5 Malayalam songs that are utterly incorrect in today’s era
Stalking is common in Indian cinema. While Malayalam has striven to rise above the boy-chases-girl scenes, that abound in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu, the fact remains that the industry has given some fantastic songs that celebrate wooing.
In the now #MeToo era, they are of course politically incorrect, yet in public consciousness, they remain loveable, and cringeworthy, as the case maybe.
While there is so much hue and cry about men pestering women in real-life, the songs that thrive on such acts that violate the decency of women — albeit in poetic notes — are aplenty. Here is a quick look at 5 songs that (come to memory), have been popular but stand out for the high MCP syndrome:
1. Madhakathidambe Madirakshi from Rajaneegandhi (1980)
Well, do we need to say more than the lyrics; while it thrives in poetic richness, Yousufali Kecheri’s lines sure would not go down well with women who are fighting their commoditization. How dare, they may ask, can this guy say, if the lips are begging for a kiss? To the music of G Devarajan, the singer (KJ Yesudas) goes on to suggest that a veena that does not know the caress of the fingers may or may not have music; ha, the beauty of being suggestive would be lost today. The film stars Madhu and Lakshmi and is directed by M Krishnan Nair.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wpsKhxCbPQ
2. Thankabhasmakuriyitta from Koottukudumbam (1969)
Vayalar-G Devarajan’s song minces no words is the intention of the hero — what else is this but a veiled threat that he is going to molest her and even break her Monday vrith (Sanghs, please note). After that, the singer (KJ Yesudas) goes on to describe their age-old love in arguably one of the best nostalgic lines on past-love. But hey, on face value, this is a song no feminist must let go. How dare the man! The film is directed by KS Sethumadhavan and stars Prem Nazir and Jayabharathi.
3. Maane Madhurakarimbe from Pinnilavu (1983)
Directed by PG Vishwambharan, this song might well be remembered for the hilarious dance attempt by Mammootty. But the superhit song by Yusufali Kecheri, composed by Ilayaraja, and sung by KJ Yesudas, will not pass down well in today’s era. Come one, after all, isn’t the man calling out to the woman and referring to her as a ‘sugarcane?’ Damn! How low can you go in objectifying women? And what more, he assumes that cast in the spell of his love, the girl is utterly tongue-tied. No, no, this can’t happen.
4. Kavilinayil Kumkumamo from Vandanam (1989)
The best stalker song in Malayalam, undisputedly, the political incorrectness of the song might not be overlooked in the #MeToo era. After all, here is the hero (Mohanlal), for whatever reason, stalking the girl — from home to office — and even daring to chase her around in the streets. Penned by Shibu Chakravarthy and composed by Ouseppachan, the song by MG Sreekumar is remarkably breezy, made all the more endearing by Mohanlal. But hey, you can’t be doing this ok? This girl has outright rejected you and, if you dare to say that word once more, as Jayan said, we (the women) (have all the right to) pull out your bloody tongue!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adiSC6zLIcU
5. Pranaswaram, hridaywaswaram from Nanayam (1983)
Director IV Sasi’s film, which is one of the 55 odd films in which Mammootty and Mohanlal had teamed up, is an outright outburst at ‘womanhood’ indeed if you consider that these two handsome hunks of the time have assembled a motely gang and are ‘threatening’ to abduct the girl right under the nose of her father. What more, Mohanlal, right in the opening of eth film, even outlines the figure of the girl! Mahapapi, indeed. By the way, if you notice, the dance steps are hogged by Mohanlal. And hey, in those days, it seems, women did love this attention as you can see Poornima smiling. The song is sung by P Jayachandran and Krishnachandran, and written by Poovachal Khader, and composed by Shyam.
