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Tamil Nadu

Having an eye for trends

Vaali

Almost every song in the list of latest hits in Kollywood has been penned by him. Apart from enthralling fans of Tamil film music over the decades, the passionate Tamil scholar in him has also been indulging in very interesting literary pursuits, producing masterpieces that have been hailed. This year, the veteran lyricist-poet, who began his career in December 1958, completes 50 years in the film industry. Kavignar Vaali reflects on his career… Meera Srinivasan catches up.

Attired in a spotless white khadi kurta and dhoti, poet Vaali settles down for the interview at his R.A. Puram residence. “I am a lyricist only when I am on the other side of the Kodambakkam bridge. While on this side, I am a poet, who loves expressing spiritual ideas through language,” he smiles.

His zeal and ready wit are enough evidence for the magical youthfulness this septuagenarian has been lending to songs. Whether it is a Chikku bukku Chikku bukku railae… or a Mustafa Mustafa…, the songs became anthems in colleges and schools. Equally captivating are his Amma Endrazhaikkada…and Unna nenachen pattu padichen... or the more recent Mukunda mukunda....

How does he manage? The lyrics of one song impacts the professional lives of thousands, he explains. The lyricist, the music director, the members of the orchestra, the playback singer, the producer, the director, the cinematographers, actors, choreographers and several other technicians and engineers in the recording company are linked by one song.

“To me, the context of a song is very important. And, I observe trends in the market and go with the times,” he says. “I am not here to flaunt my intellectual capacity with complex thoughts. My job in the film industry is to come up with lyrics that the average fan can understand and relate to.” In fact, this simplicity shines in his much-acclaimed literary creations such as ‘Avadara Purushan,’ ‘Pandavar Boomi,’ ‘Ramanuja Kaviyam,’ and ‘Krishna Vijayam.’ “What is the point in conveying an idea in a complicated way? I think the success of any writing is really in its accessibility.”

Touching on his association with Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, the poet says: “Though our friendship spans over four decades, it was ‘Avadara Purushan’ that brought us closer. He may have a different ideological stance. But being the Tamil-lover that he is, he appreciated its literary value. And when a leader, who is an atheist, commended the work based on an epic, the world took notice.”

If his status as a lyricist in the film industry was recognised because of MSV, Kalaignar was behind his status as a poet being recognised in the literary world. “We are diametrically opposite when it comes to ideology. But Kalaignar lets me be and does not impose his thoughts on me. Such is his extraordinary approach to friendship.”

On ‘Kalaignar Kaviyam,’ he says: “I attempted writing his life history a few years ago. But for various reasons, it did not graduate into a book. Later, I thought what I had written about him on different occasions could be compiled.” Excerpts from the life history written earlier were also included, and thus ‘Kalaignar Kaviyam’ came into being.

Interestingly, his lyric-writing never took a back seat along the years. He has been consistently giving hits till date. Even ‘Saroja’ and ‘Jayam Kondan’ that hit the cinemas last week have his chirpy songs. “I simply love writing!”

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