Ilaiyaraja Varalatru Suvadugal - Chapter 4 Dt. 26-04-2007

Chapter 4 : Ilayaraja's song while working impressed the officer. 

                                 

   One day the chief engineer heard the song sung by Ilayaraja while watering the plants.

Explained in the words of Ilayaraja.
     Area where I worked usually tend to be busy. On that when I was singing while watering, there was no sound and the place was silent. I thought that by hearing my song everybody become silent and started to increase my voice. At that time, the chief engineer had come for a spot visit heard my song. 
     
   I kept on singing. He came close to me and called “Hey, come here man”. I dropped the hose pipe and went near him. He asked me “who are you & what is your name”. I immediately replied “Raajaiya”. He was surprised at my reply and asked “have you studied”?. I replied “yes sir. 8^th standard”. He looked at me with surprise and said “meet me at the office”.


    I went to the office and met him. He said “you don’t need to water the plant. Come to the office from tomorrow”. I returned happily. His assistant told me that I was appointed as the office boy.

    Next day, I went to the office. Only four or five persons were working in the office as Secretary, Clerk, Ledger keeper & Accountant. The office was a single building with 2 partitions and had four tables. My work was to carry files from table to table to get the signature of the person. It was a boring job as I could not able to sing and enjoy.

     And I was asked to carry food for engineer Muralidharan at officer campus. I have to walk 1 mile to the place and serve the food for him. Some day, I would reach early and wait for him and other day the opposite. The engineer was not impressed with my service and demoted me as waterman and sent me to dam area.     

   

    The construction work of Vaigai dam were coming to the finishing stage. There was an announcement from the Government to the people of 11 villages including Kamakkapatti asking them to leave their place to other place with a deadline date, as waters of the dam would fill their villages. 

     

    While watering the plants at the top of dam, I used to see people leaving their villages in groups. As the deadline date nears, more people leave their respective place. I could not bear at the sight of people leaving their villages. Government can give them new land to live but cannot compensate their relationship with their land.

    

      I worked at the Vaigai dam for one year and earned some money. I decided to join the school at Davaram and make the words of astrologers go wrong. But I could not able to join the school as I went to Kerala with my brother Pavalar Varadharajan. It was election time in Kerala and my brother Pavalar campaigned for the Communist party. In 1957 general election, Congress party won all over India except Kerala where Communist party won the election. Congress party couldnot bear their only defeat in Kerala. It was announced that the election held at Devikulam & Beermedu were disqualified and re-election to be held. 

   The party who win this re-election would form the government in Kerala. It was a do or die battle for both the parties, as all the leaders of the parties were campaigning at the place.

    My brother Pavalar was campaigning for Communist Party. Myself and My brother Baskar went to Munnar to meet Pavalar. There was huge rush in the office and the campaign in-charge told the estate leaders and workers that Communist Leaders like Jeevanantham, P.Ramamoorthi, P.D.Ranadive, S.A.Tange, A.K.Gopalan, Jothibasu, Rajeswara Rao would come here and campaign. Hearing at this, estate workers said “Comrade, we don’t want the leaders. Just send Pavalar with a mike and we will win this election”.

  

   This happened in front of my eyes.  The secretary replied to workers that Pavalar would come and sing first, then the campaign starts with the leaders. Pavalar Varadharajan would sing with a mike in the hand at every estate in the area. The sight was blessing for me and Baskar.

Next chapter – Namboothiripad appreciation.   

 

Ilaiyaraja Varalatru Suvadugal - Chapter - 3 Dt. 25-04-2007

Chapter 3 : Ilayaraja started working to continue studies. 

                                  Salary one rupee per day. 

  Ilayaraja went to the astrologers to have a look at his horoscope again. He could not digest about what they had predicted. They looked at it and told the same thing. Ilayaraja started quarreling with them and challenged them that he would make their predictions wrong. He took the reference from the Tamil epic Silappathikaram where a astrologer's prediction of younger brother becoming king before the elder was failed, as the younger brother become a saint and the elder made the king. 

