Sevvarali Thottathile-Bhagavathipuram Railway Gate

A typical peppy IR folk.

But we all know that a typical IR folk is not a typical folk.

He blends western classical, carnatic and whatever is there in the world of music.

This song has got most number of hits in my playlist.

Prelude

It starts with a wonderful humming. All will be expecting a tabla to start. But our maestro starts with a guitar. Sounding fresh, isn't it?

Now we get a rich music with dolakki(?), santoor(?), flute and strings.

Pallavi

A good start for a folk! But it is a peppy folk. Uma Ramanan and Dolakki bang during the first line adds the 'X" factor for a peppy folk. Uma Ramanan have always been good. This song is no exception.

Hear the "Akkam Pakkam Yaarum Illa.....". The seduction feel have been brought in beautifully. Oh my God! Was it she who sung "Poongathave?"

Interlude 1

Now comes the king of orchestration. Brilliant string portions in the beginning of first interlude. The music which follows beautifully gives lead to our maestro's voice.

Charanam 1

I have observed one thing. Whenever, male voice introduces only in the first line of charanam, the song had been wonderful. There are many IR songs like that. A series can be written about songs which follow that pattern.

This is one such song with male voice introduced in charanam. The male voice is a divine voice. Appo kekkava venum?

"Unnudamba Paakkayile bodhayum theeraville...."

Oh man! What a feel? You are great! He can sing with that feel even now at the age of 66.

Uma Ramanan ends the charanam beautifully with crystal clear stops. Those stops are essential for a folk song.

Interlude 2

This is my favorite interlude. How soothing the male voice is!! That plucking of string in the background add more feel to the voice. It is followed by the flute piece. I am reminded of 'Uchi Vagundhetuthu'. Is the interlude is approaching towards a sad charanam? No!

Ilayaraaja can shift gears seamlessly. In just last 5 seconds of interlude, he came from 1st to 5th gear. Epdiya unnaala mattu idhellam mudiudhu?

Charanam 2

This is exactly the complement of Charanam1 except for that 'mukkal' which was there in the line "unnudamba..." of charanam 1 is not in the second charanam.

But again "Unnavida Yaarum Ille...." need not have the mukkal. Lyrics, song rendition, music everything goes hand-in-hand.

Listen to the difference between 'ன' and 'ண' which IR gives in the line "என்ன என்ன எண்ணமிருக்கோ ..."

Who in the world these days care for those differences?

All together, this song is a wonderful treat by Ilayaraaja!

mp3 link:
http://music.cooltoad.com/music/song.php?id=242604

youtube link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkQ0RUdZJSg