GUDIUM CAVES IN TIRUVALLUR DISTRICT

GUDIUM CAVES

I worked as Forest Ranger in Tiruvallur Range during 2008-2010, I had the chance to visit Gudiyam caves, many times, which exactly in the Pulikuntram Reserved Forests of Allikuzhi hills, controlled by neighbouring Red Hills Range, located 15 km from a Poondi reservoir of Tiruvallur district. I trekked mostly, along with my officers, many times, the trekking in the Eastern Ghats is difficult when compared with Western Ghats, because of the boulders and the scorching sun effect, due to the less vegetation.There is no shadow in the hills normally.

Most of the local people are coming to worship their deity, locally known as “Manathachamman Koil” is located near Gudiyam village  and there is a belief, among them, by those who keeping the available stone one above one here, will soon able to construct their own house. Hence, in this cave, particularly more stone heaves are shown. Most of our team members were also done the stone heaping.

HONEY COMBS ARE SEEN IN THE ROCKS

ROCK SHELTERS 

The Gudiyam caves or rock shelters for the Paleolithic man. The site has been excavated and studied by the Archaeological Survey of India in 1963-64. It is a known fact that millions of years ago, man lived in the caves, some sixteen caves are identified in the Gudiyam caves, by the Archaeological Survey of India.  The stones found in that area are spear shaped, sharp stones in which, used by the Paleolithic man for hunting their food.

ONE OF THE CAVES

BIGGEST CAVE IN GUDIUM

NOW UNDER CONTROL 

The place is indication of extensive movement of early hominids about 200,000 years ago. The caves were first identified by British geologist Robert Bruce Foote. This important place is under the control of the forest department, hence it is protected from further deterioration.

KAVIARASU KANNADASAN

KAVIGNAR KANNADASAN

     Kaviarasu Kannadasan was most familiar tamil writer, Popular in tamil cinema lyric writer, author of hundreds of tamil books, journalist, novel writer, Hindu religious essay writer, cinema dialoughe writer and cine producer. He won many awards such as Sahitya Akademi for his novel Cheraman Kadali and national Film award for best lyric in the film “Kuhanthaikkaga”.

WITH MSV

     When there was a small misunderstanding between Viswanathan and Ramamoorthy the twin music directors were apart from each other, MS Viswanathan lamented with Kavingnar about the incident, Kavigner pacified MSV and advised him not to worry since he did not doing any harm to any body, so had not worry. We should console ourselves Kavigner told M.S.Viswanathan.  That day he wrote a song which reflects the situation “ ninaika therintha manamae unnaku marakath theriyatha, palaga therintha yuirae unaku vilaga theriyatha” and the song was sung by Susila in the film Anantha Jothi.

 

UDUMALAI NARAYANA KAVI

Kannadasan once produced his own film Malaiyitta mangai” he met Udumalai Narayankavi to write one or two songs for his film, since that time Udumalai Narayanakavi was a leading lyric writer.  Udumalai Narayanakavi asked Kannadasan about the songs written by Kannadasan for the same film.  Kannadasan showed his all lyrics with the Udumalai Narayanakavi.  Udumalai was very much moved with Kannadasan’s song and told the songs are very much appreciable and Kannadasan should continue his writing, which could be good for Tamil, and Udumalai told he wanted to leave to his native place, since a suitable person was came for the cinema.  Then only Udumalai Narayanakavi went to his hometown.

INSTANT SONG IN SRIDAR FILM

Director Sridhar wanted to shoot a song scene, informing the assistant director to call Kavigner and M.S. Viswanathan for recording the song and planned to shoot the song in the night itself.  When called, Kavigner told that he would go to Madurai for some meeting and the flight was at 1.00 pm. MSV called him to the studio and then would go to the Madurai.  Kavigner had come to Studio by 12.10 pm, and the scenes were narrated,  he instaneously wrote the song “ Muthana muthalavo, mithanthu vantha muthalavo” within 4 or 5 minutes, and then went to the plane, which a super hit song in the film Nenjil orr alayam.  Kannadasan was such a monstrous writer.

