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Entertainment
Janaki weaves magic
AGE HAS not affected her voice nor constant singing made it stale. S. Janaki, queen of melody, still weave a magic spell on the audience as was evident from the standing ovation given by a huge gathering of Chennai Telugu film music lovers. The event was — `S. Janaki, queen in concert' and the venue, Wesley Higher Secondary School grounds, on April 4.
"It is amazing the way she sings today, just as she has rendered them decades ago, without a trace of strain. It is sheer will power and a passion for her profession", says veteran singer and her colleague P. B. Srinivas, who paid rich poetic tributes to her.
It was indeed amazing as she sailed through almost non-stop, the three and half hour concert with only brief intervals of a few minutes, modulating her voice according to the lyric and tune from classical songs (Nee Leela Paadedavela — "Muripinche Muvvalu" and Samajavaragamana — "Sankarabharanam") to the child-like voice (Govullu thellana — "Sapthapadi") to the fast beat (Dheera Dheera Magadheera — "Oke Okkadu"). Then the versatile singer took the audience into a mood of melancholy by rendering Karunasri's "Pushpavilapam" as effectively as it was sung earlier by Ghantasala. Besides, she sang a Hindi song, which was written and composed by her. In between the numbers, she regaled the audience with anecdotes. She said that April 4 was a special day for her as she had sung her first song on that day in 1957 for a Tamil film, "Vidhiyin Vilayattu" under the baton of music director T. Chalapati Rao. "That was exactly 45 years ago, and I am happy to be here singing for you on the same date of my debut. With failing health, my voice may not be the same, but still I hope you will enjoy." That's when the entire audience stood up and gave her a standing ovation.
Veteran musicologist V.A.K. Rangarao says. "It is remarkable how she does justice at 60 to the songs she sang when she was between 20-40. There is no point in pretending that her voice or ability remains the same. They do not. But still she weaves a spell of swara magic".
In this concert, Janaki was accompanied by Mano, Ghantasala Rathnakumar and young singer Ramku. The orchestra conducted by music director Madhavapeddi Sureshchandra was ear friendly except in a couple of songs where the decibel levels increased beyond tolerable limits. Ace anchor and actress Jhansi's sprightly compering enlivened the proceedings. The concert was produced by In House productions in association with New Age Entertainment and presented by Clinic Plus.
M. L. NARASIMHAM
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