Iniyethra Naal (original composition)

I am not an expert in music and I don't have even the basic ideas of the raaga/classical system. However, I love to compose songs occasionally. The first time I composed a song was many years back. It was a devotional song. It happened this way - our Church choir had an A grade in those days at All India Radio, Thrissur station. We were occasionally invited to the AIR studio to record songs for Easter or Christmas days. The songs had to be original works.

Once we had an invitation to record for the Easter week. Our main composer, George chettan, was kind of busy with working for albums and he could not do all the songs. There were about 5 to 6 songs scheduled for the recording session. So he asked if anybody had any songs composed and ready to orchestrate. My friend Lindsie knew that I had composed two devotional songs and she mentioned that to him [I owe you for that, Linu! :-)]. I presented the songs before him, both which I wrote and composed. He liked the songs and agreed to orchestrate it.

The recording on that day at All India Radio, Thrissur is an unforgettable moment of my life. It was my first studio experience ever. The AIR studio used (I don't know if they still use it) old recording techniques, so there was no studio softwares or punch-in options. If you misspell even just one word or go out of tune in one place, you would have to sing the entire song from the beginning to end. I was totally nervous (as I always am when I sing) but somehow managed to sing the songs.

I was so happy that day that I could sing my own song at AIR. I was even more happy when I listened to the song at my neighbor's house through their radio (we did not have a radio in our house then). My heart nearly burst out when I heard the announcer saying my name and the song's name before the song was played. I wanted to scream to the world that this is my song that you are hearing through All India Radio. The song I wrote, composed and sang [ Listen to the song here - not the original version, re-recorded many years later]. Unfortunately, I couldn't get hold of a recorded version of the original. After many years, when I went to learn Karnatik music, I made my teacher listen to the song and he said that the song was based on Hamsadhwani. I had no idea of what raaga it was.

Now that's a long introduction. Coming to the topic, I composed a song recently for a short film being directed by a friend's friend. Here is the situation of the song as I learned from my friend:

The girl hasn't met the boy yet. She has only heard so much about him. He is a revolutionary kinda person and she develops a heroic crush towards him. He is in jail. Even though they haven't met each other yet, she begins to love him after she learns a about him from his family etc, and waits for him to return from jail. So this is not a sad song. This song is about waiting, but involves the pain of love. So I kept all of these in mind when I composed.

The song is written by Retheesh from Malappuram. I met him first at my house when he came in with the lyrics and explained the song situation. His beautiful lines inspired me to come up with the tune in a short span of time. He made several changes to the lyrics on my request. Orchestration was done by Rajith, a keyboard player who also owns a small studio in Thrissur. He has done an awesome job and made this song to what I had imagined it to be. When I requested Divya S Menon (who needs no introduction to the music blogging world) to sing the song, she happily agreed and did a wonderful job on the vocals. My thanks to all of them.

I sent this song to two of my close friends in the field of music and both of them gave me positive reviews. One said that the song fits the description very well and the other said that I should quit my job and become a full time music director. My thanks to you guys for your kind feedback. :-)

Now, I leave the song to you guys to listen. Let me know how you like it. When the music video gets ready, I will post it here.

Song: Iniyethra Naal (Malayalam)
Lyrics: Ratheesh
Composed by: Joseph Thomas (Jo)
Orchestrated by: Rajith
Singer: Divya S Menon



Download the song here


Iniyethra Naal (original composition) | Music Upload

Picha Vacha Naal from Puthiya Mukham

Perhaps after Kangal Irandaal, this is one song that keeps me hooked to my iPod and I never get tired of listening to it. Such a beautiful, melodious song from Deepak Dev and it seems to be the come-back of Deepak after a short interval. This song is already a huge hit across Kerala. One thing I like about the orchestration of this song is that the vocals do not get miffed in the background music. It has very minimal use of background music so that the vocals is clear when you hear it. And this one is sung by the versatile Shankar Mahadevan and the Shankar - Deepak has made this song forever hit. Here is my humble attempt in singing "Picha Vacha Naal Muthal" from Puthiya Mukham.

