Raajaavin Paarvai RaaNiyin pakkam

I sang my part in this song in Nov’09 and it was supposed to be with Sukumar (with whom I have sung another song from the same movie ) 

Then we both lost interest in this song and drifted to other numbers. So this file was idling away in my PC for a few month….until I found “Gopi”:http://www.muziboo.com/gshanmugam/ here in Muziboo. Thanks a lot to Sukumar for having sacrificed (Vittu kuduthufied- LOL) this opportunity to Gopi (who is also from near his native place, I believe! Ippo theriyuthu- ithu Oor pattRu)

Gopi shares an intense passion for songs from yesteryears and I was pleasantly shocked to see songs in his wishlist that tallied with mine. While we are still looking for all those tracks, we thought we will do this one first and get to the rest when my exams are over. In the process, it seems like I have tormented him too much with all my pointers on his singing and mixing. So if he is not fed up with me already, you may hear more old duets from us in time to come.

Movie: Anbe Vaa (1966)
Music: Mellisai Mannar M.S.Viswanathan
Originally sung by: TM.Soundararajan, P.Susheela
Mixing: Gopi Shanmugam

P.S: The track has a slight problem in the pallavi where the tune was trying to gallop with the horses in the movie sequence :D. Please do bear with this hitch

Old is Gold: Raajavin Paarvai- with Gopi Shanmugam | Music Codes

Anuraagalola Gaathri

It is always a pleasure to work with Kumar Srinivasan. I learn something each time I do a song with him. But the immense trouble I give him while doing Malayalam songs(with my diction) is perhaps a factor that could put anyone else off quite easily.

I fell in love with this song when Kumar introduced me to it. Perhaps a very pure form of Gowri Manohari (later came to know that it is actually based on the Hindustani raaga Patdeep) woven into this dreamy tune, aptly sung by LJY and P.Susheela(who is also an unusual but befitting choice for this song).

Movie: Dhwani
Music: Naushad
Lyrics: Yousuf Ali Kechery
Originally sung by: KJYesudas, P.Susheela
Mixing: Kumar Srinivasan

Anuraagalola Gaathri- with Kumar Srinivasan | Musicians Available

Nilaa Kaayum Neram Saranam

I recorded this song a while ago but kept poor Shrini waiting all these days before posting! Thanks a lot, Shrini! :)

So many nostalgic memories from this song for me :)……I am sure most of you will agree if I said this is probably one of the most difficult songs to render on stage. Phew! And to hear SJ traversing so effortlessly definitely gives me a terrible complex! :P. I think it is one of Mano’s best songs for IR.

Movie: Sembarutthi
Music: Ilayaraaja
Originally sung by: Mano, S.Janaki
Mixing: Srinivasan.S

Nilaa Kaayum Neram Saranam- with Shrinesh | Upload Music

Nenjamellaam Kaadhal

This is perhaps one of ARR’s duets I would have listened to the most. I damaged 2 CDs of “Ayutha Ezhutthu” with the repeated plays on my car’s player :P

I generally am very wary about choosing Sujatha’s songs since they require a lot of energy ( and a lot more smiling too :D) and highpitch singing. But I had to do this one for the love of the song- the harmonies are to die for! I particularly enjoyed the lyrics and of course the picturisation :)

I am so happy (and lucky) to be singing with George after nearly 2 years. He is perhaps of the highest calibre of singers here, and anywhere, and never ceases to amaze us with each song he sings. I could think of nobody else but George to do this song with. My sincere thanks to him for his patience and hardwork, especially with the Tamil lyrics. The funniest part is that he was very sceptical about getting this right- he thought he would kill the song :D. On the contrary, I believe he has outdone Adnan in many places! I rate this as one of his best Indian numbers. Of course, it is for you all to decide now.

Movie: Aayutha Ezhutthu
Music: ARRahman
Originally sung by: Adnan Sami, Sujatha
Mixing: George Kuruvilla
Track courtesy: Rajkumar Anjan/ Sanjay Satheesh

Nenjamellaam- with George Kuruvilla | Music Codes

Thendral Vanthu Theendum Poathu

Recently, I met with a painter/ artist to help her with creating visual media exhibits for an upcoming intercultural festival in Dublin.
I was telling her how I had no clue of how to interpret modern art (or any painting for that matter) and didn't quite understand their language.


