Musically nostlagic

If a few years before, one lamented a lack of Onam spirit, one can now take a look around and heave a long sigh. Here at last were enough and a lot more to feel good about the goings on in good old Kerala. Offices and institutions are decked up days and days in advance with the mandatory floral carpets for Onam, the women and men in their traditional attires. And on the internet are new Onam songs made by young ones in love with the old festival and its many tales.

S.R. Suraj and his two friends from engineering college — all of them professionals now — got together to make an album full of Onam songs, a work of three years. “I grew up listening to Onam songs that K.J. Yesudas had sung. And I felt there were fewer songs today. So we thought we will make some,” says Suraj, who composed all the songs and also sung one for his album ‘Ponnavani Pattukal’. “Apart from Onam songs, there are songs for Gulf Malayalis, songs of nostalgia, boat songs and more.” His friends Aravind and Arun Chand did the production and production control. Syam Enath wrote the lyrics. Vinod P. Ambady who produced their short film once, also became a co-producer. Suraj approached all the big singers — P. Jayachandran, Unni Menon, Madhu Balakrishnan, Gayathri Asokan, Vijay Yesudas, and others. “All we had was our tracks, but they loved it and agreed to be a part of the album. Unni chettan especially loved and supported us. Jayachandran sir hugged me.”

If that was all men, there is one song with an all-women crew. Oh Onam Vannallo was written by M.R. Jaya Geetha, composed by Archana Gopinat and sung by Rajalakshmy. “It is a song that came out of friendship,” says Archana. She spoke to Jayageetha for the first time when she called her to appreciate her work in the song Rakendu Pokayayi for the film Wound. “I got the number from director Rajasenan just to tell her how much the lyrics touched me. Our friendship grew from there. But then came the sad times when chechi’s husband passed away,” Archana says. The next time they met Archana asked about making an Onam song together. “That’s when I knew chechi’s husband and the late keyboardist Kannan had both wanted to make an Onam song, but their wish could not be fulfilled. So our song became a way to complete their dream. And we got Raji to sing it.”

That’s the story of just two albums. If you do a random search of Onam songs on Youtube, you’d invariably come across many Malayalis missing the master of folk songs, Kalabhavan Mani, and posting his old renditions at Onam time. Like a reminder of his songs, there is now Aristo Suresh, who became popular through his Muthe Ponne song in Action Hero Biju.

The head load worker turned actor has also written and composed an Onam song — Poonkilikal Punnarakilikal. There is also an album that K.S. Chithra has released — Vaasantham — with the music of late Raveendran Master. She writes on her Facebook: ‘Dear all, As I am in US for the Ilayaraja 1000 tour please accept my advance Onam wishes.This Onam is special for me. I have just released my newest Onam Festival songs cd 'VAASANTHAM' which brings back font memories of Raveendran master and his music. To top it that genius Sukesh Kuttan is singing a duet with me in this album. Pls watch it in our youtube channel. God bless you all (sic)’.