Sally is a long time friend of mine and also the elder sister of Jessica, whose song I published in my old blog. Sally thought this song would suit me and requested to sing it. Here is the song for you, Sal. :-)

And many thanks to Rosh for the karaoke track. She knew I love this song and sent me the karaoke. Thanks!

Song: Picha Vacha Naal Muthal
Movie: Puthiya Mukham
Music: Deepak Dev
Original singer: Shankar Mahadevan
Sung by: Joseph Thomas (Jo)
Karaoke provided by: Roshni

Paalapoovithalil (cover)

Here is a song from the Malayalam movie Thirakkatha. The album marks the come back of music director Sharath to the Malayalam cinema after a break. This is a duet song and I did it myself. :-)

Movie: Thirakkatha
Music: Sharath
Original singers: Nishad, Swetha
Covered by: Joseph Thomas (Jo)

Download MP3 of "Paala poovithalil (cover)"

Kaadhal Kavithaigal

I feel the pure bliss that only music can give when I listen to a melodious song from Ilaiyaraja. Thanks to Ramya, I got to listen to this beautiful song for the first time. This is my first duet with Ramya, who's a good singer and got a beautiful voice.

Movie: Gopura vasalile
Music: Maestro Ilayaraja
Originally sung by: SPB, Chitra
Covered by: Ramya & Joseph Thomas (Jo)

Download "Kaadhal Kavithaigal (cover)" MP3 from here (6.94 MB)

A Jim Reeves song

I do not need a particular day for music, because I breathe and live with music everyday. Everyday is a music day for me. Music is my best stress-buster, music is my first love, music is my best friend and music is the way I connect to God. The world music day reminds me that music has no barrier of language or region or religion. Music is universal. And I think music lovers should open themselves to listen to all kinds of music to broaden their experience of music. Because there is no such thing called bad music. It is all related to how much a person can appreciate a certain form of music and it is some artists or bands who make the music sound bad.

Fellow music blogger and a good singer himself Mr. N V Krishnan suggested that I should sing some songs by Jim Reeves. He thought that it would suit me well, after he listened to my song Let Them Sleep. He suggested a few songs and I listened to one of the songs yesterday. I loved it, particularly the lyrics, and recorded it straight away. So here is my song for the world music day, dedicated to N V K. Special thanks to George for the karaoke track.

Song: I Won't Forget You
Original Singer: Jim Reeves
Covered by: Joseph Thomas (Jo)

Download I Won't Forget You by Jim Reeves (3.15 MB)

Kandu Njaan - from Abhimanyu (cover)

Here is a rough recording of one of my favorite songs. I did not try to edit out the breathing noise or lip movements. Just wanted to sing it, since I love this song so much. :-)

Song: Kandu Njaan Mizhikalil
Movie: Abhimanyu
Music: Raveendran
Original Singer: M G Sreekumar
Covered by: Joseph Thomas (Jo)

Download MP3 of Kandu Njaan from Abhimanyu (3.49 MB)


Kandu Njaan (unplugged) | Online recorder

Ek Meetha Marz Dene - Welcome to Sajjanpur

I have been away from singing and recording for a while. Thanks to the regular sinus attacks I get. :-) Anyways, here is a song that I liked in the recent past - Ek Meetha Marz Dene from the movie Welcome to Sajjanpur. Mohit Chauhan is a singer whom I adore right from his Silk Route days. It is a pity that Silk Route isn't active these days. But fortunately for Mohit, he gets to sing some nice songs. I liked the movie too, with Shreyas Talpade's wonderful job in the lead role. Set in a village, the movie was a relief from the usual urban/NRI junk that the so called Bollywood churns out every year. And after watching the Khans and Bachans, Talpade seems to be a unique and original actor.

Anyways, here is my try on this song. Lemme know what you think.

