Thanks ... Nice share. On Thu, Apr 23, 2009 at 1:25 PM, <[email protected]> wrote:
> > > Hi all, > > > This is from week-3! > > > Week 03, Part 01 > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/aravind_am/3467985452/ > > Week 03, Part 02 > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/aravind_am/3467171791/<http://www.flickr.com/photos/aravind_am/3467171791/in/photostream/> > > Week 03, Part 03 > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/aravind_am/3467985682/ > > > * > * > > *Translation* > > > * > * > > *Week 3* > > > > At a time when A.R.Rahman’s father R.K Shekar what working round-the-clock, > he never cared about food or sleep. He used to spend all his time at the > recording studio, having just tea and biscuits. Sometimes, he used to suffer > from severe stomach ache, late in the nights. Unable to bear the pain, he > would just lie down with a pillow pressed tight on his stomach. He would > relax and sleep after the killing pain subsided. Barely an hour after he > slept it would have already dawned. With the thought that, musicians would > be waiting at the studio from 7 am itself, he would wake up and rush for the > recording. He didn’t have time to even consult a doctor regarding his > stomach ache. He would neither tell anyone about this! > > > > The other sad story is that, though an amazing composer, Shekar had very > few opportunities to compose alone for films, and he just worked for other > composers. He gave 10 beautiful songs for the film “*Pazhasiraja*”. The > song “*Siragatru veeNoru kochhu thumbi*” sung by AM Raja and S.Janaki, and > the lullaby “Muththey va va va” sung by P.Susheela are a pleasure to listen > to, even now! The song “*Sahibe sahibe a-salam aleikum*” became a > trendsetter. After a long break, came the movie *“Aayesha”*. The song > “*yathrakaara > povuga povuga*” sung by P. B. Sreenivas for that film is one of PBS’s best > songs. But, how long can someone financially sustain without getting proper > composing opportunities? > > > > Days passed, and the cruel hands of the disease clutched RK Shekar tightly. > He became bedridden. The images of the young kid, Dileep, visiting his dad > every day at the hospital became permanently etched in Dileep’s memory. > > > > Dad is lying on the hospital bed, surrounded by his assistants. They note > down on the music notes dictated by Shekar. A few directors come in and tell > him “We feel bad to tell this now… But, our film scores will get completed > only if you come. Not worrying about the agony caused by the disease, he > listens to the tunes and writes notes for music arrangements. Popular > lyricist, Sri Kumaran comes and holds Shekar’s hands in gratitude, and says > “Get well soon, and come back. Let’s make music together”! Theirs was a > successful combo, and had given some superb songs. Shekhar returns a dry > smile in return, for he was well aware of the seriousness of his disease. > The kid, Dileep, watches all this with a mix of amazement and confusion. > > > > Dileep couldn’t understand what happened to his dad all of a sudden, for he > would always be busy like a bee. All he knew was that his dad was a good > musician. The collection of musical instruments and music-records formed > Dileep’s world. Dileep believed that his dad would get well soon, and would > be back to his music work very soon. But, that was not to be. Shekar’s > health condition kept deteriorating each day. > > > > Shekar got married only when he was 31, at Thiruppathi. He got married to > Kanchana, and had 4 kids, back-to-back – Kanchana, Dileep, Bala and Rekha. > Shekar had been making so many innovations in Malayalam film music industry. > It was he, who introduced SP Balasubramanyam and Bala Murali Krishna to that > industry. No one could even imagine penetrating into Malayalm music industry > dominated by legendary singer KJ Jesudas. The song “*neeyendre velicham” > *composed > by Shekar and sung by P Susheela for the 1972 movie “*Miss Mary”* is still > one of the most famous devotional songs in Kerala among all the devotees of > Mother Mary. > > > > The curiosity and eagerness of Rahman towards new technology, was evident > in Shekar in those days. He often went to Singapore and hunted for new > musical instruments and latest innovations in recording techniques. When we > were all bored listening to the same voices, it was Rahman who broke the > trend and introduced many new voices, and took the listening experience to a > new level. RK Shekar was a forerunner for Rahman in that front too. > > > > In those days, singing for movies was no ordinary feat. Recording studios > were like iron-fortresses. It was not possible for anyone to get in so > easily. Shekar opened the doors of the fortress for new singers. He > introduced many new singers like Bramhanandan, Sadhanandan, Sudha Varma, > Gopalakrishnan, Soman, Ponguntham Ravi, Jayalakshmi, Kasthoori Shankar, > Manoharan, Ambly, Jayashreee. That legacy of encouraging new talent > continues through A.R.Rahman. > > > > RK Shekar composed 110 songs in Malayalam. Singers like Jesudas, > Jayachandran, P Susheela, Vani Jaaram have sung several wonderful songs in > his music. Even today, Shekar’s songs are mesmerizing the people of Kerala. > > > > The last movie which had Shekar’s music was “*Chottanikkara Amma”, *which > was released in 1976. The song “*Manasu manasinRae kaadhil*” from that > album, plays as listener’s choice song even to this day. Shekar passed away > on the same day that the movie hit the screens. He was 42. Dileep was just 9 > years old then. > > > > The rumour that someone had done black-magic against him, came up in the > music industry and gradually died down. Certain people who were close to > Shekar say, it was ulcer which killed him, as it was not treated on time. > > > > Today, some of the most popular directors and producers of the country wait > at Rahman’s house for his time. The producers are ready to pay any sum that > is demanded! That’s the situation today. But, the fact that his genius dad > didn’t get the right opportunities and couldn’t shine, still haunts him. > Even now, he is affected by those memories. > > > > “The first ever music I was introduced to, was my dad’s music. I used to go > to the recording theatre, holding my dad’s hand. I would notice top film > personalities treating my dad with so much respect, and would feel proud of > him. Later, I became a composer, and only then, I understood how sacred his > job was. > > > > He would work on many films simultaneously. He would be a composer for one > film, while he would work as a conductor and arranger for another one. I > believe that he died due to his non-stop hard-work and exhaustion. When > people who have been benefited by him come and thank me, I cant hold back my > tears. His whole life is like an example for me to follow” says Rahman. > > > > The shocking death of his dad, and the unexpected incidents that followed > in his life were what transformed Dileep to Allah Rakha Rahman. > > > > (To be continued) > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Aravind > > ------------------------------ > My Blog: http://arrahmaniac.blogspot.com > Rahmania show interviews: http://rahmania.4shared.com > ------------------------------ > > > ------------------------------ > Cricket on your mind? Visit the ultimate cricket website. Enter > now!<http://in.rd.yahoo.com/tagline_cricket_1/*http://beta.cricket.yahoo.com> > > > -- regards, Vithur
