Using an instrument as Western as the piano to trace the musical journey that Madras has had might not seem like the most appropriate means to represent nostalgia.
But musician Anil Srinivasan dismissed any such doubts.
After establishing that Tamil film music directors have borrowed musical influences – including pop, jazz and samba- from the rest of the world for many decades, Srinivasan took the audience who had gathered to attend ‘Madras Music Musings’, a collaborative presentation of the music of Madras through the ages and a humourous take on music and musicians through cartoons by Biswajit Balasubramanian, presented by Forum Art Gallery, through a journey they definitely won’t forget for a while.
Right from the most delightful sound check Malarndhum Malaradha from Paasa Malar to the rendition of Chithiram Pesuthadi from the 1958 superhit Sabash Meena with help on the vocals from Vedanth Bharadwaj, Srinivasan’s musical expedition was accompanied by Balasubramaniam’s cartoons that popped up on a screen.
How can there be talk about Madras and music without reference to M S Subbulakshmi? As Srinivasan eased into an intense version of Kaatrinile Varum Geetham, the audience immediately went into a meditrance.
But with Balasubramaniam’s caricature of the curly-haired MS approvingly staring from the screen escorted by his take of a little blue Krishna, they had no choice but look up and “tsk tsk” appreciatively.
Continuing the Krishnainspired theme, Srinivasan played a medley of songs by who he called the ‘last of the composers’ -- Illayaraja.
He started with a mellifluous version of Kannan Vandhu and after gently dwelling upon a few other hits, made a dive into a bit from Mouna Raagam, only to return and finish with Kannan Vandhu.
It was not all about film music.
Pronouncing the temple culture of Madras, Srinivasan and vocalist Anusha Pradeep rendered a shloka in Desh ragam.
Srinivasan performed an extract from a piece by Lalgudi Jayaraman, in the same ragam.
Balasubramaniam’s cartoons are layered with humour – be it the ones that attack sabha culture, growing generation gap or situational comedies on Tamil music industry.
The swift lines, witty dialogue and swirling colours represent Madras.
The collaboration, which ended with a sprightly Papanasam Sivan piece in Madhyamavathi ragam, marked the 15th anniversary of Forum Art Gallery too.
Balasubramaniam’s cartoons will be on display till September 20 at the Forum Art Gallery, # 57, 5th Street, Padmanabha Nagar, Adyar.
For details, call 4211 5596.
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