The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Making light of tough numbers

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Nov 14, 2006
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Making light of tough numbers

Staff Reporter

Visually impaired musicians perform semi-classical film songs Visually impaired musicians perform semi-classical film songs

CHENNAI: They just needed a hand to guide them to the stage and provide them with microphones. And soon there flowed semi-classical film songs and racy `item' numbers from musician M.C. Comagan and his band of visually impaired orchestra members.

Energy, talent and seemingly effortless ease marked Raaga Priya's Sunday `Light Music' concert at Kamaraj Arangam.

Starting with `Autograph' movie-fame composer-singer Comagan's `Sankaraa', the troupe with over 1,000 live shows under their belt, went on to sing the chirpy `Annanode Paattu... ', the peppy `Dailamo Dailamo... ', and the melodious `Partha Muthal Naaley... ' much to the delight of the audience.

The 13-member orchestra provided ample support on the drums, tabla, guitars and sitar to the singers.

There was no hitch as they went about their business amidst psychedelic lights and `special effects' smoke. Not even the presence of yesteryear legends such as T.M. Soundarajan and L.R. Easwari, on and off the stage, broke their concentration.

In fact, TMS hung on to Syed Ibrahim's soulful version of his own hit `Vasanthamullai'. Sruthi, talam and the soul were intact, he noted later.

While TMS and Ms. Easwari managed to enthral the audience with one hit song each, playback singer Tipu teamed up with the troupe members to sing the energetic `Kodambakkam Eri... ' and later the superhit `Ra Ra... ' with commendable ease.

Said Tipu: "It is of great personal satisfaction to do such shows. They (Raaga Priya members) are superior to other singers because they don't depend on notes. There is complete focus and concentration. They should also be given chances in the film music field."

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