AAA 9
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Hello peeps!! how are you all doing? Probably great!! So, we have one more episode here in the store right before you. No more long- winded write ups, we will directly meet our today's artist.
Here is the 'Meera Of The Modern Age' Vani Jayaram. Vani Jayaram aka Kalaivani can just flatter anyone with her mettalic tone. She needs no introduction. What can I speak about this legend!! Born into a family of Tamil Brahmans she is introduced to classical music at a very tender age itself!! In Vellore, Tamil Nadu it was a family of 9 musicians & Vani was fifth among the 9. As she was born, her mother approached the astrologer & he advised her mother to name her daughter after the "Sangeetha Sarasawathi" & later she would become a famous singer. Likewise Vani's parents named her after the godess- "Kalaivani" & I don't know if you believe in stars & signs, but this turned into a reality & she is a huge singer now.
Vanijayaram has not become a singer just like that, she has an entire back up of hard work, toil & sweat & then she credits her success to the almighty. Who can deny the fact Vani Amma is the most talented singer in India & no body can even deny the fact that she is the most trained singer in Carnatic & Hindusthaani music styles. A'm falling in short of words to describe about this living legend.
Like the saying, " there are many legends but there are only very few whom you truly call a legend", absolutely this is for her. She has learnt music from Ranga Ramanuja Iyer & later she learnt nuances in Caranatic from Kadalur Srinivas Iyenger, Balasubrahmaniyan, R. S. Mani. Next she learnt Hindusthani from Ustaad Abdhul Rehmaan Khan. Vani Jayaram is one such rare artist who has discovered a new raaga in Indian Classical with just three notes!! Is'nt it a prolific example to showcase her talent!! Took a bow for your talent & Knowledge ma'am.
Apart from learning music, she worked in State Bank Of India for many years in many branches. First she worked at Madras, then Hyderabad & then later in Mumbai too. After her marriage with Mr. Jayaram, he was the one who identified the hidden talent in her, so he suggested her to take music as profession & the rest is history.
Dont' you think that she aptly justifies the title attributed to her- Meera Of Modern Age? Definitely yes!! When she is singing on a stage, no matter what she is singing it just sounds divine. That voice, OMG - I really think she is the incarnation of melody!! How sweet she sounds, God!! She is absolutely more beautiful from inside, such a great human being with an amazing attitude which really flatters the audience- I said it before. If you listen to her Krishna Bhajans you'll really doubt if it is Meerbai singing, she showcases such professionalism in her renditions.
If she is singing a devotional she will dip the listeners in complete devotion, when she is singing a typical classical number she is like the goddess Sarswathi disguised as Vani Jayaram. In one of the very popular editorial, Vani was referred to as the flowing river & they wrote " When Vani sings even the flow of Ganges would stop to listen to her crystal clear voice & the dynamics that she renders effortlessly". It is not sacred to talk about the flow of Ganges being stopped, but making such a bold statement, now you have to understand what did she mean to them!! She was a legend, she is a legend & would remain as legend.
A'm blessed that I live in the same era listening to that voice, indeed we all are blessed.
Now have a look at the article. Here are 6 songs of the legend which would curb our hearts with that metallic voice.
01. Kavithai Kelungal
Movie: Punnagai Mannan- 1986
Music: Ilaiyaraaja
Lyrics: Vairamuthu
Co- Singer: P. Jayachandran
Language: Tamil
It was 1986, where P. Susheela literally took over the South- Indian industry music!! Wholly & solely representing the female playback singing of South- Indian music, then S. Janaki joined the club & in verbatim overthrew Susheela's reign & began to dominate the South- Indian music, then late in 1990's K. S. Chithra took their position & probably there is no one till date who could join that club & give such a competition, but music directors then, now & anytime when they composed difficult compositions, their one & only choice was Vani Jayaram, so is this song!! My most favorite song!!
Ilaiyaraaja the maestro knew perfectly who could fit for this number & firmly making all their expectations true, Vani sounds like the classical dancer who is dancing in fury. The range & her pitch in this song deserves a standing ovation. Jayachandran just supported the legend's show with much limited rendition in this song!! This song has every trait, element & character & what else, A'm running out of words to describe how I feel listening to this number. A sincere thanks to Vani Amma, Raja sir, Balachander & Revathy for this epic song.
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| Vani Jayaram with P. Susheela, while accepting her "Susheela Trust Life Time Achievement Award" |
02. Bole Re Papihara
Movie: Guddi- 1971
Music: Vasanth Desai
Lyrics: Gulzaar
Language: Hindi
Who does'nt remember that innocent face of Jaya Bhaduri in this song? In the same token who does'nt remember the legend Vani Amma's voice!! This is her first song!! Listening to her absolutely mellifluous voice Vasanth Desai offered her to sing 3 songs in this film & guess the records that this song broke, may be countless. This song was placed at 21st position in Binaca Geetmaala of 1972 list!! Vani's voice is such a great fusion of melody & divinity in her tone, any song she sings evokes a feel of divinity, as I already said may be angels sound just like her!!