Movie: Welcome to Sajjanpur
Music: Shantanu Moitra
Original singer(s): Mohit Chauhan, Madhushree
Covered by: Joseph Thomas (Jo)

Download Ek Meetha Marz Dene (my version) here


Ek Meetha Marz (cover) | Music Upload

Sundariye Chempaka Malare

Vishu reminds me of three things - kaNi konna, vishukkaTTa and my Mother's birthday. :-) During the months of March and April, you would see the golden flowers of kaNi konna everywhere in Kerala and just the sight of the bloomed konna is a treat to eyes. Vishukkatta is the traditional Vishu special delicacy of Kerala homes. I remember that there was Mohan chettan and his younger brother Unni chettan who were friends of my elder brothers. They used to bring Vishukkatta on Vishu days in my early childhood and it was so yummy! I don't know how many homes still prepare Vishukkatta these days. And today is my Mother's birthday. She has just turned 73.

Here is wishing all Malayalee readers/listeners of this blog a wonderful Vishu day (with lots of Kaineettam :-) ) and all prosperity throughout the year.

And here is a song which I have sung with Rashmi Nair.

Film: Panthayakozhy
Lyricist: Sarath Vayalar
Music: Alex paul
Covered by: Joseph Thomas, Rashmi Nair

Download MP3 of "Sundariye Chempaka Malare" (my version)


Sundariye Chempaka Malare (with Rashmi) | Upload Music

Easter song

"Yahovayaam Daivamen" is my most favorite devotional song of all times. In my Church choir days, I used to pick this song to sing for Holy Communion. I love this song, for it talks about a loving and supportive God instead of a punishing and destructive one that the Old Testament usually talks about. This song is a Malayalam translation of Psalm 23 and it is written and composed by A J Joseph for the album Sneha Pratheekam and sung by Yesudas. The lyrics of the song also instills Hope in life, like Easter, which is why I picked this song for the day. Easter gives us hope, that there is light at end of darkness and there is rising after you have fallen.

Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free. - Shawshank Redemption

Here is wishing all the readers and listeners of this blog, the Hope and blessings of this Easter.

Album: Sneha Pratheekam
Lyrics, Music: A J Joseph
Original singer: Yesudas
Covered by: Joseph Thomas (Jo)


Easter Song | Upload Music

Vrischika Penne (cover)

It has been a long time since I have sung and old Malayalam song. Here is a fun song, composed by the legendary music director Salil Chowdhary, from the Malayalam movie Thoma Sleeha. I sang this one with Vidyu, one of the most amazing singers in the online world. Thanks to Vidyu for suggesting this song.

Film: ThomaSleeha
Lyrics: Vayalar
Music: Salil Choudhary
Original singer(s): Yesudas, Sabitha Chouwdhary
Cover by: Jo and Vidyu

Download the song MP3 here (3.28 MB)


A Salil Chowdhary song | Upload Music

Thendral Vandhu Ennai Thodum (cover)

Here is my first duet with Meena. A beautiful song by IR. Thanks to Meena for suggesting this song.

Song: Thendral Vandhu Ennai Thodum

Movie: Thendrale Ennai Thodu (Tamil)

Music: Ilaiyaraja

Original Singers: K J Yesudas, S Janaki

Covered by: Jo, Meena

Download this song MP3 from here (3.7 MB)

Thendral Vandhu Ennai Thodum | Upload Music

Jotheyali from Geetha (cover)

Here is a Kannada song again. It was Sindhuja who had suggested to sing this song. She sent me the lyrics with English translation, corrected many of my diction issues, sent emails back and forth to work out on the mix and finally lend her beautiful vocals for the song. Thank you Sindhu!

Jotheyali is a beautiful song, yet another example of Ilaiyaraja's amazing talent. The beautiful interludes in this song are a gem of a work. Listen to this and let us know what you think.

Song: Jotheyali (Kannada)
Movie: Geetha
Music: Ilaiyaraja
Original singers: SPB, Janaki
Cover by: Joseph Thomas (Jo) and Sindhuja

Download MP3 of this song


Jotheyali | Upload Music

Nenjukkul Peythidum - Vaaranam Aayiram

Nenjukkul Peythidum is a beautiful love song that I heard in the recent times, perhaps after my last year's favorite Kangal Irandhaal. This song is so out of the world in the magical voice of Hariharan ji and it has been pictured very well too. Now it goes to the list of my favorite Hariharan songs - Uyire (Bombay), Nahin Saamne (Taal) and Dhimi Dhimi (1947 Earth). I tried to do a cover and here is how it sounds. :-)

