மலர்ந்தும் மலராதவை # 34

Saravanan Natarajan writes:

மலர்ந்தும் மலராதவை # 34

வசந்தத்தில் ஒரு வானவில்....

It was drizzling when I was going to work this morning, but the dark clouds had moved on by the time I reached. And when I drew back the blinds from my window, I stood speechless staring at the magnificent rainbow that showed up for a fleeting moment before disappearing behind the clouds, white, this time…. And sighing, I sat down to open my laptop, but not before the title of a long forgotten movie came to mind….and with it, its songs….. and with the songs, the composer….. Vasanthathil Oru Vaanavil….

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Vasanththil Oru Vaanavil was produced by a banner called ‘Veena Movies’. I believe it was directed by renowned Srilankan director T. Arjuna. Erode Thamizhanban was involved in drafting the script and penning the dialogues, besides working as Associate Director. Pratap Pothen and Radhika played the lead roles. Unfortunately, much like the movies that have featured in this series, ‘Vasanthathil Oru Vaanavil’, filmed in 1981, never made it to the silver screen….

Two songs from this ill-fated project, however, survived the guillotine of oblivion…they were picked up Radio Ceylon, nurtured and indulged all through the early 80s before being cast aside into the dark recesses of time… Lyrics were by Kalpanadasan and music was by Khemadasa…

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And who is Khemadasa, you may well ask, for his is not a name that is well-known in our parts. But when you cross the Palk Strait and mention the name, it would meet with reverential recognition and profound admiration. For Kemadasa Master, as he is known, was the pride of Sri Lanka. ‘Deshamanya’ ‘Kala Keerthi’ Dr. Premasiri Khemadasa (1937- 2008) was a composer nonpareil in the beautiful isle. Born in a penurious family in Wadduwa in the South-West coast of Sri Lanka, Khemadasa commenced his musical career as a flautist in Radio Ceylon.

He first composed music for the Singhalese movie ‘Rodi Kella’, and soon gained critical acclaim and
widespread fame with his score for movies such as ‘Sobana Sita’(1964), Sepatha Soya (1965), ‘Sanasuma Kothanada’ (1966) and ‘Golu Hadawatha’ (1968). Working with master film-makers such as K. A. W. Perera and Lester James Peries, Khemadasa was a trail blazing pioneer who brought into Singhalese Cinema a music that was native as much as it was universal- Hindustani nuances nodding to Western notations, Baila that beautifully blossoms into Beethoven- his music witnessed the happy marriage of seemingly unlikely influences.

My own particular favourites from the vast Khemadasa portmanteau are ‘Eran kanda pem handa’ (Nedeyo), ‘Lassana thaleta’ (Narilatha), ‘Ron rasa berena’ (Rana Giraw), ‘Sara Soduwu’ (Hantane Kathawa)…. From 1964 until 2002, Khemdasa filled Sri Lankan Cinema with songs that bared the souls of the characters and background music that spoke all the words that were left unsaid.

In addition to film music, Khemadasa’s repertoire includes path-breaking compositions in theatre, opera and teledrama. His most celebrated works include the symphonies Sinhala Avurudda (Sinhala New Year) Pirinivan Mangallaya (The passing away of the Buddha) and the opera Manasa Vila (The lake of the mind). The cantata Pirivin Mangallaya, in particular, is a spellbinding listen. The opera ‘Agni’ was his swansong and was magnificent in its rich idioms.

Khemadasa, like a truly great human being, remained humble all his life. He refused to bow to beauracracy and trudged a lonely path of his own. He picked promising children from poor families and trained them in his unpretentious school that was run in a corner of a garage. He passed away in 2008.

I am awestruck at Khemadasa, the ‘Maestro’ and Khemadasa, the human being, when I watch these videos:

Part 1:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ixZjqSj7K4

Part 2:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r7IIA6bz40

The Maestro in action:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKH82PFbbQU

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Khemadasa first came into the attention of the Tamils when along with our own V. Kumar, he composed music for the 1979 Indo-Sri Lankan joint venture ‘Nangooram’. Reams have already been written about the gorgeous songs such as ‘Oru Paarvai paarkum pothu’ and ‘Aalayam Nayagan Gopuram Nayagi’.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xK9g6Qg56ME

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoELUy0auNQ

The 1988 Ramarajan-Saranya starrer ‘Melam Kottu Thaali Kattu’ came out with songs composed by Khemadasa. The master was assisted by an enthusiastic youngster called C. Deva who would blossom into the most prolific composer of Tamil cinema in the 90s. I would rate ‘Ammamma Sollamma’ composed by Khemadasa as one of Uma Ramanan’s finest songs ever. The seamless transformation in the mood of the song from pleasure to pathos, the arrangements never faltering, shows the class of the great Khemadasa…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WVWIf-rz68

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Listen on then to the two versions of ‘Aaraaro arraaro’ from Vasanthathil Oru Vaanavil, the first sung by SPB & Vani Jairam and the second by S. Janaki… Composed by Khemadasa….a dazzling rainbow that made a fleeting appearance in the Spring of Tamil Cinema….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MIPCH0jpfc&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTJLTy8KVyc&feature=youtu.be

Discussion at:
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