Tamilizai
Tamizisaiyum Dandapanidesigarum
Dandapani desigar
Many in the music world know about the composition, “Jagajjanani suka pani kalyani”, in the raga ‘ratipatipriya’ set to adi tala. This composition is a favourite of many young singers. The tune is very attractive. This has come from the highly creative brain of none other than M.M.Dandapani desigar. This paper attempts to analyse the life and contribution of such a great personality.
“Paingottu malarppunnaip Paravaigal payappurach
Changattan tavairttennat taviranoi tandane
Chengattan kudimeya ciruttondan paniseiyya
Vengattarul analendi vilaiyadum perumane”
Gnana Sambandar has sung the above tevaram in praise of the lord of Tiruchengattankudi. Dandapani desigar was born on 26.08.1908 in Tiruchengattangudi (praised by Gnanasambandar as above), in Tanjore district. His father was Muthiah Desigar and his grandfather was Murugaiyya Desigar. His mother was Pappammal. He took the first letter of his father’s and grandfather’s name and wrote his initials as M.M (It is for the first time that I came across such an explanation for initials).
His father was his Guru, under whom he learnt Tevaram, Tiruvacagam, Tiruppugazh. He learnt Sarali, janta, gitam and varnam from the Nagasvara vidvan Chattiayah pillai. He was able to repeat whatever music he listened to, immediately.
He started giving performances at the age of 9. After the death of his father, he learnt music from violin maestro Kumbakonam Rajamanikkam Pillai. He was appointed as the teacher in a Tevaram school in Madurai, when he was barely 18 years old.
In 1927 Annamalai University pioneered institutionalization of music. Dandapani desigar was the first person to serve as the Principal. He worked along with such illustrious colleagues like Kumbakonam Rajamanikkam Pillai and V.S.Gomathi Sankara Aiyyar. He served Annamalai University for 16 years.
In 1935 he acted in the Tamil Movie “Pattinattar”, which earned him name and fame. After that his fame rose to great heights because of his contribution to films depicting the story of Manikka Vasagar, Tayumanavar, Vallala Maharaja, Nandanar and Tirumazhisai Azhvar. He gave performances in prominent cities like Delhi, Mumbai etc. Kumbakonam Rajamanikkam Pillai accompanied him on the violin and Pazhani Subramaniyappillai accompanied him on the mridangam during many of these performances.
Desigar was capable of singing in any given pitch with a strong voice. He had the drone in his mind. He was instrumental in introducing many Tamizhisai songs in his performances. Due to his contribution to Tamil music, Raja Sir Muthaiah Chettiyar gave him the title “Isai Arasu”. This title is even today considered as synonym for “Dandapani Desigar”.
Desigar and Professor Sambamurti and many other stalwarts like the living legend Pannaraichi vithagar Le.Pa Karu. Ramanathan Chettiyar (97 years) took part in the pann Araichi started by the Tamil isai sangam (RAJA ANNAMALAI MANRAM). This movement was started by Raja Sir Annamalai Chettiyar in the year 1949. In the year 1957 Desigar and Sambamurti were given the title “Isai Perarignar” by the Tamil isai Sangam. They were the first musicians to win the title.
Desigar won other titles too. They are as follows:
Following are the films he acted:
Following are the movies for which he was the playback singer
1. 1955 – Mudal tedi – In this film Sivaji ganesan acted as the hero
2. 1958 – Tirumanam
He married M.S.Devasena, who acted as heroine in the movie “Satya silan” along with M.K.Tyagaraja Bhagavatar. Desigar didi not have children.
Desigar contributed to Tamil isai in many ways. Several years ago, when he sang in the Tiruvaiyaru Tyagabrahma Aradhana festival , he started his performance with the Tamil song “Siddhi vinayakane”. None other than Raja Sir Annamalai Chettiyar attended that performance. Inspired by that, He started his Tail isai movement.
He was a graded artist of All India Radio and sang only Tamil songs. He has also taken part in radio dramas.
He is a composer par excellence. Following are some of his famous compositions:
Arula vandum taye-Saramati-Rupakam
Arulvai Angayrkanniye-Dharmavati-Khanda Chapu
Anbu Kondennai andarul-Arabhi-M.Chapu
Andarul vayen annaiye-Gaulai-Adi
Ennai ni maravade-Amirthavarshini-Adi
Adiyenaikkaththarulvai-Kambhoji-Tisra Triputa
Varuvai Angayarkanniye-Sankarabharanam-K.Chapu
Matchi migunda taye-Hindolam-Rupakam
Pugazhaittedu-Kannada-Rupakam
Sinamadaiyade-Bahudari-Adi
Navukkarasanai-Hemavati-Adi
He has literally taken some of the words used by appar in his Tevaram and ahas composed many songs. One such example is as follows:
Appar: Osai oli yelam anai niye
Desigar: Osai oliyelam anavalum
A note about Nandanar:
In 1942 Desigar acted in “Nandanar”’ produced by Jemini pictures. It was directed by Murugadas. Serugalathur sama acted as “Vediyar”. Kottamangalam Subbu, L.Narayahrao and Sundaribai were the other prominent personalities who acted in that film. Papanasam sivan was the lyricist for the film. All the songs like “Kaavendamo” and “sivaloganathanaikkandu” were a hit. In those days films in which Tyagaraja Bhagavatar, P.U.Chinnappa and M.S.Subbulakshmi acted were the films which made it big. But “Nandanar” was an exemption. The viewers were asked to select the best three songs from the film, for prize money of Rs.10, 000. Such was the popularity of the film.
