(This may be appearing a trifle late. But its significance is immense.)
“Many artists choose art to add to their glory. Only through a very few artists, ART chooses to express its own glory. Pazhani Subramania Pillai is one such rare expressions of ART.”
“Pazhani Shri Subramania Pillai : The Pole Star of Laya Universe” - a documentary on the life and lure of Pazhani Anna , was released on the occasion of the 52nd Guru Pooja, organized by PSP Trust.
The DVD begins by narrating an episode in Mumbai where Chembai Vaidhyanatha Bhagavathar gave a “thani-opportunity” even during the first half of his concert. In fact the concert had four more thanis and was fittingly reported as a “grand mridangam concert”. The mridangam player was none other than Pazhani. People who were close to him and others who were either direct or indirect disciples of him and other patrons appear on the screen in this DVD, recounting their experiences with/of him. Trichy Sankaran Lalgudi Jayaraman, Vedavalli, K S Kalidas, Arun Prakash, B M Sundaram, Guruvayur Durai, Palakkadu Rajaram (speaking on behalf of his father Palakkadu Mani Iyer and Palakkadu Raghu) T K Murthy, Tanjore Upendran and many others have through this documentary highlighted both the technical, ennobling and endearing qualities of this personality of magnificent proportion.
The DVD’s narration combines well with appropriate images and is interspersed thoughtfully with PSP’s lilting thanis that rivet your attention. You are irrevocably drawn towards it. The DVD brings about how PSP’s name was synonymous with “sathyam” and “gowravam”, how he never tended to gloss the rare errors he may have committed in concerts and the brief stint Alathur Brothers had with him at Purasawalkam (Chennai) learning Thirupugazh. PSP’s playing was as compact as the concerts of Ariyakudi. He was a genius but never an eccentric. His sense of judgment, the balance between savukkam, melkalam, farans and filling up gaps (or to leave it blank) was both inborn and acquired over years of experience. He was the mridangist who established the slots these “patterns” had to occupy (vis a vis their suitability) in a concert. When he played for the light items (thukkada) the mridangam would “become” the tabla and he lent complete seriousness even during this phase. He was particular in handling the instrument with utmost care. His gumkis resembled the silent yet majestic murmur of the dove. He tailored his playing to suit that of the singer - be it GNB, MMI, KVN or a violinist, like Lalgudi. He knew how to balance the valandalai and ilandalai and the nadham he produced glittered to gold by default.
The DVD goes on. He also “fusioned” with drummer Joe Morollo and that event hosted by AIR was reported with the title “When Mridangam Played Jazz”. His uncompromising devotion to Khanjira genius Dakshinamurthi Pillai perhaps accounted for the immense prowess he expressed in this single-handed instrument (meaning the Khanjira, which PSP could play to perfection.) Thalam and Thiruppugazh are inseparable. PSP reveled in accepting challenges and has played many exclusive Thiruppugazh concerts too. This DVD sets to rest any kind of a semblance of rivalry that had existed between Palakkadu Mani Iyer (another of immense stature) and Pazhani. It was mutual admiration that formed the cornerstone of their relationship. PSP, in fact felt proud that Mani Iyer was the first recipient of the national award instituted by Government of India and thought by receiving this, he had done the mridangam proud. The DVD also adds this : PSP’s veritable singing prowess was made explicit when he gave vocal concerts. He had also made his mark by willingly accompanying vidhushis when this was not the practice.
PSP left this world on 27th May, 1962 leaving behind a clan of worthy disciples.
In its closing stages this DVD cites Tanjore Upendran who says,“We the left handed mridangam players should always think of Pazhani whenever we take our morsels of food”
(Credits: Direction S B Khanthan, Script sources: Sruthi Magazine and the Book Druva Nakshatram (Lalitha Ram), Samarpanam: K S Kalidas, Narration: S Muralidhar. Scores of others have to be acknowledged for provided other credits. This DVD is a Swati Sanskriti Production.)
aarvalan (
aarvalan@yahoo.com)
This DVD is priced at Rs.150 and can be had from Swathi Soft Solutions,5 Ananda Road, Alwarepet, Chennai-600018 (Phone: 044 24984050)