 BALACHANDAR FILM      Once Director Balachandar had told in his film “Anubavi Raja anubavi” he asked Kannadasan to write a poem in Tirunelveli slang, hence the hero Nagesh in dual role, and one was from Thuthookudi district.  Kanadasan wrote “muthu kulika varigala, moochai adaka varigala” and the song was very popular at that time.  Once the film was remade in hindi, the hindi writer was not able to translate the same song with same saranam in hindi, that’s why he wrote the same tamil word “muthu kulika varigala, moochai adaka varigala” as a saranam and make hindi words in pallavi.

LONG LIVE ANNA

     When Tamil nadu Chief Minister Annadurai was ill, the Kavigner in congress party, he wanted to see Anna then he wrote a song “nalanthana nalanthana udalum ullamum nalanthana” in Thillana Mohanambal.

SIVAJI GANESAN AND KAVIGNAR

     When he had some misunderstanding with Sivaji Ganesan, and abstained from writing songs for Sivaji Films, Sivaji’s brother Shanmugam asked his brother that there was a dig in their films without Kannadasan’s song, and pacified his brother to permit Kannadasan to write for his films.  As Sivaji always concerned with his brothers advise.  Shanmugam told that Kannadasan came to Sivaji Films office that day for a song recorded and invited his brother Sivaji to be with them during the recording.  Sivaji went to his office, and had watched Kavingner and MS Viswanthan’s song recording without mincing a word, sitting in a chair and smoked a cigarette and starred at Kannadasan, he then wrote the song” Ennai yaar endru enni enni nee parkiroi” for the film Paalum Pazhamum.

 LIFE IS A MESSAGE

     Kavigner always very light hearted, always managed hurdles in his life with ease and he managed to earn heavily and spent the money more than the earnings.  Valampuri John once told that Kavigner had earned like Indian President, but he borrowed money like the Government of India.  His children are all well educated and well settled, that he succeeds in life.  His fame will as long as the Tamil language lives.

NAGORE HANIFA

ISAI MURASU ESMAIL MOHAMED HANIFA

In Tamil nadu he was known as Isai Murasu.  He was a member of DMK Party. He was a man of Tamil Muslim devotional music and political anthems.   His birth place was Nagore, the place famous for the Dharga and even for music.  In Nagore there were more musicians and singers. 
Gifted Singer

Nagore Hanifa had been singing in the stage up to three to four hours, which was unimaginable now for a singer.  I heard his music at my age of 17, probably pre onset of 1971 election in my native village Viravanallur in Tirunelveli district, organized by the DMK Party in the Kanthimathi Theatre. He humbly begun with the devotional song and followed his famous party songs “Oadi varugiran Udhayasooriyan”, “Kallakkudi konda Karunanidhi vaazhgave”, “Nee engae senrai Anna” and “Azhaikkinrar Anna”.  These were songs, still used by the DMK to raise their party morale.  At that time, though, I was a staunch supporter of Kamarajar, his full throat ed magnetic voice penetrated my heart.  My ears were filled with his enchanting, thundering, thrilling and wondering

 voice.  His voice used to hit the high and base notes with equal ease. 
Politcs  
Mr Hanifa was familier with all DMK and DK leaders, his proximity to leaders such as Periyar, Anna and Kalaigner. His son told that his first concert at Tiruvaluntur (which is incidently I think the Kamban’s birth place) at the age of 13, on a bullock cart which means both for band transport and for stage also. 
Early hood Days

Mr Hanifa used to sing before the lecture meetings organised by Dr Karunanidhi, without any musical accompaniment or payment, to attract the crowds on the dry riverbed of the Odampokki river in Tiruvarur,” said Ali, his son. 
DMK State-Level Conference

Hanifa used to sing continuously in the State-level DMK conference since 1949.  He missed Tenth State level DMK conference, held at Tiruchi, due to his ill health.

 

 
Most of Mr Hanifa’s songs were universally accepted.  

God, the Great His song “Iraivan Idam Kai Yenthungal was being sung everywhere.  I used to hear the same song whenever I was in some kind of uneasiness, simply not only because the tune and lyrics were so apt yet catchy but also it heal the mind. 

Demise

He died on 8 April 2015.