Another land mark in the life of Desigar was the tune he conceived for the song “Tunbam Nergaiyil Yazheduthu Ni Inbam Serkkamattaya”, written by Bharathi Dasan. It seems that Desigar took 3 years to just set the tune which is currently popular. Desigar himself has sung this song and has also spoken about how he conceived this tune. This tape is currently available with his student and living Tamilisai legend “Nallai Kandan”.
Though we sing the song as tuned by Desigar, one has to certainly listen to the tape for the simple reason that many inherent nuances are not sung by current day singers, as sung by Desigar himself. If one wants to sing the song as tuned by Desigar, then the only way out is to learn the same from his numerous students, who are currently doing yeomen service for Tamil Isai.
Desigar passed away on 26th June 1972. His student Nallai Kandan alias Muttukumarasvamy celebtrates his birth Anniversary every year in August. 2008 being his birth centenary year, Sri Muttukumarasvamy is planning to celebrate the same in a very elaborate manner, in August 2008. Though Desigar is not alive at present, his music still lingers in our ears.
Many in the music world know about the composition, “Jagajjanani suka pani kalyani”, in the raga ‘ratipatipriya’ set to adi tala. This composition is a favourite of many young singers. The tune is very attractive. This has come from the highly creative brain of none other than M.M.Dandapani desigar. This paper attempts to analyse the life and contribution of such a great personality.
“Paingottu malarppunnaip Paravaigal payappurach
Changattan tavairttennat taviranoi tandane
Chengattan kudimeya ciruttondan paniseiyya
Vengattarul analendi vilaiyadum perumane”
Gnana Sambandar has sung the above tevaram in praise of the lord of Tiruchengattankudi. Dandapani desigar was born on 26.08.1908 in Tiruchengattangudi (praised by Gnanasambandar as above), in Tanjore district. His father was Muthiah Desigar and his grandfather was Murugaiyya Desigar. His mother was Pappammal. He took the first letter of his father’s and grandfather’s name and wrote his initials as M.M (It is for the first time that I came across such an explanation for initials).
His father was his Guru, under whom he learnt Tevaram, Tiruvacagam, Tiruppugazh. He learnt Sarali, janta, gitam and varnam from the Nagasvara vidvan Chattiayah pillai. He was able to repeat whatever music he listened to, immediately.
He started giving performances at the age of 9. After the death of his father, he learnt music from violin maestro Kumbakonam Rajamanikkam Pillai. He was appointed as the teacher in a Tevaram school in Madurai, when he was barely 18 years old.
In 1927 Annamalai University pioneered institutionalization of music. Dandapani desigar was the first person to serve as the Principal. He worked along with such illustrious colleagues like Kumbakonam Rajamanikkam Pillai and V.S.Gomathi Sankara Aiyyar. He served Annamalai University for 16 years.
In 1935 he acted in the Tamil Movie “Pattinattar”, which earned him name and fame. After that his fame rose to great heights because of his contribution to films depicting the story of Manikka Vasagar, Tayumanavar, Vallala Maharaja, Nandanar and Tirumazhisai Azhvar. He gave performances in prominent cities like Delhi, Mumbai etc. Kumbakonam Rajamanikkam Pillai accompanied him on the violin and Pazhani Subramaniyappillai accompanied him on the mridangam during many of these performances.
Desigar was capable of singing in any given pitch with a strong voice. He had the drone in his mind. He was instrumental in introducing many Tamizhisai songs in his performances. Due to his contribution to Tamil music, Raja Sir Muthaiah Chettiyar gave him the title “Isai Arasu”. This title is even today considered as synonym for “Dandapani Desigar”.
Desigar and Professor Sambamurti and many other stalwarts like the living legend Pannaraichi vithagar Le.Pa Karu. Ramanathan Chettiyar (97 years) took part in the pann Araichi started by the Tamil isai sangam (RAJA ANNAMALAI MANRAM). This movement was started by Raja Sir Annamalai Chettiyar in the year 1949. In the year 1957 Desigar and Sambamurti were given the title “Isai Perarignar” by the Tamil isai Sangam. They were the first musicians to win the title.
