Sex, separation and tamil film songs...
Hooked on Phoenix
Vedam Puthitu, I definitly wanted to comment on sex and film songs.
There are clearly two forms of expressing or portraying sex in film
songs. Sex per se is taboo in Indian films as a whole, and songs are
one of the modes of expressing the ssame.
The most common, direct and acceptable way would be to have a cabret
or a fantasy, that is titlliating and is almost directly sexual. Though this
sells tickets and appeals to the prurient mind, it is often misconceived
that sex, which we are all a direct by product off, and is nature, is
very shameful or sinful, like the fallacy ( or should it be Phallusy).
Viraha is separation, not just sexual discontent, as somebody wrongly
interpreted it. Sex, may be on of the modes of expressing love, but
lack of unfulfillment of any kind can be viraha. Therefore you could have
viraha, even among brother-sister, radha-krishna, nala-damayanthi, so on
and so forth.
It all depends whether the arrows of Cupid are golden, like in fraternal
love, or leaden like in carnal love. Neither are inherently right or
wrong.
If one takes the example of the movie Mudhal Mariyadhai, it is in
my opnion the greatest love story that modern tamil cinema has depicted.
The songs in it are sensual and laden with sexual innuendoes.
But to the mature and romantic mind, it is the idealistic love, of every
dissatisfied lover. But that does not mean, that the censor, borad and the
broadcast authorities, have turned a blind eye.
When it was on the silver screen, it was uncensored, as the rights of
admission was reserved to adults only, but however when it was shown
as the national regional movie on one sunday afternoon, I was shocked
at the baltant censorship.
The song "Andhe nilave thana kaille pudichen endhen raajivekkagge.."
was censored.
The lines:
Oddiva odda pakkum odhangalam medhuvaagge
Maasithille mundre naal porrukunnum poduvaagge"
I am not sure what it was changed too, but it was obvious since it was
being subtitled, and children would be watching it, it was unsuitable for
the living room.
The point I am trying to make is songs like the above in the same
movie, and ones like: "raathirill poothirukkum thamarai than penno
raajesuggam thedi vaarum soodividdum kanno"
Or even " Pootiveeche maaligge mottu, poothirrku vekkethi vittu"
are all laden with double meanings. Though they are sensual, they are in
no manner wrong or vulgar, like a cabaret number, with the gyrations and
moanings of a sultry siren.
Sex is maligned focal point of our lives, and movies portray our rather
unlived and often unattainable fantasies. To brand such songs a sexual
or social misdemeanour, is unbecoming of the romancers in us.
It is to be handled maturely handled by adults, and not learned in street
corners, or high school bathrooms. The same should have a place in cinema
music and literature, in non judgemental fashion. Therefore sexual innuendoes
in music is not prurient or immoral.
Kaathal arputhamanthe.............
regards
gopa
--
Gopakumar Venugopalan
"..to be a rock and not to roll." Long Live rock and roll.
"I shall not be a member of any club that accepts me"-Groucho Marx