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Singing, swinging and swaying

D. Srinivas's first and only love is music, writes T.SARAVANAN

THE PERFORMANCE AND A PERFORMER `Thappattam' dancers enthralling the crowd and versatile PHOTO: K. GANESAN

When the song `Sorgam enbathu namakku' in the movie `Nammavar' was released everyone was in for a wild guess about the singer. From Hariharan to S.P. Balasubramaniam, people betted on. But when it turned out that it was neither but a new singer, it indeed became difficult to hide one's appreciation.

Though it was his first song, he delivered like a professional showing no hints of any pressure normally associated with maiden attempts. That was D. Srinivas launching himself in the competitive music world.

For Shreeni — as he is fondly called — music is his first love. So much so that he has even sacrificed a lucrative job in a private company for taking singing as a career. Not quite really born into a family of musicians, he, however, developed a liking for music as he was exposed to the art form at a very young age.

"My parents were not exponents of Carnatic music but were true music lovers and wanted me to enjoy music too. I remember the days when as a toddler I used to run around my family members during the early morning Margazhi bajans. It all started there," he reminisces fondly.

More than exercising his vocal cords, Srinivas listened to so much music that even before he got into real learning he was able to sing impressively. It caught the attention of Padma Narayan, his aunt, who sent him to rigorous Carnatic music classes. "My voice impressed my aunt and she became my first guru," he says.

Passion for music

From then on, there was no looking back. Good thing about Srinivas is that he did not confine himself to Carnatic music. A true music lover that he is, he listens to all kinds of music with equal passion.

His eyes literally sparkle while talking of ghazals: "I was deeply moved by Pakistan's ghazal supremo Ustad Mehdi Hassan. He has tremendous command over all highly technical ragas and skilfully employs melody. He selects each raga according to the mood of a ghazal. He inspired me to take up ghazal singing. Ghazals are not rigid and lends itself to improvisation," a buoyant Srinivas explains.

He is equally impressed by the great exponents of Indian Classical music Pandit Kumar Gandharva, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi and Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer.

D. Srinivas at The Hindu Young World Quiz Contest in Madurai

Talking on film music, he is unable to hold back his emotions over Kishore Kumar's songs : "He is very spontaneous, instinctive and stands tall among all other singers for his versatility."

He has high regard for A.R. Rahman, who had apparently promised him a chance. But it was music director Magesh who gave him the much-needed break in `Nammavar'.

Srinivas is much in love with the melody of Illayaraja's compositions.

"I often wonder, so learned that they are in music, how can they unlearn and be so creative each time they sit for a new composition. It is not easy. Music composing is very demanding, as you got to be at your best all the time," he says.

Smooth transition

For a person with such rich experience in music, the transition from singer to music director is perhaps not that difficult.

He successfully ascertained his prowess as a music composer with a song "Ini nanum nanillai, iyalbaga enillai" in the movie `Yei, Nee Romba Azhaga Iruke'.

He has also made a mark in non-film music through his albums, especially "Ussele, Ussele" which became a big hit. But he holds a different view when asked

about albums: "Though my `Ussele, Ussele' album was a success, I feel people generally go by star value. They prefer film music to albums," he remarks.

Srinivas's kind-heartedness is reflected when one sees him acknowledge fresh talent wherever he goes.

He is the one who has introduced singers like Karthick and Chinmayee.

"There is no dearth of talent. Arrival of new singers augurs well for the cinema. Music directors have a wide option to choose from and music listeners too feel happy about the variety in voices they get," he says without much ado about the competition.

Srinivas has also given some memorable hits in TV serials the `Thirumangalyam' song in "Mangalyam'.

The successful singer is now busy composing music for films.

His ongoing projects are `Kadhal Valarthen' and `Lakshmi Vandachu'.

Pulsating beats

The programme was announced as being "very Madurai specific". With two percussion instruments, including a drum, and nine `parai,' and a `morocose', it sculpted an impression that would pulsate lifelong.

Dressed in white dhoties and their faces glistening with make-up roughly slapped on, the nine members of Kalai Valarmani P. Raja Thapatta Kalai Kuzhu waited in the wings for the drumbeat to signal the start for a `thapattam' performance. Once it boomed, the nine weaved their way to positions on the stage as the sound of the `parai' coursed through the packed Raja Muthiah Mandram last weekend.

The men danced in unison, their bodies moving effortlessly to the changing drumbeats with `parai' in their hands, and the `morocose' providing relief. They swayed, bending delicately and moved faster as the beats reached a crescendo. Nine pairs of feet drawing delicate patterns in the air and heads flipping every now and then supple as the branches of a tree complementing the wind. Their rhythm punctuated the air that was thick with the audience's admiration for the troupe's superb performance.

The somersaults performed single and in pairs, with one leaping over the other in one sequence and while holding each other's feet and propelling them into another sequence, left the audience gaping in awe of their agility. Then came the pyramid formations. The troupe leader, P. Raja, played with fire for a few minutes.

The chief guest, singer D.Srinivas, was not to be left out of the list of admirers as he "really enjoyed" the show. He gave the performers a thumping pat and said it was "fabulous" that such "rhythm comes naturally to them."

M. RAMYA

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