{"id":22921,"date":"2013-07-18T15:20:12","date_gmt":"2013-07-18T19:20:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=22921"},"modified":"2013-07-18T22:10:26","modified_gmt":"2013-07-19T02:10:26","slug":"popular-tamil-film-lyricist-and-poet-vaali-s-rangarajan-passes-away-at-82-in-chennai-hospital","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=22921","title":{"rendered":"Popular Tamil Film Lyricist and Poet “Vaali” (S.Rangarajan) Passes Away at 82 in Chennai Hospital"},"content":{"rendered":"


\nby<\/p>\n

B. Kolappan<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Poet-Lyricist<\/a>

Poet-Lyricist Vaali. File photo: K.Pichumani-via The Hindu<\/p><\/div>\n

Lyricist and poet Vaali, who secured a place on a par with Kannadasan, at a time when the latter strode like a colossus in the Tamil film music world, died here on Thursday evening.<\/p>\n

He was 82 and is survived by a son.<\/p>\n

He was not well for quite some time and was in and out of hospital over the past month. The end came as one of his friends recited a few \u2018pasurams\u2019 \u2014 Ondrum marantharieyen and Oorilen kaaniyillai and Kulam tharum \u2014 from the \u2018Nalayira Divyaprabandam\u2019, a set of hymns sung by Vaishnavite minstrels.<\/p>\n

Vaali, who had a five-decade-long association with the Tamil film industry, wrote over 15,000 songs \u2014 including 5,000 for music maestro Ilaiyaraja \u2014 for many a protagonist played by actors from M.G. Ramachandran to Dhanush.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

On the one hand, he wrote songs like Madhavi ponmayilal, Ammavendrazhaikatha uyirillaye, Naanaga naan illai and Janani janani that transported the listener to a different plane, and on the other, he entertained the masses with songs such as Chikkupukku chikkupukku railay, Mukkala muqabla and Singari sarakku nalla sarakku.<\/p>\n

Overwhelmed by the brilliant imagery of the lines in the song Pakkathu veetu paruva matchan in the film \u2018Karpagam\u2019, Kannadasan declared in a public meeting that Vaali would be his heir-apparent.<\/p>\n

Though he wrote songs for many yesteryear and present-day heroes, his association with MGR songs is famous. The political image that MGR built for himself through his film songs stood him in good stead later when he embarked on a highly successful political career, with Vaali\u2019s lines embodying his ideas.<\/p>\n

Naan aanai ittal (\u2018Enga Veetu Pillai\u2019), Moondrezhuthil yen moochirukkum (\u2018Theiva Thai\u2019), Kan pona pokkiley kaal pogalama (\u2018Panam Padaithavan\u2019), Puthiya vaanam, puthiya boomi (\u2018Anbe Vaa\u2019), Thambi naan padichen kanchiyilay netru (\u2018Netru, Indru, Nalai\u2019) and Tharaimel pirakka vaithan (\u2018Padakoti\u2019) galvanised the masses.<\/p>\n

Born S. Rangarajan in Thiruparaithurai near Tiruchi in 1931, he assumed the pen name Vaali as he was an ardent fan of famed artist Mali of Ananda Vikatan, now a Tamil weekly. Vaali was also known as \u2018vaaliba kavignar\u2019 (youthful lyricist).<\/p>\n

\"Vaali<\/a>

Vaali seen with his wife Ramani Thilagam during a feliciation function in Chennai. They have a son. Photo: The Hindu<\/p><\/div>\n

A theatre enthusiast, he directed many plays in Tiruchi and Srirangam and worked for All India Radio as a part-time employee, before making a foray into the film world.<\/p>\n

He also acted in \u2018Paarthal Paravasam\u2019, \u2018Poikkal Kuthirai\u2019 and \u2018Hey Ram\u2019. He had one directorial venture \u2014 \u2018Vadaimaalai\u2019. He also penned dialogues for some films including \u2018Kaliyuga Kannan\u2019.<\/p>\n

Vaali was also a dramatist and story writer. \u2018Ore Oru Gramathile\u2019, a film for which he wrote the story and dialogues, was sought to be banned, but the Supreme Court overturned it. The film, produced by S. Rangarajan, late publisher of The Hindu, won a national award.<\/p>\n

He landed in Chennai in search of opportunities in the film world and the break came in 1958. He wrote his first song for the film \u2018Azhagarmalai Kallan\u2019. The first film he wrote for MGR was \u2018Nallavan Vaazhvaan\u2019 and the dialogues were penned by DMK founder C.N. Annadurai. \u2018Ithayathil Nee\u2019 starring Gemini Ganesan gave him much-needed popularity.<\/p>\n

MGR starrer \u2018Padakotti\u2019 took him to new heights as a lyricist. Subsequently, he wrote almost all films of MGR and shared a great relationship with M.S. Viswanathan.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was writing lines for a livelihood. I started paying taxes only after joining hands with MSV,\u201d he had said in his memoir.<\/p>\n

His devotional song Karpanai entralum, karchilai entralum on Lord Muruga continues to move generations of devout listeners.<\/p>\n

Koovi azhaithal kural koduppan, set to raga \u2018valaji\u2019 has become an immortal Tamil krithi rendered in classical music concerts.<\/p>\n

While he was a believer, he benefited immensely from his association with the leaders of the Dravidian movement including Anna, MGR and M. Karunanidhi.<\/p>\n

A prolific writer, he had rendered in verse form the tales of Rama (\u2018Avathara Purushan\u2019), Krishna (\u2018Krishna Vijayam\u2019) and Ramanuja (\u2018Ramanuja Kaviyam\u2019). \u2018Pandavar Bhoomi\u2019 was Mahabharatha in modern verse. His latest work was the biography of Srimad Azhagiyasingar, the 45th jeer of the Ahobila Mutt. <\/p>\n

COURTESY: THE HINDU<\/strong><\/p>\n

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by B. Kolappan Lyricist and poet Vaali, who secured a place on a par with Kannadasan, at a time when the latter strode like a colossus in the Tamil film music world, died here on Thursday evening. He was 82 and is survived by a son. He was not well for quite some time and …<\/p>\n

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