MG Sreekumar, who along with SP Balasubramaniam sung two popular numbers of Malayalam cinema - Ootipattanam and
Kakkala Kannamma
- recollects his association with the veteran musician.
"I knew SPB sir years before singing these songs as we did our recordings for Malayalam cinema in Madras back then. So we used to meet occasionally in the studios," he says.
The Ootipattanam song, for the film Kilukkam, was recorded in SP Balasubramaniam's Kothandapani studios in Chennai. "I still remember the three of us, SPB sir, KS Chitra and myself, singing it together with chorus and orchestra. It was taken in one go. It was a fabulous experience. While practicing the song he seemed really casual but while recording we saw him adding further numbers to it, like subtle smiles and reactions. That really amazed me. I believe it is an extraordinary talent," he says.
MG Sreekumar remembers that Kakkala Kannamma for Mohanlal-Shivaji Ganeshan movie
Oru Yathramozhi
was recorded in Prasad studio. "There the recordings were done separately. We had also sung another song together for MM Keeravani's music and S Jayakumar's lyrics. It was a beautiful song; unfortunately the film did not work," he says.
SP Balasubramaniam, according to him, was a very down to earth person. "He had no airs. Always pleasant and forever smiling. He always encouraged us while recording. I remember how happy I felt when we were listening to our recording and he said, 'Sabash MG'. Two years back, at a stage show, we sang Ootipattanam with Mohanlal. The memories will remain in me forever," he concludes.
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