Devika - Unsung Heroine

 Long time I wanted to write about the songs where Devika featured. Why Devika? Yes, there were few artists who had the luck of giving 100% hits in all their ventures. Look at few of them whose hit ratio is close to 100%, Vani Jayaram, B S Sasirekha, V Kumar, Malaysia Vasudevan, Swarnalatha. In that context Devika, still not acted the magic figure of 100 Movies in Tamil but her hit ratio is very high. She did around 60 movies in Tamil and around 50 in Telugu. He career was very short and sweet. Her career too ended soon for reasons best known to her.

Now coming back to her songs in Tamil Films you will find majority of them were runaway hits and has acted some of the immortal songs. She, after Padmini has acted with  NT around 15 Movies. She was also seen as per most of the Sivaji Fans a perfect 'Jodi' after Padmini. Apparently she did only one film with MGR if my memory is right which is also a great album. Director Sridhar gave two of his best movies with Devika as herione.

Her voice behind the scene in movies, the great PS has given many many memorable numbers. Kannadasan when he produced a film under his banner has preferred Devika.

She was gorgeous and had great screen presence with acting prowess especially in Karnan, Pava Mannippu, Idhathil Nee, Kulamagal Radhai to name a few.

Let us quickly look at those songs and I thought of classifying those by the genres, Classic, Duets, Pathos, etc.

Classics :

She made her debut in movie 'Muthalali' and the Arabhi by KVM and TMS is still lingering in our ears.

https://youtu.be/hxrySZ7R3OQ

Whenever you think of PS, the following two songs will appear automatically in Top 2. Yes, 'Gangai Karai Thottam' from Vaanambadi and 'Kangal Enge' from Karnan.

Devika has pulled off both these with elan especially Kangal Enge.

https://youtu.be/gdVqKT_EEhA

https://youtu.be/qjS-HB8Qqs8

Pathos : 

'Sonnadhu Neethana' another classic from Kannadasan-PS-Devika. What a performance from Devika in this sequence. In the same movie she pulled a lullaby 'Muthana Muthallavo' at ease

https://youtu.be/-NCtHKpRP0A

This is again from Sridhar-Devika-PS-Kannadasan combination.

https://youtu.be/Wj44dDXHd4M

பிரிக்கத் தெரிந்த இறைவா உனக்கு இணைக்கத் தெரியாதா......இணையத் தெரிந்த தலைவா உனக்கு என்னை புரியாதா.....

'Ananda Jothi'  What to say further on this

https://youtu.be/ett_sF5hI1I

'Kaakitha Odam' lyrics by Kalaignar. PS at her best again.

https://youtu.be/0hthi_FvEKk

This sad version from Aandavan Kattalai

https://youtu.be/Jngi00QQ6N0

Movies with Gemini Ganesan :

Her movies around 4 to 5 with Gemini Ganesan were all amazing albums. 

'Idhayathil Nee' had one of LREs best female duet 'Chithirai Poovizhi' PS 'Uravu Endrodu Sol irundhal'

'Vaazhkai Padagu' - PS gave 3 memorable hits  'Unnaithaan Naan Ariven' 'Aayiram Penmai Malarattume' 'Thanga Magal vayitril' along with Kannadasan. 

'Sumai Thangi' - Sridhar again with Devika, Gemini, Kannadasan, MSV-TKR but this time SJ singing 'Radhaiketra Kannano' 'Endhan Paarvayin'

'Veguli Penn' came in 70s with V Kumar composing the hit 'Engellam Valayosai Ketkinrdho' and PS 'Mullukku Roja Sondham'

With MGR :

'Ananda Jodhi' the only movie she paired with MGR is such a mellifluous album. We have already seen 'Ninaikka Therindha Maname' under Pathos, it had again PS-Kannadasan-Devika numbers, the lullaby 'Kaala Magal' other 2 amazing duets 'Poyyile Pirandhu' 'Panilladha Margazhiyaa'. 

With Sivaji Ganesan :

As mentioned earlier she did around 15+ movies with NT few of them not pairing with him like 'Bharatha Vilas' 'Pazhani' 'Saraswathi Sabatham' etc.

'Paava Mannippu' was the first movie to pair and we all know what an amazing album it is. Again the trio Kannadasan-PS-Devika coming back to haunt 'Athaan En Athaan' and 'Paal Irukkum Pazham Irukkum'

'Bale Pandiya' was the next movie to pair up. Again Kannadasan- PS-Devika gave 'Vaazha Ninaithal Vaazhalaam ' and two brilliant duets 'Naan Enna Solli Vitten' 'Athikaai Kaai Kaai'.

In the song 'Neeye Unakku endrum nigaraanavan' sequence Devika watching behind screen was poetic.

'Bandha Pasam' was next in which PS and SJ singing a duet 'En Kadhaidhaan ' and duet by TMS-SJ 'Pandha Irundhal kodi padarum'

Sivaji Productions 'Anni Illam' came next. 'Nadaya Idhu Nadaya' and the haunting melody 'Madi meedhu thalai vaithu;

In APN's 'Kulamagal Radhai' PS again gave 2 hits 'Kallamalar Siripile' and melodic 'Iravukku Aayiram Kangal'

K Shankar's 'Andavan Kattalai' in 1964 - Kannadasan-PS-Devika gave 'Azhage Vaa' and the duet 'Amaidhiyaana Nadhiyinile Odam'

B R Panthulu's Magnum Opus 'Karnan' too came in 1964 - What should I say about that album! Kannadasan at it again. 'Kangal Enge' is one such iconic number it also had 'Iravum Nilavum' 'Kannukku Kulamedhu' 

She was gorgeous throughout this movie and PS-Devika, this could be their best in their career.

'Pazhani' came in 1965 in which she was not paired with NT

'Muradan Muthu' TG Lingappa has given 'Thamarai poo Kulathile' 'Kalyana Oorvalam Paaru', again Kannadasan-PS-Devika

'Neela Vaanam' directed by P Madhavan in 1965. PS-Devika-Kannadasan breezy numeber 'Oho ho Odum ennangale' PS-LRE duet 'Mangala Mangaiyum Maappillaiyum'.

Next was A Bhimsingh's 'Santhi'. Yes you guessed it right, the memorable whistle song 'Nenjathi Nee Netru Vandhaai' and 'Oorengum Maappillai Oorvalam' 

The whole album is fantastic with classic 'Yaar Andha Nilavu' & 'Sendhoor Murugan'

K Shankar teamed up again to give 'Anbu Karangal' in 1965. This time R Sudarsanam with Vaali gave  'Azhagenna Arivenna' PS again 'Ramanukke Seethai'. 

This is a lovely album from RS with 'Kakithathil Kappal Seidhu' 'Onna Irukka kathukkanum' were another notable hit numbers.

She went on to act with NT in Thiruvilayadal, Saraswathy Sabatham, Engirundho Vandhaal,Bharatha Vilas in subsequent years of course not paired.

She stopped acting by mid of 1970s and acted only one movie in 1986 which was her last. She was away from film world until her passing away in 2002.

She had a short career compared to her peers but she went on to shine in those period.

As my friend @circusthuppaki mentions, Kannadasan has given his best for Devika's songs. That is another perspective one need to look into.