Desigar won other titles too. They are as follows:
- Isai arasu- Title given by Sir A.T.Pannerselvam and Raja Sir Annamalai Chettiyar
- Tevaramani – title given by Hi highness the Governor of Pondichery
- Sangita Sahitya Siromani- Bestowed upon him by the former Chief Minister M.Bhakthavatsalam
- Isai Perarignar –title given by Tamil Isai Sangam
- Sangita Samrat – Svami Sivananda
- Pannisaip Pulavarkon – Kanchi Acharya
- Sangita Kala Sikhamani – Indian Fine arts society, Chennai
- Tamilisai Vendar – Pondichery Government
- Dharmapura adina isaippulavar – Dharmapura Adina Karta.
- Tiruvavaduturai adina talaimai isai vidvan- Tiruvavadu Adina Karta
- Tanittamizhisaimani – Madurai Tirugnana Sambandar Adina Mutt Chief
- Tirumuraikkalanidhi – Sirkazhi Devasthanam
- Tandaga Vendar – Vagisa Bhaktha Jana Sabha, Tiruchi.
Following are the films he acted:
- 1935 – Pattinattar
- 1937 –Vallala Maharaja
- 1938 – Tayumanavar
- 1939 – Manikkavasagar
- 1942 – Nandanar
- 1948 – Tirumazhisai Azhvar
Following are the movies for which he was the playback singer
1. 1955 – Mudal tedi – In this film Sivaji ganesan acted as the hero
2. 1958 – Tirumanam
He married M.S.Devasena, who acted as heroine in the movie “Satya silan” along with M.K.Tyagaraja Bhagavatar. Desigar didi not have children.
Desigar contributed to Tamil isai in many ways. Several years ago, when he sang in the Tiruvaiyaru Tyagabrahma Aradhana festival , he started his performance with the Tamil song “Siddhi vinayakane”. None other than Raja Sir Annamalai Chettiyar attended that performance. Inspired by that, He started his Tail isai movement.
He was a graded artist of All India Radio and sang only Tamil songs. He has also taken part in radio dramas.
He is a composer par excellence. Following are some of his famous compositions:
Arula vandum taye-Saramati-Rupakam
Arulvai Angayrkanniye-Dharmavati-Khanda Chapu
Anbu Kondennai andarul-Arabhi-M.Chapu
Andarul vayen annaiye-Gaulai-Adi
Ennai ni maravade-Amirthavarshini-Adi
Adiyenaikkaththarulvai-Kambhoji-Tisra Triputa
Varuvai Angayarkanniye-Sankarabharanam-K.Chapu
Matchi migunda taye-Hindolam-Rupakam
Pugazhaittedu-Kannada-Rupakam
Sinamadaiyade-Bahudari-Adi
Navukkarasanai-Hemavati-Adi
He has literally taken some of the words used by appar in his Tevaram and ahas composed many songs. One such example is as follows:
Appar: Osai oli yelam anai niye
Desigar: Osai oliyelam anavalum
A note about Nandanar:
In 1942 Desigar acted in “Nandanar”’ produced by Jemini pictures. It was directed by Murugadas. Serugalathur sama acted as “Vediyar”. Kottamangalam Subbu, L.Narayahrao and Sundaribai were the other prominent personalities who acted in that film. Papanasam sivan was the lyricist for the film. All the songs like “Kaavendamo” and “sivaloganathanaikkandu” were a hit. In those days films in which Tyagaraja Bhagavatar, P.U.Chinnappa and M.S.Subbulakshmi acted were the films which made it big. But “Nandanar” was an exemption. The viewers were asked to select the best three songs from the film, for prize money of Rs.10, 000. Such was the popularity of the film.
Another land mark in the life of Desigar was the tune he conceived for the song “Tunbam Nergaiyil Yazheduthu Ni Inbam Serkkamattaya”, written by Bharathi Dasan. It seems that Desigar took 3 years to just set the tune which is currently popular. Desigar himself has sung this song and has also spoken about how he conceived this tune. This tape is currently available with his student and living Tamilisai legend “Nallai Kandan”.
Though we sing the song as tuned by Desigar, one has to certainly listen to the tape for the simple reason that many inherent nuances are not sung by current day singers, as sung by Desigar himself. If one wants to sing the song as tuned by Desigar, then the only way out is to learn the same from his numerous students, who are currently doing yeomen service for Tamil Isai.
Desigar passed away on 26th June 1972. His student Nallai Kandan alias Muttukumarasvamy celebtrates his birth Anniversary every year in August. 2008 being his birth centenary year, Sri Muttukumarasvamy is planning to celebrate the same in a very elaborate manner, in August 2008. Though Desigar is not alive at present, his music still lingers in our ears.
