End is inevitable, but when the cause of that end
turns out to the Chinese Virus, it is treacherous. It is so inconsolable that a
voice so captivating and youthful till the 74th year was silenced by
this dreaded virus. Only ‘if only’ is occupying my mind since I heard the sad
news about the musical legend SPB. If only he had not contacted this virus, his
musical journey would have continued. If only he had kept away from everyone
right from the time corona was reported in the country, couldn’t he have
continued to be with us? An unbelievable march of that voice, growing youthful
with every passing day was cruelly shut off by this villain.
Nothing could stop him right from the time MGR
decided to bring him in. His was a big replacement for the-until -then reigning
King, TMS. There was lot of misgivings at that time how his voice could suit MGR’s
but wonder of wonders his voice was found agreeable to the simha
garjanai of Shivaji Ganesan too. That was really a break-through
in his career and since then his was the only voice found suitable for the next
three generation of actors – from Kamal- Rajini, to Surya – Vijay et al until the
current crop of new actors. I cannot recall anyone matching this feat
uninterruptedly until the deadly corona put a spoke in his 75th
year.
Not everyone could get the kind of opportunities that
he got but not everyone could have risen up to the opportunities as he did. His
was a dedicated, committed and passionate work on his voice and on the songs he
got, by which he had enthralled millions – something not possible for many with
such dedication – unless designed by karmic hand shake. Such a strong Karmic
backup cannot perhaps be stopped so easily unless by a sudden attack by an
unknown virus - I am forced to reason out like this.
Music is a different genre in that being a vehicle
to touch Brahman! And SPB was able to touch that is what I heard in one of the
videos. Even if it is film music, one can feel the divine connect with the
sublime Being. That SPB could evolve so well within is understood from the near-nil
incidence of any blot on his character. His contribution to devotional songs is
something that I want to bring to the notice of readers at a time everyone is talking
about his film songs only.
A particular song that is part of my life is played
below.
The devotional songs of the trio Kannadasan – MS Viswanthan
– SP Balasubrmanyam in the 80’s had stood well inspite of the competing
Annamacharya songs of the Music Empress, MS Subbhlakshmi. That was the high
time for divine Hindu songs, I should say. But among all those, SPB’s Ayar padi
song became household song for many including me.
How many times have I sung this as lullaby to my
kids? How easily they were put to sleep by
the melody of this song? How many times have I felt so tranquil at heart at the
meaning and the emotion conveyed by this song! After Kannadasan, SPB is the
only other personality of the filmdom about whom I am writing like this.
The lullaby he sang for Krishna, is coming back to
him as I write this with moist eyes.
அவன் வாய்
நிறைய
பாடல்
கொண்டு
மண்டலத்தை மயக்கிய
பின்
ஓய்வெடுத்து தூங்குகின்றான்
ஆராரோ
ஓய்வெடுத்து தூங்குகின்றான்
ஆராரோ
