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Coming out of recluse

Playback singer Jensi captivated millions of Tamil music lovers, writes T. SARAVANAN

MELODIOUS As impressive as ever PHOTO: G. MOORTHY

But bright Cecilia rais'd the wonder high'r;

When to her organ, vocal breath was giv'n,

An angel heard, and straight appear'd

Mistaking earth for Heav'n.

— John Dryden (A Song for St. Cecilia's Day, 1687)

Starting from `Adi penne...' of the film `Mullum Malarum' to `En uyir neethane..' of `Priya,' from `Tham thana, Tham thana...' of `Pudhiya Varpugal' to `Kadhal oviyam...' of `Alaigal Oyvadhillai,' from `Kalyanam ennai mudikka...' of `Metti' to `En vaanile...' of the movie `Johnny' ... The list goes on.

All these songs have two things in common — music director Ilayaraja and the mesmerising voice of playback singer Jensi. Her voice creates such an inexplicable feeling in every music lover. It is so romantic that it gives a rejuvenating experience.

None can forget her voice that has sent many to raptures. For, at least 10 of her songs find place in the list of all-time hits. She has captivated millions of Tamil music lovers with her voice. The singer was in the Temple City as a jury member for a music talent hunt organised by a private satellite channel, where she shared her experience.

Nostalgic

Reminiscing the days when she performed stage shows along with playback singer K.J. Jesudas, she said, "It is still green to me. I was fresh from Music College and had the opportunity to sing along with one of the legends in playback singing. I too shared the stage with Sujatha, another promising talent at that time and now a popular singer."

She also remembered her first meeting with maestro Ilayaraja. "Jesu anna asked me to meet Ilayaraja, who was bent upon introducing new voices. When I met him, I sang `Annakili unna theduthe...' his debut song in Tamil film. I was immediately given a chance in his next film. Though my first attempt did not click, the song that took me to dizzy heights was `Adi penne...' "The classical number is still a favourite of many," she beamed with pride.

What followed then is history. She became a celebrity voice. Anything and everything she sang was a hit. She also had offers pouring in from Telugu and Malayalam films.

Just as she was peaking at the right time she rescinded and was never to be found thereafter.

"Still I rue my misfortune. I just would like to forget the turn of events, which forced me out of singing. I was at the crossroads at that time whether to choose singing as my career or to take on an offer to pursue teaching. My family members advised me against picking up singing and I was in a dilemma. At last, I had no other go but to respect the sentiments of my family," she said with a dipping voice.

Passionate singer

But her passion for music pulled her back into this field. "Now, I am not a school teacher any more. I have resigned the job and I am involved in full time singing once again," she said.

In the meantime, she had also sung Christian devotional songs in Malayalam and released a few albums.

"To be frank, though my mother tongue is Malayalam, I have sung more songs in Tamil than in any other language and I cherish singing Tamil numbers and I feel more confident also while singing in this language," she said.

Now that she has come out of her recluse, she performs in stage shows and wants to make a comeback. "Though I know that I have to start from scratch I don't want to push my case forward. But I am expecting good offers."

She may be out of the reckoning at present. But don't write her off. She is raring to make a mark once again in Tamil films. For, her voice has such an awesome power as it lingers for long.

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