Hava Nagila - I

"Hava Nagila" means "Let us Rejoice". It is a very famous song sung by Jewish community as a song of celebration in Hebrew language. The song composition goes close to 100 years back. This piece was used in the film Mozhi, when Prakash Raj dances after coming directly from the shower :)



Very melodious piece!

Can you imagine that this song was presented to us in a folk'ish tune without much reminding of the origin? The movie name is Vikram and the song was none other than the most famous "En Jodi Manja Kuruvi". The lyrics were by Gangai Amaran and he got away with some junk lyrics that had no meaning in any dictionary whatsover!

Illayaraja has given the essence of this Jewish melody integrated seamlessly into our folk style.

My friend often tells me "It was AR Rahman who brought the global sounds to our arena." My answer is Panniyapura Raaja transformed them that much that he gave the essence of foreign subject in a native way. Never I was let feel foreign.

More about Hava Nagila continued..

Sonnadhellam Revisited

Hello Everyone,

Remember? Last week I had posted a poem (if you would let me so) and invited tunes for the four lines..

Sonnadhellam Marandhu Vidu
Arugil Vandhu Anaithu Vidu
Pudhu Kaaviyam Kaaviyam Ondrai
Indru Padaithu Vidu

Interestingly, I received more than 4-5 responses and I am herewith posting 3 of them. I do not have the electronic versions for the remaining. It is very interesting to note that the same verses can be perceived so differently by various people.

Submitted by Kumar S R:


Submitted by Gunashekar Jayaraman:


Submitted by Mohan Jayaraman:


I invite your opinion on the tunes and post.

Unnai Charan Adaindhaen

ச்வர வடிவம் இசை ஆனால்

இசை வடிவம் நீ அல்லவோ

உன் இசை வடிவம் தேன் ஆனால்

என் செவிகள் வண்டுஅல்லவோ



I was playing a song in Bhoopalam raagam from Uliyin Osai (first few lines) and suddenly some poetic lyrics came to my mind. Obviously, I dedicate this to Raaja's music.

Om Namaha

Thanks to Mani Ratnam for giving a deserving break to all dancing devils (devathais) in this beautiful masterpiece – Om Namaha from “Idhayathai Thirudadhe” . After all, one must have some musical sense to pictutarize the song at the least aptly, if not elevate it. This romantic song is all about love-making and being a song that shows intimacy the director decided to just revolve revolve and revolve the camera around the young couple.

Have you heard this proverb: “Vallavanukku Pullum Aayudham” – means “Even a grass can be a weapon in the hands of the skilled person”. Illayaraja has proved one more time that he sees music everywhere. He has demonstrated in this song that even the closing of the mitral and tricuspid valves of the human heart can be the rhythm. The whole song rhythm is based on the “lub-dub lub-dub” – heartbeat.

Another interesting thing in this song is that both the Charanam ends exactly in the note where the Pallavi starts. I remember SPB was mentioning this aspect in one of his shows that every few song can touch this brilliance. Look how Mano ends the 2nd Charanam with ‘Om’ and Janaki takes off the Pallavi with the same ‘Om’.

Vaali has penned the essence of love-making brilliantly, next to Kannadasan. Even the wild and crudest imagination of love-making is masked and beautified here with his choice of words.

Om Namaha


All time hits of Mano