Tribute to Raveendran: Part 1

Saravanan Natarajan writes:

Tribute to Raveendran: Part 1

ஏழிசை கீதமே எனக்கொரு ஜீவனும் நீயே...

It was on this day 12 years ago that Indian film music lost one of its prodigious icons and it has remained poorer ever since… the demise of Raveendran Master was at the time widely covered in the local press and media not only in Kerala, but here in Dubai as well.

And a year later, ‘A Tribute to Raveendran’ proclaimed the posters that had sprung up all over Sharjah and Dubai. Glancing at one of them excitedly, I learned that a concert was being held on March 2nd at Al Nasr Leisureland here in memory of Raveendran on the first anniversary of his demise. Chitra, Madhu Balakrishnan and Gayatri sang the virtuoso’s songs.

The singers spoke of the late master in hushed tones of awe and reverence. Madhu Balakrishnan sang many of the songs that had sparkled with the magic collaboration of Raveendran with Yesudas, and did justice to even intricate compositions like ‘Harimuraleeravam’, ‘Rama katha gaanalayam’ and ‘Otta kambi naadham.’ Chitra revealed that it was Raveendran Maash who advised her, in 1982, to come and seek her fortune in Chennai, and her voice faltered as she recalled the last song she sung for him, and she went on to render it- the haunting ‘Kalabam tharam’ (Vadakkum Nathan). Gayatri memsmerised the audience with the soft, caressing notes of the piety soaked ‘Dheena dayalo Rama’.The concert which commenced at 9 pm went on until the wee hours of the morning, and the enraptured crowd sat in a trance, as they were treated to a night of unforgettable music….music that still lives on, and will forever linger to bespeak the glory of its creator…..

Oh, how time speeds on in its remorseless flight! It is now more than a decade since the passing away of Raveendran, yet I remember the benumbed responses of the film music fraternity at the terrible loss. If upcoming singers like Biju Narayanan, Pradeep Somasundaran, Manjari and Renjini Harikumar paid wholesome eulogies to their mentor, I read seasoned veterans like M.G. Sreekumar, Chitra and Sujatha coming up with reverential tributes to Raveendran. And as for Yesudas, heartfelt and moving were his emotional panegyrics to his late friend- for more than colleagues, they were bosom pals; and the silken strings and dainty chords that bound them together are surely stronger than mere mortal existence, for they are fortified by something more eternal- music.
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Born on 9 November 1941 in Kulathupuzha as the seventh child of impoverished parents, Raveendran’s early years were full of struggle. Even as a student of the exalted Swati Tirunaal Music Academy (to gain entry into which he was interviewed by no less a person than Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer), Raveendran sang in concerts all over Kerala as part of the Ganamela troupe ‘Thunder Birds’ to make both ends meet. Armed with a degree from the hoary institution, he landed in Chennai which was the citadel of South-Indian cinema then, in 1966.

Staying in Ayyanpuram in a friend’s lodgings, he made his rounds of the Kodambakkam studios, but all his efforts to gain an entry to playback singing in Malayalam movies proved futile. It was actor S.V.Sahasaranamam who offered him some solace and made Raveendran sing for his ‘Seva Stage’ plays. Raveendran continued his attempts to gain a foothold in Malayalam film music in the meantime and his untiring efforts bore fruit when composer Baburaj offered him a song to sing in the movie Velliazhcha (1969/ Solar Pictures). The song ‘Pavana ranjini’ did enjoy fleeting popularity, but Raveendran did not get many opportunities again. He had to be content with singing as part of the chorus in a few songs. He even worked as a dubbing artiste to eke his livelihood, for he now had a family of his own to support.

Raveendran had never entertained serious thoughts of trying his hand at music composing, until Yesudas passed on to him a chance at music-direction that had come his way. And with the song ‘Tharake mizhiethalil kanneerumaai’ (sung by Yesudas, of course!) in Choola (1979) Raveendran made a magnificent entry in Malayalam film music. The next two decades saw him reap one bountiful harvest after another, and earn an enviable name as an original composer of rare merit. His music was easily recognizable as his and only his- towering classical edifices, cemented by ingenious, innovative experimentation, doorways carved with enchanting preludes, interiors painted with rich, vibrant interludes and home to trained, tantalizing voices.