Song: Nenjukkul Peythidum (Tamil)
Movie: Vaaranam Aayiram
Music: Harris Jeyaraj
Originally sung by: Hariharan
Cover by: Joseph Thomas (Jo)

Download the MP3 of this song here


Nenjukkul Peythidum (cover) - Vaaranam Aayiram

Let Them Sleep

I have never celebrated a Valentine's Day in my life as I am personally against the idea of such days - be it Valentine's Day, Mother's Day or Father's Day. I mean, you just don't have to wait for a particular day in the year to take your girlfriend/wife out for a dinner, or give her a surprise gift or a bunch of flowers. But that's just me and I don't go around enforcing what I like or dislike upon others. Now with the folks like Sri Ram Sene coming up in arms against Valentine's Day, accusing it as a "Christian festival" (is there any parish celebrating the festival of St: Valentine in India?), "against the culture" and stuff like that, I cannot just sit and say Aye to these goons.

So here is a song dedicated especially to Pramod Mutalik, the chief of Sri Ram Sene. This song is a poem written by the 13th century Persian poet Rumi. I chose Rumi's poem titled "Those who don't feel this Love" as I thought it would be apt for the situation. I particularly liked the lines "those who don't want to change, let them sleep".

Credits:

Lyrics based on a poem by Rumi
Song composed, orchestrated and sung by: Joseph Thomas (Jo)
(Orchestrated with Music Shake)
Download the MP3 file of this song

Let Them Sleep | Upload Music

Those who don't feel this Love
By Rumi

Those who don't feel this Love
pulling them like a river,
those who don't drink dawn
like a cup of spring water
or take in sunset like supper,
those who don't want to change

let them sleep.

This Love is beyond the study of theology,
that old trickery and hypocrisy.
If you want to improve your mind that way

sleep on.

I've given up on my brain.
I've torn the cloth to shreds
and thrown it away.

If you're not completely naked,
wrap your beautiful robe of words around you
and sleep

PS: Excuse my accent :-)

Chaanthu Thottille - Banaras

I was looking for the MP3 files for M Jayachandran's latest, Orkkuka Vallappozhum and I was stumbled upon another recent work from him - Banaras. I was in a hurry to catch my train back to Thrissur and I downloaded a couple of songs from that film. I was happy to find an official karaoke track for one of the songs. That song caught my immediate attention as it was a Dhandiya song. The song name is Chaanthu Thottille and it is sung by my fav singer, Shreya Ghoshal. :-) This must be her second Malayalam song after Vida Parayukayaano from Big B. I listened to the song multiple times when I was lying down in the train. Then I thought, why not sing a male version of the song?

As soon as I got a breather in the late evening on Saturday, I learned the song and recorded it. I have changed the lyrics a bit to make it suitable for the male vocals part. Let me know how it sounds. :-)

Song: Chaanthu Thottille
Movie: Banaras (Malayalam)
Music: M Jayachandran
Original singer: Shreya Ghoshal

Download MP3 file of this song


Banaras - Chaanthu Thottille | Upload Music

(Image courtesy: IndiaGlitz)

Yamuna Veruthe from Ore Kadal

It has been a very long time (almost 2 months) since I have sung or recorded anything. The change in the climate did not go well with me and the sinusitis took this chance to attack me all over. I had no choice but to keep quiet. This week seemed to be better and I couldn't wait any longer. :-) Today after coming back from work, I recorded one of my favorite songs from the recent times - Yamuna Veruthe - again. Everything about this song is so beautiful - the lyrics, the music and the wonderful renditions by music director Ouseppachan himself and the Shreya Goshal of Malayalam, Swetha Mohan. :-)

I had posted an unplugged version of this song earlier. You can check it out at my music blog. Also thanks a lot to Rosh for sharing the karaoke track. This song is also my first music post in the new year. Hoping to get back to my song posts here onwards. :-)

Movie: Ore Kadal

Lyrics: Gireesh Puthenchery

Music: Ouseppachan

Original singer: Ouseppachan

Sung by: Joseph Thomas (Jo)

Requested by / Dedicated to: Rosh

Download the MP3 of this song

Yamuna Veruthe (with karaoke track) | Music Codes