I leaped out of my seat listening to the Jaladharangam in the prelude of the song - "Kothamalli Poove" - a not so famous song from the movie 'Kallukkul Eeram'. Ever since I heard the Jaladharangam in the song "Dheena Karunakaranae", I have had a fascination towards this wonderful instrument. But blame it on the 'too-many-choices-available' world, I never really had a moment so far to reflect on this instrument... And this song was a trigger to revive my (listening) interest on Jaladharangam..
Contine reading on Jaladharangam, Ilaiyaraaja and "Kotha Malli Poove" below..
Contine reading on Jaladharanagam (only) here.
'Kotha Malli' or Coriander or Dhaniya as you may have known, is a herbal LEAF adding aroma to quintessential Indian cuisine.. So how bizarre a song can be - that glorifies Kotha malli's Poo (flower) while paying no attention to its leaves...? As bizarre as an authentic Jog raag getting no attention in a beautiful rustic south Indian folk song.. This song, Kothamalli Poove from Kallukkul Eeram (Listen to it here) is a high quality melody in Jog Ragam set to a very rural arrangement for a typical Bharathiraja backdrop. This is certainly another hidden Hero'sglyphic :-)
Now Coming to the topic of the blog post, I am fully convinced that the prelude of this song predominantly employs a original Jaladharangam, although its often paired with another instrument in the backdrop. Bbut towards the end of the prelude, you can listen the unique timber of Jaladharangam quiet prominently.. that too in a fast tempo typical of this instrument. The tone can be further confirmed as original (and not electronic) when it appears for brief passages in the interludes again.. Also the application of the instrument alongside Mirudangam and sometimes as an answer to it is quite interesting. The overall setup of the song truly amazes me.. You can visualize a bunch of villagers doing their daily jobs and the village life is well captured in the melody, making the facts of Jog and Jaladharangam insignificant..
Now thats Ilaiyaraaja for you...
The only another Jaladharangam in Tamil film music in recent memory, that immediately pops out in my mind is the song "En Veetil Thottathil" (Gentleman).. But AR Rehman, went for an artificial Keyboard based Jaladharangam tone that clearly lacked the rustic punch of waves moving back and forth across water.. It leaves a mouth 'watering' proposition to imagine what if a perfectionist in sound like him took pains to use the original instrument instead..
Though not popular now, this instrument was very widely used in the Tamil Film music by the likes of G Ramanadhan and KVM. So in that context, its unique that Raaja has used the 'real' instrument, although I must admit sporadically. I am quite curious to know if there are other songs where this unique instrument is used...
With Love
Vicky
Thanks vicky for giving me an opportunity to listen to one of my most favourite songs of my teens!
ReplyDeleteI always think if the same song is redone now with better track recording it would make a classic again. I thought what is the point of 65 strong string orchestra when all you hear is a single track of music and you have to silence this grand orchestration for a flute or a shenoy sound or even a bell or triangle! How frustrating it would have been for a composer!
The jalatharangam is mixed with what i thought as 'swara thabela' which you see in some old b&w films the female extra dancers play!!
Also I thought, in the early ilaiyaraaja films like gayathri(kaalai paniyil- after the humming by sasireka the song intro has a piece)kallukkul eeram(siru ponmani) and many other films of that pre-synthetic era, he used jalatharangam a lot but now when I hear them they sound very synthetic(like some sort of a bell or even santhoor).
Went through few of your blogs here, wow, what a way to write! For a lay music person like myself, reading them is certainly a learning experience.
ReplyDeleteSir,
ReplyDeleteNice Post.
Enakku Therinchu Jalatharangam Raja Use Panna Song Ey Paadal Ondru From Priya too has Lots of Hindustani Classical Instruments(Jalatharangam,Shennai,Sitar)
Boss am amazed by the Background Raja Pic..Wud You Plz Send this pic to smahesh1980@gmail.com.(Even if u send more Pic of Raja's it will be very very great moment to me.Thanks a Ton in Advance.)
ReplyDeleteVicky, your blog was excellent. Our Ayya has used jalatharangam in song 'Naan Vanangugiren' - film Guru. Extra-ordinary composition. One of the popular song that went unnoticed like 'kothamalli poove'.
ReplyDeleteSir,
ReplyDeleteFew more to de list:
Interludes of Amma Endrazhaikkatha from Mannan
Chinna kannan - Kavikuil {In vocal part itself, eh?}
Kuiley kuiley – Kadhal oviyum {solo Jaladharanagam at 1st interlude}
Poovil vandu - Kadhal oviyum {1st interlude}
Vellichalanggaigal - Kadhal oviyum {1st interlude and accompanies Sollu kattu as well}
Aakanulalo - Aalapana {telugu}
always
~~Raaja rules!
i have read the article and listened the welcome song from suvarillatha sithirangal. it seems that jalatharangam used in the starting of the song and first interlude. please clear me if i am wrong.
ReplyDeleteDear Vicky,
ReplyDeleteI am very late to comment on this blog about, but Jaladharangam. I recently came to know about your blog and going through them one by one.
One of my all time favourite Raja song is "Adi Penne" from Mullum Malarum. When i was in teenage, I used to be mesmerized by this song as I felt that this song conveyed to me the best way what a girl is. I thought that Raja has used Jaladharangam in this song heavily to signify this youthness. The amount of water in each cup directly affects the frequency and as human beings we show our emotions based on the state of mind.
Sorry for taking up lot of space.
If you want to listen to Jaladharangam, this is it.
Thanks for the amazing blog.
With Regards
narasimhan