The playback legend’s lilting strains continue to enthral her fans, as was evident at a recent event.
Receiving encomiums has been a way of life for the dulcet-voiced Vani Jairam, who was honoured this past week with a bouquet of her best songs sung by seasoned stage singers. As Archana, the anchor of the evening, noted, ‘Naan Paadi Konday Iruppaen’ was unique, because not often does a light music troupe present the popular numbers of a singer, in her presence.
Ramya Nandakumar, whose Amruthavarsham was behind the event, detailed the challenges she had to overcome to make the show a success.
“I told this child not to exert herself as I knew it would be a tough proposition to put together a show of this magnitude, but nothing deterred Ramya, and her perseverance has paid off,” smiled Vani Jairam in her acceptance speech. “I did not have such a rousing chariot procession even for my wedding,” she laughed. Vani and her husband Jairam were driven down in a chariot in a procession from near SGS Sabha on Habibullah Road to German Hall, T. Nagar -- the venue of the event!
The selection of numbers spelt aesthetics. Whether it was ‘Ganapathiyae, the opening song in Chandra Bose’s music, M.S. Viswanathan’s immortal melody ‘Ilakkanam Maarudho’ (‘Nizhal Nijamaagiradhu’) or Vijaya Bhasker’s number from ‘Engamma Sabadham,’ the effort of the singers was sincere. No live show can go on without minor glitches. But the enthusiasm of the singers who considered it an honour to sing in the presence of such an illustrious singer and the discerning audience that was bowled over by the music and the singer of the original pieces overshadowed everything else.
Actor Sivakumar, the chief guest of the evening, captivated the audience as always, with his power of public speaking. In a short and crisp speech, he touched upon the greatness of Kannadasan who had penned many of the verses sung by Vani. In fact, Kannadasan had devoted an entire chapter in his book to the felicity of her voice and her persona (Vani poignantly mentioned that she was the only singer who had been written about by Kannadasan.) Sivakumar extolled her as a storehouse of talent who stands apart as probably the only artist to have sung in 19 languages!
It was from one painter to another (Sivakumar is a well-known and trained artist, and Vani is also adept at the art of creating magic with the brush!) when Sivakumar presented her with a graphic painting of the temple of Thiruvannamalai. “I stayed put at the place, bathed in the waters where cows were washed, sat in the grime there and painted it. I know an artist like Vani will value it,” he said. It was the eve of Vani Jairam’s birthday and the septuagenarian jokingly said, “I’ll enter 17 tomorrow, just reverse the numbers.”
Vani Jairam was her lively self throughout the evening as she came forward in her seat and listened, nodded her head and enjoyed every number of hers that was sung on stage.
Her lilting strains continue to enthral her fans. The response to the medley she sang (that included her numbers from the recent ‘Kaaviya Thalaivan’ and ‘Ramanujan’) in a voice that continues to be crystalline, was reiteration enough.
