The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : This collector has all of MKT's music, and much more

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 27, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

This collector has all of MKT's music, and much more

M.J. Prabhu

Gopal of Saligramam has an unrivalled collection of cassettes and CDs of old Tamil films

CHENNAI: CHENNAI: It's quite easy to find out where M.K. Thiyagaraja Gopal lives in Saligramam. Ask just about anyone, and they will direct you to his house.

M.K. Thiyagaraja Gopal is well known for his hobby - that of collecting cassettes and CDs of practically all old Tamil films, especially the great musicals featuring M.K. Thiyagaraja Bhagavathar, N.S. Krishnan, N.C. Vasantha Kokilam, S.G. Kitappa and K.B. Sundarambal.

Having been closely associated with matinee idol and the first superstar of Tamil cinema M.K. Thiyagaraja Bhagavathar for over a decade, Gopal decided to affix the MKT initials before his name.

He has even named his four children after Bhagavathar's films.

Actually, he wanted to go back after retirement to his village after the death of his idol.

But egged on by well-wishers, he started collecting Bhagavathar's songs and began maintaining a library of the legend.

But why collect songs and records, when he could have penned a memoir?

Gopal's reply: "Those days there was no TV or any other form of entertainment. The only relaxation was listening to film songs. Many of my friends used to pester me to buy records of MKT's movies and get it autographed by him."

"After his death my friends advised me to start a collection of his film songs. Later I started collecting records of all old-time greats ... I should thank AVM Saravanan. He encouraged me by offering discounts and concessions on the purchase of records," he said.

As technology advanced and records became redundant, Gopal switched to cassettes and CDs. He still has more than 300 old songs on LP records, which he refuses to part with. Even today, many fans come to him to buy old songs, which he offers for a discount. "A small obeisance I pay to Bhagavathar, while keeping my hearth burning," he adds.

Gopal also has a small audio system shop called `Yellisai Manram;' the title `Yellisai mannar' was conferred on Bhagavathar for his golden voice he said. During the Tamil month of Marghazi, Gopal fixes a stereo system on a tricycle and goes around the streets playing Bhagavathar's devotional songs from various movies.

"I have seen Bhagavathar's rise to fame and fall from close quarters. I realised the impermanence of everything," he says like a philosopher as he hums a song from Haridass.

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