In the voices of masters
MALATHI RANGARAJAN
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At a recent show C.A. Raja sang in 10 voices with élan.
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Photo:P.M.FRANKLIN UDHAYA CHAKARAVARTH
Joyous traversal: C.A.Raja’s ‘10 in One’ show
In one voice the speakers on the podium praised C.A. Raja’s feat at the ‘10 in One’ show held at the Kamarajar Arangam on Saturday last. The singer was able to reproduce the hits of a whole range of singers in their ‘voices
217; with consummate ease, with his troupe ‘Pranavam’ lending impressive orchestral support. His female counterparts were equally adept at the art. The show, organised as a fund-raiser for New Life Charitable Trust, a home for the old and helpless, saw aficionados of yesteryear film music swaying to the melodies.
Raja transported the audience 50 years back in time to the golden era of Sivaji Ganesan and Padmini right away when he began with the evergreen ‘Deivappiravi’ hit, ‘Anbaalae Thaediya En …’ in C.S. Jayaraman’s voice. He traversed through the years covering songs composed till a decade ago. The choice was particularly aesthetic. ‘Malarae Mounama,’ a Vidyasagar masterpiece and TMS’s challenging original in ‘Kungumam’ — ‘Chinnanjiriya Vanna Paravai …’ lingered in your ears for long.
Reproducing A.M. Raja’s voice is C.A. Raja’s forte and he proved it again with a few of the veteran’s songs. Then came SPB, Yesudas, Kishore Kumar with his typical yodelling, Kumar Sanu and Udit Narayan. Not all the voices were aped to perfection but every strain presented was scintillating. When Raja sang Kishore Kumar’s ‘Mere Sapnon Ki Rani …’ you could not but think of veteran A.V. Ramanan’s rendition of the piece at ever so many concerts, each time with the same gusto. Raja wasn’t found wanting either.
Cheerful throughout
The most appealing aspect of Raja’s presentation was the felicity and ease with which he sang the numbers — quite a few of them aren’t easy to present on stage, Ilaiyaraja’s ‘Poo Maalaiyae’ for example. But Raja did justice. At no point in the three-hour concert did he show signs of fatigue. (He sang 27 songs in all!) Neither did he find shifting to the baritone and back, difficult.
The large, live orchestra with its formidable team of violinists, powerful percussion segment comprising drum pads, drums, bongos and tabla, zestful wind instrument backing, and cheerful conductor, Ram Surendar, proved its mettle. Very rarely was a cue missed — a fact that spoke enough of the extensive rehearsal sessions the troupe must have had.
Composer Bharani and a couple of directors were so taken in by Raja’s potential that they offered him a chance to sing in their next film straightway. K. Rajan, president, Tamizh Thiraippada Paadhukaapu Kazhagam, mentioned, “Raja’s talent of bringing 10 voices into his own is admirable, but he should also highlight his original voice, which is equally wonderful.”
‘Tabla Prasad,’ the veteran percussionist was seen enjoying the show. In an aside, he said, “I came to listen to my favourite old songs. Raja is doing a fabulous job.”
C.A. Raja’s ‘10 in One’ was a challenge well met.
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