M.S. Gopalakrishnan has just turned 81. He is content with his life, quietly musing about his many achievements, and the many awards reaped by him. Strangely, after a Padma Sri long ago, no other national award has been bestowed on this rare violinist. With a highly individual style of playing, and proficient in the Hindustani mode, MSG shares memories of his early days in the music field, and his many memories of M.L. Vasanthakumari.
Being one of the few accompanists who played for women singers, MSG and MLV had a rare sibling bond, music and geniality blending memorably. Here, MSG shares his memories of MLV. Fitting indeed, as the today is the inimitable vocalist’s birth anniversary and the veteran violinist just celebrated his 81st birthday.
“I knew MLV from when I was eight years old — my father Parur Sundaram Iyer and her father Ayyasamy Iyer were close friends. We used to visit each other’s homes often, both being in Mylapore. In the olden days people looked down on being accompanist to lady artists. Male artistes did not offer me chances and my father told me to play for women also.
“The year 1939 saw my first concert, in Calcutta, with my father and brother. Omkarnath came and heard, and asked me to play for him the next day. I was about 8 then! In 1948 I went to Afghanistan with him, and my father. I’ve played for Ariyakkudi, GNB, Alathur Brothers, Mali, Balamurali, Santhanam, Chembai, Semmangudi, Mani Iyer — each had his own style.
“GNB’s music had a stupendous effect. Each concert was different, and new. Good practice was needed to play for him. At Nadu Street, Mylapore, Palani Subbudu and I played for GNB. At Bombay’s Shanmukhananda Sabha I played on both days for GNB’s two-day concert- it was so memorable.
“MLV was always so sociable, and smiling. I played for her for three continuous years. I stopped playing for women in 1960 — Radha-Jayalakshmi and MS also. My last such accompaniment was for MS, I had played about ten concerts with her.
“I used to play, on an average, about 20 concerts a month, for MLV. She loved to talk about music, and each concert - her voice had unique beauty.” Her raga rendering, Dasar padams and RTPs were all simply great.
“So generous was MLV that when we travelled, she would book the same class for me and the percussionist, as was done for her. She would also give a lot of scope in the concert, for accompanists.
Each of her concerts was special. She sang all the ragas. Taking a cue from my violin, she adopted Hindustani touches for some of the ragas - Amir Kalyani, Hindolam, etc. Her film songs too were so good —“Ellam inbamayam” from “Manamagal” is so superb.
“MLV sang at my wedding on January 17, 1962. It was held at the TTD centre in Royapettah, near Swagat hotel. R.S. Gopalakrishnan and Krishnamurthy Rao were the accompanists. Chembai and Semmangudi were among those who came and heard the wedding concert. GNB was out of town.
“One grand occasion was the concert for King Birendra of Nepal, in Madras. MLV sang, and I was the violinist that day. Later MLV went to Nepal to sing at the king’s palace, and still later, I was also invited to perform there. It was royal treatment all the way. The king even gave me a holy salagramam , for which I still do daily puja.
“MLV would invite me and my family to all functions at her home. When Bade Gulam came here, she hosted a dinner party at her house, and also presented a concert. Bade heard her and very much enjoyed and admired her singing.
“MLV was quite upset when I finally decided to stop accompanying lady artistes. We parted amicably on the concert front, but I had great respect and affection for, till her untimely end. Tenacious, MLV achieved so much on her own. She was also a very sincere teacher, would teach patiently till the student got it right.
“Kanyakumari started playing for MLV after me, Trivellore Subramaniam too played for a while. Kanya thinks of MLV as her guru teaches many students for free and is doing a great service to music.
MSG’s daughter Narmadatakes over. “Thatha’s house was called Sangita Vilas. ‘Khana and Gana’ – food and music ruled at home. I was taught to listen.
MLV was such a good person, such great music. She inspired me to be creative on stage. She also had lovely Hindustani touches to her music. Singing at 4 kattai, she rose to such great fame. Her Saramati, ‘Dayamaado Ranga,’ ‘Aarumo Aaval’ are all unforgettable. I’ve heard her ‘Baro Krishnayya’ hundreds of times. I make it a point to listen to it if I’m planning to play it in my concert.
I played for her at the Sangit Natak Akademi in 1988, and also at East Delhi music circle. Her Khanda nadai pallavi in Suddha Dhanyasi was simply amazing. When I regretted that I had never played for her in Madras, she had me play for a few wedding concerts.
She would dress so beautifully for a concert, and gave me also advice on the subject. ‘People come to see, as well as to hear,’ she would say.”
Sadly, MSG has neither photos nor recordings of his association with MLV. Others may be having, he thinks. Perhaps his own wedding invite may state the concert artistes, I suggest. He promises to look for this slice of Carnatic music history. Perhaps an ardent rasika may find his memory jogged by reading this feature, and some rare recordings may surface. A fitting birthday present, indeed!
‘Violin is my life’
“My father had told me that I will get whatever is destined, and not what is not destined. Today I do saadhakam for 1 ½ hours daily, and don’t travel much. I’m content with the awards and recognition I’ve got. Violin is my life. My food habit is simple - coffee at 6.15 a.m., oats at 8.30, a light traditional lunch at 11.30, a light tiffin at 4.30 p.m. and to bed at ten. I do sandhyavandanam daily, even now. Music has made my life complete”.
