K. Vishwanath

Songs of "Saptapadi (1985)" Continued ...

Here are the rest of the songs from this album ...

Swaati Mutyam (1985)

Here is another fine movie from Vishwanath. This time he tackles the problems of a full grown adult with a mind like that of a child. It can be considered autism. Kamala Haasan gets together with Vishwanth for the second time.

As usually is the case with Vishwanath's movies, there are some beautiful songs. The duet by Janaki and Balu is a standout. I am uploading all of them here ...

Sirivennela (1986)

Here is one of the most beautiful musical offering from the director Vishwanath. Its central characters revolve around a blind flutist and a mute painter. The movie has lot of promise when started but fizzles out in the end. However its music leaves you spellbound.

The music of K.V. Mahadevan is enriched by some of the superb lyrics ever written for a Telugu movie. On the top of it Susheela and Balu were in great form. The song "Ee Gaali Ee Nela" is a knockout. So is "Vidhaata Talapuna". The other great songs include "Aadi Bhikshuvu" and "Polimera Daati Potunna". The great Hari Prasad Chaurasia (of Shiv-Hari music duo fame) provided the flute music in the movie.

Because of the length of the songs, I will upload these in two back-to-back posts. Here is the first post ...

Songs of "Sirivennela (1986)" Continued ...

Here are the rest of the songs from this absolutely great album ...

SP...I should learn a lot from you. The speed with which you upload albums and albums with such a clean format...along with some of the finest writing.. a treat to read and enjoy. Thankyou..

SF, thank you for such kind words. Cheers.

Shruti Layalu (1987)

Director Vishwanath, who hit his creative peak in 1981 with "Shankarabharanam" kept on a roll through most of the 80's. But by the end of the decade he was showing strains of repeating himself. This movie, with musical patriarch in the middle of a musical family, and the problems they face seem like those we have seen them before in his earlier movies. But there is no denying that musically, once again Vishwanath delivers. K.V. Mahadevan seems to have reserved his best for Vishwanath, and has composed here music for some magnificent songs.

Because of the number of songs in this album, I will upload them in back-to-back posts. Here is the first set (Listen to Janaki sing part of "Mera Joota Hai" of Raj Kapoor's "Shri 420" fame) ...

This post has been edited by swarapriya: Jun 7 2009, 06:56 AM

Songs of "Shruti Layalu (1987)" Continued ...

This was actress Sumalata's 100th film. Here are the rest of the songs from this fine Mahadevan album ...

Swarna Kamalam (1988)

Here is another great musical offering from Vishwanath. The subject is again a familair one. It deals with classical dancing. This theme was already exploited and made into a great movie earlier by Vishwanath in "Sagara Sangamam" showcasing Kamla Haasan's dancing talents. This time it is Bhanu Priya's turn.

Ilaiyaraja composed several beautiful songs for this movie. Almost all of them are very appealing. Because of the number of songs, I am uploading them in two back-to-back posts. Here is the first one ...

Songs of "Swarna Kamalam (1988)" Continued ...

Here are the rest of the songs from this yet another great album. The music for all the songs except "Sakhi Ke" is by Ilaiyaraja. For that song only, the music was composed by Bhuvaneshwar Mishra.

Shubhodayam (1980)

Vishwanath's history making 80's decade started with this fine movie, "Shubhodayam". This movie had the central theme of a lazy man who wants to live off the riches of his wife. As usually is the case with his movies, this film also has some great and unforgettable songs. One after another, each song is a gem. My favorites are "Gandhamu" and "Kanchiki".

Here are the songs of this album (all these songs are a gift from a close friend) ...

Eeshwar (1989)

This is a remake of Vishwanath's hit movie "Swaati Mutyam (1985)". Anil Kapoor recreated Kamala Haasan's role in this movie. He does a splendid job. Telugu actress Vijaya Shanti plays his wife. All male songs in this movie were sung by Nitin Mukesh. There are some beautiful songs in this movie, like in Telugu, as well.

There are six songs in this movie. I am uploading five of them. The missing song is shown in red italics below. Requesting members to share this song if they can.

Now for a description of the song and the songs themselves ...

Sutradhaarulu (1990)

After a glorious decade of 80's, Vishwanath entered 90's with this offering. It starred Nageshwara Rao, the same great actor whose concern gave him the break to be a first time director for the movie "Aatma Gowravam (1965)". Beautiful songs dominate this album as well. Interestingly, it is Balu's sister, Shailaja, has sung most of the songs in this movie.

If my information is correct, beautiful Ramya Krishna was introduced to Telugu audience for the first time in this movie. Here is one actress with gorgeous looks and some talent came with a lot of promise. But she showed poor judgment by acting in so many "bad" movies that people don't even remember much of her or her performances.

All songs came from a LP except "Yadu Kula". The quality of this one song is iffy. Now for the details of the songs and the songs themselves ...

This post has been edited by swarapriya: Jun 10 2009, 10:25 PM

Aaptbaandhavudu (1992)

Here are the songs from this album...

This post has been edited by swarapriya: Jun 13 2009, 01:14 AM

Swaati Kiranam (1992)

Music maestro K.V. Mahadevan contributed music for over 600 movies in Tamil and Telugu. Most of his songs composed in Telugu were chart busters. I don't know about Tamil, but knwoing what KVM has done in Telugu, I'm sure he had similar record over there as usual.

In 80's KVM mightily contributed to the musical masterpieces Vishwanath created. This movie, made in 1992, was one of his last movies in Telugu. What a grand finale it was. Superb composition of some of the sweetest songs supported by rich lyrics. Vani Jairam's talents are in full display in this album. She had eight solos.

I read some place that KVM stated that because he was indisposed, most of the songs for this movie were composed by his longtime assistant, Pulihendu. Still this doesn't diminish any greatness of the music of this movie.

She won the National Award for the Best Female Singer for the song "Aanati Neeyara" from this movie. A masterpiece of singing and a richly deserved award.

I came across an article on this movie recently that at once was thought provoking with its fine analysis. I am going to quote the article written by Srinivas Kanchibhotla in idlebrain.com without changing anything. Here are his words ...

"... The master mentors the pupil without any regard to its lineage - Sankaraabharanam. The master trains the pupil, albeit reluctantly, to honor his commitment to its lineage - Saagara Sangamam. The master chidingly guides the pupil into respecting its culture and tradition - Swarna Kamalam. Sri. K.Viswanath breaks away from this mould and (de)humanizes the actual master-pupil relationship emphasizing on the emotions that transpire between and within each one involved in the mentoring 'transaction' and makes a complete circle about this common mileu that he so often sets his movies in. Sankaraabharanam, Sagara Sangamam, Swarana Kamamlam and Swati Kiranam complete his guru-sishya movie quartet and one could clearly observe the transition of the guru's character from an idealist to an emotionally degenerate, hopping one step down along the way. At the end of the quartet the guru, having completely been over-powered by his protégé's skill set, clearly gives way to him and retreats into the background. ..."

That is very well thought and succinctly put. In the end, he concludes the article with the following statement ...

"The warmth of the early dawn, the inherent energy and exuberance of the morning light, the blinding radiance of noon rays, the gradual receding of the glow during dusk and the complete disappearance during night - only to let a not-so-bright distant star glow - Swati Kiranam is a day in the life of a star completely outshone by the brilliance of the sun."

What a great way of surmising the essence of this movie.

Because of the number of songs in this movie, I will upload them in two back-to-back posts. Here is the first set ...