A legend's history

This is the cine life story of my dear Athai(father's elder sister) about whom I had mentioned in my earlier post on Music Interests.

She is a legend for me and I am blessed to have lived in the same era as her!!!

Born near Ilathoor near Thenkasi in 1925, her original name is Thenkasi Seenivasa Bagawathy. She was stopped from shcooling after class four. Her grandfather who was a kathakalatchebam singer paid the foundation for her to become a singer in later days. When the grand father died, the grandmother joined the Trichi Radio where she introduced the 14 year old TSB. TSB was paid Rs 20 per month as a singer in Radio Trichy. She alos was acting and singing in the radio dramas. While ther she got the acquaintence of many music directors.

Soon she went on a tour singing for the Tamil Isai Iyakkam. In viruthunagar she was awarded the title of "Isaikkuyil" in the presence of Ramasamy Nadar.

While TSB was singing in the Trichirapalli Radio station AV Meyappa Chettiar heard her voice and pulled her into cinema. Initially she hesitated to sing for cinema, as cinema industry was looked down in the 1940s. But owing to financial situation she had to accept the offer in 1947. That was the turing point for her and her fans.

In 1947 AVM was producing the famous film Naam Iruvar. TSB sang a few songs for TA Jeyalachumy. The most popular was of course "Vasantham Tharum Maalai" But her fams shot among the Tamil song fans and the educated bracket for singing Bharathiyar songs in Naam Iruvar. "Solai Malar Oliyo" is the song that was liked by many. "Kannnil Theriyum oru Thotram" is yet another song that shot into popularity.

We may remember another famous film of AVM- Vaazhkai, where TS B sang some songs, but those songs did not become greatr hits. The only famous song here is the Uzhavan Nadagam song. It was Parasakthy that made her most popular from 1952.

TS Bagawathy would always be associated with Parasakthy for the good songs she gave there-

1.Ilvazhviniley Oli Yetrum Dheepam (With Hussein)
2.Poomalai Neeye
3.Porule Illarkku Thollaiyaam
4. Konjum Mozhi Sollum
5. Ellroum Vazha Vendum

SO these five songs of Parasakthy are songs for different emotions- kathal, thalattu, sogam, thathuvam. Ultimately the sad songs became most famous on account of the emotions that she was able to sucessfuly deliver in those songs.With the kick of her sad songs in Parasakthy, the cine world trade-marked her for sad songs. For a decade at least TSB had been singing mainly sad songs.

SAD SONGS
Following her fame for singing sad songs in Parasakthy, C. S. Jayaraman made her sing "Thatti Parithaar En Vaazhvil" and "Pengaley Ulaka Penkaley" in the film Ratha Kanneer. Thencame Malayitta Mangai of Kannadasan. In this film she sang "Purappadu maganey Purappadada" Kannadasan used her again in another sad song in his film Sivagengai Seemai. The sad thalattu song sung along with S. Varalachumy is "Tendral Vanthu Veesatho"

Then she sang another song in Kavalai Illatha Manithan-Kannodu Vin Pesum Jaadai, along with GK Vengkadesh. This song did not become popular.

In Kairasi, Govarthanam-the brother of Sudarsanam made her sing a song with P.Leela-"Paalilum Thenilum Suvai Ethu" a very melodious song.

By this time TS Bagawathy was showing reluctance in singing for the cinemas for two reasons- firstly her songs were no more becoming hits, and secondly the producers were not good paymasters as far as she was concerned. So she went back to radio.

Therfore, TS Bagawathy became famous for singing sad songs, and her era was short lived. To recapitulate, Parasakthy will always be associated with TS Bagawathy.