English Translation of the Article published in Kalki dated 21/12/2008 - about Kadayanallur S. Venkataraman
Dear Friend,
I enjoyed listening to the Annamacharya cassettes of M. S. Subbulakshmi. In Particular a song in raga chenchuratti titled ‘Ra Ra Chinnanna’ made me blissed. I am sending a cheque for Rs.500/- for the beautiful way you have tuned. If I had the resource I would have added two or three Zeroes and written the cheque. But how to determine your ‘composing’ ability and knowledge!!!!!!!!!!!!
The letter was written by music world’s popular Vidwan Nedunuri Krishnamurthy and the one who received is Kadayanallur S Venkataraman. The meaning of the letter may not be a word-to-word but the content of the letter is the same.
If it was somebody else, they would have framed the cheque and the letter and hanged it in the house. But Kadayanallur Venkataraman was in need of money all the time so the cheque became ‘Money’ and due to his modesty the letter has gone to his table drawer.
Cinema going people all knows the details in composing tunes for lyrics already written or for the lyrics written, to compose tunes. Later is a difficult proposition to the Former. If a tune is good for hearing, it is easy to put the words based on the Screenplay. Even if the lyric is ‘OK’ because of the tune the song would be a success. ( People like Kannadasan are a rarity for this). But, composing a tune and making it a HIT for the already written Lyrics is a tough proposition. That too, for the Carnatic music songs where the tune has to blend and has to bring out the soul – composing is very difficult. But Kadayanallur Venkataraman has done that and also brought immense success in this endeavour and he is one of the best in few people who have done the same.
We are talking about Annamacharya Kirtanas but for lots of songs there are no Raaga-thala notes even if it is available we didn’t get that. Once Tirupati Devasthanam decided that they have to make famous the songs of Annamacharya they approached MS Subbulakshmi and Sadasivam couple and sadasivam accepted their request. Sadasivam selected and entrusted the job of composing tunes and music for the annamacharya kirtanas to Kadayanallur S Venkataraman. Not only for the name venkataraman, but also had the belief that venkataraman will do the job to the utmost satisfaction. That belief did not go waste – the proof for that is the letter of appreciation from Vidwan Nedunuri Krishnamurthy and also the bliss attained by the scores of rasikas who happen to hear the songs sung my M.S.
One day, for Annamacharya’s ‘Bhavayami Gopala Balam’ song, venkataraman was trying to set the raga. Even after trying it out in many ragas the level of satisfaction was not attanined. Raaga, Thaalam, and the soul for the lyric has to be matchned isn’t it? If one is there the other one is missing – something is blocking – Kadayanallur became tired and sad. “ I will go and come back tomorrow” – off he went through the steps without waiting for MSS reply.
In those days, Kalki Office Gardens was Mammoth. From the Office doors to the Outside gate there would be lots of flowers in full blossom. Lush greenery grass will make your eyes cool. He was walking seeing these things and his mind has become thin and he got a bright tune formed in his mind. He stepped out of the gate but he did a ‘About Turn’ like a Army man , came back and went through the steps and reached MSS House and said ‘Please see whether this is good” and in Yaman Kalyan he sang the song.
The moment MSS Heard the song her eyes became moist. At that minute itself she know that ‘ This song will be a huge success’ . That’s what all the rasikas also felt and whenever they came to listen the cutchery of MSS they would pray that MSS should sang ‘Bhavami Gopala Balam’ today.
