A Hero with Thousand Steps -Part 4

Hi Welcome,

Before reading this part, would suggest to read the previous parts to connect this.

Part -1

Part -2

Part -3

Coming to the Blog now.

If you split up Vijay's Dance career, you can categories the songs in this themes- Causal Love songs / Mood Enhancer/ Mass songs / Melodies. But I would like to explore an another dimension that's never been highlighted i.e. the Vijay Genre

The Vijay Genre

Every once in 10 years (1994/2004/2014/2024), If you consider his career(be it acting or dance),It has been constantly upgrading into another platform. People might criticize that he can do only commercial genre but Staying and Owning that space while establishing the career isn't easy.

Around 2004, It was the time when Vijay transformed from Thullatha Maanum Thullum and Kushi mode into full fledged action. So the songs during this time frame are being tailored especially for Vijay.

This was the time, Tamil Cinema had a huge influx of next generation heroes - Dhanush,Simbu,Jayam Ravi,Shyam,Aarya who was competing into his space. But, none of these actors had a conflicting career with Vijay and even after the years, he's the entertainer.

So what's is this Vijay Genre ?

Songs that can be tailored only for Vijay and if you refer any moment from that song, you can always reminisce how beautifully Vijay has carried over the song , same like when I say "Singa nadi Pottu" or "Oruvan Oruvan Mudhali" you know whom it refers to. 

Let's consider sample set of songs for this case study, I want you to visualize the dance moments as I explain, do revisit the song before reading.

Yarathu Yarathu - Kavalan

This song is set in mood where Vijay will be searching for his lover whom he hasn't seen yet. He'll be expressing through cute emotions over the entire song sequence.  At no point in song, he does over do or sound artificial. This is what I mentioned being stand alone.

There's a scene where he informs Asin that he's going to meet his lover and falls over the bench. I think this is Vijay's Moondram Pirai Moment. I wonder if any other actor has carried a sequence like this with grace in the millennium period. Also never a moment in movie , he shows up his mass attitude or heroism even in songs. Everytime I watch, I see the character's search and pain in this song and feel only Vijay would be able to carry these emotions.

The entire movie is like a poem though it didn't get the proper attention. 

Bambara kannu from Madurey - 

One of the common aspect I noticed in Vijay's dance movements is that He's the only hero who has kept lengthy single-shot dance sequence and the dance will be infused with comical or situational moments than being a mere memorised dance steps.

In Bambara kannu song, If you observe 2nd stanza starting with "Kannu rendum" ,it'll be a lengthy sequence with single shot moments shot with comical moments. Never in the song, you'll notice its a choreographed song step.

Nee kovapattal naanum -Villu

In this song, instead of complex sequence. The focus will be on establishing the chemistry between lead actors -Vijay and Nayanthara. With Devi Sri Prasad's lovely composition & voice, the song flows as cute moments between the pair Like he's irritating the heroine or doing some small hand movements. 

My favorite moments come around during "Punnagaikum sathathil alarm veipen ,Sunday kuda kathaluku velai veipen". You cant imagine any other hero performing his song as lively as Vijay.

There was a similar song from Jayam Ravi in Thillalangadi but if you compare both, you can say which one had better lead chemistry and being lively.

Antartica Venpaniyile (Thuppaki)

In Antartica song, entire sequence is shot in an stadium throughout as the heroine is shown as an athlete. Vijay will be dancing round the gameplay. Here ,the focus will be expressing to be around the heroine with Vijay in Background. Not sure if any hero could carried this with breezy moments or agreed to dance in backdrop. I loved the expressions on the lines especially the expression around the lines.

My favorite lines are around these lines

"உனைப் போலே ஒரு பெண்ணை
காண்பேனா என்றே வாழ்ந்தேன்
நீ கிடைத்தால்,
என் தேசம் போலே உன்னை நேசிப்பேன்!"

Pakkam Vandhu (Kaththi)

I know everyone loves "Selfie Pulla" from Kaththi but this is my special favorite from Vijay.

This isn't a duet song and its kept specially for the Vijay, the dancer in the movie.

Entire song is set in Airport and the energy is exactly opposite from the Yarathu Song , we saw earlier.

With HipHop Adhi Composition & voice and Anirudh music, it feels like 10mins songs is suppressed into 4mins song.

This song is a visual treat to watch.

I don't recollect that even after a decade, there's a song which energizes the moment as this song.

Have captured the cute moments from this song and put up as image below.

I enjoyed the moments in these lines whenever i listen and was my ringtone once.

"மனமே மனமே

ஒரு பொன்னை தேடி

நான் தொலைஞ்சேன்.

மனமே மனமே

அட காதலால

நான் கரைஞ்சேன்".

Equally i loved the Aathi Enna nee song , especially the end sequence is must watch if you are vijay fan.

In the next blog, the series finale I'll discuss few more songs and also the take away from his career.

Thank you for reading