“There are certain sounds that cast a spell on the mind even if it stops. It will melt into our souls. That sound will cherish the memories and will be an antidote to the wounds of the heart…” paying tribute to the sound of Vaneejayaram. In Malayalam, the word ‘Vani’ means word and Saraswati. If it is Kalaivani, it can be called ‘Saraswati of Art’. Although the name Vaneejayaram came later, Saraswati, according to Hinduism, is the manifestation of dance and music. Vaneejayaram was the apparent beauty of music. It was a divine sound. Most of them were songs that made you want to fall asleep, sleep well, and feel overwhelmed. Malayalams cannot forget the songs of Vanee Jayaram that they heard like a chill in their ears. For the Malayalees, Vaneejayaram was a wedding fragrance spread across the solar system. They presented before us the entire alphabet of the solar system, sweetened with honey, and brought to it wonderful beauty.
Music director Vasanth Desai tells about a singer named Vani to the director, who is looking for a new voice for the new heroine in the Hindi film ‘Guddi’. Vani won the hearts of India with the song “Bol Re Papeehara”… and has never looked back. Vaniamma won many awards with her first song. That’s how one day in 1973, the producer of the movie ‘Swapnam’ called him to sing in Malayalam from Malayalam. Vani agreed to sing after hearing that Salil Chowdhury had composed the music.
“A wedding spread across the solar system-
Sougandika Manibhumi”…
When you listen to the song in Vaniyamma’s melodious voice, you will feel that the singer is a wedding fragrance spread across the solar system. They have sung so beautifully. As Sreekumaran Thambi said, Vani’s pronunciation, clarity and melodiousness were immense. He knew both North Indian music and South Indian music. And profound mastery of ragas.
Vani called the world in seven tones with that enchanting voice, “Walkanna written and forest flower warmed”. He became an irreplaceable musical genius in Indian music. The owner of a voice that sang from tarat to love songs in a distinct melodiousness; The singer who made Malayalam crave by singing soulful songs. He has sung about six hundred songs in Malayalam alone. Some of its songs were forever playing on our tongues: ”Nadanpatile Maina”… the song from the movie ‘Raag’ was the charm of the youth of those days. Apart from Salil Chaudhary’s ‘Nell’, all other Malayalam films had Vani’s songs. By that time, the Malayalis had taken them to such an extent.
She is a blessed singer who has given us many melodious songs that we have cherished forever. When Vaniyamma sang “Pookkal panineer phoom”… the beauty and fragrance of the panineer flower swaying in the Mandamaruthan touched the heart of every music lover. Each and every song of Vaniyamma was a heart-warming rain shower for us.
“In some birth order
In some native streets”
When Vani sang that, the hearts of the fans were also becoming romantic. That melodiousness swam in the mesmerizing sentimentality of the mind. It was the voice that time decided we should hear. Love, affection, longing, lasya and kilikonchal all took turns. Songs prepared to be experienced in births and births will fill our hearts.
“Olanjali sparrow, come down in the light wind, you
I doubt if there are any Malayalees who would not want to be gently caressed by the soft breeze and fall into a deep sleep if they hear the song “Kotukoo Kinungi Mizhipili Melle Tazhukee”… Kannilpoov in Vishukani…, Ee Malarkanyas in Madanotsavam…, Onnanam Kunnimmel in Airhostess…, Poomaram Poothanaal in Mamala in Aparadhi… these were the songs given to Malayalam by the collaboration of Salil Chaudhary and Vaneejayaram. Vani has mostly sung songs of Arjunan Mash and Sreekumaran Thambi. It’s gorgeous
“Thiruvonapularitan
To buy Thirumalkasha
The song “Tirumutamanijorungee”… Oera Thiruvonam and Oera Thiruvonam is an unforgettable song for Malayalees. This song was born in the collaboration of Vaneejayaram-Arjunan Mash-Sreekumaran Thambi in the movie ‘Thiruvonam’. Vani wrote it and sang it in Hindi. Still, with the sweetness of that voice, Malayanma overflowed with the essence of Malayalam. Malayalees like to believe that the Thirumulkasha in Thiruvonapulari is the sound of Vaniyamma. Even today, that song and the singer remain in the minds of Malayalees as beloved as Onam. A flower in my hand…, I wandered in search…, I wrote a tail and warmed a forest flower…, I will write a love letter…, A minnow in the horn of flour called…, So many good songs with sandalwood on the cement line.
After a long gap in 2014 in the film ‘1983’ with Gopi Sundar’s music, P. When she sang the song ‘Olanjali Kuruvi…’ with Jayachandran, Vaniamma said, “I am not good enough in Malayalam, I am ready to sing whenever the music directors call me”. From that we can read how much they loved Malayalam. We didn’t give anything back to Vaniyamma, but she didn’t care. Vaneejayaram once said that out of 19 languages, Malayalam has given him the most love. In 2017, Vaneejayaram’s recent songs such as ‘Manate Marikurumbe’ in Pulimurukan, ‘Pookkal Panineer Phoolam’ in Action Hero Biju, and ‘Peitalinja Sansoon’ in Captain have been accepted by us Malayalis with open arms. Vani had no distinctions of language. They loved music so much. Every song sung by Vaniamma touched the hearts of Malayalees tenderly. The 80’s and 90’s is the era of wonderland where they made vocal variations. Vani’s talent was enhanced by his ability to sing any song with the feel it required. She has sung thousands of songs during her music career spanning more than five decades. That magical voice resonated in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, Bengali and other languages. We will hear no more, a new song… That time that ended the song spring has set… That wondrous sound will cool us like a mesmerizing breeze through the clouds as a thin drizzle; wait…
“There’s no way to sing, honey…
Will you sleep in the ashes of the dead?”