Memories of a songster
K. PRADEEP
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Jayan goes down memory lane to those days when he and his twin brother Vijay were famous in the music circuit as Jaya-Vijayan.
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We would like to be remembered for our singing rather than our songs. Jayan
Photo: Mahesh Harilal
DEVOTED TO MUSIC: Jayan.
The Vaikom Temple ground was packed to capacity that Ashtami evening. M. Balamuralikrishna's concert had just warmed up. Sitting right in front, oblivious to everything, were the young twins.
Suddenly, it began raining and the youngsters joined a few others on the stage. It turned into such a downpour that Dr. Balamuralikrishna stopped the concert. By then he had noticed the youngsters and made enquiries.
Meeting the guru
Mavelikkara Krishnankutty Nair who was playing the mridangam that day, introduced the youngsters, Jayan and Vijayan, as very promising Carnatic vocalists. Dr. Balamuralikrishna volunteered to train them if they could make it to Vijayawada. It was a dream come true for the twins, but there was a hitch.
"We were then being trained by Alathur Brothers in Tiruchirapalli. It was arranged through the good offices of Chitra Tirunal. My father who worked for the Maharajah agreed to explain the case to him. We then left for Vijayawada," recounts Jayan, who turns 70 this December.
For nearly three years they stayed with Dr. Balamuralikrishna in an outhouse on his estate.
"He used to teach us various krithis and ragas during his spare time. Then when the master decided to shift base to Madras [Chennai] he asked us also to move with him. That was the kind of relationship, confidence, between the guru and his shishyas."
Chennai opened new vistas for the talented twins. Apart from singing with their guru they got ample opportunities to listen to some of the greatest names in the field of music.
Through T.V. Gopalakrishnan, the noted vocalist and mridangist, they were introduced to Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar, who was then looking for the right person to sing with him during concerts. With the permission and blessings of Dr. Balamuralikrishna they went on to meet the `Mahaguru.'
Right from the very first concert with Chembai, at the Krishna Gana Sabha, Jaya-Vijaya were given plenty of freedom and lots of encouragement. "I don't think you can come across anyone like him. For our first concert with him, after we had finished `Vathapi... ,' guru asked the secretary of the organisation to provide two microphones for us so that we would be heard. That was the kind of encouragement he used to give us and the other accompanying artistes."
For about nine years they were with Chembai, singing with him, meeting some of the music greats and all the time gaining invaluable experience. In between, Jaya-Vijaya tried their hand at composing music.
"We had composed music for drama troupes in Kottayam, like for the one managed by actor Josprakash. In fact, it was Josprakash who suggested that we use the name Jaya-Vijaya. Though Chembai did not really approve of our idea of composing music, perhaps, he gave the nod only because it helped us earn some extra money."
First film song
Before they ventured into film music they recorded a few songs for HMV.
"Our first song `Ishtadaivame swami saranayyappa... ' was sung by P. Leela. It went on to become very popular. Ironically, we had approached HMV to sing, but ended up composing songs for them." Jaya-Vijaya made their film debut in the Malayalam film `Bhoomiyile Malakha' (1965). They went on compose songs like `Kalam oru kalavandikaran... ' (`Kuruthikalam'), `Nakshtradeepangal... ' (`Nirakudam'), `Manjupozhiyunnu... ,' `Brahamanapadam vazhi... ' (`Uthrada Rathri'), `Kaliyum chiriyum... ' and `Eenampaadi thalarnallo... ' (`Sneham'). They also composed music for a few Tamil films like `Shanmuhapriya,' `Padapoojai,' `Pichipoo,' and `Pappathi.'
But it is for the numerous devotionals, like the `Njanappana' and the Ayyappan songs that they would always be remembered. They were trendsetters in this genre.
The sudden death of his brother, Vijayan, hit Jayan hard. It took more than a year to get back to music. Even now he has not been able to reconcile with that loss.
"Every time I go on stage for concerts, especially when I begin to sing those popular Ayyappan songs, I feel his presence. When East Coast brought out three volumes of our songs recently, I recorded my voice on two tracks and had it mixed. One was for him (Vijayan). It has turned out very well, almost like both of us singing together."
"We would like to be remembered for our singing rather than our songs. That is why I never say no to any chance to sing," says Jayan, who is expected to sing a couple of songs in the devotional album composed by Jassie Gift.
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