We then spoke about music and how I expressed fluently through music. That is when the connection struck me. If only I could find that missing link between music and painting- I know there is one since they both are expressions of the heart and mind- it would complete the puzzle.


This song is for my soul! It is perhaps one of the best duets ever from Ilayaraaja-SJ duo. Balaji was a natural choice- not because of the IR-like voice or his love for IR- but because he connects to the song exactly the same way as I do. The beauty of the song is the simplicity of the tune with no throat-wrecking sangathis. The feel of the song is just enough to make one forget oneself and get sucked in. The first 2 lines are alone 10 beats whereas everything else is 8 beats as usual. Of course, it is allowed of Maestros to take such liberty in breaking rules! :)


Its a beautiful idea to try and explain the Colours to a visually impaired girl. She can't connect to it visually but through her other senses and through the extra sense called Love. One of Nasser's and Revathi's best movies, I wasn't very impressed with it then. But now, I do understand and appreciate the beauty of this concept.


The sheer pleasure of doing the harmonies for this song is unmatched by anything yet. And to revisit the vocals each time Balaji's keen ears caught something very minute, was with a delerious effort to get the best out of us both! Of course, a very dear piece of work like this had to be mixed by one of the best people in here so we had to pester Balamurali again.


I have to mention about Balaji's stupendous performance here. I haven't seen a keener pair of ears than his to date. And he simply doesn't let you rest till a defect is sorted. I think this song is his best to date. But I know he is capable of greater things- this is just the beginning! :)


Movie :Avathaaram
Music: Isaignaani Ilayaraaja
Originally sung by : Ilayaraaja, S.Janaki
Harmonies: Adithi
Mixing :Balamurali Bala
Track Courtesy :Rajkumar Anjan/ Sanjay Satheesh


Thendral Vanthu Theendum- with Balaji Seetharaman | Musicians Available

Varuthu Varuthu

Sukumar and I decided to do this song long back, even when we sang "Vechukkavaa". 

It is a very important song in my life! It  was the first song that I sang on stage with orchestration :) I was in Class 5 then and sang with my uncle. You should have seen how scared I was, not of stage singing but of my mom who was in the front row signalling every offnote/ mistake with a frown! :)

I think it is Sukumar's best till date. No offnotes and that too with a single take recording! I knew he was capable of that perfection with some diligence and seriousness :). Awesome mixing by Vishnu too! 

Movie :Thoongathe Thambi Thoongathe
Music: Ilayaraaja
Originaly sung by: SPB, S.JANAKI
Mixing: Vishnu Mohan



Varuthu Varuthu with Adithi | Upload Music

Raamanin Mohanam

My pleasure to be singing again with Maruthi, one of the best known voices for soft numbers in our Music circle!  :)

Movie: NettrikkaNN
Music: Ilayaraaja
Originally sung by: KJYesudas, S.Janaki


Ramanin mohanam with ( Adithi Devarajan ) | Musicians Available

Naadham En Jeevane

I am sure each of us have a set of songs which we can relate our feelings and emotions to. Not just the lyrics but the tune, the mood it creates, the impact it has on you long after you finished listening- everything adds up to the magic of the song. This is one such song for me.

The movie was a total flop commercially but the music is probably one of the finest pieces of work in Tamil Cinema and created waves. The song is definitely in one of the 10 best solos from S.Janaki in my humble opinion. I was searching for this song for a very long time and the search suddenly ended when I unearthed it from the internet.

Somewhere in the middle of the song (“unthan raja raagam….”), I broke down……

My most sincere thanks to Balamurali Bala for offering to mix this song. He perhaps saved you all from listening to a terrible mix! I couldn’t believe my ears to see how beautifully he had merged the track with my voice. You have a heart of gold, Bala, for spending such precious time on this mix! :)

Please do leave your valuable comments and suggestions. Thanks again for listening! :)

Movie: Kaadhal Oviyam
Music Director: Maestro Ilayaraaja (Bows!!!!!)
Originally sung by : S.Janaki

Naadham En Jeevane | Upload Music

Naina Milaike

Sudhathee and I sang this song back in Jan’10. The track we could get was only a voicecut one( Courtesy :Vishnu) but we wanted to sing the song so desparately.

