In the summer of 1993, when I was still a confused young man, undecided on what career to choose, I came across a cassette of songs by #Ilaiyaraja in a small shop in Coimbatore, while on a trip to the south with my parents. I was still far away from considering 
music as a career; I was contemplating to be a writer at that time, having won the prize of best playwright twice in INT and Unmesh competitions. But music was a permanent resident in my mind and lips and I hummed constantly.
I had been introduced to Ilaiyaraja’s music
I had been introduced to Ilaiyaraja’s music
through Balu Mahendra’s #Sadma and since then was absolutely enamoured by his genius. So when I came across this cassette of Ilaiyaraja compositions sung by the great #SPBalasubramaniam, I was more than excited.
Of all the songs in that cassette, ‘Pachamala poovu’,
Of all the songs in that cassette, ‘Pachamala poovu’,
‘Rum Bum Bum’, ‘Thottatile Patti Katti’ the one that really stuck with me was - ‘Mannil Intha Kadal’ from the movie ‘Keladi Kanmani’.
Years before Shankar Mahadevan came up with his fantastic song, ‘Breathless’, Ilayaraja had done this song which had SPB singing
Years before Shankar Mahadevan came up with his fantastic song, ‘Breathless’, Ilayaraja had done this song which had SPB singing
breathless in the antara. This was done before the advent of digital technology in music which meant that the recording was done on an analogue magnetic tape.
It was only after YouTube became popular that I was able to see the picturisation of that song.
It was only after YouTube became popular that I was able to see the picturisation of that song.
I was pleasantly surprised to see SPB himself on screen, crooning the song. It ignited in me a curiosity about what this movie would be like. Fortunately I found the movie online and saw it - not once but thrice. The movie was without subtitles, but I understood the film even
though I don’t understand Tamil. Diverse as we may Indians be, we are tied by an invisible cultural string, so even if we don’t understand the language, we understand the story.
#KeladiKanmani had me in tears. I looked up the director - Vasanth. Then saw his other film -
#KeladiKanmani had me in tears. I looked up the director - Vasanth. Then saw his other film -
Asai - with Ajith and Prakash Raj and was really impressed with his storytelling.
So when I was told to moderate a session in Cine Talkies, a symposium by Sanskar Bharati, I was pleasantly surprised to see #Vasanth as one of the panelists.
So when I was told to moderate a session in Cine Talkies, a symposium by Sanskar Bharati, I was pleasantly surprised to see #Vasanth as one of the panelists.
He too was surprised that a Marathi music composers knew about his movies and songs!
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
