Bharathan Smarana - Sangeetha Sandhya. What Malayalis have lost.

Malayalam film has rarely or even never been a host to as eponymous a figure as Bharathan. His passing was received with shock and sadness by the common film loving Keralite, sincerely adhering to their passion for good movies. After all these years he still remains an icon perceived with awe. It is indisputable that he deserves every bit of it.

Therefore it was not a surprise that I was almost pulled by invisible strings to attend an event part of a programme in memory of Bharathan at Regional Theater, Thrissur, Kerala. The event was to showcase music from his movies, a concert, with another legend Jayachandran being the prominent singer.

Bharathan was famous for his insistence on incorporating melodious songs into his movies. They have supplied to Malayalam film music many a gems. Bharathan was an excellent music director himself, apart from being a good script writer, lyricist, painter, sculptor and whatever an artist could dream of. Therefore an organizer would have to be adroit in selecting from the prodigious talent's gifts to south Indian music.

I entered the gathering a little after it had begun. I was ushered in by Kannetha Doore from the film Thazhvaaram and was bowled over instantly. It has an eerie but scintillating mood and when the entire lines wash over our self, we remain rooted to the spot. It was followed by the melodious Omana Thingal Kidavo from Ithiri Poove Chuvanna Poove and I had realized that the evening was more than worth the free entry. Song after song stirred memories of listening to them on All India Radio and on the Doordarshan, an experience now reserved just for the cliched nostalgic.

An emotional Jayaraj Warrier gave introductions to each song with an intensity expected of coterie of Bharathan enthusiasts. Film director Jayaraj, who was also present, did not fail to appreciate his era's role model. Jayachandran though from far had a look of a health on the wane but once that voice begins to sing his famous odes Upasana and Kallolini, we come to realize why he is adored as Bhavagayakan (Singer of Expression) .

And when the extravaganza comes to a close and the bell tolls, it is not a surprise that we muse, where has such music disappeared from the Malayalam movies? Be it the quaintly tantalizing "Kannetha Doore" or the elegant "Rajahamsame" (Chamayam) or the heartening "Poovenam poo pada venam" (Minnaminunginte Nurunguvettom) or the heart racing "Dhum Thanakka Kodumala Ganapathi" (Guruvayoor Keshavan), it all has a touch of something forgotten. I do not want to stir the usual argument of old song - new song but to place the issue of the Good songs, which Malayalam film industry has successfully failed to deliver to its expectant audience. What it needs is another stalwart like Bharathan to take forward what Bharathan started- the age of thinking movies.

Special mentions must also go to the new singers who took part in the event. The orchestra which was from Chalakudy, Thrissur was brilliant.(I failed to catch its name.) Few singers who stood out was Viswanathan, Sangeetha and Thulasi. The ever green Kallara Gopan need no new extol. Lohithadas was also remembered by the anchor. He along with Bharathan provided many a masterpieces to Indian cinema.