03. Maanasa Sancharare
Movie: Shankarabharanam- 1979
Music: K. V. Mahadevan
Lyrics: Sadasiva Brahmendra
Co- Singer: S. P. Balasubrahmaniyum
Language: Sanskrit
This authentic composition of Sadasiva Brahmendra gaaru was used for the film Shankarabharanam in Telugu & for this rendition Vani Jayaram was recognised at Pan- Indian level with a national award for her delightful rendition of typical dynamics & effortless singing to a child's character in the film. It is just a two minute song that appears in the film which will really leave us teary eyed! She is a perfectionist!! She deserves much more than a national award. If you ever heard her singing this version live, you are really lucky enough, coz she has got the magical power to take listeners to a trans with her voice.
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| S. Janaki & Vani Jayaram |
04. Seemantha Rekhayil
Movie: Aasheervaadam- 1977
Music: M. K. Arjunan
Lyrics: Bharanikavvu Sivakumar
Language: Malayalam
If you are a fan of Vani Jayaram, then definitely you would have heard this track. Talking about this track, what a track, what a composition & what a way of rendition!! Just I fell in love with this number & her voice. May be there are 1000 other compositions like this & might be there are 100 other singers after her, but none could sing like her, that is her majesty. Like on the same note, we are lucky to be born in an era where this legend lives. Even at the age of 74, she keeps singing in films & live shows & nothing is hypothetical about saying that she sounds like the same sweet 16 young girl. What can someone speak about a singer who has won 5 accolades to her first song itself. Just respect & respect & respect.
05. Aanathineeyara Hara
Movie: Swathi Kiranam- 1992
Music: K. V. Mahadevan
Lyrics: Sirivennala Seetharama Sastry
Language: Telugu
If Sastry gaaru made all of us to check the inlay cards in a dubiety whether this song had traces of some authentic Annamayya Charya kritis & waking up to the reality that Sastry gaaru has penned an amazing classical & if Puhalendu has attributed this album to his guru 'K. V. Mahadevan' in devotion, if Master Manjunath, Mammoootty & Radhika stole the show with their splendid performances & if Vishwanath gaaru has aced in his direction , then Vaniyamma too has sung this song brilliantly by adding weight to the film & by winning third national award & hearts of audience too. We would have never thought that her child like voice would dance in fury , but this film made it possible!! Kuddos to the entire team for making us realize her potential. May be an Oscar would fall short in front of this song, who else can sing those jathis in one stretch towards the end of the song that too with a perfect voice throw!! Legendary Vaniyamma!! K. Vishwanath's films always had scope for excellent classics & K. V. Mahadevan & Vaniyamma added colors to his films. If we speak about some evergreen classics in Telugu, this film & this song is always top listed.
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| K. S. Chitra & Vanijayaram |
06. Nee Kettaal Naan Matten
Movie: Ilamai Oonjal Aadukirathu- 1978
Music: Ilaiyaraaja
Lyrics: Vaali
Language: Tamil
Ilaiyaraaja has some standard singers for his template compositions, if in that accordance this song should be sung by Janaki amma, but Vani Jayaram singing it evoked enthusiasm & charm to the song. Who would have expected that Vani Jayaram could sing a typical Tamil folk song that too with a sensuous expression !! Probably none..!! She shattered all those expectations & sang this song with utmost grace. Her voice, clarity of expression & accent- OMG, none other than Vani Jayaram can justify this song!! Such a wonderful song, especially that last jazz fast beat- "Rarrarrarrara" will make the listeners go bonkers about it!! As I told she sounds the same in the live & original, just hold your dropping jaws- she sang this song (Telugu version) live on a stage at the age of 70 with the same energy, simply they arent' called legends, until they mesmerize us like this!! Watch It Here
"A legend born will remain as legend even when they are gone" - a quote that aptly personifies Vanijayaram. Listening to her name, I'll remember her ever smiling cute face & innocent child like voice & her posture, she is such a simple lady- resembling the godess 'sarsawathi'- she wears those simple saris & her innocence in her speech- A'm a fan!! We all know she is in pain now, she has lost her soul, strength, motivation & ample support- Mr. Jayaram Avarghal, so hoping that god gives her all the strength to withstand these tough times & gain courage & also to live many more years to enthrall us with her melodious voice.
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| Vani Jayaram |
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