ADVANTAGE 60s

I feel very happy, privileged and lucky to have been born in the early 1960s. I really enjoy listening to film music both Tamil and Hindi.

When I was a small boy the popular singers in Tamil were T.M.Soundararajan, P.B.Srinivas, Yesudas, S.P.Balasubramaniam, P.Susheela, L.R.Eswari and S.Janaki. When I grew up a little we had the likes of Chitra, Malaysia Vasudevan and Mano joining the bandwagon.

In Hindi Films it was Kishore Kumar, Mohamed Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bonsle.  As a youngster I enjoyed listening to Music and at that stage old songs were those from films in the 1940 – 1960s. I used to listen to Radio and enjoy hearing both old songs as well as new songs.

In 1980s with the emergence of TV I had the opportunity to listen to more songs and we

graduated to Very Old Songs, Old Songs and New Songs. I liked listening to an old M.K.Thiagaraja Bhagavadar song or an old T.R.Mahalingam Song and with the same enthusiasm.  I used to enjoy the S.P.Balasubramaniam songs in M.S.Viswanathan or Ilayaraja’s music.

Now in 2010 when I look back I am able to appreciate and enjoy the songs from 1940s right upto 2010.

My parents who are born in the 1920s and 1930s definitely enjoy the Film Songs from 1940 to 1970 but they are very reluctant to adjust to a Ilayaraja music leave and hence no question of talks about Yuvan Shankar Raja and the rest.

My Children who are born in 1990 enjoy Film Music from mid 1980s to 2010. They just cannot stand the music of 1940s to 1970. They do not know who is M.K.Thiagaraja Bhagavadar or P.U.Chinappa or Manna Dey or Mahendra Kapoor. They do not appreciate the intricacies involved in songs of L.R.Eswari (pattathu raani paarkkum paarvai vetrikkuthan ena enna vendum or Elanda payam elanda payam).

In direct contrast to my Parents (or my previous generation in general) and my Children (or my next generation) I love the Film Songs. I enjoy the old Kishore Kumar or T.M.Soundararajan songs and with the same ease and enthusiasm I enjoy the songs of Vijay Antony – Naan adicha thaanga matte naalu maasam thoonga matte.

I was born when the Films were evolving and maturing. I have passed through the several evolutionary changes and trends and thus widened my listening power. This is what is making me feel happy and comfortable with both a Sivaji Ganesan song (Enge Nimmadhi) and a Vijay Song (Puli urumudhu).  It is very soothing to my ears when I hear Jikki (chithirai poo pole sidharum mathappu, thee edum ellamal vedithidum cape) or S.Janaki (singaara velane deva) and the same soothing effect and happiness is there when I listen to recent breed of singers like Mahathi or Anuradha or Shreya Goshal.

I attended a recent concert in Chennai “Tribute to Sivaji Ganesan” which was compered by Y.G.Mahendra. It was a treat to hear the old Sivaji Ganesan songs. The very next day I watched Vijay film “Vettaikaran” and enjoyed listening to those songs. This is what I call as “Advantage 60s”. This is a very unique advantage and a really good feeling. I am sure people who are born in the 1960s would agree with me and subscribe to my views.

- T.P.Anand

August 2010

SPB LIVE IN CONCERT - DUBAI

My favourite singer Dr.S.P.Balasubrahmanyam gave a live concert in Dubai on Friday, 8th April 2011 in the Indian High School.

It was really a great pleasure and rare honour to listen to this great singer live in concert. I have gone for many of his concerts in Chennai and this is my first experience of listening to him live in Dubai. I feel very privileged and blessed to have heard him live so many times in my life.

He sings with the same ease and comfort that he had 30 years ago. What an amazing performer and it is very hard to believe that he is going to turn 65 in another 2 months. At this age he sings so well and with ease because of God's blessings and gift.

The programme started at 8 p.m. and ended abruptly at 10.30 p.m. They were supposed to start the programme at 7 p.m. but delayed it by one hour. There was also some dance performance at the beginning and in the middle which was of no interest to any of the people who came for the concert. The organizer Mr.Denzil also took the centre stage for 40 minutes to distribute trophies and momentoes.

Ananthu started with the great Yesudas hit "Amma Endrazhaikkatha uyirillaye". He sang very well. He is a very good singer and has done the Vijay Hit recently "Puli Urumuthu" in Vettaikkaran.

SPB then came up to sing the evergreen favourite of all Indians "Shankaraa" from Shankarabaranam. God has really gifted him with a wonderful voice and at the age of 64 he is still able to sing the song with so much ease and perfection.

SPB and his sister S.P.Shailaja sang the next song "Andhi Mazhai Pozhigirathu" from Raja Parvai.

This being a multi-lingual evening the next song was sung by Nikhil and Mrs.Meenakshi in Malayalam.

SPB then came up with his super hit Hindi Song "Mere Rangme Rangne wali".

The Hindi hit song was followed by a Kannada Song by SPB and S.P.Shailaja "Jothiyalle" which is the kannada version of the hit tamil song "vizhiyile oru vizhiyil mouna mozhi pesum annam".


Ananthu and Mrs.Meenakshi sang the next song "Kangal Irandaal un kangal irandaal" which is composed by James Vasanthan (I think this song is inspired by the Balamurali hit "Chinna Kannan Azhaikiraan).

SPB and Ranjani then sang on Malayalam song.

The Orchestra of Suresh (very good tabla player) did a very good job.

SPB looked at Suresh and said "ore tension a irukku". He then sang the tamil hit "mannil intha kaathal andri yaarum vaazhthal koodumo". After singing this song he said they did some gimmicks to record the song and he has not sung the song without taking breath. He said even while singing in the stage he took breath in between and it is not possible to sing such a long charanam without taking breath in between.

SPB then sang a song in "Thulu" language.

Nikhil then performed the famous Hindi song "Masakkali masakkali".

SPB and S.P.Shailaja then performed the "Saagara Sangammam" song in Telugu. The tamil version in Salangai Oli is "Vetham anuthinam oru naadam". This is the climax song in the film and it is a very difficult song but for the great SPB it was child's play.

SPB then produced a Kannada Hit.

Ananthu came back to enthrall the audience with the Yesudas hit from His Highness Abdulla in Malayalam. Ananthu is assisting Shri.M.S.Viswanathan and is a very versatile and accomplished singer. I have heard him perform in Chennai in few concerts and he sings very well.

SPB & Mrs.Meenakshi then performed the Ilayaraja hit "Innum ennai enna seyya pogiraai anbe anbe" from Singaravelan. What a terrific composition by the great Raja.

SPB and Ranjani then did a melody of the great R.D.Burman in Hindi "Aaja mere jaanam".

Nikhil and Ananthu presented a Malayalam hit followed by a super hit in Telugu presented by SPB and S.P.Shailaja. The tamil version of this song is "madura marikozhundu vaasam".

SPB then gave the A.R.Rahman hit "Balle lakka" from the Rajini superhit film "Sivaji". This too is a very difficult song and can be performed only by the great genius SPB.

Nikhil and Ananthu then performed a Hindi song.

SPB came back on stage for the last time to sing his evergreen, ever popular song from Kaadal Oviyam "Sangeetha jaathi mullai kaana villai".

Though it was not a well organised event, it was indeed a pleasure to listen to the great SPB. I thoroughly enjoyed the evening listening to this living legend.