BEHINDWOODS CELEBRITY COLUMN

Dear friends…we are in the midst of summer holidays simmering irritable mood swings thanks to our sizzling temperature, cricket analysis-paralysis plus odes-galore on mother’s day. Many have reiterated my thought that a single day is not enough or not necessary to celebrate motherhood.

Still I could not resist posting this time immemorial song as a personal tribute to my ‘amma’ who made me what I am today! My amma Viji srinivasan was woman of the year (2004) and whatever I am (90%)is what she taught me, instilled in me and dinned right into my hippocampus (the part of the brain that helps us classify info and long term memory) what to do and NOT to do and how to be a humanE being! I can sense her presence and hidden hand in every film I subtitle:) This is for the wonderful mother she was... and will always be in my heart

An evergreen classic and a gem...you ask anyone to name a song from a Thamizh film that's an ode to motherhood, this would rank top on their list for sure. Mannan released in 1992 stars Rajinikanth, Vijayashanti, Kushboo, Manorama, Pandari Bai, Goundamani, Visu and Prabhu as Prabhu in a mini-cameo. Remake of the 1986 hit Kannada film Anuraga Aralithu starring Rajkumar, this was directed by P Vasu, produced under the Sivaji productions banner with music by our dear maestro Ilaiyaraja.

Sung by KJY, this song touches one and all...even the ones with hearts of granite. It's an universal truth that 99.99999 of us fall into 1 group: of taking our 'amma' for granted. Some of us are given the 1 in a zillion chance to tell our amma how much she means to us...some of us sadly are not so lucky. If there's a single word for unconditional love then it can only be 'amma'. I dished out amma in different languages to make this song cross the barriers of language and latitude, but the essence and the undiluted love remains the same and as pure and powerful as ever.

I dedicate this soulful number
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWxaLIfwX1A
to every single mother in this world, to celebrate the joy of being one, to glow with that special brand of love that over flows the 'akshaya paathiram'…1 day is not enough, a lifetime or more!

A special request for bookworms world over to read this lovely book by Mitch Albom, 'one more fine day'. Gift it to your mom someday soon. I missed out on that opportunity...I wouldn't want you also to share my 'things I didn't do' on this one.

Wishing you lasting moments to cherish through this summer,

rekhs
13.05.2013