Monday, August 17, 2009

The language barrier

There is a debate in the 'Mallu' music world about the latest super hit song 'Picha Vecha Naal'.

It revolves around 'Shankar Mahadeven' the versatile singer, who has sung this Malayalam song from the movie 'Puthiya Mugam'.

Many feel that the pronunciation is bad !! The consensus is that Shankar has done a great job with the 'Feel' ...but missed out in pronunciation.

That's makes me wonder. Why didn't Deepak Dev ask a Mallu singer to sing this song...why Shankar?

Honestly, I don't know why.

I've seen this happen in Tamil for a long long time ! Music directors would prefer a Sadhana Sargam or a Shreya Ghosal or a Sonu Nigam or a Udit Narayan to tons of local singers ! Result - songs with pathetic Tamil pronunciation.

Why ? Is it the Money? No idea !!

Look at Hindi on the other hand. It's hard for a singer like Chinmayi / Benny Dayal to get more opportunities in Hindi. I doubt if anyone would give them a chance outside AR. RAHMAN ?


However - I am surprised how Rahman manages to dominate Bollywood !

Why is the non-Hindi audience more receptive to non-native singers? Can someone help me please?

4 comments:

Ravi said...

NV Sir, I think the problem lies with appreciating a language. I feel many these days are unable to pronounce Tamil properly inspite of Tamil being their mother tongue esp the difference between 'La' and 'la'. So obviously unless there are people like us who also take an interest in the language, people do not see this grave error! But I find most Malayalees have a good tongue and similarly Hindi speaking people too know the differences between the different sounds (ta, Ta etc.). But whatever said and done, its sad to hear singers murder the langugage (be it any language)!

Narayanan Venkitu said...

Ravi - You are right about 'appreciation'. It's truly a sad state.

My worry - Really talented local singers are sidelined for Shreya, Sadhana, Udit Narayan etc.

புருனோ Bruno said...

//However - I am surprised how Rahman manages to dominate Bollywood !//

Talent and Dedication

புருனோ Bruno said...

/Why is the non-Hindi audience more receptive to non-native singers? Can someone help me please?//

it is called as பெருந்தன்மை of non hindi people

also termed as இளிச்சவாய்த்தனம் !!