Legends Yesudas, SPB and Chitra perform live on Saturday at LB Stadium
Eleven Point Two events brings yet another live concert this time, bringing together the legends of south Indian film music Yesudas, Chitra and SP Balasubramanyam, on one stage at LB Stadium on Saturday, November 30. Earlier this year too the events company organised live concerts by KS Chitra and KJ Yesudas that enthralled the lovers of music. During Yesudas's concert where his son Vijay Yesudas also performed, SPB made a surprise visit and together they sang a small portion from the popular number from the film 'Dalapathi' that they together originally sang for Ilayaraja, on stage. It served an appetizer of what could happen if two of these legends who have high regards for each other perform.
"We are aware of the expectations when three of us will be on the stage, and we plan to give our best performance. We have been practising for two days and we have not planned yet, but all three of us may also perform together for a song, you may never know," shares SP Balasubramanyam during a press conference the day before.
Chitra, on the other hand, was her humble self when she declared she is all ready to have the fun and interactive, which she thinks a live concert is all about. She also said that she is a wee bit afraid to be sharing the stage with the icons she looks up to.
"Being afraid is very important for a performer, so long as he is afraid of making a mistake, he will continue to be a student always and do his best," adds SPB. "Watching the audience enjoy the music gives strength to us as singers. Also, we must reflect upon our performances, critique ourselves after every concert. Just because we are popular, we cannot assume whatever we sing will be accepted by all. This self-realization has ensured we still have admirers who come in thousands out of love for us and our music."
"When we sing each song, we have to reprocess it going back to the day we first recorded it because we cannot make a mistake, you will not like it," shares Yesudas.
Applauding his passion for music, SPB relates, "He continues to be a learner. He was still learning Carnatic music when he entered into film music. After all these years of singing, even today he considers himself a student; whenever he gets time, or when he is travelling, he opens his notebook and goes over some keertana, the notes, and if I am with him, he asks me if he is pronouncing the words from a Thyagaraja krithi well. When he sings, it gives a spiritual experience."
Replying to the comment, and as an expression of love and admiration for the singer, who is a few years younger, but almost a contemporary and co-singer (together they have sung hundreds of songs), "My brother says he has not learnt Carnatic music, but he has taken a 1000 rebirths as a musician; he picks up the notations in no time. He is an extremely talented musician," says Yesudas.
Commenting on the technology, if it is a boon or bane SP Balasubramanyam, who has seen live recording when songs would be recorded along with the orchestra in a single take and also is a witness to today's digital age, states, "It is very useful. If it was there a 50 years ago, we would have used it as well. Change is important, and technology gets better with time. However, we should be using it diligently. When we had no technology, the advantage was that we would sit and learn the song, practice and rehearse repeatedly until we got it right. And, it took 7-8 hours to record a song.
It helped us develop lung power. Like marathon runners, we learnt under difficult conditions and it honed our skills. Today, if you are not able to sing even one line in a single take, then it is a problem. I suggest the young singers to first learn the song and sing it fully well before recording it. Technology can be used to correct the flaws, but if you depend on it totally you will not improve as a singer. Technology is always helpful but must be limited in its use."