PALAKKAD: “Everything is the gift of god. Unni Menon has devoted 33 years of his life for music and being a person in the same field,
I know how difficult it is,” singer K J Yesudas has said. He was speaking after inaugurating the valedictory ceremony of the programme, “Oru Chempaneer Poovu Pole”, organised by Swaralaya to honour the 33 years of singer Unni Menon’s career, at Indira Gandhi Municipal Stadium here on Sunday.
Yesudas wished all success for Unni Menon’s future. He, along with his wife Prabha Yesudas, presented a ponnada to Unni Menon and his wife.
Swaralaya general convener T R Ajayan honoured Yesudas by presenting him with a memento and a ponnada. The function was presided over by P K Biju MP.
Seminars on various topics were held at Lion’s School Auditorium at Koppam as part of the function. The seminar on ‘the contributions and achievements of Unni Menon’ was inaugurated by music director Shyam and presided over by poet Prabha Varma. The seminar on ‘music and Palakkad’ was inaugurated by singer K Omanakutty.
Most of the speakers derided the State Film Award Committee alleging that they failed to identify the talent of Unni Menon.
“Popular Indian playback singer from Palakkad P Leela was not recognised by the state committee when she was alive, though she was a connoisseur in music. However, she was awarded the Padma Bhushan posthumously in 2006. Why do we need such award committees? Unni Menon does not want such an award,” said writer Ravi Menon.
Writer V R Sudheesh said that usually, renowned singers and musicians may not be familiar with writers but Unni Menon is an exception to this. “Being a good reader, he keeps good relationship with writers and it is an exceptional quality,” he said.
He expressed his concerns that despite being a colossus figure in music, Unni Menon has not got a state award so far. “The people in the judging panel were inefficient enough not to recognise his talent,” Sudheesh added.
At the function, the video of a song sung by Unni Menon and directed by Chandru was
released. A copy of the work titled, “Aval Vannathinu Shesham” was handed over to K Omanakutty by Shyam.
LDF leader Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, Swaralaya chairman N N Krishnadas, singer Vani Jayaram, actor Devan, MLAs A K Balan and K Vijaya Das, director Dennis Joseph and OC convenor Abdul Samad were present at the function.