Mridangam maestro Umayalpuram Sivaraman mentioned that the musical information of the late Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) and the late thespian Sivaji Ganesan was unique.
Recalling his affiliation with MGR and Sivaji Ganesan, for whom he performed within the movie Mridhanga Chakravarthy, Mr. Sivaraman mentioned that when there was an issue over who ought to play for the lead position, producer Kalaignanam, music director M.S. Viswanathan (MSV), Sivaji Ganesan, and director Okay. Sankar chosen him, “though there were many applications and missions from the music fraternity.”
“I went there, and the crescendo was recorded in one take. MSV couldn’t believe it was done in one take. He said, ‘You can play one more time.’ But I said no. Then he said, ‘Super,’” mentioned Mr. Sivaraman in a dialog with CPI(M) common secretary M.A. Babu at The Hindu workplace.
He additionally shared the expertise of enjoying for a romantic scene during which the heroine, fascinated by the mridangam enjoying of the hero (performed by Prabhu), runs upstairs. As MSV was not glad with the opposite mridangam participant, he requested Mr. Sivaraman to play “something romantic.”
“I had not tried romantic before. But he said, ‘You have to play and make it sound passionate.’ It was the first time I was seeing her. I played something, and he said it was romantic. Then I said, ‘I will follow romanticism in all my concerts,’” he quipped.
He additionally spoke concerning the humility of Sivaji Ganesan, regardless of being an important actor.
“Sivaji Ganesan used to call me Vathiyar (teacher). Before every shooting, he would ask whether Vathiyar had come. He would ask if his fingering was right. He could do anything—he was a great artiste. But look at the humility with which he asked me,” he mentioned.
MGR was additionally a fan of Mr. Sivaraman and would attend his live shows with journalist Manian and acquire his recordings. He recalled how MGR acquired him warmly at Sathya Studios.
“Once, I was passing through Sathya Studios with my wife. I went in and gave my card to the watchman. He walked slowly. But when he came back, he was running. I asked him, ‘Why are you running?’ He said MGR was angry. He said, ‘A great artiste is waiting and you behaved like this?’”
When he met MGR, he requested, “What do you want me to do for you?” I mentioned, “I don’t want anything. I just want your love.”
Inside the studio, there was an enormous simmhasanam (throne), and MGR requested Mr. Sivaraman to sit down on it.
“I asked him, ‘Why?’
He said, ‘You are the Chakravarthy (Emperor) of mridangam. I just apply grease paint and act.’ Will anyone say something like that? The thing is—they truly enjoyed music,” he mentioned.
Mr. Sivaraman additionally recalled the presence of MGR and Devaraj Urs on the Music Academy to attend a live performance by M. Balamuralikrishna, the yr he was conferred the Sangita Kalanidhi award.
“Both of them were enjoying the concert. After it was over, we went and thanked both Chief Ministers. MGR came to me and said, ‘You played well. But he prepared the pallavi at home. You played on the spot. You are great.’ Will anyone say that? That shows how deep their musical knowledge was. The musical understanding that these actors had was something truly unique.”
Reporting: B. Kolappan
Video: Johan Sathyadas, Thamodharan B, Shiva Raj
Editing: Shiva Raj
Umayalpuram Sivaraman on life, music and the essence and the surplus in artwork
