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Sculpting a melodious tribute

— Photo: S. Ramesh Kurup

Surendran Sarika giving finish touches to his unique tribute to Malayalam film songs by Yesudas in Kozhikode.

‘Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard are sweeter,’ wrote John Keats looking at a Grecian urn. Looking at the work of art sculpted by Surendran Sarika with wood and metallic paint, you are reminded not just of those immortal lines, but of a heard, sweet melody as well: Yavana sundari… a timeless Malayalam film song, from ‘Pearl View,’ rendered by Yesudas and B. Vasantha.

It is a unique tribute by Surendran to Yesudas, his favourite singer. “I am making 25 sculptures based on his 25 songs and I decided to paste these sculptures on a canvas for the convenience of exhibiting,” says the Payyannur-based sculptor. “You could also call them half-painting-half-sculptures.”

Whatever you call them, they are visually pleasing and indeed a novel tribute to a great singer.

Green is the predominant colour and you can see influences of Theyyam, not surprising when you consider the sculptor’s origin.

“Like all Malayalis, I am a great fan of Yesudas, having grown up listening to his voice,” elaborates Surendran. “I have learnt Carnatic music myself for a brief while, though sculpting has always been my first love. The songs I chose are my favourites.”

The songs include Thamasamenthe varuvan… (‘Bhargavi Nilayam’), Chakravarthini… (‘Chembarathi’), Sandhya mayangum neram…(‘Mayiladum Kunnu’), Venchandralekhayorapsarasthree…(‘Chukku’), Pushpamangalayam… (‘Nakhangal’) and Anuraginee…(‘Ore Kudakkeezhil’). “My job was made easy by the quality of lyrics of our old songs,” says Surendran.

“The beautiful and meaningful lines give you several ideas for each song.”

Only a few more works remain to be completed.

“They will be ready shortly and I will hold the first exhibition in Kozhikode in early August,” says Surendran, who has made four sculptures based on O.V. Vijayan’s ‘Khasakkinte Ithihasam’. “Yesudas has agreed to inaugurate the exhibition.”

Writer V.R. Sudheesh is helping him organise the exhibition.

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