There was an era of South Indian film songs, mostly based on classical and semi-classical music. In the early 1990s, these two ‘Breathless’ South Indian film songs released within a gap of a few months took our breath away. They quickly caught the public’s attention — Mannil Indha Kadhal from Keladi Kanmani (1990), sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, and Ramakadha Gaanalayam from Bharatham (1991), sung by Yesudas.
The iconic breathless songs of South Indian Cinema
Ramakadha Gaanalayam & Mannil Indha Kadhal
Comparisons were drawn between these two songs, rendered by two legends of South Indian film music. Many songs are released every year, so why did these two stand out? Because both were “breathless” songs — a technique that had not been used in these film industries to this extent before.
There had been a few earlier instances of breathless singing in both industries, but not to the level where an entire antara (stanza) was sung in a single breath. Let us discuss.
What is a breathless song?
For Hindi music lovers, the first song that comes to mind is Breathless by Shankar Mahadevan, released in 1998, which made him instantly popular. The song is still loved by music enthusiasts because of the unique style of singing it introduced. It appears to be sung in one continuous breath, with no visible pauses. That clearly defines a breathless song — where a singer renders a few lines or even an entire stanza without any break for breathing.
Both Mannil Indha Kadhal from Keladi Kanmani (1990), sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, and Ramakadha Gaanalayam from Bharatham (1991), sung by Yesudas, used this technique in their respective renditions. That is why these songs are classified as “breathless” and continue to have a separate fan base even three decades after their release. Even today, the singers are often requested to perform these songs during stage shows.
Ramakadha Gaanalayam from Bharatham
2 National awards in the music category
Yesudas is truly a cultural icon of Kerala, and his contribution to Malayalam cinema is immense. If we are asked to list his finest songs, “Ramakadha Gaanalayam” will definitely find a place. It remains one of the most beautiful Malayalam film songs rooted in Carnatic music. The addition of a shehnai piece in the composition highlights the brilliance of music director Raveendran. The lyrics of this iconic “Rama” song were beautifully penned by Kaithapram.
Bharatham is undoubtedly one of Raveendran’s finest works. He received a Special Mention at the National Film Awards for his music and also won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Music Director.
For this song, Yesudas won his sixth National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer — and there was absolutely no competition. Surprisingly, however, he did not receive the Kerala State Award for the same performance.
When we watch the song on screen, it feels as though Mohanlal himself is singing. For a moment, we forget Yesudas. Mohanlal completely lived the character, and for this role he won his first National Film Award for Best Actor. The song is composed in the raga Shubhapantuvarali, which perfectly suits the depth of emotion it carries.
The film is a modern-day adaptation of the epic Ramayana, told from Bharata’s perspective. It explores Bharathan’s dilemma, his hidden sorrow and inner conflict — how he rules the household and shoulders responsibilities in the absence of his elder brother. Just like in the epic, a throne becomes the root of tragedy.
The title Bharatham is perfectly chosen. The film portrays the emotional clash between two talented brothers who are both gifted singers. Eventually, the elder brother accepts and blesses the younger one before setting out on a pilgrimage. He dies during the journey and never returns. When the younger brother learns of his death, he is forced to hide the truth from his family, who are in a joyful mood because of a wedding in the house.
The roles of the brothers were portrayed brilliantly by Nedumudi Venu and Mohanlal.
Mannil Indha Kadhal from Keledi Kanmani
A classic masterpiece
While many speak about how beautifully Yesudas’ voice blends with Mohanlal’s lip-sync (the role which gave Mohanlal the country’s best actor award), in the case of “Mannil Indha Kadhal” there is no such discussion — because S. P. Balasubrahmanyam himself acted in the film. The song portrays the blossoming love between two middle-aged individuals, and SPB did complete justice to it, both as a singer and as an actor.
The song was composed by Ilaiyaraja and set in the Keeravani raga. The lyrics were officially credited to Ilaiyaraaja’s elder brother, Pavalar Varadharajan. However, it was actually written by their younger brother, Gangai Amaran, who chose to give the credit to his elder brother.
Though the song was not entirely recorded in one continuous breath, it was edited to create the effect of a fully breathless rendition. Balasubrahmanyam reportedly took about 25 seconds to sing the first stanza, 40 seconds for the extended breathless portion of the second stanza, and the final 15 seconds after briefly inhaling. Also read the English lyrics and translation of yet another popular romantic song of the duo – Ilaiyaraja & SPB – Valaiyosai Kala Kalavena Song from Sathya.
Comparisons are inevitable
These two songs belong to entirely different genres and are set in completely different emotional contexts, so comparisons are unnecessary. While “Mannil Indha Kadhal” is a light-hearted song that beautifully captures the mood of blooming romance, “Ramakadha Gaanalayam” is a pure Carnatic-based composition — intense and emotionally heavy — portraying the agony of a man who loses his father-like elder brother and hides his grief from others.
Both songs are truly matchless and timeless. They will continue to live in the hearts of music lovers for generations. And heartfelt thanks to all the artists who contributed to creating these masterpieces.
A few more songs belonging to the ‘Breathless’ category
A few more breathless South Indian film songs belong to the 1990s, and most of them are extremelypopular too.
The song Padakali, composed by A. R. Rahman for the Mohanlal-starrer Malayalam film Yoddha, can somewhat be placed in the breathless category. Interestingly, it was released just a year after Bharatham. The song is a jugalbandi between Yesudas and M. G. Sreekumar, featuring long and energetic stretches of singing.
A year later came Chithra’s iconic song “Oru Murai Vanthu” from Manichitrathazhu, which beautifully blends Tamil and Malayalam lyrics. Though neither of these Malayalam songs can strictly be classified as breathless, both include extended, continuous passages that demand exceptional breath control. Both songs had long and continuous stretches of singing.
The Tamil songs – “Ennai Kaanavillaye” from Kadhal Desam and “Kadhale Kadhale” from Avvai Shanmugi, both released in 1996 and sung by SPB, also belong to this category. “Mazhai Thuli” from Sangamam (1999) is another beautiful rendition, but sung by Unnikrishnan. All these iconic songs were released in the 1990s.
Most recently, I came across a YouTube Shorts featuring the song “Sadqay”, a popular independent Pakistani romantic song released in February 2024. I found its hookup lines quite similar to the beginning portion of Mannil Indha Kadhal, originally sung by SPB. I am providing the link here. Scroll to the 52nd second, and find yourself. Leave your comments too.
Recent Comments