Songs in Films of Puttana, An Integral part of his Cinemas

MY  TOP  15  SONGS  IN 23  FILMS  OF  PUTTANNA

In  My previous  Blog on  some  interesting  aspects  of  Puttanna and  his  films, one of points I touched was how  important and  critical  were  Songs in most of  Puttanna films, in this  edition, I  am attempting a  tough task of  picking  the  Top 15  songs  across  his  23  films, this is  in no Particular order of  top most , next  one etc  I have  just gone  by  order in which  his  films  were released  from  1966  to 1984.

1)Let us  begin with his  first  film, BELLI MODA, some fabulous  songs , but my choice  will be  the S Janaki  Solo,  Shri Da Ra Bendre's  poem based song, Mudala Maneya, simple music with out too much orchestra ( credit to  Vijay Bhaskar) , great singing  and  most important , great picturization by the  ace  director.

2)Next  one  is  from his  Fourth Film,  GEJJE POOJE, again Vijay Bhaskar musical, top songs, my pick is  the one which has both Male  version ( PBS) and  Female  version ( S Janaki) , Panchama Veda Premada Nada , written by  Vijaya Narasimha ( Point to note, in this  film, all 3  lyricists were used,RNJ and  Uday Shankar  , other  two). Other  song Gaganavu  Ello  was  very much in race too..

3)KARULINA KARE , was  first time  composer M  Ranga  Rao, worked  with  Puttanna. Unlike  most of his  other  films,  this  film did  not have  too memorable  music track, but song  I have choosen , is  evergreen, even today popular   and  is  a  Must  during , Dussera, yes you have  guessed it, Mysore Dushrera Yeshtondu Sundara..  by  PBS. Interesting, all  songs of  this  film were written  by RNJ.

4)and 5 ) Next  film  is  SHARAPANJARA,  I consider this  as  his Best  Musical  album, again by  Vijay  Bhaskar, each one of  six  songs  were  just outstanding , so I am  compelled  to go with two songs  from  this  film, both duets by PBS  and  P Susheela, Kodagina  Kaveri, written by his  elder  brother, Kanagal Prabhakar  Shastry  and  second  one  another  gem from Da  Ra Bendre's poetry, Uttara  Dhruvadin Dakshina Dhruva ku.

6)SAAKSATKARA, M Ranga Rao worked  with him,  for  second time, last time  Dr  Rajkumar worked  with  Puttanna, all  5  beautiful songs, written by Kangal Prabhakar  Shastry .My  choice,  Ollave Jeevan Sakshtkara, the  duet, sadder  version  by PBS  and  P Susheela.We  need  to mention the other 3  Other  Solos  by Susheela  was  equally  great, so  Tough  choice.

7) and 8 )NAAGARA HAAVU, what can one  say  about  this film, easily best  of Puttanna, and  huge  credit to Vijay Bhaskar for  making this  a great  musical  success  too. Again  each of  its  songs  were  just out of  this  world, I have  choosen two, first  one   , Haavina  Dwesha  , angry Young  Man  Vishnu spitting  Venom, and  first  time  SPB sings  for Puttana and  never  looked back. Second  one,  first  Slow Motion song picturised  ever in India, PBS  Singing, Baare  Baare Chendada ..  Both  the songs are  lyrical  gems  from Vijaya  Narasimha.

9)Eddakallu Goodada Melle, only film  Jayanthi worked  with  Puttanna  as  a leading lady, MRanga Rao's  third  film with him,  song I have  choosen  is perhaps  one of most  soulful song   ever  in  Kannada films  , picturised   so  effectivley and  enacted  Brilliantly  by Jayanti, Viraha Nooru Nooru Taraha,  sung by  P Susheela  and  written by  Vijay  Narasimha.

10)Next  I jump  to  SHUBAMANGALA,  again a  complete  musical  album, composed by Vijay Bhaskar, each of  its  songs  deserves  to be in TOP 15,  but I have  choosen this  song,  for  2  reasons, one  for  its  Lyrics ( Vijay Narasimha) and  second it was  sung by  a  Non  Regular  singer, RN Sudhrashan,  Hoovondu Bali  Bandu  Tagithu Yen  Yedaya..  Point  to note in this  film, MN Vyasa Rao  wrote  two  songs  , first  time  for  a  Puttanna  film.

11)BILLI  HENDTAHI, a  path breaking  film  with an Unusal story ,and  well  directed  one. This  film did  not have  any  song in male  voice, Vijay Bhaskar  Music, again written By Vijay Narsimha and  it is a  female  duet,  Kastruri  Shankar  singing for  Aarti  and  Vani  Jayaram, singing in English Accent for  the  Billi Hendathi, Rangena Halli  Aage..

12)Next  song, personally  I  feel  this  is  THE  BEST  Puttana song, so  my Choice  of  # 1( can be debated  by many ) , Upendra  Kumars  only film with  Puttanna, DHARMASERE, again a  very sensitive  film,  a  duet  by SPB and  Janaki, such  outstanding singing by  both, Ee  Sambashene Nanna Ee  Prema  Sambashene ..  You can listen  to this  song, any number  of  times, once  again

wriiten  By  Vijaya Narasimha.

13)and 14 ) MANASA SAROVARA, another  land mark  film, come back  for  Srinath, he co produced  it also, new  actress  introduced, Padma Vasanthi  and  again  outstanding Music  by Vijay Bhaskar. Forced  to  select  2  songs, first  one just for  its  Lyrics ( By  Poet  GS  Shiva Rudraapa) and  simple  but soulful  Singing by  PBS,  Vedanti  Helidanu  Honnala  Mannu.  Second  one  is  perhaps  best  SPB  has  sung  any time,  Such high notes  and  different level of  singing, Neene Sakida  Gini.. written  by again,  Vijaya  Narasimha.

15)The  last one  in the list, had  to choose  this, from Film  AMRUTHA GALIGE,  by both Jayachandran  and  BR  Chaya ( Introduced  thro this  film) , Hindustanvu Endu  Mareyada Bharata Ratnavu Ninnagu,  again a  combination of  Vijaya  Bhaskar and  Vijaya  Narasimha.

So  this  is my choice  of  TOP 15, tough  one, if  I  summarise , 3  Songs  of  M Ranga Rao,1  by Upendra  Kumar , and rest  11 Composed by Vijaya Bhaskar. Among  the  lyricists, 1  by  GSS, 1 by RNJ, 2  by Kangal Prabhakar  Shastry,  2  by Da  Ra  Bendre and 9  By  Vijaya  Narasimha,

So  which Song you feel  is  #1  Song of  Puttanna, It  can be  among above  15 or  can be out side  this  list  also,  please  feedback  ( and please  give /write  your name  when you write  back )