TRIPUNITHURA: It was 1991, and the venue the Oottupura Malika of Sree Poornathrayeesha Temple.
On that auspicious night of Thrikketta Purappadu, the most-crowded night in the eight-day-long Vrischikolsavam, the music lovers of Tripunithura gathered at the Oottupura Malika.
They were eagerly waiting for the mellifluous rendering by their beloved singer M G Radhakrishnan.
“All of us were in an enthusiastic mood to listen to the vibrant voice of Radhakrishnan, who had paved a unique track of his own in Kerala’s light music scenario through his inimitable vibrant voice,” recalled Suresh who was a student of the RLV Music College.
“As a composer of AIR, Radhakrishnan had scored countless light songs like Odakkuzhal vili ozhuki ozhuki varum..., Ghanashyama sandhya hrudayam, and the pulsating fast number, Muthu Kondente Muram Niranju… All of us, including the connoisseurs of Carnatic music, were waiting for the numbers at the tailpiece of the concert, which is often called Thukkadaas,” Suresh said.
“The striking chords used by the singer for the song Uttishtatha… Jagrathaa… for the title song of the all-time-hit Shara Shayya, Radhakrishnan started in Hamsadhwani… with the rendition of Vaathaapi Ganapathim,” Suresh recalls the tranquilising beginning of that concert.
Interestingly, a majority of those at the packed Oottupura Malika comprised ardent adorers of Radhakrishnan who had cherished the immortal music popularised by him through the regular Lalitha Sangeetha Paadham programme of AIR.
“Even in the presence of singers like K J Yesudas and P Jayachandran, we, the students of RLV College, were attracted to the unique identity of the magical voice of Radhakrishnan,” Suresh said citing the musical gems of Radhakrishnan like “Shaarike Sharike, Sindhu Gangaanadhi…in Sara Shayya, and Unni Ganapathiye… and Vannu Varam Tharane… song adopted from the Kaakkarassi natakam for the film Kallichellamma.
“Radhakrishnan was keen to maintain the tempo of the audience while selecting compositions for his concert, recalls mrudangam maestro Parassala Ravi, who had accompanied him at many venues, including Tripunithura. He devotes more than half of the duration of the concert for singing the all-time hits he had composed for AIR, Ravi recalls.
In Tripunithura, Radhakrishnan had presented concerts for many years, and was keen to include Vaathapi… and another famous composition Raghuvamsha Sudha… in the raagam Kadhana Koothoohalam. However, his concert with classical compositions will last only for one and a half hours.
“After Thaniaavarthanam will begin requests from the listeners for his much-sought-after light songs. Many a time, the Oottupura Malika has been filled with the melodious songs like Ashtapadhi Layam, Thullli Thulumbunna Ambalapuzhayude Naalambalathil…, Jayadeva Kaviyude Vaakkukal Kettente Radhe…, Marathaka Kaadukal thann Manimuttathamarunna…, Akkare Ninnikkarekkoru Paalm…, and the list will go on even after the conclusion of the concert,” Ravi says.
“His style was brisk and catchy, and while rendering the lines of those melodies like Radhaye Kaanaatha Mukil Varnano… Seethaye Verpetta Sreeraamano…, Radhakrishnan virtually turns into the lyricist by fully absorbing the mood of those lines,” Ravi, who had given rhythmic support to those songs during countless concerts, says.
“Frequently, my eyes would be filled with tears during his rendition of the lines Hridhayathil Urukaatha Dhaaridhrya Dukhamaam Vennayum Kanneeraam Paalkkinnavum… from the immortal song, Ashtapadhi Thulli Thulumbunna…,” Ravi says.
“We will get such gifted singers only once in a blue moon, and certainly the vibrant voice and the rare breed of the style moulded by Radhakrishnan will live in the hearts of music lovers through the immortal songs,” Ravi said.