Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Reliving Chembai's music

February 20, 1969. The forecourt of the Sreekanteswaram temple resounded with the lyrics of the `keerthanam' Vaatapi Ganapathim... in the rich baritone of Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar.

Many in the city would have made it to that concert. Many more - ardent admirers of the maestro - would have not.

Now, that concert has come alive once again in the form of three volumes of cassettes and CDs prepared by Aakash Music Company. The recording of the two-hour-long concert was found in a private collection.

The cassettes and CDs were released at a ceremony held at the Press Club on Thursday by Chembai Sreenivasan, the `Bhagavathar's' son. The first CD was handed over to Chembai's disciple Jayan (of the Jaya-Vijaya duo). The CD will cost Rs.125 apiece and the cassette Rs.50.

G. Mahadevan

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