MS The Phenomenon, Talk by V Sriram
Disclaimer
I was in two minds to write or not. There are few references to MS amma’s personal life, I prefer that no discussion happen in this thread on those topics. I hold MS amma and her family in very high esteem, and I might delete the thread, if any such discussion happen.
I decide to write, because Sriram spoke so beautifully, spiritedly. There are few unknown facts on her, and this being her centenary year, we should celebrate more of MS amma.
The writing is not very smooth, but the lecture was.
Started with duet with Dhileep kumar, Bengali song , Dhono Dhanyo Pushpo Bhora – and received great applause !!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFZmJadyYhM
A reference to Ramayana, and comparison to TS & MS amma. Sriram said TS can be both Rama and Ravana, if MS amma is seetha
Picture of MS amma ancestral home in Madurai was shown and her early age, learning vocal, veena, Mridangam, about her siblings etc. Reference to whom MS amma father was, Subrahmanya Iyer or madhurai pushpavanam. Sriram said, we should go with MS amma’s confirmation that her father was subramanya Iyer, and that he took her in chariot during processions, along with god. Narration about how MS amma gave her first public performance in Madurai, and how first LP was cut.
MS amma’s performance in 1932 in kumbakonam mahamaham and how it attracted appreciation from various artists and paved way for MS amma’s first performance in Chennai in 1933. Anni Besant didn’t allow MS amma to perform in a particular auditorium because of her community, and the program was to be arranged in different venue.
Mention on how, TS met MS when he was working in Ananda vikatan.
TS participation in freedom struggle and his admiration and friendship for Subramanyam Siva. TS would even pray that Siva’s leprosy be transferred to him. Then on, TS would donate any amount towards leprosy’s cause
In 1938, seva sadan was published in anada vikaran as weekly serial story. Then K Subramanyam wanted to get rights to make a movie, TS stuck a deal that MS should act in the movie.
On how, MS amma’s mother didn’t agree to this, and described how MS amma left home and landed in Chennai. Sriram said, it takes courage of 10,000 devils to take such a decision for a personality like MS amma, and how she sought help of a congress work to land in TS home in big street, Triplicane. Sriram mentioned about how TS mother and wife were uncomfortable with MS amma stay there. An audio clipping, guha saravanabhava in simhendramadhyamam was played from Sevasadan movie, the lightning fast brigas were so perfect !
http://mio.to/eeOY
Seva sadan was a huge hit and MS amma got lot of attention
MS amma’s concert was arranged in 1939 in music academy, venue was senate house. About 2000 people came to hear the concert, police security cordon broke down and the concert had to be cancelled.
1940, TS produced sakuntalai starring GNB and MS amma. The dialogues were terrible (like vAngO, mAruthiyai darisanam pannindu vanduduvOm), only saving grace was T.A Maduram acting. There were two duet rendering of MS and GNB and a excellent viruttam by GNB. Sriram played audio clipping – mana mohana…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7CSBmREKfE
While Sriram was preparing for this talk, he got around 50 calls, half of them asking whether he should talk about GNB, MS amma relationship, and other half said, he shouldn’t mention that. Sriram asked callers, didn’t you love anyone, what’s wrong with that? After all in those days, in GNB’s concerts, he used to get chits from mami’s that their husband is not at home, and whether GNB can visit her. Sriram also added that both GNB and MS amma took great care during rest of their lifes to not meet in public, even if they were scheduled to attend a function, in last minute, one of them would withdraw.
Sriram described how TS’s first wife Parvathi died after delivering VIjaya, and subsequently TS marrying MS amma in low budget ceremony. MS amma became mother of 4, including Radha and Vijaya. Audio clip from savithri – maname kanamum was played.
In 1941, Both TS and Kakli leave Ananda vikaran after disputes with SS vasan, and start kalki. They need money and savithri was produced. Shanta apte acted as savithri and MS amma as narada. MS amma’s fee from movie was donated to kalki magazine and this was first donation of MS amma, and it all began from here.
