rythm to Samy's singing. Samy then continued by saying that as a politician for 23.5 hours, he is unhappy and only happy for half an hour a day! Even when he goes to sleep the radio is switched on, listening to Isaignani's songs and the minute somebody switches it off, he wakes up. During those unhappy peiods, he used to find solace in Isaignani's song, which he proceeded to sing! Thenpaandi seemaiyiley, therodum veethiyiley, maan poala vanthavanei yaar adithaaro.

Isaignani, later in his speech, commented that Samy had recaptured his own feelings when that song was recorded. Samy, avar pangukku, pugazhoa pugazha aarambiththaar, comparing Isaignani to Bach, Beethoven, Mozart and the moondru karnaadaga periyavargal (I don't know them). He said that Isaignani may expire, but his music will live on into the next and the following centuries. Samy also said that if Isaignani had been born in UK, he would be greatly appreciated and his music would be all over the world. "Aanaal avar Thamizhagaththil piranthuvittaar, thurathishttamaaga!" He continued, "Yeinendraal, Thamizhargalidam oru kuraipaadu iruukirathu - short memory span," earning instant thunderous applause.

He too quoted several paragraphs from Isaignani's book, but also regretted lending the book to Dr. Poobalan, who beat him in using the best quotes. "Itharkku innaattil oru palamozhi irukku: Kaathirunthaven ...... neththuvanthaven...!"

One of the best loved quotations was on bribery - lanjam:

Tharmam enbatharkku lanjam endru oar unmaiyaana arththam irukkirathu.
Oru kaariyaththei seithu mudippatharkkaaga oruvarukku kodukkapadum porullukku peyer lanjam endraal.
Punniyam enbathai adaivatharkkaaga kodukkum tharmam - oru lanjamey!
Yeitho oru veindukoalai naam vanangum theivam (iraivan) niraiveitri vittathu enbatharkkaaga naam undiyil seluththum kaanikkai - oru lanjamey!

Samy Vellu then officially launched the book and the first receipient paid 3,000 ringgit to purchase the book. All donors were then requested to come on stage to obtain the book!

I forgot to mention one episode that Samy recounted. Apparently one day he was going at the fastest speed, the speed limit would allow, when he had a guy overtake him. Samy then showed him the "paththram" sign, whereupon the guy rolled down his window and said sorry. Samy could hear the guy's radio blasting Isaignani's song. "Avar Isaignaniyin mayakkaththil veigamaaga sendru kondirunthaar. Atharkku avar poruppei illei endru vittu vittein."

My Experiences:

The compere began calling people who made the biggest donation to come first. At first nobody was going to the seated Isaignani to get his autograph, but soon enough people caught on and more and more of them began to approach him. I quickly dashed to stage, clutching the precious envelope containing the message from TFM-DFers as written by Sathiya Keerthi, paid the money, grabbed the book from the Minister and approached Isaignani!

By then the crowd was getting to be too big that the organisers feared for the safety of the stage! Before I could reach Isaignani, they stopped people from getting his autograph and told them to be patient, and that he would sign at the end of the nigalchchi. The thought of the hopeful TFM-DF patrons, wouldn't let me give up and I pressed on, until I reached Isaignani! I approached him, passed the letter telling him that it was from many of his fans, worldwide and managed physical contact with him.

Isaignani smiled and nodded his head and passed the letter to Manee Mohan, whom I spoke to separately to seek his assurance that Isaignani would definitely read the letter.

I did not speak to Isaignani about the symphony for a couple of reasons: One because of the mob and secondly, I didn't want to upset him by talking about this subject. Did I do the right thing? I don't know for sure whether he would have responded, but most likely he would have said something non-committal.

On the way down, I managed to squeeze my way into a line and obtained Bhavatharani's autograph instead. Now the book carries the message: Best wishes Vadi Velu - Bhavatharani!. I think that "All the best" would have been more appropriate.

In the end, Isaignani did not sign any more autographs (and this is going to be my lifetime regret) as he was cleverly escorted away, at the end of the function.

One consolation for all IR fans. Isaignani left behind all the poomaalais, ponnaadais and souvenir items, EXCEPT for OUR letter!!!!!!!!

Isaignani left for India this morning and I couldn't get in touch with Manee Mohan the whole day today, to find out more about the letter.

Yeirppurai by Isaignani Ilaiyaraaja:

The short-statured dark complexioned man stepped on to the podium, to a hushed audience. He was dressed completely in white - veshti, jibba, socks and shoes (not sneakers). He was neither wearing spectacles nor was he (as popularly known here) mottai!

He said that he was very happy to be in Malaysia and promised to come again to conduct a full-scale concert (on the veindukkoal of Samy Vellu). Straight away he began to talk about his book and how it came into being - Arivumathi's contributions, etc. Basically, he had not intended to put his thoughts into words or publish a book, but was persuaded to do so by people close to him. He said, "Enakkum manithargalukkum athiga thodarvillei. Naan aare-mukkaalukkul Prasad Studios-ukku vanthu viduvein. Pin veedu thirumba iravaagi vidum. Aanaal, enakkum aanmeegatharkkumthaan thodarvu niraya ullathu." He also spoke on his Ramana Maalai and sang several songs from it, mersmerising the audience.

He spoke very little on TFM. He lamented directors who just come asking for a song, to introduce the heroine, without giving the proper situation. He spoke a bit about his favourite isai amaippaalar, RD Burman. He sang a few thannanathaanaas of one song, which I was not familiar with and another one, which was re-made into Tamil as Raatheiyin nenjamey Kannanukku sonthamey.

"Enakku intha raagam rombavum pidithirunthathu. Eppadiyaavathu oru paadalil use panna vendum endru ninaiththein. Athuthan Maaliyil yaaro,"

Frankly, I could not see much resemblance, but that is the sheer magic of Isaignani!

I will end this review of the programme with an excerpt from the book:

Boomikku sooriyan vazhi thunai
Sooriyanukku vazhi thunai yaar?
Yaarukku yaar vazhi thunai enbathu
Vazhi thunaiyei kandu kondavan
Solla veindiyathu
Enakkoa intha ulagil naan santhiththa
Ovvoru vishayamum - vazhi thunai thaan!

Thanks guys for bearing with me. I hope it was as much fun for you to read it as it was for me to write it. Oru periya baaraththai irakki vaiththa nimmathi enakku ippo.

Looking forward to your comments.......