Its hard when you have a body of work that is more than 900 plus songs to his credit in Malayalam Cinema, and most of them compete with each other on your favorites’ list. Right from the first composition in Kalam Maarunnu (1955), “Aa Malarpoyikayil”, a duet – sung by KS George and K Sulochana, it becomes a delightful exercise every time I try to compile my favorite 10 songs of ONV. I think ONV had two great associations for the collective number of films collaborated, when it came to making great songs for cinema, G.Devarajan and Salil Choudhari.
Even though, they were so different in their sensibilities and mainly the language, ONV’s genius adapted to both the Maestros, churning out hit after hit, knowing exactly what the “situation” demanded of him, and how it would turn out after the ‘final mix.’ Another one who almost equalled ONV in this dexterity of creativity must have been Girish Puthenchery, who passed away in the prime of his career.
Surprisingly, the ONV-Devarajan combination came together for only around 20-odd films, I guess, and it was around 16 films with Salilda.
Here are my favorites, for the moment.
Song: Manikya Veenayumaayen
Film : Kaattupookkal (1965).
Sung by : KJ Yesudas
Music : G. Devarajan.
Song : Oruvattam koodiyen
Film : Chillu (1982).
Sung by : KJ Yesudas
Music : MB Sreenivasan
ONV speaks about the creative exercise that went behind this classic here and here.
Song : Vathil pazhuthiluden
Film : Idanaazhiyil oru Kaalocha (1987).
Sung by : KJ Yesudas
Music : Dakshinamoorthi
Song : Maane Maane
Film : Swapnam (1973).
Sung by : KJ Yesudas
Music : Salil Choudhary
I have written a bit about the story behind the song here.
Song : Arikil Nee Undayirunnengil
Film : Neeyethra Dhanya (1987).
Sung by : KJ Yesudas
Music : G.Devarajan
Song : Manjal Prasaadavum
Film : Nakhakshathangal (1986).
Sung by : KS Chithra
Music : Ravi Bombay
Song : Thozhuthu madangum
Film : Aksharangal (1984).
Sung by : Unni Menon
Music : Shyam
Song : Saagaramey Shanthamaaku Nee
Film : Madanolsavam (1978).
Sung by : KJ Yesudas
Music : Salil Choudhary
Song : Indupushpam
Film : Vaishali (1988).
Sung by : KS Chithra
Music :Ravi Bombay
ONV received the National Award for Vaishali’s song compositions.It must have been this, specifically that floored thee judges..:)
Song : Aathmaavil Muttivilichathu
Film : Aranyakam (1988).
Sung by : KJ Yesudas
Music : Raghunath Seth
OLD MALAYALAM CINEMA 
oru narupushpamai…from meghamalhar is just awsome
I like only two songs from the list. One is ‘Oru vattam koodiyen’. Second is ‘Arikil nee undayirunnenkil’. Both these are superb compositions. The rest are pedestrian poems with sweet sounding words jumping one upon another creating confused imagery.
Would like to get the full text of “Thanalvirikkan kuda nivarthi ……. vasantham”.
Here you ago Aby.
Text courtesy Dr Susie. Be sure to thank her.
