BANGALORE: July 23 marked well-known poet H S Venkatesh Murthy's 70th birthday. And his youngest son H V Sanjaya wanted to gift him an album — one with his poems set to music. So he and wife Suma approached singer-composer couple Supriya Acharya and Raghunandan.
"We've been working on it since March," says the Kannada playback singer. "Sanjaya had heard our music and found it different from the music of most other sugama sangeeta artistes," she adds.
So roping in the writer as well, they selected eight poems, including Nee Bali Bandaga, which Supriya and her flautist husband had set to tune during the early days of their marriage, about six years ago. "It's very romantic, and most artistes that we've worked with for this project have said that it's the best number," she says.
Supriya's fascination with HSV dates back to her childhood. "I used to sing compositions of his for children at school and even at college. Later, whenever I met him during public events, I'd always seek his blessings, touching his feet," she recalls.
But it was working on the album that brought with it the privilege of more meaningful interactions. "I realised that even though he's so great, HSV sir is simple and unpretentious. And he listened to our music with an open mind — both he and his son. Many people have fixed perceptions of what bhavageete is, and they weren't like that. The music in this is experimental and daring, thanks to Raghu. Though most tracks have a Karnatak music base, one has western harmony. In another poem in which Draupadi is waiting for Krishna, we've only used a flute to represent Krishna, my voice for Draupadi's voice, along with a bansuri and keyboard in the background. It has a very unplugged feel," she says, explaining the creative process.
And appreciation from the poet, she feels, is the best compliment that the duo could receive for their efforts. "Because when you compose music for poems, a poet is the best judge of how good it is. He/she will be able to gauge whether the music and the lyrics complement each other to evoke the right mood. And HSV said that some of our songs brought out the imagery very well, helped him visualise his works," she gushes.
So, though belated by five days, Sanjaya will present his father with the CD, titled Chandrasmitha, this Sunday at the IT Park Seminar Hall, PES University, Banashankari, where it will be launched at 5 pm. For details about the album, contact producer H V Sanjaya at hodigere.sanjay@gmail.com or call 9448181133, 9448735556.
