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Echoing the voice of masses
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"In those days, radio artistes have to perform various duties. I rendered folk songs, music concerts and `katakalashebam', and all were broadcast live. My performance won me a lot of appreciation from the AIR officials, as well as from listeners. Soon I was recognised as a character artiste, and the entire drama section was entrusted to me."
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He started singing and acting in dramas at the age of 12, and continues to be associated with these arts even at 85. His extraordinary talent in singing fetched him a chance in acting in a movie, `Nalathamayanthi', in 1930s, but he opted for the drama section of the All India Radio, Tiruchi, thanks to his five-year stint with the Nawab Rajamanikkam drama troupe. In his four-decade-long association with the AIR, he has produced, directed and acted in 1,000 dramas, and gave innumerable folk song and other music concerts. His stint in the AIR gave him a chance to move closely with renowned artistes such as Tiruvaduthurai Rajarathinam Pillai, Karukurichi Arunachalam Pillai and Sahasranamam. Though T. V. Krishnamurthy retired from the AIR in 1979, he is still active in radio dramas. `A live programme till 1962, radio dramas demanded total perfection and concentration. At present, the drama is on the verge of extinction owing to the influence of television serials, and there is an urgent need to revive it," he says in a chat with Syed Muthahar.
HAILING FROM Tiruvarur, Mr. Krisnamurthy had a liking for Carnatic music since his youthful days. Though he did not have any formal training, he was inspired by music sessions his sister had at their home.
On knowing his musical talents in music, a Madras-based cinema company booked him for `Nalatamayanthi'. After completing the shooting, he returned to his native place, only to be chided by his parents for ignoring his studies.
Mr. Krishnamurthy was gifted with a voice more suitable for women roles. This pushed him into the Nawab T. S. Rajamanikkam troupe, which was camping in Tiruchi in 1935. He played women roles in dramas based on epics, in various parts of the State for the next five years.
"I again returned to Tiruvarur, this time serious about my career. R. S. Sarma, a philanthropist, made arrangements for me to undergo training in rendering devotional songs under a Tiruvananthapuram palace artiste," he recalls with gratitude.
Sarma, a close associate of the celluloid doyen, S. S. Vasan, fetched him a chance for acting in his films. But, drama always wielded a greater influence on Mr. Krishnamurthy.
Thanks to his clout at the Tiruchi AIR station, Sarma got him the `tambura artiste' job. "On seeing my ability to deliver dialogues well, the authorities shifted me to the drama section within six months, and this was the first step in my long journey — using radio drama for conveying social messages and moral ethics."
"In those days, radio artistes have to perform various duties. I rendered folk songs, music concerts and `katakalashebam', and all were broadcast live. My performance won me a lot of appreciation from the AIR officials, as well as from listeners. Soon I was recognised as a character artiste, and the entire drama section was entrusted to me. We worked hard. We used to enter the station by 5 a.m. for the early morning programmes and leave at 10 p.m."
"Radio dramas were live programmes, and artistes had to prepare hard for perfection, timing and modulation. Even minor mistakes were viewed seriously. More than the performance, every artiste should have the presence of mind to correct any mistake instantly. In the radio dramas, it is the delivery of dialogue that played a pivotal role in creating the desired audio effect on listeners, thereby adding life to the character and the theme. This proved a challenging task in those days, when technology had not developed much."
"For every drama we had to do rigorous rehearsals. The highlight of the radio dramas was that they were scripted with a specific message to listeners. After the recording facility was introduced, acting in radio dramas became easy."
"The AIR played a major role in promoting art and culture in the country. The radio dramas had given a big lift to many talented artistes. The AIR produced quality dramas, thanks to the patronage of a large number of quality listeners."
Mr. Krishnamurthy still does one role or the other in the radio plays. "I had a lot of fans even in remote villages, as radio was the only mass media then. People used to recognise me with my voice even in villages and I owe everything to the AIR," he says.
Mr. Krishnamurthy, who won the `Vanoli Kalai Arasu' title, is sad that the advent of television has pushed the drama to the background. Moreover, the absence of good script writers was causing troubles.
He calls for immediate steps to revive this art, and he is optimistic that it is still possible.
"With proper training and exposure, we will be able to produce talented artistes," he signs off.
Mr. Krishnamurthy's wife T. Chandrakantha was also a radio artiste, and the couple did lead roles in many radio dramas.
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Life
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