Life
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Sharing memories of Anto
Carrying forward a tradition.
ONE YEAR has passed since C. O. Anto died. Still, many who were close to him refuse to accept the reality. Their angst was very much visible as they got together at a commemoration organised by the P. J. Antony Foundation at the Mahakavi G. Auditorium here the other day.
The event was marked by personal recollections that refused to die with Anto's physical presence. The renowned music director and long-time companion of Anto, M. K. Arjunan, aptly called him "deathless singer'' in his inaugural speech. Anto's life was a message of survival against odds. Nothing went in favour of this immensely talented artiste.
And whatever he accomplished was by virtue of his perseverance and sheer talent. As another veteran music director, Job, once replied to the remark that Anto got only chances to sing in the chorus, "Let him sing along with hundred others, but listeners could identify Anto.''
But none really cared for that baritone voice, masculine to perfection. As the critic, M. Iqbal, put it, our society still treasures that unique `virtue' of ignoring talent totally. More so, if the artiste dares to question accepted norms.
And Anto was not alone at the receiving end of society's scorn. He had the company of Mehaboob and Kozhikode Abdul Khader. If the latter had been a visitor, the former two were an integral part of West Kochi's psyche. Many alleys there still resonate with their songs.
It might just be ironical that both were reduced, rather cruelly, to becoming singers of comic songs in films. Worse, many of Mehaboob's original songs were being rehashed for recent films. Of course, without attributing the source. Also, there are no collections of their songs in the market either.
No one has come forward to document the contribution of artistes like Anto and Mehaboob. And for those who had met them in their lifetime, they remain too personal a memory.
Making their presence in history very ambiguous and vague.
Nostalgic evening.
In his commemoration, Iqbal referred to one particular documentary about Anto, in which there was no voice over, no commentary, nothing. There was only Anto, speaking about his life and his songs.
That was in way a symbolic, though unintentional. No one really cared to talk about him, while he was alive. Even news of the P. J. Antony Foundation award reached him just two hours before he met his end.
It might be coincidental, but the beauty of the event was that the songs of Anto were sung in between these speeches by amateur singers.
They carried forward, Anto and Mehaboob's struggle against organised battery of academics. In a sense.
By Anand Haridas
Photos: H. Vibhu
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Life
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
|
