Sports..Life..Music..

Sports, Life, and Music –How many similarities!

Unpredictable..
Full of ups and downs..
Elegant..
Versatile..
Poetic..
Enjoyable..
Beautiful..

But first congrats to Team India!

A very professional display proving yet again that the no.1 tag is not a fluke.
Today’s victory is more special because it came while playing on a very sporting track somewhat different from the usual dusty pitches where the ball hardly bounces and starts turning right from Day 1.

While it is a very happy moment for all Indians, one should not take the credit away from the South Africans for putting up a fight almost till the end-thanks to the gritty man called Hashim Amla and that handsome bowler called Morne Morkel whose defence was as solid as any known batsman in the world.

On this special day, let me dedicate a rare gem to Team India.

A song that uses the words from a traditional tamizh folk game.
People who watched the ‘Andrum Indrum endrum’ show may recall Raaja sir rendering this line while talking about tradition(though he did not mention about using these words in one of his compositions).

The game is almost like the Kabadi and one has to catch the opponents rendering these words holding the breath.

The words are ‘Naan da ungappan da ..nallamuththu devan da..’

The rare gem of the day also uses the same words but in a very different situation.
It is a fight sequence!

How often do we find a song during Fights?
Balachander used it in ‘Ninaiththale Inikkum’ and it is rather surprising that this idea was used in a pure masala Devar Films production!

The film ‘Ram Lakshman’(1981).

Of course it is not uncommon for Raaja sir to use some very innovative sounds-like Mrudangam, Ghatam or even konnakkol- in a fight sequence.

But this song is very special because it beautifully blends folk with western and makes us all jump and hit all our hidden enemies.
The major highlight of the song-apart from the music- is SPB.

Though we all know his versatility, it is amazing to see how he renders the lines in a single breath leaving all of us breathless!

The song starts with beautiful folksy beats with trumpets showing their faces now and then.

The arrangement that follows is really breathtaking with the wind instruments in full flow!

The Karate and the boxing sounds coupled with the voice of SPB make Pallavi an enjoyable one.

The CharaNams too have beautiful, aggressive sounds but what distinguishes this song from the Dappan kuththus of today is the melody element.
Look how the lines ‘Paaganillatha Yaanaiyai pola’ and how the first two lines are linked to the last two lines..

The interludes are very interesting too..

Bass guitar, Saxophones,Trumpets playfully fight with each other in the first interlude.

The second interlude has the folk drums and seamlessly change to a western pattern. Don’t miss the synthesizers!(who said synthesizer is a ‘90s instrument in Indian Cinema?)

Listen to the Pallavi after the first CharaNam and ‘NoRukki Vaippen’ in the second CharaNam.

All present-day singers! Don’t you think you people need to learn a lot from this legend?

‘NaaNda ungappan da..nallamuththu peran da..’

Team India might as well sing this to all the rival teams now..