Behind the famous Annamacharya audio albums of M.S. is a poignant story. That was a time M.S. Subbulakshmi and Sadasivam had suffered a financial setback. The TTD Executive Officer P.V.R.K. Prasad received a letter from the Kanchi Kamakoti Math. Perhaps they could think of a music project involving M.S. Subbulakshmi, which would help the couple, who had donated their wealth to countless causes, tide over the crisis. The TTD Board met but there was no way it could help because M.S. was already an Asthana Vidwan and the Devasthanam was extending privileges. Anything more would need the approval of the Endowments Ministry.
A distraught Prasad, a staunch devotee of the Tirumala deity, proceeded towards the temple for his daily routine — darshan before the sanctum closed for the night. As he came out of the main Dwara having prayed for a solution, strains of music wafted in the cold night breeze. He found a group of poor people singing. He stood rooted there, an idea germinating in his mind. He looked at the temple gopuram. Have his prayers been answered? He turned round to speak to the singers but they had gone. He couldn’t locate them anywhere as he took a quick walk around the hills and none had seen the kind of group he was talking about.
The next morning, Prasad stood in front of Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati in Kanchipuram. He told him about the previous night’s experience. “We shall bring out audio-albums of Annamayya’s songs hitherto unheard and M.S. will sing them,” said Prasad. He was yet to get the idea approved by the Board but was sure that Balaji would take care of that. The Acharya smiled and said: “He takes several forms to provide answers. Last night He came as minstrels. May you succeed in your venture.”
Prasad, accompanied by other TTD officials, went to meet the couple, armed with a picture of Venkateswara. After listening to their proposal, Sadasivam said: “She is now 63 and frail. It might be too much of a strain for her to learn the songs and sing them. Sorry.” M.S. walked in right at that moment and her eyes fell on the picture. To cut a long story short, she said it was a privilege to sing the songs and she would certainly do it. Remuneration? M.S. refused to take money and the officials had to convince her. Mission accomplished, the TTD crew left. ‘Balaji Pancharatnamala,’ the first volume, was released in 1980 and four more subsequently.
The albums topped the charts and M.S. went on to be conferred Bharat Ratna. One wonders whether she was aware of the little drama, which was enacted one fine night, to make all this possible.