Though well acquainted with Raveendran’s works in Tamil, my knowledge of his Malayalam songs has been regretfully inadequate. I had earlier heard the songs from success stories like Thenum Vayambum, Chiriyo Chiri, Aaram Thamburan, Sukhamo Devi, Amaram, Venkalam and of course, the masterpieces His Highness Abdullah and Bharatham. But it was in the last decade that I made the rueful, belated discovery of the genius of Raveendran in hidden (at least to me) treasures such as ’Sayandhanam chandrika lokama’ (Kamaladalam), ‘Venalkkaadum poothu’(Kalyanappittennu), ‘Enthinu veroru sooryodhayam' (Mazhayethum Munpe), ‘Aakasha thamara pole’ (Ayal Kadha Ezhuthukayanu), 'Iru hridhayangalil'(Oru May Maasa Pulariyil) ‘Vaarmukile vaanil nee’ (Mazha), ‘Mamankam palakuri kondaadi’ (Vasantha Geethangal- a non-film album)- what a wondrous, varied tapestry has the master worked on!
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Let us salute the memory of Raveendran by taking a ramble down memory lane, visiting each one of the Tamil movies upon which he bestowed the bounty of his genius. True, his Tamil albums amount to a paltry 7, but his genius glitters in each one of them, and the songs live on to tell the tale of the man behind the music.

How many of us remember an obscure movie titled ‘Hemavin Kadhalargal?’

Ganga Creations' Hemavin Kaadhalargal must have been years in the making, for while it was released in 1985, the EP sleeve of the movie mentions its year of manufacture as 1982. The film was produced by Ganga and was the second film of the acclaimed Malayalam director T.V. Chandran. Though Chandran had commenced his career as an actor in P. A. Backer's Kabani Nadi Chuvannappol, he realized his true calling when he directed his first film Krishnankutty in 1981. Hemavin Kaadhalargal was his second film, and his only outing in Tamil. In later years, he crafted some of Malayalam cinema's finest films like Alicinte Anveshanam, Ponthan Mada, Ormakalundayirikkanam, Mangamma, Susannah, Danny, Padam Onnu: Oru Vilapam and Kathavasheshan.

I gleaned the story outline of Hemavin Kadhalargal only from a staid and taciturn colleague who suddenly opened up when we were talking about the life and times of Raveendran. The mention of Hemavin Kaadhalargal must have touched a long forgotten chord in him, for he leaned forward and asked us shyly if any of us had seen the film, and as we listened in pleasant surprise, he went on to pay a glowing panegyric to the bold theme and the genius of its brilliant director.

As the title indicates, the film revolved around Hema (played by Anuradha) and her elusive search for a perfect spouse. She finds herself drawn to one of the two young men who come her way, and marries him. But she is soon disenchanted by his narrow, male chauvinistic attitude, and walks out of what had become a stifling wedlock. She then finds the man of her dreams, an idealistic, fiery labour leader. But she realizes that she is unlucky the second time as well, and his untimely demise leaves her shattered. Nevertheless life must go on for the living, and Hema continues her quest, undeterred…

Besides Anuradha, the film had in its cast Delhi Ganesh, Vijayamohan, Sabita Anand and others. The dialogues were written by writer Ramanichandran.

It was Hemavin Kaadhalargal then, which marked the debut of the gifted Raveendran in Tamil cinema.

Listen to this song ‘Paarvai theril’ from Hemavin Kadhalargal by SPB. Raveendran's imagination is in full play here, and right from the unconventionally structured Pallavi (most probably set to pre-written lyrics, by Kavin Mugil), the song traverses along some unexplored, exciting paths. SPB seems to have given Raveendran a joyous welcome to Tamil cinema, for he simply captivates with his magic. Hark at his stifled chuckle just before 'punnagai aLLum..', and how he smiles, sulks, cajoles, teases, woos and exults. What a singer!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75ld2cWrFnk



Besides this song, Hemavin Kaadhalargal had one other song- the spellbinding 'Kaalai poove nee vaa', where Janaki summons to kaleidoscopic life the magical vistas envisaged by Raveendran.
- We shall revisit the remaining Tamil albums of Raveendran Mash in subsequent parts.

Discusion at:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1018417744856618/permalink/1507199932645061/