Sweet melodies are never forgotten, but not all composers and singers of these melodies manage to maintain a foothold in the industry.
‘Deva dundhubhi’ and ‘Shishirame nee ithile vaa’ were hits of the 70s and 80s, songs that were given a tune by singer Sathish Babu’s voice, who was a prominent artist in the movie industry in those days.
Having lent his voice to numerous versatile melodies, the singer today is hardly visible in the industry, though he is performing on small stages.
Hailing from Kozhikode, Sathish Babu speaks out the trauma endured by erstwhile singers with the entry of the socalled new generation composers.
“There was a time when singers like me hardly came home. We were always tied up in recording and composing melodies. Truly, those songs created history,” says the singer, adding that the new entries took over the industry like an unexpected wave
“It is always good to have change. New talents should be appreciated. But let it not be forgotten that the old ways are still gold.’
Having lent his vocals for the movie Chembada in 2008, Sathish was almost making a comeback to the industry, after a gap of twenty years, when all at once uncertainty conquered him again.
The singer just smiles and says,”I wanted to sing and the directors around me also knew it, but..”
Sathish adds that it was not his cup of tea to knock on the doors for an opportunity.
“I was no beginner to the industry.
Therefore why should I plead for a chance.
It also may be because this old throat won’t be able to sync in tune with new compositions,” he says.
Sathish Babu made his debut as a playback singer under music director Kannur Rajan.
Thenceforth, he sang with S Janaki, Vani Jayaram, Ambili, B Vasantha and K S Chithra. With his rendering of songs like ‘Melle nee melle varu’ from the movie Dheera, ‘Poomadam Veeshunna Kattu’ from Manassariyathe and ‘Aamugham’ from Yuvajanotsavam to name a few, Sathish had carved his identity in the Malayalam film industry as a singer with unsurpassable talents.
He was adorned with the Nana Award for the best Naataka Ganam,the Thejus Special Award and the Award for the best Christian devotional song which came twice his way.
Besides, he has contributed to more than 1,000 music albums and conducted nearly 2,500 stage shows in India and abroad.
Reminiscing on his journey through the industry, the singer says he has been lucky.
“I am happy beyond words when people still hum my ‘deva dhundhubhi’ and ‘aamugham’, composed over two decades ago. This is the greatest award for an artist.
Opportunities may come knocking on my doorsteps, again.
No complaints or regrets,” he adds.