It never rains, but pours. The fruits of this are all the more pleasant if it comes after a drought. This is particularly true for S.S. Dhandapani, the voice of veteran stage artiste R. S. Manohar.
Living in utter and abject poverty for years after Manohar passed away, Dhandapani is finally having some limelight thrown on him. Awards and financial assistance have been pouring in, in recognition of his work past, and the need to give him a helping hand.
The recognition has also come from organisations that he has great regard for: drama sabhas , including the best among them.
“This was after The Hindu profiled Dhandapani in these columns on January 27,” says S. Shivapprasad, nephew of R.S. Manohar who first found the singer languishing without support. “A number of sabhas and individuals interested in theatre and the arts volunteered to help out with financial assistance and also with recognising his work,” he adds.
The Tamil Stage Drama Producers’ Association was among the first to do so, followed by the State-run Eyal Isai Nataka Mandram, Sri Parthasarathy Swamy Sabha, Hamsadhwani, and Narada Gana Sabha.
In addition to this, he has received assistance from wife of late Manohar, Seethalakshmi Manohar, actor Shivakumar, stage artiste Madhuvanthi Arun, and The Hindu readers, Jaya Ramani and Aruna Venkatraman.
Some of them are cheques for amounts upwards of Rs. 5000, while others are to be given in monthly instalments, as pensions.
P. Sachu, chairperson of the Mandram, has meanwhile promised to expedite the process of securing a pension for Dhandapani.
After enjoying a rather glorious career as the voice of the protagonist in the mythological plays that Manohar was famous for, Dhandapani was languishing for nearly a decade, forgetting to sing, as he was busy eking out a livelihood working as a night watchman, and depending on the largess of his daughter, Jayanthi, and her family.
After nearly a decade, Dhandapani has found his voice again.
