This morning when I woke up at 4.30 AM, I opened my phone and was greeted by a bunch of everlasting flowers created by the lovable fingers of Suchimaaa.. A pretty parcel.
The next message was from a very gentle journalist who had a strong will to stand by us, the note was:
That Anandavally story is a nice one. Is there a part 2?
Then when I opened Facebook to check for any messages, I had my dear ole school mate telling me:
Marunadan ormakal ennanu publish cheyyan pokunnathu.you have a wonderful talent for writing and excellent skill in presenting.
The thrill of being loved made me reply:
നാളെയാണ് നാളെ
കാത്തിരിപ്പിന്റെ ഉന്മാദം
ഉടൻ പ്രതീക്ഷിപ്പിൻ
കുറ്റിച്ചിറ സ്റ്റാറിൽ
To talk to dear ones, to share life, makes me close to each one of you, and there is so much to say….
When I sang
ആനന്ദവല്ലി നീ തന്നെ അല്ലി പ്രേമം എന്തെന്നിതെന്നോട് ചൊല്ലി…
Along with the young men and women at home….
There was no strings attached for me, still in school, I was participating in the medley, the nonstop music we all believed in, created by the who’s who in Malayalam, to name a few, from the most respected Sri. Vayalar, Devarajan Master, Srikumaran Thampy Sir, KPAC drama songs, true viplava ganangal, and then the kavithakal (poetry) by the great Malayalam poets.
Evenings were a collaborative platform for കല, സാഹിത്യം, സംഗീതം, ആക്ഷേപഹാസ്യം, തമാശ, കളികൾ, ഭക്ഷണം (art, literature, music, satire, jokes, games, food).
Reginald was the lead singer, he sang so beautifully, and every one participated in the chorus, we never held back polishing our vocal chords, sometimes it sounded like the singing in our church, closest comparison was വള്ളം വലിക്കുന്ന പോലെ like dragging a boat, so called Sangathy and Sruthi were missing, but it was fun and so relaxing.
I parroted each and every song, I loved them all, Malayalam Chalachithra Ganangal (Movie Songs), from Aakashavani, broadcasted from Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha and Kozhikode were my life line, first it was the big Radio with the golden net fabric covering the front speakers, with a light brown marbled case, and big knobs like the ceiling fan regulator knob with groves for the grip. In the beginning I used to keep turning the knob which in turn moved a vertical pointer along the display numbers, I didn’t have a clue why I had to keep moving until the kirkirdrrrdrrr sound turned to a hum and then suddenly the music came.
This reminded me of the thermometer, with the mercury that moves along the tube, the one the nurse used to thrust inside my mouth under the tongue to check the temperature.
The Radio sat on the Radio Mesha, covered with a crochet table cloth; this particular piece of furniture was very unique, it was taller than a writing table, it was a square corner table 40 cms square, with a round table top 60 cms in diameter, with 2 compartments and one small door on top on one side like a wicket door and all four sides had grills with wooden pipes just half an inch in diameter the bottom was to store newspaper, the amazing feature was there weren’t any metal in this structure other than the hinge for the door, it was all joined with wooden nails.
There was a shelf as you open the door, which was just half the width say 20 cms, we kept the bible and prayer books there, the newspapers were dropped through the gap in front and this stored papers for 3 to 4 months for reference. Once it was full they were taken out and sold.
In the early 70’s the Radio died a natural death, and I got a small Philips transistor with huge batteries like bananas, the music came along with me wherever I went, this apparatus gave me the speed to decipher anything I heard like a good stenographer. I didn’t do any short hand it was always long hand… but I could write along with the songs with very few errors; can’t help praising and feeling proud of our own Dasettan from whom I learnt the first lessons of clarity in Malayalam diction.
One day as part of my continuous home improvement early 70’s, I divided the radio mesha to 2 pieces, top to an elegant coffee table and bottom was used to keep a potted plant.
I have to admit one thing, I sang all the songs for the fragrance of the music, the immense satisfaction and soothing effect of the music, for the feel, the expression but I didn’t have a clue of the situation of the songs or the poetic stings, hence never went in depth about the substance of the songs, all I did was sing the song, before I hear the BGM I would start the song. It was carved in my soul.
The closest comparison is reading the Bible, I was just reading the holy script, and most of the time, it was like finishing an assignment, and hence I looked for the shortest one like Psalm 23, which was etched in the brain.
Until I watched Nammukku Paarkaan Munthiri Thoppukal I never knew Bible had the most romantic verses. Song of Songs (Songs of Solomon).
It was only in my late 30’s and that too only when someone who hardly knew Malayalam asked me for the meaning of the old Malayalam songs I was singing all the time!!! And tried to use pointers at specifics, I was speechless
വിശ്വമോഹിനി നിൽപ്പൂ ഞാനീ
വികാര സരസ്സിൻ കരയിൽ
എഴുന്നേൽക്കൂ സഖീ എഴുന്നേൽക്കൂ
ഏകാന്ത ജാലകം തുറക്കൂ……
Yes the Anandavally story is my life’s story it has many parts,
I am remembering the nuances when the gang of young men and women religiously sang
ആനന്ദവല്ലി നീ തന്നെ അല്ലി പ്രേമം എന്തെന്നിതെന്നോട് ചൊല്ലി…
This bouguet of flowers is hypothecated to a real vismayam Suchi….
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