`Lasting memoir of a friendship'
K. PRADEEP
|
The Kamukara Award is special for K.P. Udayabhanu as he and the late Kamukara Purushotaman shared a warm friendship.
|
Udayabhanu's debut song as music director, `Kilichilachu... ' from the film `Samasya' is among the best in the language.
OLD IS GOLD: K.P. Udayabhanu with S. Janaki.
For K.P. Udayabhanu, this year's winner of the Kamukara Award, the honour means a lot. "This award is special. It is not just another scroll of honour but a lasting memoir of an intimate relationship."
Udayabhanu and Kamukara Purushotaman dominated Malayalam film music with their deep, resonant voices. The bond between these two singers went beyond their heydays in the film industry.
Old is gold
"When I organised the `Old is Gold' group, Kamukara was part of it. Whenever we travelled for programmes, he used to be my roommate. I have benefited so much from his experience. We used to talk late into the night on so many things. Everything seems like it happened yesterday. I still remember the last time Kamukara went on stage for our group. It was at a place called Kuttimukku, near Thrissur. And, as usual, he got a fine round of applause for his melodious songs," Udayabhanu recollects.
Bringing together singers like Kamukara, P. Leela, K.P. Brahmanandan, C.O. Anto, K.P.A.C. Sulochana, K.S. George and many others, organising them into a group and turning it into one of the most popular groups has been Udayabhanu's singular achievement, apart from his career as a singer.
"The death of most of the singers in that group within a short span, has badly hit us. But I will keep the group going till I'm alive. Now, I have been joined by the children of some of those great singers."
An outstanding organiser, Udayabhanu also has a choral group called Swara Bharat. In fact, he has the unique distinction of having composed, sung and recorded songs in many Indian language.
"I owe a lot to All India Radio where I was employed as a music director. I think it was the most creative phase of my career. Representing India at the Asia-Pacific music contest in Singapore, leading a combination of 150 drums called Drums of India at the Republic Parade in 1986, composing patriotic songs in various Indian languages and so on have been some of the highpoints of that fruitful career." And the Sangeeta Nataka Academy honoured him for his contributions to creative music. A true reward for his efforts.
Lyrical debut
In fact, it was his AIR associations that paved the way for his entry into films.
"Raghavan Master was working in AIR then and it was through his efforts that I got my first chance to sing in films."
He made his debut in `Nair Pidicha Pulivaal' (1958) but the film that rocketed him to fame was `Laila Majnu' (1962).
"It was lovely then. Though the singer's job was arduous with rehearsals and numerous takes and re-takes, the songs were fine, in lyrics and in tunes."
Though he has rendered a variety of songs, the best of Udayabhanu's solos have a touch of pathos.
When the field became very competitive, when "one had to run after people for songs," Udayabhanu quietly slipped away from films to devote himself to other creative pursuits.
Udayabhanu's debut as a music director in films was a big hit. The song `Kilichilachu... ' from the film `Samasya' is counted among the best in the language. In 1981 he won a special State award for music direction.
More recently, he won the National award for the music in Santosh Sivan's documentary films `Myth of the Tree' and `Serpent Mother.'
"The entire narration is through music. I have tried to create something without any Western instrument, using only our folk musical instruments."
There are many who do not know that Udayabhanu was a disciple of the legendary M. D. Ramanathan.
"It was a short stint. But it was a tremendous experience. MDR was one of the best of the traditional teachers. His methods, like the style of his singing, were very different."
Udayabhanu is now working on two projects.
"I have been asked to compose 10 songs for the Education Department. Then there is a one-hour film; a musical feature on Swami Vivekananda by Sivan. Then there are many stage shows, which I simply love."
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Entertainment
Bangalore
Chennai and Tamil Nadu
Delhi
Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
