“Sara Sara, Yes Mama… Brush your teeth, Yes Mama. Spread your bed, Yes Mama… pray to God, Yes Mama.”
This is the tweaked Indian version of “Johnny Johnny Yes Papa”! But Sukanya Jagannathan is quick to point out a difference. She has penned the lyrics and ensured that Sara is taught only good habits. “Most of the English rhymes that we teach our toddlers have a negative element,” she says. Humpty Dumpty has a great “fall”, Jack and Jill come “tumbling down”. Even the popular ‘ ring-a-ring o’roses…’ is associated with the 1665 plague in England. The first line actually refers to a symptom of the plague – ring-shaped rashes. The ‘posies’ were herbs that were carried as protection and to ward off the smell of the disease. Sneezing or coughing was the final fatal symptom before they “all fall down”.
A law graduate, Sukanya was driven by the desire to teach children “better, positive and happy things.” She started by writing 50 new English songs for kids -- on themes that attract children, like visiting the zoo, going to the beach, on birds and animals, on cricket and playing colourful kites and balloons, and so on.
“There is also an underlying message in each rhyme about saving water or cultivating good manners by using just four sweet words -- please, sorry, thank you and excuse me,” she adds.
Sukanya’s nephew, Suren Vikash, training in guitar at the A.R.Rahman Music School in Chennai, first suggested she make an album. Soon 17 peppy compositions matching the simple words were ready. His friends from the School enthusiastically joined in to play the flute, keyboard and violin while another 15 took the lead on the songs. Two rhymes were sung by Sukanya’s daughter and grand-daughter.
The album Sing Along containing 17 rhymes was recorded, mixed and mastered in no time at the AM Studios in Chennai. “Since we all loved our respective jobs, the work was spontaneous and smooth,” says Sukanya. She says it took her no more than two to three minutes to compose each poem. “Once I had an idea that would appeal to children, the words followed with ease,” she says.
Actor Sneha released the album at a function at The Music Academy in Chennai last weekend. Sukanya’s cousin, Nalini Chidambaram, received the first copy and both the guests praised the efforts of the amateur team.
Sukanya wishes to make the DVD available to schools across the State. She is confident that the students and teachers will find the new rhymes very catchy, attractive and stimulating.
In a pre-launch exercise she tested the waters in her own school, The Siddhu Matriculation School, which she has been running in Madurai for the last 26 years.
“The little ones loved it as they found it easy to dance and sing along with even though they can’t yet say a straight sentence in English,” smiles Sukanya. She also wants to complete a book on general knowledge for children and write a set of rhymes in Tamil.
Sukanya believes in motivating children to enjoy what they are learning. The album with its light and peppy musical treatment, she believes, will develop the child’s language.