In the words of Ilayaraja

   At the time of 8th std final exam, I got into a problem. To write the exam, i have to travel to Utthamapalayam and  stay there in hostel for 3 days. I have to pay for the food & accommodation. But my mother could not collect the money for this. My sister Kamalam came to my rescue at this problematic situation, by selling her Thali/Mangalsutra without the knowledge of my brother-in-law, raised the money.

   

   I didn't even felt bad for my sister, but was in a mood to make the predictions of the astrologers go wrong. But now i realize the greatness & kindness of my sister Kamalam and also realize that studies alone will not make a person perfect. How can i repay the sacrifice of my sister? There is no words to explain the love of my sister which cannot be repayed. 

   I finished my 8th exam and went to high school at Devaram to study 9th std. But there was a special fees of 25 rupees to paid. My mother could not able collect the amount. Days and month went as the school started. At the end of 3rd month, I realized that i could not study in this school and this also remind the words of the astrologers and how to face them.

    At that time, My brother-in-law & sister were living in Vaigai dam. After coming from Military, brother-in-law worked as a driver in Vaigai dam. I decided work at Vaigai dam to earn for a year, after that continuing my studies. I went to my mother and told about my plan. She understood my plan and sent me to Vaigai dam.

    The journey to Vaigai dam was my first and was dreaming about the place. There was no great trouble in getting the job with the help of my brother-in-law. Guess what's my first job? I had to water the lawns & flowers in the park of Vaigai dam. My salary was one rupee per day. Salary was paid weekly as seven rupees.

     With half trouser, half sleeve shirt, a short black figure will water the lawns. That's me. While watering, i would sing loudly without caring for others. Myself and brother Baskar had the habit of singing loudly not caring for others.

     On Sunday at the end of first week of work, received my first salary. New seven one rupee notes which were smelling great. At that moment, i was just flying in the sky. Happiness of that moment was not brought back to me by any money till today. I thought of joining the school after earning 25 rupees, but 4 months studies already lost. So I decided to join the next year. 

        One day while working, The chief engineer of the Vaigai dam happened to hear his song.

Next Chapter : Ilayaraja impressed the officer by singing.    

       

Ilaiyaraja Varalatru Suvadugal - Chapter - 2 Dt. 24-04-2007

Chapter 2 : Ilaichi estate lost because of a Play/Drama

    At the time of Ilayaraja's father's death, He owned 25 acres of Ilaichi estate in Kerala. But soon his mother was forced to sell them. Life is a Play but a Play has made Ilayaraja's family into turmoil.

In the words of Ilaiyaraja :

   My mother had to struggle for upbringing of 6 children at the demise of my father. My father had left us a self earned asset of 25 acres of ilaichi estate and a own house and also 3 acres of land converted from a pond.

   My brother Pavalar Varadharajan was interested in Communism & Communist party. He arranged 2 plays "Iru Kolaigal"(2 murders) & "Paataliyin Kural"(Peasant's voice) by spending own money. For both the play, He wrote story,screenplay,dialogue,songs & directed them and also acted as a comedian. He arranged for few actors from Madurai & Kerala and chose few from local areas. Rehearsal for the play was done at our house and they rehearsed for a month. During the period, Food for the artists were prepared by my mother & sister Kamalam. Daily menu had mutton,chicken & fish.

 On the day of the play, a tragedy strikes. My brother's friend who took the contract for the play, escaped with the money collected from the play. The play was about to start when my brother learned all the money was lost. But he did not want to disappoint the audiences who were eagerly waiting for the play to start. As per planned the play took place. But the real problems started after. Those who have helped in advertisement, printing, posters, music troop and others were asking for money. Brother explanied the situation and convinced them to settle within a month. But he could not keep his words. Understanding the situation, my mother agreed to sell 25 acre ilaichi estate, so that he repay the debts.

   My mother sold the estate for just 10,000 rupees, which might worth crores today, just to save his son from debts. My father had named the ilaichi estate as "Ashokavanam".

   My brother could be said as the discoverer of today's Karoake system. He used to play LP records and sing along with it with a mike by reducing the volume. He encouraged me sing along with it. This was how i got interested into music. Few old songs which i used to sing along were "Amudai pozhiyum nilave", "Ulavum thendral kaatrinile", "Thiruvizhakku veetukku alangaram".

