'Naan thedum sevanthi poo' is a wonderful composition by Ilaiyaraaja from the film Dharma Pathini, starring Karthik and Jeevitha. It is set in the carnatic raaga of Hindolam, although it has a very non-carnatic rhythm and bass pattern, and can therefore be referred to as a semi-classical composition.
Meendum Kokila (1981), starring Kamal Hassan and Sridevi in the leading roles as a lawyer and a housewife, depicts the struggle of a small family trying to overcome the husband's illicit, short-term affair with an actress. Watch the song 'Chinnanchiru Vayathil' from this movie here:
This film, a debut for both the hero (Karthik) and the heroine (Ratha), depicts the love between two people of different religions. The infatuated couple are forced to fight nail and tooth in order to be able to get married. Watch a comedy scene from the film here:
‘Thillana Mohanambal’ , a timeless gem directed by A.P. Nagarajan, is a musical and visual delight for any bharathanatyam and carnatic music rasika. Starring Sivaji Ganeshan as a Nadhaswaram player who falls in love with the beautiful classical dancer Padmini, bharathanatyam and sangeetham are fundamental parts of this movie, rather than a necessity. Watch 2 songs from this blockbuster below. First Maranthirunthu Parkkum: And Nalam Thaana?:
The 18th anniversary of the deaths of Colonel Kittu (Sathasivam Krishnakumar) and nine other LTTE cadres was marked in several Tamil Diaspora locations last weekend.
The work of young Tamil filmmakers in Canada will be screened this weekend at the Canadian Tamil Film Festival ( CTFF ). The Arts and Culture Council of Canadian Tamil Youth Alliance ( CTYA ) will hosting the screening of films on Saturday Jan. 22 (10am-4pm) at the Markham Civic Centre. The award ceremony is on Sunday at 6.15pm, following the screening of ‘1999’ (2-4pm). Register here for the event. “The event will provide the Tamil artists with a venue to broadcast their talents in the film industry and it will also serve as an encouragement to youth with an interest in the film industry,...
Singapore will introduce a new Tamil-language elective next year for high-ability secondary and junior college students who want to go deeper into the language, its literature and culture, the Straits Times reports . The National Elective Tamil Language Programme (NETP) will be similar to the existing Chinese and Malay language electives, but will not be amongst examined options. Presently examined options include Tamil, Higher Tamil and Tamil literature, alongside similar in Chinese and Malay. The NETP will instead be an enrichment programme with modules ranging from classical and...
Members of the Tamil Youth Organisation in UK gathered in a London park in the early hours Saturday to follow the age old Tamil custom of boiling milk and rice in a traditional clay pot on Pongal day. Photo TYO
Why was the new Tamil movie, Sengadal (Dead Sea), about a journalist’s quest to profile the travails of fishermen from Tamil Nadu and refugees fleeing Sri Lanka, refused a rating by the Chennai Regional Censor Board?
‘Kalyana Then Nila’ from the film Mounam Sammatham, featuring Mammootti and Amala showcases all of Ilaiyaraja's musical abilities in just 4 minutes and 41 seconds. Set in the romantic and evocative raga Darbari Kannada, ‘Kalyana Then Nila’ starts with a soothing rhythm, a beautiful guitar piece which then leads into a short string and flute jughalbandhi. A second’s pause and Yesudas' stunning vocals fill the room. Yesudas is one of those few artists who can make the listener feel and experience the lyrics of the songs. The ease and playfulness with which he entices the listener is almost...