நல்ல மனம் வாழ்க🙏
Dakshinimamoorthi Swami departed to merge with the Cosmos and be one with the Celestial beings on this day in 2013.
Presenting here some personal anecdotes that I wrote as a part of an article on the great Swami and his immortal works...
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In the late 80s/ early 90s, I used to frequent a video library called ‘Harini Videos’ in V.M. Street near my house. They had a decent collection of movies from the 70s, which I used to rent for their memorable songs. Once I asked for Nanda En Nila, and when the owner said that they didn’t have it, I asked for Oru Koyil Iru Deepangal. The owner, as was his wont, grumbled good naturedly on the never-heard-of movies that I seemed to want (Till the last I saw of him in 1990-91, he wouldn’t believe that there was a movie called Thunai Iruppaal Meenakshi!) and as I was leaving the library, a person who was sitting and chatting with the owner asked me why I wanted those two movies in particular. I explained to him about their common factor- Dakshinamoorthi’s wonderful music, and then spoke at length about Dakshinamoorthi’s works in Tamil. Imagine my embarrassment when at the end, the gentleman who had been listening to me so far with an indulgent smile introduced himself amusedly as Dakshinamoorthi’s son!
Another experience was thrilling, to say the least. In the late 90s, a journalist/writer was tracing the life and times of Tamil Film Music greats as a series in a magazine. Though much elder to me, he had become a good friend, bound as we were by a common passion for film music. We used to spend hours discussing the artistes and their works, and listening to their songs. One Saturday, I was listening to ‘Aandavan illa ulagamedhu’ and it struck me that my friend hadn’t written about Dakshinamoorthi yet. I gathered my collection of Dakshinamoorthi’s songs and hurried to his house. When I told him my desire, his eyes widened in amazement- for he had just returned from meeting Dakshinamoorthi Swami and was intending to write about him!
And a few years later, I caught a glimpse of the venerable Swami. Slight in build, spartan and simple in his attire, and though he seemed feeble due to his advanced years, he was erect in his bearing and majestic in his gait. I saw him from a distance at the inner sanctum of the Kapaleeswarar temple one evening, and gazed at him with wonder. As the lights from the lamps danced on his face, Swami, with his eyes closed in prayer, reflected an inner glow and serenity that reposed as a halo over his person.
Imagine my excitement, when good friend 'Ragapravaham' Sundar suggested that we go meet Swami in November 2010! I was in Chennai on my annual vacation then and jumped with joy at the prospect.
We visited Swami at his residence in Mylapore. Swami greeted us with old-world courtesy, treated us with utmost kindness and spoke to us animatedly at length on his various and varied experiences. A wry sense of humour that peeped in at unexpected intervals revealed his fun loving side. His eyes lit up when I helped him with some lines of a song that he was trying to recall. He sang some lines from few of his songs in the course of the conversation.... what a fine, stately voice he had, even at that age! His wife Smt. Kalyani and daughter Smt. Gomathishri joined the conversation... they ensured that we felt at home and were gracious in their hospitality.
I can never forget his response when we urged him to take care of his health. He said, “I am trying to become thinner, so that I may not be a burden to my pall-bearers when they carry my body!” Avatarapurushar!
As we parted, we took the blessings of Swami. By a happy coincidence, it happened to be my birthday that day, and I felt an inexplicable rapture settle on me as we took leave of that divine soul.
Swami passed away on 2 August 2013 at the ripe age of 92. Co-incidentally it was on that very morning that a detailed article on him was published in The Hindu….. a quirky twist of fate indeed!
In August 2014, Sundar wished to celebrate the 25th year of Ragapravaham by presenting a special program. He wanted to present some not so frequently heard composers. He took three composers for himself, and allotted me three. And in my lot fell Swami.
Swami’s wife Smt. Kalyani, his daughter Gomathishri and their family attended the program. After I completed my presentation on Swami, Smt. Gomathishri came on stage and spoke few kind words in appreciation. She said that she was deeply moved that her father and his works were presented in such detail.
I was in the corridor outside the hall as Swami’s family was leaving. His grandson thanked me for the segment on Swami. Smt. Kalyani then held out her hands and as I clasped them, her moist eyes spoke the volumes that her lips left unsaid.... I was overwhelmed by emotion… Swami was smiling from above…
சுவாமியின் நினைவுகள் தேன் தமிழ்போல்.... வான் மழைபோல்..... சிறந்து என்றும் வாழ்க🙏
- Saravanan Natarajan
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