 At the time of village festival, my brother Pavalar Varadharajan would conduct music program with Harmonium & Mridangam. A guy named Sankaradass would come from Saakrapuram to play harmonium. Reheasals would take place in our house. Myself and brother Baskar were impressed with it and became fan of Sankaradass.

   As the time passes with education & music, I moved to eighth standard. My mother called 2 astrologers Palanichamy & Santhanam to our house, whose predictions never fails,  to know about our life. 

   After going through my horoscope, both the astrolgers said that i am just like thumb finger to my family. But they also predicted that my education will stop after 8th std. I was very much disappointed. But it just happened.

Next chapter : Ilayaraja went to work to continue his studies.

Ilaiyaraja Varalatru Suvadugal - Introduction & Chapter 1 Dt. 23-04-2007

Our Friend Shibu Narayanan from Ilayaraja Yahoo Groups initiated a english translation for Varalatru Suvadugal series on Ilayaraja published in Dinathanthi newspaper. 


Chapter 1 : Ilayaraja brought turnaround to film music
                        He gave new life to village folk music
      

      Ilayaraja lives as music in Tamil film industry. Introduced through movie 'Annakili' in 1976, its Ilayaraja's 31st year(2007) in music industry. His journey started as a musical falls in the film 'Annakili' with songs like "Annakili unnai theduthe" & "Machanai paartheengala", transformed as a river,  is developing into a vast ocean now. 

      Ilayaraja born in 1943 at Pannaipuram in Madurai dist. He was born as 5th child to his parents and 6th one being Amarsingh aka Gangai Amaran.     As per Ilayaraja, His birth place Pannaipuram is now in Theni dist. Father's name is Ramasamy & mother's name is Chinnathaymmal. His father is known as "Kankaani" Ramasamy at his place. He had two wives, he being the fifth son of second wife. His eldest brother is Pavalar Varadharajan, next sisters Kamalam & Padmavathy, followed by brother Baskar. He is born on 03-07-1943, 20th day of Tamil month Vaikasi.

    In the words of Ilayaraja "My father had knowledge & belief in Astrology. After looking into my horoscope, my father predicted to mother that "he is a important person and you will die only after seeing him become popular & rich".

   He also predicted that "I will die when he is nine years old". As per his prediction, my father died at my 9th year. I was studying 4th std when he died. He put my hands & brother Baskar's hands into Brother Pavalar Varadharajan's hands and lost the life in this world. 

    My father named me as Gnanadesigan. But changed my name to Raajaiya at the time school admission. But since i lived in a village, everybody called me "Raasaiya" as it is easy to pronounce. I am not expert in studies. There was a school run by one, Perumal Vaathiyar. It had classes upto 5th std. While studying 3rd std., watched my first cinema. There was one during talkies in our village. Myself & Baskar become regular visitors there. 

   Once happened to see a film acted by Bhanumathy & Nageswara Rao named "Laila Majnu". Watched the film 3 or 4 times only for the songs. All the songs become by-heart. My brother Pavalar often sing those songs. One scene in the film just got deep into me. The scene was While Teacher teaches, Kayas would write "Laila Laila" in his slate. After seeing this, Teacher will beat Kayas black and blue. His hands get inflammated. My tutor had given us a home

work. I just wrote "Laila laila" in the slate and got more beating from my teacher than Kayas. He had fans like me to feel sorry for him but i had none. 

  This films songs got too much deep into me. The film music score was done by C.R.Subburaman who in the later become my role model or guru.

  My brother Pavalar Varadharajan had more interest for Music, Plays & Programs. He learned some music from the vidhwan of Trichy radio station, Sri Marianantha bhagavathar. Music was introduced to me by my brother Varadharajan which got my interest.  Because of him, i happened to learn about some raagas and that made to me distinguish the raagas Kalyani, Shankarabharanam, Karakarapriya  & Thodi.

Next chapter gist : Ilaichi estate lost because of a Play.

Disclaimer : 

   Most of lines are from direct speech of Ilaiyaraja. I am not pro in english language. So please bear with my language.