തണല്‍ വിരിക്കാന്‍ കുട നിവര്‍ത്തും
സൗവ്വര്‍ണ്ണ വസന്തം…
തണല്‍ വിരിക്കാന്‍ കുട നിവര്‍ത്തും
സൗവ്വര്‍ണ്ണ വസന്തം
എന്‍ മഞ്ചാടി മോഹങ്ങള്‍ മഞ്ചാടി മോഹങ്ങള്‍
വിതറി വീഴും വസന്തം
തണല്‍ വിരിക്കാന്‍ കുട നിവര്‍ത്തും
സൗവ്വര്‍ണ്ണ വസന്തം
പൂവിന്‍ ദലങ്ങള്‍ക്കു വിരിയാതെ വയ്യാ
കാറ്റിന്‍ താളത്തില്‍ തളിരിനു കുണുങ്ങാതെ വയ്യ (പൂവിന്‍)
അല്ലിനൊന്നു നിറം പൊത്തി പുലരാതെ വയ്യ
അല്ലലിന്‍ സന്ധ്യകള്‍ക്കു ആടാതെ വയ്യ (തണല്‍)
നിന്‍ കൈ തൊടും നേരം കുളിരാതെ വയ്യ
എന്തേ പൂന്തേനും ലഹരിയും പകരാതെ വയ്യ (നിന്‍ കൈ)
ഉള്ളിന്‍ ഉള്ളില്‍ എനിക്കെന്നെ തിരയാതെ വയ്യ
ഉണ്മ തന്‍ മുന്നില്‍ വിങ്ങി വാടാതെ വയ്യ (തണല്‍)
Thanks..cinematters
my favorite ARE definitely maanikya veenayumayen… (from KAATTUPOOKKAL do you know, after this movie, it took many years for O N V – DEVARAJAN team to re unite for aNOTHER movie..)
ENTE MANN VEENAYIL KOODANAYAN from NERAM PULARUMBOL,
KUNNIMANI CHEPPU THURANNENNI NOKKUM from PONMUTTA IDUNNA THAARAVU,
MAZHAVILKODI KAAVADI from SWAPNAM
puzhayorazhakulla pennu from ENTE NANDINIKKUTTIYKKU..
I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER O N V- M B SREENIVASAN SONGS FROM ULKADAL,
O N V -SALIL DA songs for AIR HOSTESS, SAMAYAMAAYILLA POLUM,
O N V – DEVARAJAN songs of NEELAKKANUKAL (VAYALAR also wrote songs for this film)
Dear Gopalji,
That’s a great set of favorites, and am pretty much sure, your favorites would again re-organise maybe 5 years down the line. Its so difficult picking out the firsts from so many equals :). I have taken the liberty of adding the song videos alongwith your set..let that be another post on Favorites of ONV’s creations in itself, for others..Thanks..cinematters
I have to sing a song for a program and I chose ONV songs because he is a legend in the music field. I really cannot choose between Oruvattam kudiyen ormakal & arikil nee undayirunenkil
Hi Elina,
Thank you for passing through and writing in. Regarding your ‘dilemma’, I would say that you choose it according to the context of the occasion/program. Oruvattam Koodiyan essentially expresses sheer nostalgia and the deep desire to travel back in time all things fond, while Arikil nee is an amazing, moving soliloquy that expresses a dear friend’s pining at his/her best friend’s absence…Hope this helps a bit.All the very best for that performance. regards..cinematters
ONV Sir associated with MBS in many films. We can never forget “Manthram pole”, “Bharathamuni”, “Pokkuveyil” etc. Please visit site on MBS: http://www.mbsreenivasan.com
Hi Vikas,
Thank you for that update. I am aware of his collaborations with the great MBS – who could ever forget his compositions from Chillu for starters? I am also aware of the collaborative effort that built that website too. In fact I have mentioned about this great association at relevant occassion, here is one of them, about Chillu. Thanks once again, CM
I AM HAPPY THAT I WAS A STUDENT UNDER SRI ONV KURUP IN TRIVANDRUM UNIVERSITY COLLEGE .I FEEL IT AS A GREAT PRIVILEGE TO BE A STUDENT OF SUCH A GREAT MAN
Hi,
I am deeply jealous 🙂 Maestros like him are almost rare. I have had the privilege to be a part of the audience a couple of times in my College days, during the Silent Valley agitation and once in Trivandrum – he is also a clear, powerful and poetic orator too. Hope you liked what you read through at Old Malayalam Cinema and thank you for sharing..Have a great day..CM
never forget onv sir and his songs
Dear Asainar,
Totally agree with your sentiment. Maestros like ONV are forever, leaving their legacy for the coming generations in a way few can even match upto. Come to think of it, if somebody asks me now to name my 10 favourite ONV lyrics, it would be a completely different set. Thank you for passing through and leaving your impressions on the same.
And I would love to know what would be your 10 favourites are.. Regards.. CM