“I remember the meetings we had in Chennai during the recording of the Swathi Thirunal songs,” recalls Kaithapram. “He even taught me a song Karpagame… (raga Madhyamavathi) while staying in a Chennai hotel. He was pleased with the way I lip-synched in the film; he told me it was as if I was singing myself.”

Kaithapram had essayed the role of Palakkad Parameshwara Bhagavathar in the film. When the film’s music was released, Neyyattinkara’s renditions Mamavasada…, Parama purusha…, Pannagendra Sayana… and Kosalendra… were extremely popular even among those who did not have deep knowledge of Carnatic music.Neyyattinkara’s voice and singing style had the power to captivate the attention of even those who were not particularly inclined to classical music.

P.K. Ajith Kumar

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