I met Guitar Prasanna & Writer Sujatha

It (19/12) was an eventful day – a day that I’ll never forget. Hope you are aware of the music season that has started in Chennai. There are many Sabhas and Academies that organize music (and dance too) concerts thru’out the entire month. I have the habit of attending concerts whenever I find it possible. Yesterday it was Guitar Prasanna’s concert at Rani Seethai hall which is quite walkable from my office. The concert was to start at 6.15 pm and I had got the ticket at 4.15 pm. I had some work, so reached the hall only at 7.30 pm. I expected the hall to be full and when I showed my ticket the person changed my seat number – from T row to L row. As I didn’t know the seating arrangement I thought I was moved back due to more crowd. But when I entered, I was quite astonished. There were not even 50 people… probably 20-30. But the team on stage was in full spirit and they were enjoying it. I was wondering how such a talented artist could be neglected! He does deserve a full hall. The team also had a big name in S. Karthick on the Ghatam. But then, putting these thoughts aside, I started to enjoy the concert. At the end of that piece, Prasanna said people have become too conservative. He cited an example of Muthuswamy Dikshithar who had composed some western notes. When he was about to play the next it was interrupted as there was some feedback coming out of the Amp. After battling out for 20 minutes he resumed with one in Mohanam, a song from his album ‘Electric Ganesha’ and ended with one more of his creation – ‘Bowling for Peace’ which sounded like a bhajan. It was 9 pm and I thought I would congratulate him and was about to enter the stage, but then, a very respectable man who too wanted to meet Prasanna was waiting and I stayed back. On looking closer, I recognized him as SUJATHA, the writer. I was happy that I got an opportunity to meet two celebrities at one place. They started to talk with Sujatha praising him for his performance and encouraging him to create new Ragas. Prasanna revealed that the piece Bowling for Peace was itself an experiment. It would seem like a Raga but will not come under the name of any. Their topic moved on to films. The crux of their talk was – Prasanna was to score music for a Balaji Shaktivel (director of Samurai and Kaadhal) film under Shankar’s banner and he had composed/ recorded 3 songs when Shankar wanted changes in the script – he wanted it to be youth-oriented. The dialogues were to be done by Sujatha. Shankar became busy with Veyyil and Shivaji and could not concentrate on this project and it is put on hold. Sujatha said dialogues for Shivaji are over – his part and the film could be expected on 13th (april, maybe). So, when Shivaji gets released, this film crew could be expected to start work. Prasanna also added that Rahman was to sing a song in that film!!!! Great, thought I. I got their autographs too. It is not often that we run into 2 celebrities and more so when they speak professionally. I will never forget the day. On a lighter note, I spoke to Sujatha saying I was a native of Srirangam. Fact is he was a neighbor to my mother’s family at East Chitra Street. When I said my perima’s name he identified her as a good singer and said he still remembers them. Ain’t cool!!