KVM’s affability made his music sweeter

Chennai: For more than half a century since 1942, K V Mahadevan held sway over music aficionados with soul-stirring numbers in more than 600 films in all four south Indian languages. On March 14, his 101st birth anniversary, it’s his humaneness and warmth as much as his genius that come to the fore as people who knew the legend stroll down memory lane.

Though taciturn by nature, KVM had a kind word for everyone. "He would welcome me into the recording studio affectionately with the words ‘Vaada Raja Vaa’," recalls singer Vani Jairam who feels greatly indebted to him for two national awards she won under KVM’s batons in the

Telugu

films ‘Sankarabharanam’ and ‘Swati Kiranam’. "Once in the studio, Appu (T K Pugazhendhi), his assistant, would teach me the composition. KVM would suggest minor changes in the rhythm, but that would make a world of difference to the song. Recordings were tension-free." "He came up the hard way," says KVM’s daughter-in-law Prabha Nagarajan, "though his grandfather was a Bhagavathar at the court of Travancore and his father was also a singer who taught music." Perhaps this contributed to his disposition as a genteel soul.

The title ‘Thirai Isai Thilakam’ was used in the credits of KVM films. "My father YGP’s sabha, National Arts Combines, presented it to KVM at the Raja Annamalai Mandram in the 1960s. Vaali suggested the title and Sivaji Ganesan did the honours. KVM cherished it so much that it preceded his name in all the credits," says actor and ace drummer Y Gee Mahendra, who has organized a ‘Oru Naal Podhuma — KV Mahadevan 100’ along with ABBAS Cultural Academy on March 15 at Vani Mahal.

"KVM was a father figure to me. A composer with whom I could take the liberty of improvising," says A L Raghavan, who has sung several of Mahadevan’s compositions.

If there was a composer and a composing assistant who worked together till death, it was Krishnankoil Venkatachalam Mahadevan and T K Pugazhendhi. "It’s something unheard of! My father was devoted to Mama [KVM] till his last breath. Though other composers called him to assist them he never did so.

"The loyalty continued for 45 years! ‘How can I leave him? He’s my God,’ dad would tell others," recalls Pugazhendhi’s daughter Kavitha Mohan. "They didn’t even have to exchange words while composing. Looking at Mama’s eyes my dad would know the changes he wanted."

KVM was particular that music composed for the lyrics and not vice-versa. Once a video interview was organized in which Vani Jairam was the host. It was the time KVM had difficulty in speaking as he had suffered a stroke. "What comes first — lyrics or the musical notes," she asked. "Lyrics, of course," he emphatically stated. "I was surprised at his clarity," says Vani with a smile.

(The author is a freelance writer)