Once he composes music and his work is completed is never the case for Kadayanallur Venkataraman. Always he will be doing some tidbits extra work and make the final product in good shape. In Revathi Raaga ‘Na Naatti Badugu Natakamu’ song , all the MSS rasikas will remember it. When the recording of the song was going on and after finishing one take kadayanallur came near MS and said “After the first stepis over and before starting once again ‘Na Naatti’ just go ‘UP’ like this “ he sang and showed it to MS. Is it not enough show a bit to MSS? That moment itself MSS went to high Pitch and like a lightning spilled the ‘SANGATHIS’ and once again came back to the low pitch and continued the song, that part has become a Diamond in the Gold Necklace and shone brightly. In Second Take ‘ it became ‘OK’. In Curcheries that part would bring the rasikas sound ‘HAaaa’…
Once In Purttaparthi when MSS and Sadasivam went there, they introduced Kadayanallur S venkataraman to Sai Baba as he is the one who ‘Composed and Set the tune for Annamacharya songs’. Bhagawan , touched Kadayanallur S Venkataraman’s throat and expressed ‘ Always keep on serving MS AMMA”. That advice Kadayanallur Venkataraman carried on till he breathed his last breath.
Nobody need to think how Kadayanallur Venkataraman got this wealth of Knowledge in Music. ‘Semmangudi’s Disciple’ is enough!!!!!!!!!!! Kadayanallur has by Sitting with the Guru in the same stage and sang for many kutcheries as a supporting singer. Also has done Solo Kutcheries also.
In one instance an idea was mooted that tapes should be released wherein Semmangudi and MSS have jointly sung some songs. Under the insistence of ‘Enfield Sundaram iyer’ , both MS and Semmangudi have sung some songs in his house. This was done with only the Harmonium as the accompanist. When this gem was released in Tape and CD, everybody felt that if it accompanied with Violin and Mridangam then it would be really a GEM. Violin Sriram Kumar and Mridangam KV Prasad put on the headphones and by hearing the songs they played their instruments. Kutchery form has been achieved and was heard like that once it was attached to the sound track. When this ‘Master Tape’ was heard by Kadayanallur, he remarked that ‘AMMA and also Semmangudi has never sung a kutchery in the stage without a tampura’. Then only everybody realized and woke up from this reality. Kadayanallur expressed that he will ‘Put the Tampura’ and for two hours he put the tempura till the double cassette ran till the end and then he inserted the sound track into the tape and brought the tape into its full life. This he didn’t do as a small thing but with his full heart and dedicated the work to Semmangudi and MSS.
GOD who has given so much to kadayanallur Venkataraman also has given some negatives also. He got only an average job in All India Radio. But the works he carried out there is multifold. He was a Music Director, Sound Recordist and also he was very good in Editing also. For all the top artistes who will come and do the recording in All India Radio will feel the strength in themselves when they found out that Kadayanallur is there for the recording. But he got only the post of ‘Tampura Artist’.
GOD who has poured the music knowledge to him doesn’t granted him a great voice. Due to this he didn’t get many kutchery chances. One son, suffered from Polio and has three daughters whom he has to get them married. But, all this is known only to people who are really close to him. At the outside, he behaved to everybody as if there is no problem in his life.
Might be because of this outwardiness, he got the great chance and responsibility of composing and set the tune for ‘Kurai Onrum Illai’.
When this song was published for the first time in Kalki, it contained both the names of Rajaji and M.P. Somu. They had both consulted and took many days to conceive this song. One day that song will be set to music and will be sung by MS and will attain this height of greatness nobody even thought of. Even Sadasivam might not have realized or expected this when he asked Kadayanallur to set music for this song. But, god in the abode of Seven Hills has other ideas!!!!!!!!!!!
In that song, which has rare advices (thathuvams) put in simple words, kadayanallur venkataraman set the music and tune in the Raaga ‘Ragamalika’. MS took the essence of the song in her heart and soul and in full devotion and bhakthi sang it, all the rasikas all over the world felt the Bliss.. Even now the rasikas are enjoying the song.
From children to Big Vidwans everybody is singing the song. Flute singers, Nadaswaram artists, even saxophone players are playing and enjoying it. Wheter it is Marriage, or Function, or Anniversary functions wherever we go ‘Kurai Onrum Illai’ is being played.
This song will be played for ever…… This song will make us remember MSS, Rajaji and along with them Kadayanallur S Venkataraman will also be remembered!!!!!!!!!!’Kurai Onrum Illai’…..
