Musical homage to a master

LIKE MOST things do, it began with a call.

Chinni Jayanth was busy at the dubbing theatre when a call from the Raj TV office caught him unawares. Chinni thought that they probably wanted a byte or an interview, as usual. He had little idea how massive or phenomenal a task they had mapped out for him. Yet, even as he listened to Raj TV MD, Mr. Rajendran outline the broad aims of the project, he realised the channel was offering him on a platter one of his greatest dreams.

Mr. Rajendran, an ardent Sivaji Ganesan fan, had drummed up what has come to be called `the most emotional farewell to one of the greatest giants of Indian cinema'. `Imayathirku Indiya Anjali' is going to be the film industry's largest ever tribute to Sivaji Ganesan. This song-dance-drama- laser extravaganza is slotted to take place on September 28 at the Indian Airlines Stadium and Chinni was asked if he could be the co-ordinator. Now, why would he turn down something like that?

The salute will bring together artistes from all over the country, mainly the Hindi film industry, in addition to the Kollywood glitterati. The show, lasting for all of five hours, will be off the shelves of Sivaji's life - every song, dance, dialogue will have something to do with the way the actor lived, spoke and acted, Mr. S.K. Ramesh, vice president, programming of Raj TV said.

A video on the life and times of Sivaji Ganesan will bring the curtains up on the event, to begin at 5 p.m. The video, by Mr. T.V. Narayanaswamy, the late actor's friend from Doordarshan will be released for the first time on this enormous stage. The stage, will be another speciality. All of 10,000 sq ft, of dimensions, 120ft by 70 ft by 32 ft, it has the stamp of at least four or five art directors. Their efforts will be complemented by 50,000 watts of sound, state of the art lights and a special laser show. Lasers will create the form of Sivaji on stage.

Credits for the title and the theme song go to lyricist Vairamuthu and the song set to music by Bobby Shankar will be performed for the public first by play-back singer S.P. Balasubramaniam. In addition, a specially choreographed dance will bring together over 200 artists performing to the theme track. Celebrated playback singers and their heirs will participate in the music show, accompanied by Shankar's Saadhaga Paravaigal Orchestra. Sivaji reigns again in this event where all the songs will be from his movies.

Among the heroines who have accepted to perform during the show are Meena, Sukanya, Sanghavi, Maheswari, Divya Unni, Vindhya, Kanaga, Preetha Vijayakumar. A number of other artists have promised to be there, including Sivaji's co-actors from yesteryear. They will also be honoured on stage, during the event.

The entire gate proceeds of the show will go to Sivaji Prabhu Charities Trust. Tickets are priced across the range from Rs. 5000, Rs. 1000, Rs. 500, Rs. 200 and Rs. 100, available at Raj TV Corporate office, Raj Video Visions and a host of the regular outlets.

By Ramya Kannan

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