It was a nostalgic musical evening at the Asan Memorial Hall on Sunday. Mesmerising the audience with his lively rendition of Vaatapi Ganapathim was the 101-year-old legendary musician from Kerala, Paapukutty Bhagavathar and hearing him was none other other than another legend V Dakshinamoorthy Swamigal.
The event was organised by the Asan Memorial Association to honour the two musicians. What captured the attention of the audience was that both were from diverse backgrounds, yet chose to follow the path of music. Dakshinamoorthy was born in Alappuzha in Kerala in 1919 in a Brahmin family.
After his schooling, he took to music completely and soon became one of the best music directors of all times, composing over 859 songs for Malayalam, Tamil and Hindi movies. At 93, he still composes music and teaches children.
Veteran film director K S Sethumadavan recalls his first meeting with Dakshinamoorthy. “It was my first Malayalam film in 1961, Jnanasundari. I was introduced to Swami and he was not very different from how he is now — with his prayer beads, thin cotton kurta and his greeting others with prayers. It was a surprise to me then, as in those days, the music directors I had seen were very different. Their perfume could be smelt much before they could step in. Watches, diamond rings and gold chains were all what music directors were often seen in. So, Dakshinamoorthy’s appearance seemed strange. But it was only when I heard his composition I realised that in his case, all the beauty, fragrance, diamonds and god were in his songs.”
On the other hand, Paapukutty Bhagavathar’s life is different. He was born to a Christian family in Vypin, a little island near Cochin. Starting his singing career at the age of seven, Paapu soon grew to be a name in himself. His interest in music soon turned him to carnatic music and earned him a place in theatres in Kerala, where he would act and sing as well. Later, he acted and sang in some of the most radical and influential plays of his time. After that he turned to movies, where he would sing, act and sometimes even dub.
At the age of 98, Paapukutty was still singing in movies. Now, after crossing the age of hundred, he still teaches music to children and enthrals the audience whenever he gets on stage.
“What defines both these legends is their music. Music is their strength. Even at this age both these men do not need the help of another person to walk up to the stage. Music has given them that.”, said A V Anoop, Managing Director of Medimix, speaking at the function.