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Journalism of Courage
The Narain-starrer Thambikottai,written and directed by Ammu Ramesh is nearing completion. Produced by R.K.Suresh,the film has Poonam Bajwa along with Prabhu,Sangeetha,Sitara,MS Bhasker,Manobala,Sriranjini and Santhanam. Music is by D.Imman.
Thambikottai,which takes us to a little town called Thambikottai,has a plot woven around the construction of a bridge. For Narain,who made his entry into Tamil from Malayalam with Chithiram Pesuthedi and who then did Tamil films like Pallikoodam and Anjathey,Thambikottai is a much awaited film,especially since his Pookada Ravi has been getting delayed unduly.
Great demand for book on film music
From sports journalism to music,Ravi Menon,a Music Research Manager with Club FM,has come a long way and has carved a niche for himself in the area of history of film music in Kerala.
Once a well-known football journalist,Menons latest book Mozhikalil Sangeethamayi (Music in Verses),a work on Indian film music is into its second edition,within two-and-a-half months of its release last December,a rare phenomenon in the states publication industry these days.
The demand for the book points to Keralites growing love towards music and nostalgia, said Ravi Menon in Kochi. The book contains well-researched articles on music directors of Malayalam cinema belonging to different eras,ranging from K Raghavan to Vidyasagar.
It is an attempt to chronicle the rise and development of playback music in general,even though the focus is on the composers, Menon said. There is indeed a niche readership for anything on popular music in Kerala. However,the demand for the latest book has surpassed even my expectation, said Menon,who has authored five books on Malayalam and Hindi film music,beginning with Sooja Rajkumari in 2005,which is into its third edition.
Engane Naam Marakkum,Hrudayageethangal and Meri Awaz Suno are the other books authored by Menon. My focus has always been on the unsung heroes of film music world,singers and composers who have faded into oblivion even after making worthy contributions, Menon said.
M S Baburaj,G Devarajan,M S Viswanathan,M B Sreenivasan,Johnson,K J Joy,Ravindran,A T Ummer and S P Venkitesh are a few of the other music directors who feature in the book,published by Mathrubhoomi books.
Whenever I have a doubt on film music,be it even about my own songs,I often look to Ravi for a clarification. I have found him to be an encyclopedia of popular music, K S Chithra,leding playback singer had said on Menon,during the release of the book in December last.
Bollywood music is another area of interest for Menon,who remains an avid fan of singer Talat Mahmood. Both Soja Rajkumari and Meri Awaz Suno delve deeply into the evolution of Hindi film music over the past century,he said.
Apart from the life sketches of film music personalities,the book also provides interesting insights into the musical careers of singers like Mohammed Rafi,Kishore Kumar,Mukesh,Lata Mangeshkar,Asha Bhosle,Bhupinder,Shailendra Singh and composers Naushad,Madan Mohan,O P Nayyar,Ravi and Laxmikant Pyarelal.
Most of the pieces are based on interviews with the artistes and people who were close to them,Menon said.
I am lucky to have good relationships with most of the leading names in film music,past and present. Besides,music has always been a passion for me, Menon said.
Sai Paranjpe to head Kerala film award jury
Noted filmmaker Sai Paranjpe has been named the chairperson of jury to choose the Kerala state film awards for 2009. According to Kerala State Chalachitra Academy sources,the other members would be K Madhu,B Ajayan,S Saradhakutty,Mukhathala Sivaji,K G Soman and Vidhubala.
A jury chaired by P P Raveendran with Ummer Tharamel and K R Meera as members would select the awardees for books and publications on cinema.
Academy Secretary K S Sreekumar would be the Member- Secretary for both the juries.
