Category: My Songs

Ek Meetha Marz Dene (cover)

welcome-to-sajjanpur-tnI 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

Etho January Maasam (cover)

The songs from the Malayalam movie Orkkuka Vallappozhum are a beautiful mix. My most favorite songs from this album are, Etho January Maasam (singer: Karthik) and Thaamara Pookkalum (singer: Sankaran Nampoothiri). This album is one of M Jayachandran’s best work to the date, I would say. I recorded this song without the shruthi in the BG, so please pardon any shruthi issues in between the pallavi and charanams.

Movie: Orkkuka Vallappozhum
Music: M Jayachandran
Original singer: Karthik
Covered by: Joseph Thomas


Etho Janurary Maasam (cover) | Upload Music

Happy Vishu (and a song)

vishu-kani-1

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

Happy Easter and a 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)

Download MP3 of “Yahovayaam Daivamen” (my version)


Easter Song | Upload Music

Kanivin Kadale (Devotional)

Many years back, I had an opportunity to sing in a Ganamela where only the old Malayalam drama songs were sung. It was conducted in Regional Theatre, in Thrissur as part of the annual function of bank officers’ association. Some of the best singers in Thrissur were part of the team, including playback singer Viswanath.

I was asked to learn 2-3 songs and this song, Kanivin Kadale Kanyaa Kumaaraa, was my only solo. I clearly remember that evening, being nervous on stage as I always am. After so many years, I still remember the lyrics and gave it a shot in the evening. I do not know much details of the song, except that it is a Drama song and it is sung by Yesudas.

Wishing you all, a blessed Holy weekend.

Download MP3 of “Kanivin Kadale” (my version)


Kanivin Kadale (Devotional) | Upload Music

A Salil Chowdhary song

It has been a long time since I have sung an 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 cover)

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

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 🙂