‘Kaarothungi, kaattadangi karkkidakathin yavanika neengi...”
Satheesh Babu, a Kozhikode-based playback singer remembered music composer K Raghavan Master on Saturday, by humming Master’s favourite light music composition. Master’s demise has shocked Satheesh Babu, his disciple, who won the hearts of Kozhikoden music lovers by singing the songs composed by Master.
“I cannot believe that Raghavan Master is no more. We were planning to celebrate the 100th birthday of Master on December 2. Unfortunately, we missed that golden opportunity,” said Babu, 60. “I first met him at the All India Radio in Kozhikode when I went there for an audition in 1972. He welcomed me with a broad smile. It was the beginning of our cozy relationship,” he said.
“From then on I got several opportunities to sing his compositions,” he said. In his memories, Raghavan Master was a gifted musician who was not ready for compromises when it came to music. “Master was very attentive and was concerned about accuracy and the details of songs. He composed every song with fastidious care.” “A notable thing about Raghavan Master is that while composing the basic structure of any song, he never forgot to add some folk elements to it,” he said. His light music ‘Vimanayanam...’ was a major hit during his days in AIR. “When I visited him at his residence a couple of weeks ago, he greeted me with the same smile that was on his face when I first met him. He asked me to sing ‘Madhurappathinezhukari...’, his first work with K J Yesudas,” he said.
“Taking me back to our days at AIR Kozhikode, he sang his latest compositions for the film ‘Balyakalasakhi’. I am sure that he and his music are second to none. He bid adieu to the music world only after setting a trend,” he said.