naladamayanti, kaa.mahaatmyam, gu.sun.katha
Sreenivas Paruchuri (sreeni@ktpsp2.uni-paderborn.de)
Thu, 12 Mar 1998 19:46:44 +0100 (MET)
I have been wanting to write something about the film "naladamayanti"
(1957), but have been forgetting :-(. Signs of getting old ?!
Some time ago, Krishna Kandadai asked to cite an example: "G singing under
some other MD (say X) and the same X singing under G's MD". I offered
B. gOpaalam's name (Krishna later quoted J.V. Raaghavulu ....):
who sang in "palleTooru" (1952) under G's MD and said that G sang under
BG in "naladamayanti" (1957) but could not provide an example off-hand.
[Well, later, off-net, could quote two films of BG in which G sang!]
This bi-lingual (?) film produced by Kemparaj Urs (whose brother Devaraj
was a politician and was Karnataka chief minister in 70s) has to my good
surprise more G-numbers than I thought of. There are atleast 10 verses
by Ghantasala, a solo song and one duet with Bhaanumati. The duet:
"jeevanamE ee navajeevanamE" is a good one! Otherwise thereisn't much worth
talking about. Probably that 'd be the reason why none of the
songs(*)/verses are available in the market.
[*. well, one sung: ee paadadaasi kananEradu by Bhanumati can be found on:
alanaaTiandaalu-Vol.1]
So, that settles the matter with Krishna :-).
Now, to kaaLahasti maahaatmyam (1954) and the different; film and disk,
versions of the songs .....
If, had I, earlier, created the impression that theres big difference
between those two, then I need to correct myself. In case of: mahESaa paapa
vinaaSaa & jayajaya mahaadEva the difference is very little to zero.
Where you clearly see difference in tune and find some different wording is:
swaamee! chanchalamaina chittamidE ... (esp. at the end of 2nd verse!!)
and madhuram Sivamantram ... (only tune).
BTW, its only in recent days I first heard to: SreekaaLahasteeSwara
swaamee jEjElivegonumaa ... by A.M.Rajah. Its a really good one!!
--------------------------------------------
Now to the "best" song in Telugu film history as a leading/respected critic
claimed (**). Over to V.A.K.Rangarao......>
ippuDu "guNasundarikatha" lO chaalaa vilakshaNa lakshaNaa-
samanwitamaina geetamundi. "ee vanilO kOyilanai" anEdi. daani
rachana pingaLi vaaridi. sangeetam chEsindi addEpalli raamaaraavu.
aTuvanTi sangeetam, aTuvanTi saahityam mELavimpu nEnu aa taruvaata
telugu sinimaallOnE kaadu, E bhaarateeya chitramlOnoo kooDa
vinalEdu.
--V.A.K.Rangarao, Telugu Talkie Golden Jubilee Special
Programme, All India Radio, 1981
He made similar statements elsewhere too!
[** I agree that its a revolutionary song! But won't say that its the
greatest!!]
Back to me :-) Something about this film and the singer. Its a Vauhini
production, directed by KV Reddy, starring: Sivarao & Sreeranjani Jr
(in lead roles) Maalati, P. Saantakumaari (as wicked sisters),
gOvindaraajula Subbarao as king and Vallabhajosyula Sivaram as the prince
(who is cursed and turns into Sivarao ...). Based on Shakespeare's
"King Lear". P. leela made her debut with this film.
You can find all songs from this film listed on Telugu Film Server,
EXCEPT the super-hit :-). Well, those I forgot to list it on TFS.
The singer is T.G. Kamaladevi, well known singer/actress of yester years.
She cut her first disc at a very young age (with her real name: gOvindamma),
later got into films, making her film debut in HM Reddy's "tenaali
raamakRshNa" (1941). Incidentally she is Chittur Naagayya's sister-in-law
(wife's younger sister).
Now, as per aarudra, she is the (women's) national champion in Billiards
for the year 1991-92!!!
Atlast, pl. don't get confused with A. Kamaladevi, who sings in
"malleeSwari". Knowing her singing skills BN approached her to book for
his 2nd film: "sumangaLi" (1940), which she flatly rejected. But, BN
met her brother for the first time on that occasion and offered him the
lead role in same film. He is: A.S. Giri!! Well, she continued to give
gramophone disks and later even acted (?) in a couple of films. Anyone
remember her beautiful number: baapoo charitam vinaranDi, mana baapu
gaathanu ..... (geeta gaandheeyam, 1949). Pendyala used this original:
Dinakara Rao's tune later in "dongaraamuDu" (1955); bhalE taata mana
baapoojee ....
Enough for today?! :-))
Regards, --Sreenivas