After the success of my review on the album of Gitanjali, I had promised to come up with another Ilayaraja-Balu masterpiece Abhinandana. However due to heavy work load, I did not have time, and now that it has lessened some what, I am putting forward this second article. Though technically, the movie was released in 1988, the album was already out in 1986, and proved to be a rip roaring success that time. I remember the songs were a craze there, and their tunes were also used in Ads.
Abhinandana directed by veteran camera man Ashok Kumar, has a very simple straightforward story. Raja (Kartik) and Rani( Shobana) are deeply in love. Ranis sister (Rajyalakshmi) is married to Srikanth( Sarathbabu), a successful music company owner. However her sisters untimely death forces Rani to marry Srikanth, so that their kids dont miss their mother. A distraught Raja, roams about, until he is spotted by Srikanth himself. Srikanth gives him a break as a singer, and he tries to unite the lovers again. Kartik had already appeared in a couple of direct Telugu movies like Seethakokachiluka, Anveshana etc, Sobhana was just then making her mark as a heroine in Telugu movies. Both of them were already established in Tamil and Malayalam movie industry. When the movie was released in 1988, Karthik had already shot to stardom with his role in Maniratnams 1987 classic Mounaragam as a dare devil lover boy. Good performances from Karthik, Shobana and Sarathbabu , coupled with excellent songs, made this movie a success.
Ilayaraja composed the songs for this album, with lyrics by Manusu kavi Atreya. All the songs are sung by S.Janaki and S.P.Balasubramaniam. Matter of fact Janaki was IRs favorite singer in his early years, but later he used Chitra more. Soft, melodious and pleasing, Abhinandana, is one of IRs best albums. You wont feel like fast forwarding any single song in this album.
Manchu Kurise Velalo: Romantic song by Janaki and Balu, as it celebrates the young lovers spirit, totally in love with each other. The song starts off with an echo interlude, followed by a steady rhythm, before it gets into spirit. Very melodious and very hummable. Atreya wonderfully exhibits the beauty of love in these lyrics:
Neevu piliche pilupulo, jaaluvare premalo(2)
Jalakamadi pulakarinche sambaramlo
Or this one celebrating the undying passion:
Aariponi taapamu antu chooseDeppudo(2)
Manchule vechhani chicculainappudo.
Perfect song to listen with the special one near by. One of the most romantic songs I have heard in my life.
Rangulalo Kalavo: Another romantic duet, this time the hero comparing his beloved to different love legends like Mumtaz, Laila. Somewhat more fast paced than Manchu Kurise Velalo, very rhythmic in nature.
Once the lovers get separated, that is where you get the top songs of the album. From here on SP takes over as he articulates the pain in separation, the angst of loneliness wonderfully.
Yeduta Neeve : The song has the same tune as that of Anveshanas Illalo Kalise. The song shows the hero in an agitated mind, as he is unable to forget his beloved, and he cant forget her memories. IR shows his genius here, while in Manchu Kurise, the music is soft and melodious, keeping in mind, the romantic nature of song, here he mixes tunes, and the rhythm is very fast. Intense and haunting at times. IRs genius lies in the fact, that he doesnt just score a song, he gets into the mood of the song. And the lyrics here by Athreya, so wonderfully they depict the heros state of mind:
Gaayanaina maana neevu
Hrudayanaina veedi povu
Kaalam naaku saayam raadu
Maranam nanu cheraneedu
So wonderfully does Atreya depict the sense of helplessness in these lines. And SP gives that extra touch of pathos in his voice, without even going over board once.
Prema Ledani: The hero by now has become totally cynical about love. He has lost all faith in love, but he still cant forget the woman he loves. And he holds her responsible for his sorrow. Excellent song in any way, music, singing and lyrics. The song starts off with a high flourish of trumpets and cymbals, and then suddenly IR changes to a softer piano tunes. Balu begins with humming, and then he starts:
Prema Ledani premincharadani(2)
Saakshyame neevani nannu nedu chaatani
O Priya Joharlu
IR makes extensive use of Western classical music style in this song, especially the clarinet. The song is slow, but has a very high sounding background. And Atreya again shows that when it comes to depicting broken love, there are few equals to him.
Gurutu cheripivesi jeevinchalani
Cherapalekapothe maraninchalani
Telise kuda cheyaleni verrii vadani
Gunde pagilipovu varaku nanu paadani
Mukkalo lekaleni roopalalo
Marala marala ninu choosi rodinchani
Observe how wonderfully Balu expresses his anguish at the line Mukkalo lekaleni roopalalo. Me wonders how this song would be if Udit Narayan sang it in Telugu. Any takers.
Prema Entha Madhuram : Raja by now becomes a singer, and he witness Rani as Srikanths wife during a recording at studio. And out of this comes this masterpiece. IR starts off with a superb piano interlude and then follows the song.
Prema Entha Madhuram
Priyaralu Antha Katinam
Chesinanu Prema Kshira Saagara Madhanam
Minginanu Hala Halam.
Wow what lyrics by Athreya again here. Wonderful interplay on the words Kshira Saagara Madhanam and Hala Halam. IR wonderfully uses the piano orchestration in the song, putting in the right pauses to create that effect of tragedy. Observe the part when Balu pauses during the lines Preminchuteena Na Doshamu, Poojinchutena naa Papamu, as if questioning his beloved here.
Ade Neevu : The climax song in the movie, when Rani, Raja and Srikanth meet together. Srikanth asks Raja to sing a song for the ocassion. And Raja sings this, imploring his love, to think of the days when they were inseparable. The song has chorus in background, and just at the part when Srikanth reminisces about his dead wife, IR immediately changes track. Again witness the wonderful intermingling of tunes which IR does in the song throughout, and Balu as usual gives life to Atreyas wonderful lyrics.
Ninna Repu Sandello needai vundamanavu(2)
Kaneeraina premalo paneeraudamnavu
Adhe baasaga adhe aasaga(2)
Eni nallu ee Nina paata padanu
For a movie with a tragic overtone, and where most of the songs center around the pain from broken love, Abhinandana could have become a heavy album with loud music, putting off many listeners. But Ilayarajas shows that pain and sorrow can be depicted in a subtle, sensitive way, without having to resort to loud high pitched stuff. And of course Balu and Janakis wonderful voices, coupled with Athreyas top notch lyrics, make sure, that Abhinandana would forever be an album that would delight any good music lover.
An Article By Ratnakar Sadsya