The geniuses that they are, Manirathnam and ARR have so beautifully come up with this fabulous idea of a folkish song in the Hindi version in place of “Alaipaayuthe kanna” in the Tamil movie.

I think this song created a record for Vishnu as the most worked on- there were about 12 iterations before we decided on the final version……so sorry Vishnu! We do hope we will make it easier for you the next time when we sing with a much better track :)

You will still hear Sadhana and Madhushree singing in the background but just ignore them for the moment ;) LOL. The initial aalaap has deliberately been mixed in such a way that you can hear both our voices but with a lag.

Movie: Saathiya
Music: ARRahman
Originally sung by: Sadhana Sargam & Madhushree

Mixing: Vishnu Mohan

Naina Milaike- with Sudhathee Sriram | Musicians Available

Ninaivo Oru Paravai

Though we covered this song a few weeks back, I was constantly troubling Maruthi to revisit the mixing a few times for this song- so that I can post it just in time for his birthday ;)

Maruthi has been greatly instrumental in rekindling the passion for good music in me. I am so fortunate to have met such a musically talented person as him who is a fantastic human being too! I wish him all the very best for a brilliant career in music which is beginning to take off as he is already working on a couple of plum projects back in Chennai :)

This movie and the songs are so dear to me for so many obvious reasons. This is the second song in the movie I am covering. The humming is an absolute killer and we both enjoyed singing it to the core. Hope you like it too. :)

Movie: Sigappu Rojaakkal
Music: Ilayaraaja
Originally sung by: Kamalhassan, S.Janaki
Mixing: Maruthi

Ninaivo Oru Paravai- with Maruthi Nambi | Music Codes

Hai Raama

My first duet with Unnikrishnan KB! We both share a common thing- love for ARR! :)

This Panthuvarali composition was a toughie for us. Hope you will enjoy Unni's slight twist in the iniial aalaap!

Special thanks to Nitin Dubey for his help with diction correction and mixing!

Movie :Rangeela
Music :A R Rahman
Original Singers : Hariharan, Swarnalatha
Cover : KB, Adithi
Mix : KB

Hai Rama - Rangeela (Hindi Cover) | Music Codes

Elantha Pazham (Madurey)

Another peppy number that I enjoyed singing quite a while back...


Movie – Madurey (2004)
Music directors- Vidyasagar
Singers- Tippu & Anuradha Sriram
covered by – Roshine , Adithi and Vishnu Mohan
Mixing- V DiGiTaL Sharjah ;)



ELANTHA PAZHAM... WITH ROSHINE AND ADITHI AKKA - VANDU DANCE AADITTU PONGA | Musicians Available

Oh Nanbane

Movie : Dhil

Music : Vidyasagar

Original Singer(s): Tippu, Karthick & Chitra K.S.

Cover Singer(s): Adithi, Deepesh, Vishnu & Ajay

Oh Nanbane... Happy B'day Raj - with Adithi, Dips & Vishnu | Upload Music

Rojaavai Thaalaattum Thendral

Another one of my very favourites...a very old post, probably dates back to May'08.

Sung with Shrinesh.S.

Movie: Ninaivellaam Nithya
Music: Ilayaraaja
Sung by: SPB, S.Janaki



Rojavai Thalattum Thendral- with S.Shrinesh | Upload Music

Vellaipura Ondru

This song was recorded back in Nov'08. One of my alltime favorite duets from the 80s Raja collection!

Thanks, Maruthi, for suggesting this song and mixing it too.

Movie: Puthu Kavithai
Music: Ilayaraaja
Originally sung by: KJY and S.Janaki

Vellaipura Ondru- with Maruthi Nambi | Music Codes

Endhendhu

This is a beautiful duet that almost every Kannadiga might be familiar with. One of those lilting melodies from the long list of PBS duets for Dr.Rajkumar. This is quite an old recording. As a “BengaLoora Hudugi”, I had been waiting for the right opportunity to sing a nice Kannada song from yesteryears. My wait ended here

Gautam has sung this song so well despite severe issues with his throat.

