Kalam verses set to music, few takers

No doubt President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam has scores of fans across the country. But a 43-year-old music lecturer from Krishna Nagar in Puducherry has displayed a rare kind of devotion.

No doubt President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam has scores of fans across the country. But a 43-year-old music lecturer from Krishna Nagar in Puducherry has displayed a rare kind of devotion. So enamoured was Pulikotil Vareed Bose by the 8216;high virtues8217; of the President, that he set to music with a carnatic base six patriotic verses from Kalam8217;s autobiography, Wings of Fire.

Bose is hoping to release the 45-minute album, titled Thannilum Desam Perithu The nation is bigger than you, shortly. The songs have been sung by Bose, a lecturer in vocal music at the Bharathiar Centre for Performing and Fine Arts. Bose, who has been singing from the age of eight, has also composed the music.

But there are few takers for the album. While Bose refused to allow it to be promoted like any commercial product, music companies don8217;t find it commercially viable. Now, Bose is keeping his fingers crossed, hoping to find a promoter who would handle the album more reverentially and also make it a success. 8220;Otherwise, I will myself sell it online,8221; said Bose.

8220;I was very moved by the verses.8221; In fact, in 2002, when Dr Kalam came to our college, I made one of the boys sing his verse, Neendanal muzhudum ganathirku ganam, Nermayay Tunivay Unmaiyay uzhaikkiravan karangale azhagiya karangal..set to raga Vasantha Bhairavi. It is my favourite. He was so touched that he stood up and declared 8216;excellent8217;,8221; said Prof Bose. The President8217;s reaction inspired him and he got to work setting the verses to classical tunes. It took him three years to complete the album.

Last October, Bose wrote to the President with a copy of the album requesting his permission to release it. In less than two weeks he got the Rashtrapati Bhavan8217;s go-ahead.

The letter signed by President8217;s secretary P M Nair said Kalam had seen Bose8217;s letter and he could go ahead 8220;without waiting for the express permission8221; by the President. 8220;Everybody will be happy if a public cause is served by anybody8217;s act,8221; Nair said.