From political campaign songs to film numbers – find out the journey of Muthulingam as a lyricist

Kavignar Muthulingam | Photo Credit: B. Tamodaran

The run-up for the 1977 assembly elections in Tamil Nadu was filled with fierce speeches and the wind was heavier than the political conspiracy. Finally, former DMK friend M. Karunanidhi and AIADMK’s MG Ramachandran were hitting the head, and no one knew what would happen.

Amidst all this, two songs ‘Ambuku Nan Adimai’ and ‘Ithu Natai Kakum Kai’ played repeatedly with loudspeakers across the state. MGR sent songs to Calcutta for conversion as RPM records, so they could have been played during the campaign. Later, it was said that these songs were one of the reasons that kept MGR and his Fledgling AIADMK in power. Lyricist, behind these songs, Muthulingam recently completed five decades in the Tamil film industry.

Muthulingam said, “The songs may have caught the imagination of the people. But, MGR had a ground task and he had a charisma. If the songs could win the election, all the actors would succeed in politics,” Muthulingam said smiling.

Maduraiya Meeta SunderpandianThe last film of MGR also had two songs – ‘Thygathin Kudandirme’ and ‘Veeramgan Porad’ – was packed with a strong political message. Photo Credit: Hindu Archives

Maduraiya Meeta SunderpandianThe previous MGR film also had two songs – ‘Thygathin Kudandirme’ and ‘Veeramgan Porada’ – was packed with a strong political message by the same lyricist. When there was a possibility that the lines ‘Kottai Namdhu Kodi Parantavandam’ (our flag should fly in the fort) may face the cut of the censor board, Muthulingam convinced the filmmaker to maintain the line. In their autobiography Aanantha the kaatru thalatttheMGR refers to it and says: “Muthulingam did this because he is my dear friend,”

Born in Kadambakuri in Ramanathapuram district, Muthulingam worked as a journalist in DMK organ Murasoli And Alai Osai (Run by Vellore Narayanan). He has written more than 1,600 songs, and is considered to be something excellent in Tamil around 250 – from ‘Manjoli Kilithano’ Kijake Pogum ReelFrom ‘Idhajil Kathai Agehutham’ Annal Mudiam Thumbi And from ‘Bhupalam Iskakum’ Thorral Ninu Pochu,

Says Muthulingam, “The only person I have approached for the opportunity to write songs is MGR.” “He remembered, and I asked me to write songs for Meenawa Nanban, even though the recording was over. He stressed that my songs would be a part of the film – ‘Thangthil Mugam Eduthu Santhanthil Uyir Eduthu’ Remember?”

From ‘Idhayam Poguhe’ Puti Varapugal One of many notable songs is given to Muthulingam for Ilaiyaraja photo credit: Special arrangement

But Muthulingam had his own part of disappointments in Kodakamakkam, before he earned a name as someone who excelled in writing songs for the tunes. “When I worked, only KV could compose the tunes for the Mahadevan song. Everyone else could prepare the tunes first and expect the song for it.”

Working with Ilaiyaraja

Muthulingam worked at a time when a new order was coming to play in Tamil film music. Ilaiyaraja was helping GK Venkatesh, who was composing music for the film Ponkuku Thangamansu. Its script writer Balamurugan invited Muthulingam to write songs. But, he was already smart by writing two songs Nilway Ni Sachi And Shivaji Ganesan-Starr Plaque leaseWhich was never used. “Balamurugan assured me that the film would not be released without my song. I had to write a song for this situation: three rivers Ganga, Kaveri and Vaigai were competing, and a farmer had to calm them down.” His songs did not suit Venkatesh’s tune, and the film’s director P. Madhavan was saddened by late. Venkatesh suggested that Muthulingam sat with his assistant, who had a lot of tunes. Assistant? Ilaiyaraja. Song? ‘Thazavuru Seemaili Kannu Thavi Vonthen Ponamam’. Smiling to Muthulingam, “I had the privilege of writing the first song for Ilaiyaraja.” This was the first of many collaborations between the two. One of his notable songs was for ‘Idham Poguhe’ Puti VarapugalIlaiyaraja has explained that the song’s proposal contained an element of a symphony. Incidentally, Maestro sang the song during his Symphony Valent I premiere in London.

A very much loving song by Muthulingam is ‘Sangeeta Megham’ from Udhaya Gatham. A line goes as follows: ‘INTHAGAM MARITHALM Isaii Malarvan’ (even if my body disappears, I will bloom again as music). When the singer SP Balasubrahmanam passed, the line was used in tribute, and as a reminder that his voice is timeless. Considering Muthulingam’s contribution to Tamil film music, this line may also apply to him.