Reference to competition, challenge MS amma faced in those times from N.C.Vasanthakokilam and Rajam pushpavanam. He said, there was ocean of difference between them and MS amma is unique. NCV’s husband was also sadasivam, but in all his moved, he tried to project himself, but whereas TS was trying to project MS amma. Rajam pushpavanam also had facial similarity with MS amma, and Rajam was first woman to drive a car in Chennai those days and she was also widowed soon.
Lot of yellow journals used to write badly about MS amma, and how MS amma was terribly upset by those, as she was such a sensitive soul. All this ended in 1944.
Reference was how TS bought kalki garden bungalow, the bungalow used to have ghosts and when MS amma moved, all those fled away ! 40 to 50 people used to live there and ground floor was kalki press. He read from T.S.George book, that 20 gardeners and 6 cooks were there.
1942 meera was filmed in tamil. Ellis Dunkan was director, and he wasn’t allowed in dwaraka temple. They dressed him up in panchakacham and kurta, and was introduced as Kashmiri pundit educated in Cambridge. Audio of katrinile varum geetham was played. Sriram said, he played this song due to popular demand whereas he wanted to show Radha’s acting as bala meera and transition of meera to MS.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYV0eFgEO58
Ellis Dungan made a plastic cast of MS amma, and would try to shoot at different angles to check which is best angle where MS amma would be more beautiful. Meera was dubbed in Hindi and how sarojini naidu gave up her title to MS amma. Gandhini got a promise that MS amma would no longer act in movies. MS amma performed 5 concerts in 1944 for kasturiba memorial fund.
1947 – About hari tum haro – susheela nayar called TS and said gandhiji wanted to hear Hari tum haro, and how MS amma learnt this song over night, recorded and sent to delhi in a tape.
Rajaji was TS guru and mentor and how he virtually lived in kalki garden. Rajaji used to call kalki garden as his 10 downing street.
Description about how musiri and SSI came forward to teach MS amma, and how SSI took it as personal advantage as he always does. GNB was a star those days, and whenever MS amma concert was scheduled, SSI’s concert would also get scheduled in same series.
How SSI and TS were close friends, played cards. When SSI’s wife died, TT Vasu consoled him, what’s the point in crying now, as he was always in kalki garden neglecting wife. All SSI used to say to wife – close the door, I am going to MS home to play cards.
1943 tamil isai movement – MS amma’s contribution, tamil isai sangam was in armanian street and was cordoned off. MS amma’s concert collected Rs. 3000. Music academy was not happy and banned MS amma between 1939 and 1943. MS amma sang again in 1945. In this period, TS started Mylai Sangeetha Sabha (also called MSS !!) to compete with academy. The sabha used to run in PS high school and how TS played tough competitor to music academy. Once roshana begam was invited to perform by TS one day in advance, and spoiled music academy concerts. K.V.Krishnaswamy finally agreed, and TS merged mylai sabha with academy and all funds were transferred. Oct 1955 music academy auditorium foundation stone was laid by Nehru and he gave queen of song title to MS amma. Sriram said, from those times to right now, at one point of time, someone or other always didn’t perform in music academy !
Mention about Radha, vijaya wedding and DKP singing for oonjal.
A reference to MS amma, DKP not having cordinal relation in private, but in public they were friendly.
On how MS magic came – Radha used to learn all songs so quickly and used to repeat to MS amma multiple times for her to learn. Whatever MS amma became, it was only because of Radha.
Mention about MS blue, diamods, jasmine and shinon, and how muthu chettiar would make only 3 sarees for MS amma, Radha and vijaya.
A video of MS amma singing virutham –as prelude to O ranga sayi was shown
MS amma was completely involved only in music – due to support of husband and daughter. Sriram said, other musicians also have support of husband and daughter, but no one became like MS amma, and that was MS impression left on others.
There was lot of disturbance to practice, as there was continuous flow of visitors, lot of travel etc.
