Yes, I felt the same too. They could have chosen a nicer tune. It was so long ago, though:-)-I'd almost forgotten it until Dr. Sridhar mentioned it.
You know, this particular song of Poonghuzhali's appears both as a happy and sorrowful tune. There are raagaas for both moods... or you could use one single tune for both (remember the 'PoraalE ponnuthaayee...' tune in Karuthammaa? Sounds good in both)
And the same applies to Manimegalai's songs too- would a naattupura mettu be suitable for them? (or would a 'raagamaligai' help?)
Even the pathiganggal in PS...they could be tuned too...right?
I haven't heard the versions you guys are talking abt., so itz hard for me to comment.
However, I have heard a kalki's master-piece sung by the one and only MS, "poonguyil koovum poonjOlaiyil oru naaL". It has been tuned wonderfully well (most part is in Kapi, if I remember right). the same can be said abt. "vaNdaadum sOlaithanilE" (in HarikambhOji) and " KandadhuNdO kaNnan pOlE" (in Misra Mand).
I will talk to the right people asap and come up with tunes soon.
The silap pathigaara paadal (which is mentioned in PS when VD meets Kundavai, remember he saya, 'kanjanaar vanjam' saved him?) , 'vada varaiyai maththaakki' is already tuned very well and has been sung by the Legendary MS.
the famous appar pathigam in Sivakamiyin Sabatham, "naamaaRkum kudiyallOm" is also tuned very well. I have heard Guruji Haridas Giri sing that sing with great 'veera bhavam'.
Ramachandran Mahadevan, Research Assistant, Washington State University, H-113,1920NE Terre View Dr, Pullman,WA,99163 Phone-509-332-5832, Lab:509-335-5977, 509-335-2436