Monday:
=======
VM described about a few songs in which he had used unusual words... He goes
like this....
One of such songs was 'Chandranai Thootathu Yar Armstrong-a'.
Chandranai Thootathu Yar Armstrong-a
Adi Armstrong-a
Sathiyamai Thottathu Yar Naan thane
Adi naan thaane
After seeing this, ARR told me that it was different and had good meaning
but that Armstrong word was very strong in that place (Antha Armstrong-nRa
vaarthai romba strong-a irukke) and that it would not suit the tune. So he
asked me to change that. We started debating.... It kept going. Finally, I
told him, 'Let's see whether the singer has any trouble singing that line
and we will decide whether to keep it or not". We agreed.
Singer Hariharan was on the flight, coming to Chennai from Mumbai
('Hariharan aahathil Irunthar, naangal vivathikkondirukkumbothu').
Hariharan came to the studio. ('Thanathu koondalai alli mudithukku konde
vandhar).
'Which song?'
I read the lyrics. He said, 'Wow!. It's different.' ('Vithiyasama irukke').
But we did not tell him anything about our debate. Then ARR taught the tune.
Recording (or rehearsal) started. Hariharan sang it in such a way that the
same word became so soft in that place (something like that). Finally, ARR
agreed to keep that line...
Once the recording was complete, we told this story to Hariharan. ('Paatu
patta paatai hariharanukku sonnom').
Tuesday:
======
"At times, we have to wait for a month for Yesudas; 15 days for SPB; or a
week for Chitra. During such times we record songs with temp singers to help
the team go for shooting. Once, ARR was ready with the tune. So was I with
the lyric. But the team had to go for shooting the very next day (I don't
remember whether he said a day or a week). We wanted it to be sung by Janaki
/ Sujatha / Chitra. But we did not have time. At the time, once girl came to
ARR studio looking for a chance. We decided to record that song with that
girl's voice for the time being and keep the song if it comes out well.
We recorded the song. After recording, we played the song. We played it
again. And the next day; And the day after. After a week. We liked it very
much. Her voice suited the tune very well and we finally decided to keep her
voice as it was very difficult for us to imagine someone else singing that
song... That was the song that made history. Chinna Chinna Assai - Sung by
Minmini.
--
Sent from my very old 386 machine.