MS amma always have only 7 sarees, and when 8th’ saree comes, one would go out of cupboard. The diamond nose rings and ear rings shown like anything only on MS amma, even though many people wear them, and it was only because of her inner beauty
Sriram described one incidence, in a program, indra menon and her mother was seated, and just behind MS amma was seated. Indra’s mother used to turn at MS amma and look frequently. Just for sake of conversation, indra’s mom asked MS amma, Radha didn’t come?, much to Indra’s amusement. Later mom told Indra that she wanted to hear MS amma talk, and whether talk is equally sweet as music !
1966 UN concert – C V Narasimhan introduction speech was played and video of MS amma was walking into the concert. There was lot of publicity, photographs in press, and entire itinerary of where MS amma was going, what she was doing etc was publicized part of this. It was said that, in entire tour, every day jasmine was being flown from Madurai to US, just for MS amma.
In US, where MS amma was staying and practicing, two construction workers hearing her practice, knocked the door and wanted to listen to MS amma.
The silliest moment of that tour, when MS amma and Radha stood up like school girls, and sang English hymn composed by Rajaji
Mention of maithreem bhajata song, and its controversy on whether composed by paramacharya or V Raghavan. One MR Ramanathan used to comment that lyrics were not good, how does it matter how gets the credit (I didn’t understand this part ??)
Paramacharya used to refer MS amma as brindavana tulasi. He was hesitant to meet her initial days. He has stopped MS amma and TS from giving away lakhs of rupees. Once during financial difficult times, paramacharya hide golden necklace inside tulasi mala, since TS and amma won’t accept anything.
Video of MS amma describing how she lost her voice and recovered after praying to periava was shown.
1968 – first woman sangeetha kalanidhi. A sloka was present in end of her speech, praising motherhood, as MS amma wanted to acknowledge contribution of her mother.
Suprabhatam recordings and how it is played at every home, every day and that even god wakes up to her rendition of suprabhatham in tirupathi. Sriram said that it is funny that folks use suprabhatam as their ring tone, and that it starts ringing at mid night.
On MS amma’s concert preparations, learning, practice and perfection was part and parcel. TS was master of ceremony always and that even photos were to be taken only at certain angles during concerts.
1982 – Selvi – a story by R.K.Narayan on MS amma’s life. Selvi ad mohan were characters, depicting MS amma and TS. In that story, in end, selvi leaves mohan. When Gowri Ramnarayan questioned R.K.Narayan, he said that, atleast in story, let Selvi by happy.
Contribution of kadayanallur Venkatraman for MS amma’s music, annamacharya keerthanas etc… bhavayami gopalam audio was played.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRNAfQv-P2I
1977 – kalki maganize issues.. Workers were striking. TS sold the property and settled twice the amount to workers. The property was sold at very low rate, and once TS decided, no one can influence him.
From then on, everything was donated to charity. They moved to a rented house near vallur kottam. MGR gave government accommodation, but TS rejected it.
In 1982, Radha fell ill, MS amma nursed her with care, she came back to sing, and Gowri stepped in as vocal support during that time. A video of nagendra haraya was played
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyLeBNsovQ8
Whereever train stopped in station, people lined up to see MS amma. In Russia, people queued in line to see her. Her fame considerably increased.
BVB London where amma performed...
In Nov 1997, TS dies. MS amma received bharat ratna, and the award redeemed itself with this. There used to be lot of lobbying by Carnatic musicians after MS amma got award !!
Sriram compared MS amma’s contribution to music, with that of Mother Theresa. MS amma would have donated close to two and half crores in her life. In later part of her life, MS amma struggled because of illness, diabetes, joint pains etc, and at times struggled to sing, and holding onto wrong notes. She passed away on December 11, 2004. But, did she really die? MS is always immortal through her music.
Srriam said, he rehersed a lot to avoid breaking down during the lecture.
At end of lecture, sukku kapi (MS amma loved it), keera vadai and kasi halwa was distributed to those attended.
And I also greatly admire V.Sriram's erudition.
