He Ghanashyaama - KizhakkuNarum Pakshi

I thought I will try out a Malayalam cover this time (taking a short break from unplugged versions LOL).

I simply love this Charukesi classic! It so happens to be another magic combo of K.S.Chithra- Raveendran Maash like the last one I sang (Arivin Nilaave) in a movie of my fav Lalettan ;)

This song perhaps took the most time to do because everytime I sang Krishna, I was choked with tears and could not proceed further. Also not to mention how I was constantly bugged by the gross injustice God (or what some call Nature) did by bestowing all His grace to Chithraji and leaving me with this gross deficiency in my voice.

If you have heard the original, you would also have wondered how she emotes differently each time she sings “Krishna”. Soulful music!

I want to thank my friend Abhilash Edathil for taking the pains to correct my Malayalam diction. LOL, Abhi, on how you were trying to explain “nhi” to me! :)

I feel I have given this my best shot! Please let me have your comments. And, as always, thanks for listening! :)

Movie : KizhakkuNarum Pakshi Music : Raveendran Originally sung by : K.S.Chithra Lyrics : K. Jayakumar

He Ghanashyaama - KizhakkuNarum Pakshi | Upload Music

Ezhu SwarangaLukkuL

When I started a blog, I promised myself that I will post atleast 1 song every week- a promise that I clearly broke. It has been almost a year since I recorded anything productive and worth publishing/ posting. Several interesting (some not so enjoyable) things have happened in the meanwhile and so music took a backstage. Now I am beginning to turn to Music as the only respite from the pressures of everyday life.

I wanted to make my comeback with an MSV number and had been thinking of this one for a special reason. It has been 10 years to this month that I won Sapthaswarangal. I still remember how I was standing in front of the great Vani Jayaram, shaking head to toe, trying to force some pleasing sound out of my mouth. Recently, I was watching a programme on the internet where she was judging and I was in tears when I heard her sing this song. Her utter dedication to music is evident in the clarity and perfection with which she renders any song for that matter. “EzhuswarangaLukkuL”, in my family’s language, is an “Asura paattu” due to the degree of complexity and difficulty. I sometimes feel that while giving songs to Vani, MSV must have made each song more difficult than the previous one to extract the best out of her. I have summoned a lot of courage (and audacity) to attempt an unplugged version of the song. I hope I will not be arrested for this crime!

Ten years have passed since I have known Subhashree Ma’am. If the meeting hadn’t happened, the manifestation of the musical me may probably never have dawned. I may never have endeavoured to lift up the mic and do some serious singing. I may never have believed that I could do it.

Today, I want to dedicate this song to Subhashree Thanikachalam to celebrate her 15 years in Onscreen Production and Direction. I may not have accomplished a great deal as a singer to make her really proud of me. But this much, I think I definitely owe her.

Movie: Apoorva RaagangaL

Music: MSV

Originally sung by : Vani Jayaram

Ezhu SwarangaLukkuL | Online recorder

Arivin Nilaave

The past few weeks have been quite hectic, both at work and home. Though I would love to have a long musical session in front of the microphone, I must wait till I see a few important things done and dusted. Right now, my mind is swimming in a sea of numbers as I try to master concepts in Finance and arm myself to face impending exams in Dec. This song was recorded long ago and only now did I summon the courage to post it for you.

Who doesn't enjoy challenges in life! We win some, We lose some. But isn't the excitement of facing them that fuels us up and keeps us from rotting in boredom!

When I was churning out one karaoke song after another (didn’t even relish doing some of those run-of-the-mill songs!), it was my friend Murali who made me listen to this song. I didn’t believe I could do it in the first place when he asked me to learn it.

Reason 1: The complexity of the song

Reason 2: If it went wrong somewhere (believe me, even an error of the slightest magnitude, almost inaudible to the human ear), there will be nowhere to hide from Murali’s utterly honest (if terribly wrong, scathing) remarks.

But the excitement of the challenge was too tempting. So here is my attempt for you to listen.

Movie: Rajashilpi (Malayalam)

Music: Raveendran

Originally sung by: K.S.Chithra

P.S: My dear Malayali friends will please forgive me for the utter murder of the language in some places!

Arivin Nilaavae (Malayalam) | Upload Music

Panivizhum Iravu

"Mouna Ragam" is one of my alltime favourite movies (you might hear the same thing from about 1 million people!). Most of the people I know have identified themselves in one way or another in varying degrees with Revathy's character in the movie. I loved the way the married couple in the movie start their life together as strangers and gradually come to respect each other and eventually acknowledge their love for one another.

My sister was saying that she gets confused with "Panivizhum Iravu" and "Mandram vandha thendralukku" because their tunes are so similar though the moods are dramatically different. I particularly like the harmony in this song and enjoyed singing that more than the main song itself. Kumaran, my singing friend, took a little less than a day to sing this song and mix it since getting the track. Hope you enjoy our version! :)

Movie: Mouna Ragam

Singers: SPB, S.Janaki

Music: Ilayaraaja

Panivizhum Iravu- With Kumaran | Upload Music

Aur Kyaa

It has only been about a month since I have known AJ through the blogging community. But we have already become great friends, so much that I am one of the chosen first few to know about his recent engagement to this sweet angel, Amrutha!

I have so much to learn from his enthusiasm and relentlessness in getting a song right! And am honoured to sing this song (his first duet) with him! Please do listen to this song from AJ's blogspot!

http://ajrockaj.blogspot.com/2008/09/aur-kyalovely-romantic-song.html

AJ, thanks for including me in your circleof friends! Here's to you and Amu!....

Thendral Vandu Ennai Thodum

Actor Mohan has been very lucky in that almost all his movies have had fantastic songs. Though I prefer to forget the visuals when I listen to them(no offense to Mohan here!), I just can't stop admiring the impact these tunes have had on us!

I was so happy when NVK sir asked me if I could sing this song with him. Totally enjoyed myself though NVK definitely did a better job and that too so effortlessly! The most enjoyable part for me was the humming in the 2nd interlude- spent a good few minutes( ok, hours) trying to figure out KJY's part! Do let me know what you think…

Movie: Thendrale Ennai Thodu

Music: Ilayaraaja

Singers: KJY, S.Janaki

Thendral Vandu ennai Thodum- With NVK Music Upload

Un Paarvaiyil

This song is very special to me though just not sure why !

This is the second time I had to do it and the first take was a disaster as aptly pointed out by a musician friend. Thank you, Murali!

My rendition is nowhere in the league of the original but I know you are not expecting it! :)

I am not going to spoil the special feeling of this song with a long story. So listen on...

Movie : Amman Koil Kizhakkaale Singers : KJY, Chithra Music : Ilayaraaja

Un Paarvaiyil Oraayiram Upload Music