BEHINDWOODS CELEBRITY COLUMN

Over the last fortnight, I was privy to a couple of interesting events with both being on the opposite ends of the entertainment scale but with a common thread to it. One was the trailer launch of the digitally restored yesteryear movie classic ‘Ninaithale Inikkum’ starring the two stalwarts of Tamizh cinema, Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth directed by the visionary K Balachander who always made films ahead of its time. The other was a Children’s Carnatic Choir directed by the Oscar Nominee and renowned musician Bombay Jayashri with about 18 handpicked students rendering Classical music in the format of a Western music choir.

The former event was a prelude to the re-release of a superhit film that made waves in 1979 with its stellar cast and magical music composed by the legendary MS Viswanathan. This effort is an attempt at giving a new life to a classic that would’ve otherwise been restricted to just television viewing whenever the film airs on the channel owning the rights depriving the current generation of the experience of watching it on the big screen. Re-releasing such films will also rekindle the interest of those who missed watching it or were too busy growing up as kids then. Renewal of a classic film will of course allure the loyal fans of that time to relive their memories by catching the film again and going down the memory lane.

The latter event was a new interpretation of the age-old Carnatic music rendered in an experimental group-singing format akin to the Western music of choir singing. A few minutes into this musical ensemble and I was already hooked on to the very idea of a mixed SATB (soprano, alto, tenor and bass) voices all in our very own traditional performing art. Coming to the common thread I was talking about, this too seemed like an attempt to connect to a new set of gen next audience who appreciate music that is engaging and at the same time appealing to the purist lovers of Carnatic music with absolute perfection in their live performances that day.

So why is so much effort put in by a few passionate promoters of arts in reviving, refurbishing and repackaging the old wine? What about a million other Tamil classic films that badly need a new lease of life and a zillion other forms of classical art that are diminishing with every generation going by? Why should we as an audience make an attempt at all to watch these films and appreciate such novel concerts? I found my answer in a parallel situation where my Bombay based cousin (married to a non-Tamilian) whose son and daughter grew up in Bombay all their lives can’t speak or even understand Tamizh that it makes me feel disappointed when the next generation and the ones to follow after them will never be able to take the language naturally forward. It’ll die down with my cousin in that family tree unless the kids make an attempt someday to learn & converse in Tamizh. Even NRIs (most of them at least) ensure that their children despite being citizens of another country they’re born in, are trained to speak and learn Tamizh without letting go of their roots.

Reaching a classic film to the next generation or presenting a pure Classical group singing in its most contemporary avatar helps establish that much needed connect to the arts and entertainment that our seniors are proud to pass on. You take away the arts, culture, language and tradition from the country you belong, you’re likely to lose the identity collectively over a period of time. While cross-culture development and appreciation is a healthy exchange, while learning salsa dance, French language or listening to Adele is a liberating feeling by itself, forgetting our roots and letting go of our rich repertoire of arts is non-negotiable. Art lovers in their humble effort to reach a wider audience venture into such attempts of passing it on to the next lot by re-inventing the wheel. At least it’s a great start for others to follow suit when they realize the value of keeping very much in touch with such creations of art and culture. Arts in any form (be it movies, music, painting, dance) unless preserved and passed on,will erode gradually like the language that has vanished from my cousin’s family and many others in our circle largely representing those that sadly can’t read or write Tamizh. Ignore not at your own peril but at our culture’s peril. But if you want to do something about it, embrace, learn, cultivate, preserve and share any art that you appreciate. Take your pick. Stay in touch.