At 84, this radio star still shines bright as ever

Thiruvananthapuram: Decades ago when T P Radhamani, the most celebrated radio drama artist walked out of All India Radio on the last day of her official career, she wasn't swayed by emotions. “Many people asked me why I was not shedding tears on my retirement day. I didn’t have to give a reply as the answer came from a voice behind. Sreekantan Nair called me from behind and reminded me the schedule for next day’s programme,” recollected Radhamani as she celebrated her 84th birthday with family and friends at the Freemasons Hall here on Tuesday.“It was clear from his reminder that retirement for me was nothing but a namesake procedure,” she said. In the neat folds of her regal white Kasavu saree and gracefully tied grey hair, T P Radhamani amma sat in the centre of the hall swarmed by her relatives. Amidst the surge of bouquets, gifts and loud music she welcomed her guests with a beaming smile and affectionate voice .Even as Radhamani retired back in 1993, her conviction did come true as the 84-year-old radio artist never ceased to engage her followers from her days as radio drama artist in the AIR to the small yet significant roles she had played in films ‘Rasathanthram’ and ‘Innathe Chintavishayam’ directed by Sathyan Anthikaad.Even though a 17-year-old Radhamony succeeded in attaining ‘Gaanabhooshanam’ (degree in music), it was her entry into radio that became the turning point. From the time Radhamani joined AIR as a contract staff to the stature of a dubbing celebrity and marriage with the colleague late P Gangadharan Nair who was popularly known as ‘Radio Ammavan’, radio turned out to be the part and parcel of Radhamani's life.The voice of Kannaki in the play Chilapathikaram, and the voice-over in the play ‘Jarasanthante Puthri’ are two of her most famous works. She has also dubbed for many actors in Malayalam and Tamil including Laila Majnu, Enippadikal, Radha enna pennkutty, Lajjavathy and so on.