Nostalgic notes
K. PRADEEP
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‘Snehasangeeta Sangamam’ celebrated the launch of the K.P. Udayabhanu Foundation.
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Defining moment: K.J. Yesudas and K.P.Udayabhanu go down memory lane.
This was perhaps the most defining moment of a day wholly dedicated to music. The koothambalam at Vylloppilly Samskriti Bhavan in the capital city was packed. The valedictory function of ‘Snehasangeeta Sangamam,’ to mark the formal inauguration of K.P. Udayabhanu Foundation, was over.
The guests on stage were on their feet, the crowd was settling down for the music show ahead, when the compere announced that K.J. Yesudas would sing ‘Kilichilachu…’ (‘Samasya’), that soulful melody composed nearly 30 years ago by Udayabhanu and written by O.N.V. Kurup, both of whom were on stage.
Magical moments
The next couple of minutes were magical. Requesting the orchestra to play softly, Yesudas crooned the lyrics. In the silence, his voice harmonioulsy merged with the orchestra.
Perhaps that one moment was a fitting reply to a loaded question debated at an earlier panel discussion. Lyricists Kaithapram Damodaran Namboodiri, Anil Panachooran, Rajeev Alunkkal, Beeyaar Prasad, music director M. Jayachandran, and critic T. P. Sasthamangalam tried to pin point in vain the reasons for the present state of Malayalam film music. It was pointed out that the change had a lot to do with the changing time and the way songs are pictured by directors.
Visual moods
Ace cinematographer Santosh Sivan had the audience spellbound while recounting his experiences as both cameraman and director.
Training his sensitive lens on visuals and songs from the films he had made, Santosh explained how he tried to capture light, colours and moods. The session threw light on how the quality of a song sequence could be enhanced when it is picturised by a sensitive director and cinematographer.
An interactive audience session headed by singers M. Radhakrishnan and Preetha provided the audience some fun. Keertans by Aswathi Thirunal Rama Varma, patriotic songs by Udayabhanu’s choral group, and other events were packed neatly into the programme schedule.
‘Old is Gold’ featured songs of yesteryear singers. Many were the singers who got a new life through this group, while many young singers used this platform to hone their skills.
Sreekanth and Lalu George, son of the famous singer K.S. George, impressed the listeners.
Curtains came down on the event with a musical tribute, a programme in which Vani Jayaram, Sujatha, G. Venugopal, Kallara Gopan, Sudeep Kumar, Manjari, Azad, Shwetha Mohan, Rajalakshmi, and Aparna Rajiv breathed life into old Hindi and Malayalam songs.
The lasting image was that of Udayabhanu, who played a perfect host the whole day, took the stage with all singers in tow. ‘Evideninno, evideninno…’ in that hauntingly, mesmerising voice evoked not just feelings but images and memories of a singer and man who knows no malice.
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