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Photos: S. Siva Saravananan

Casting a spell M.S. Viswanathan with S.P. Balasubhramanyam and S.P. Sailaja and P. Susheela

The programme, Sangeetha Saamrajyam, will remain etched forever in the memory of every music lover present there. It was not just about great music, but also an opportunity to draw inspiration as the legends shared anecdotes from their illustrious music careers. What shone through was their humility, mutual love and respect and of course, their passion for music.

It was a delight to watch the paasaa sandai between the legendary M.S.V and singer SPB. The music director wanted his children (the singers) to be honoured first, but the singer insisted that their appa should take precedence.

Jillunnu oru isai mazhaiyil nanaiyya poareenga, the compere Uma Pamanabhan announced to a packed audience at Ramalinga Chettiar School grounds on Alagesan Road. And, that’s what happened with P. Susheela’s invocation song, Iraivan varuvaan avan enrum nimmadhi tharuvaan.

Apart from his mesmerising singing it is always a pleasure to watch SPB move about with the members of the orchestra, joking with them and helping them fine tune their instruments. When the audio became jarring, he went to the sound engineers, put on the ear phones and helped them set the audio system right, all along cheering for singer Ananthu as he sang the popular number vizhiye kadhai ezhudhu from the MGR starrer Urimai Kural with P. Susheela. Back on stage, he gave thumbs up to the team with a smile and settled down on his chair. Every member in the audience thanked him.

When it was his turn, SPB gave the orchestra the ‘one, two, three…’ cue, and cast his spell with unakkenna melae ninraai oh nandha laala. During a break the veteran M.S.V director had generous words for his colleagues. He said, “Singers like Balu, T.M. Soundarrajan and P. Susheela innovate the compositions so beautifully and bring popularity to music directors like me”.

M.S.V’s presence also energised the gathering. He stood there on stage all through the concert, playing his compositions on the harmonium and the keyboard and pepping up the singers and the orchestra. “If you clap well, we’ll get into the right mood,” he urged the audience.

Memorable was sindhu nadhiyin isai nilavinile…, Bharathiar’s poem set to music by M.S.V. Maalai pozhudhin mayakkathilae followed. “It is my brother Ilayaraaja’s favourite,” said MSV and went on to narrate many anecdotes of working with Kannadasan. And SPB followed that up with sippi irukkudhu muthum irukkudhu composition from K. Balachander’s film Varumaiyyin niram sigappu.

SPB’s innovation in ‘mayakkam thanthadhu yaar… MSVyo, kannadasano…’ was a treat. “They are mellisai mahachakravarthigal…Ilayaraaja and I used to wait in Luz corner everyday to get a glimpse of his white ambassador hoping we’d get a chance to work with him,” the singer recalled and told the audience that his sister S.P. Sailaja was also blessed to have performed with the legend.

“People feel bad that I haven’t won any awards, but earning your love and affection is the biggest award,” MSV told the audience. “Matter, meter and melody is important for a song, even if it’s a kuthu song,” he said and sang manidhan ninaipadhundu vazhvu nilaikkum endru from Avan dhaan manidhan. SPB sang the popular vaa nila nila admiring the bright moon and shouts of ‘once more’ rent the air. He sang ayiram nilavae vaa, vaa venilla and the extraordinary kamban aemaandhan.

When Kovai Murali sang adi ennadi raakkamma, MSV kept time clapping and the crowd joined in the fun. When asked if the new generation was missing out on good music, “No,” replied MSV. “At a concert in Pondicherry, an eight-year-old came up to us and asked for ninaipathellam nadanthu vittaal. That is 38-year-old! Irakkum manidhan, iravaa paadalgal (mortal men, immortal music).”

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