Movie: Eradu Kanasu
Originally sung by: PB.Sreenivas and Vani Jeyaram
Music Director: Rajan-Nagendra
Lyrics: Chi. Udayashankar

Endendu- With Gautam | Music Codes

Naguva Nayana

I had been wanting to sing this song for a long time since I listened to Sudhathee’s and Kumaran’s version. I could think of no voice other than Vishak’s to sing with, being one of my favourites here in Muziboo. You were awesome as usual, Vishak, and thanks for waiting so long for me to finish my part! Sudhathee- Thanks for the track di! :)

I hope you will enjoy this beautiful song from Manirathnam’s first movie! 

Movie: Pallavi Anupallavi
Music: Ilayaraaja
Originally sung by: SPB, S.Janaki
Mixing: Vishak



Naguva Nayana(Kannada-Ilayaraaja)- with Vishak Subramoney | Music Codes

Zoobi Doobi

Thank you, Deepesh , for asking me to sing this song with you! I seriously didn’t think I could do it till you convinced me! :)

Shreya and Sonu are at their absolute best in this song that never fails to create a joyful mood. A huge thanks to Vishnu for mixing it for us. Please bear with the not-so-good track quality since a voicecut track is all that we could get- that’s how desperate we were to cover this song! :).

This is a birthday dedication to our sweet Muziboo friend Anniekutty.

Movie: 3 Idiots
Originally sung by: Shreya Ghoshal, Sonu Nigam
Mixing: Vishnu Mohan

Zoobi Doobi- with Deepesh Ak | Upload Music

Ariyoru Paalkadal- My first Original! :)

It is a beautiful start of the New Year for me as I bring to you my very first official original composition rendition in Muziboo.

First and foremost, my sincere thanks and salutations to Rajeev ONV for believing in me and entrusting this song to me to work on.I consider myself very fortunate to work with a fabulous composer as him and have learnt so many things in the process of completing the song. I wish I had had the mighty good fortune of a face-to-face interaction with him for it would have definitely been a huge learning and articulate session to bring out the nuances in a more effective way.

Here is a short introduction to this song in the words of the composer :

“This is a song composed for a choreographic presentation depicting the three expressions of the Universal Mother- as Lakshmy, the goddess of fortune and beauty, Parvathy the goddess of power and energy, and Saraswathy the goddess of learning and wisdom. The final stanza invokes all the three deities as Satyam, Shivam and Sundaram.

I have composed this in four different ragas-the first stanza on Lakshmy in Harikamboji, second stanza on Parvathy in Gowri Manohari, third stanza on Saraswathy in Kalyani, and the final stanza in Sree raagam.

I had invited Adithi to sing this ragamalika, and she happily obliged me with her beautiful rendering. She had taken a few creative liberties with the song, which I feel has enhanced its musical quality. We had tried our best to neutralise diction problems and the whole process had taken some time. I have to appreciate her concern for musical and technical perfection and her willingness to modify and create better versions. It gives me great happiness to present this song here on this auspicious day of Vishu."

Lyrics : ONV Kurup

I would like to thank my friends, Saravanan and Vishnu Mohan for mixing this song amidst their very busy schedule. The post here is Vishnu’s version.

I would like to thank one more friend of mine who has been instrumental in boosting my confidence since my early days in Muziboo. It was Murali Venkatraman who approached me first to sing some compositions of his own. Over the past few months, my learning has been at an amazing pace, thanks to Murali who taught me the methodology to handle such assignments. So a toast to you, Murali, and thanks for all the time you have spent to get me this far :).

The journey is long and this is only the beginning . But the most important thing to me is that I have made it to here :)

Ariyoru PaalkaDal- Original Composition by Rajeev ONV | Musicians Available

Yaaro Yaarukkul

Track courtesy: www.ajaykumars.com :)

I fell in love instantly with this tune when I first heard it. The naughtiness in the voices of SPB and Chithra is too infectious! :)The song so reminds me of an old composition “Unnai Thotta thendral vanthu” by Bala Bharathi in the movie “Thalai Vaasal”. It is only to easy to switch between the two songs which are in the same beat and also sung by the same singers. A very intelligent job by YSR there I must say! :)

I am so glad to be singing this song with Sriram Srinivasan whose voice fits this song to the T in my opinion.

Movie: Chennai 600028
Music :Yuvan Shankar Raja
Originally sung by : SPB, K.S.Chithra
Harmonies: Adithi and Sriram
Mixing: Sriram Srinivasan

Yaaro Yaarukkul - with Sriram Srinivasan | Music Codes