{"id":47071,"date":"2026-02-09T18:18:12","date_gmt":"2026-02-09T22:18:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=47071"},"modified":"2026-02-10T00:51:12","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T04:51:12","slug":"senthamizh-thaen-mozhiyaal-magnificient-singing-by-t-r-mahalingam-%e2%99%ab%e2%99%a5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=47071","title":{"rendered":"“Senthamizh Thaen Mozhiyaal”-Magnificient Singing by T.R.Mahalingam \u266b\u2665"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By D.B.S.Jeyaraj<\/strong><\/p>\n

Favourite Film Songs -4<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cSenthamizh Thaen Mozhiyaal\u201dis perhaps the most popular song sung on screen by the magnificient singer and actor of Tamil cinema \u2013 Thenkarai Ramakrishnan Mahalingam generally known as T.R.Mahalingam. He sings this number in the film \u201cMaalayitta Mangai\u201dproduced in 1958 by poet and film lyricist \u201cKavignar\u201d Kannadasan who also penned the words of this immortal song. The melody was composed by the \u201cmonarchs of light music\u201d Viswanathan \u2013 Ramamoorthy. The song is picturised in the film on TR Mahalingam, actress Mainavathi and a troupe of dancing girls. Mainavathi is the sister in real life of actress Pandari Bai who also acts in the film.<\/p>\n

\"TR

TR Mahalingam (1923\u20131978)<\/p><\/div>\n

The song \u201cSenthamizh Thaen Mozhiyaal, Nilaavena Sirikkum Malark Kodiaal\u201d has been one of my favourite film songs since childhood. I first heard it on radio and later saw it being sung on the screen when \u201cMaalayitta Mangai\u201d was screened at the Vel theatre in Chavakachcheri. The Vel theatre was an asbestos, aluminium and tin structure with a single projector. So there were two intervals. The theatre screened old Tamil films every two or three days. I would frequent this theatre regularly when I was home for the school holidays. It was at \u201cVel\u201d seated on the gallery last bench, munching peanuts that I first saw and heard TR Mahalingam sing \u201cSenthamizh Thaen Mozhiyaal\u201d on screen. In later years I got a DVD of the film and CD of the songs that I watch and listen to very often.
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\nThe records and songs played on radio had only two verses or saranams but the song played out on screen had three. The full song as played out on screen is available at some you tubes too nowadays. \u201cSenthamizh Thaen Mozhiyaal\u201dhas a remarkable virutham \u201cSillendru Pootha Siru nerunjik Kaattiniley-Nillendru Koori Niruthi Vazhi Poanaalaey’\u201d at the beginning. Mahalingam commences on a low note, gradually raising his voice higher and ends the prelude on a very high scale of \u201cAahaaram\u201d. The song then evens out to a lower pitch at the pallavi and anubhallavi level and moves on to the saranams. Again Mahalingam zestfully sings another \u201cAahaaram\u201d after the second line of the first verse \u201c Kaatrinil Mithanthavaloa – Puthithaai Katpanai Vadithavaloa?\u201d It proceeds smoothly with Mahalingam singing the catchy beat on a lower note.<\/p>\n

As stated earlier I was hooked by the song at a very early age. Thereafter I took great delight in trying to emulate Mahalingam in singing the song to the best of my ability. I do it in private in the shower as well as in public at party sing \u2013 songs whenever I am asked to do so. It is an intricate melody and trying to emulate TR Mahalingam is no easy task. The Kamakams and sangathi\u2019s sung at a high pitch are extremely unimitable. The timbre of Mahalingam\u2019s voice is unique.Still I try to face up to the challenge whenever the occasion rises. Trying to sing like TR Mahalingam is akin to the turkey trying to emulate the peacock\u2019s dance.One improvisation I often resort to while singing this song at parties is to wind up by singing very rapidly which makes it sound like a fast catchy number.<\/p>\n