THALASSERY: It was an unusual meeting which marked another turning point in the history of film music. And, it was part of the film project designed for the reenactment of Balyakalasakhi, the legendary work of Vaikom Mohammed Basheer.
The maestro of music, K J Yesudas and veteran music director K Raghavan Master had a rare meeting at the house of the latter. It is Raghavan Master, who gives music to the song which begins 'Thamarapoonkavanathil thamasikkunnole' and Yesudas, who renders it for the film. The song which Basheer had referred to in the novel was written by his closest friend K T Muhammed.
It was after a long interval of 21 years that the two legends of music, Yesudas and Raghavan Master, working jointly for a song. The first time when Yesudas and Raghavan Master worked together for a song was in 1963 for the Malayalam film, Ammaye Kanan. The lyrics for the song was written by P Bhaskaran. Since then they had enthralled the world with a series of songs which became part of the history of the film world.
Raghavan Master, who turned 97 now, is giving another gift to the world of music by doing the job of a music director for the song in Balyakalasakhi. Master entered the world of film through Pulliman in 1951. He opened a new vista in the Malayalam music by his songs in Neelakuyil, another popular Malaylam film in 1954.
Master's house here was flooded with fans to witness the event. Yesudas and Master were together for more than an hour.
An array of film personalities, including Pramod Payyannur, the director of the film, were present as the 'masters of music' began humming Thamarapoonkavanathil thamasikkunnole virtually thrilling the hearts of the lovers of music gathered to watch it all on Sunday morning.